Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-07-12


"You forgot that two of Jimmy's
brothers are in Sing Sing and that
Jimmy himself had a narrow squeak
for it. He thinks you were trying to
insult him. Stripes are not safe
subject to mention in Jimmy's hearing.
You need some one to edit your copy
for you. Mr.. Boomer, or you'll be laid
out cold"
.'Well, what do you propose?"
THAT you engage me and then do
as tell you.'
What would you suggest as De-
ginning?"
That you fire that chap in the red
coat who opens the door. Get some
one there who is not so heightened.
Send your family out of town and get
some of this bric-a-brac out of these
rooms and put up few pictures that
are of more interest to the boys than
those now on the walls. That will do
for beginning, and then let me write
your impromptu remarks for you. I'll
make your reputation as an after-din-
ner speaker in two weeks. My names
Sparkling, in case you should want to
know"
The Hon. Mr.. Boomer and young Mr..
Sparkling got along better than might
have been expected. A great deal of
the young mans insolence seemed to
have departed and he wrote most ex-
cellent speeches for his employer.
Boomers friends were astonished aud
delighted at the way he was coming
out. His speeches were not only the
talk of the town, but their judicious-
ness in offending nobody was very
much remarked by those who knew
Boomers former talent for laundering
ON which his opponents had calculated
to defeat him. Boomers great oppor-
tunity was to come to a meeting that
had been called to discuss the leading
question of the day, and his friends as
sured him that if he did as well then
as he had been doing in the past he
would be the only man whose name
would be mentioned for the nOmina-
ton.
The honorable gentleman impressed
on Sparkling the Importance of the
coming speech, and besought him to
set about it in time, SO that there could
be no possible hitch in the proceedings.
Sparkling replied that 1t would be the
greatest effort of his life. and it was.
He read to Mr.. Boomer some of the
points that he made, and when Boomer
repeated these in confidence to his
most intimate supporters, they were
enthusiastic in declaring that if
the speech was all on those lines it
would be the greatest thing ever deliv-
cred in New York.
The day of the meeting came on and
in spite of Boomers Impotence, Spar
ling had not the Grafton finished on the
typewriter. Boomer wanted an hour
or two to commit it to memory. He
had great knack in getting things by
rote that stood him in good stead on
more than one occasion.
1.-The speech is all ready" said Spar
ling to him shortly after lunch.
well, give it to me. You have
been long time about it,"
Eyes, because it is the most impor-
tant thing in your career. Such an
other speech could not have been
gotten up for you by anybody else if 1
do say it."
"Well, let me have it."
"Now, look here, Boomer" said
Sparkling, sitting back in his chair, Il
have done considerable writing for
you; now I want you to do a very little
for me-"
What do you mean?"
81 mean just this. You will have to
write me little check for $4,000 be-
fore you get this document"
You are crazy"
Granted, if you like, but that is the
figure"
1T ia absurd. Fifty thousand dol
lars!! No, nor fifty thousand cents.
You are In my employ. If you do not
furnish what you have promised, 1
will prosecute YOU"
81 don't know but you could do that.
Still, think that it bears out all ever
said about your stupidity that YOU
should even propose it. How nice the
headings in the papers would read.
Something like this: Here's richness.
All the Hon. Boomers speeches written
by his hired man. You would be
sure of the nomination then, wouldn't
you? No, sir; the speech under the
circumstances is cheap at the money,
and for every hour that you hesitate
about the price 1 will tack on another
1000. If you don't take it L will sell
it to your enemy and opponent, Gen.
Stockem. You're in box, Boomer.
I've thought all this thing out, and
$50. 900 is the lowest can take"
''If 1 am elected will give you an
Office worth"
al shan't refuse it, but the fifty
thousand must be paid down"
Mr.. Boomer meditated a moment.
You know that is a very large
sum. How am / to know the speech is
worth it?"