The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-24

result of the meeting.
You heah!" roared Strong.
"You here!" yelled Simmons.
"Yes, an I'm agwrine to beat you.''
I'm agoin' to see we laid in the shade eff
it busts me to do it.'
"Ye've alters been a crossin' me. Tom
Simmons. Yer one o. the kind t. alters be
in feller's track. 1t war mighty sorry
piece O. timber they made we out ov any
way"
"Jist say what we please, I'm agoin' to
beat We, George Strong, eff it runs me fur
the Legislature to do it.''
Then Strong swore that he would beat
Simmons, and vowed that he would rather
be defeated any day than see his enemy
elected.
Gentlemen" said Allen, coolly, as he
stood leaning against his desk watching the
angry men, "my support has been prom
lsed to both of you anG you shall have it.
ltwould be feather in our cap to have both
sheriff and Representative from our village.
l come here in the interest of Turkeys
Point, and to that end am working"
"D'ye think We kin help Turkeys Pint, by
sendin' him to the Legislatoor?" asked
Strong.
& do"
y
Would it help our town by electin' him
sheriff. roared Simmons.
"Of cOurse.''
''Then let Ter bust"
"Gentlemen, so long as you entertain
such hostile feelings there will be little
hope for the advancement of our town. If
you wish to effect any thing here, and to
build up thriving commercial center, you
must stop this combating each other; put
your shoulders to the wheel and go to work
In earnest for yourselves, for each other
and for Turkeys Point.'
me work for hims Never!' roared SIM
mons.
''Think I'm agwine to gin him a boost9
Not much," said Mr.. Strong
But | shall hold each of you to a strict
observance of the contracts you have
signed. You shall each of you run for the
offices to which you were selected in the be-
ginning, and will support both"
"Fd ruther be beat a thousand times
than see him elected" criel Strong, as he
left the office. In language equally as
fOrcible Simmons gave vent to his feelings,
as he retired also.
81 think begin to see the cause of some
of the trouble with Turkeys Point,'' said
Allen, as he stood on the front porch of the
figures going in different directions "The
town is made up of antagonistic rings and
clques. Every man here would rather die
himself than see some one else prosper.
They have taken prosperity by the throat
and are thrOttling her"
The sun beamed lazily down upon the
sloping roofs of the houses scattered along
the narrow valley and hillsides. The store
buildings were distinguished by their square
fronts and painted signs The usual crowd
of loafers were gathered about the stores
and saloons and were sitting on the porches
or counters. The floors were well-worn and
rotting, while from the damp warerooms at
the rear one could inhale the damp air is
suing from decaying vegetables. There was
an air of dullness about the little village.
as if it had been stifleG by the thick at
mOSphere of hate.
No wonder that Turley's Point is on the
downward road" said Allen. "With such
class of citizens as these there is little
or no hope Of it ever reviving."
Summer passed, and as the time for the
election drew near the heated contest among
candidates became greater all over the coun-
try. Unkind words were uttered by men
who should have been friends. Hopes rose
and fell as tn" Idle Of political conflict went
on. Allen pursued his established course
of independence, supporting the Republican
for the Legislature and the Democrat for
sheriff. He became the mark for MANY
sharp retortS from other newspapers and
was accused of riding two horses at once
horses that were certainly going in differ
ent directions. AS the contest became more
heated many came to hun to induce him to
give up one of the candidates, but he stated
he was pledged TO both, and, having the in
terests of Turley's Point at heart, could not
be swerved from his course
His determination alone prevented Sim
mons and Strong from withdrawing to de-
feat each other. Candidates from other parts
of the country were nominated, Demo-
crat from BentOnsville was put in nOmin-
alton for Representative. and Republican
from another village put in nomination by
his party for sheriff, against Mr. Strong.
The fight waxed hot. No SANDER was too
vie, low or unreasonable for Simmons to
tell upon his fellow townsman, Mr. Strong,
nor could Mr.. Strong conjure up in his
fertile imagination any thing too base to
tell on his fellow townsman, Simmons.
Allen appealed in VAN to their reason,
assuring them that they were running each
other, and destroying all the hopes of
Turkeys Point. Each swore he would sink
Turkeys Point to beat his opponent
1t was useless for Allen to advocate the
interests of the Tnrleys Point candidates
when they were doing all in their power to
ruin each other Every good word he spoke
for them was fatty denied. The local
hatred which had blighted Turkeys Point
seemed to eliminate in wild rage on cleo
ton day. At ten o'clock in the forenoon 1t
had became dangerous to be out.
Drunken, burly rufians were paradino
the streets to the terror of all good citizens.
Half dozen brawls ragged during the day.
and black eyes and bloody noses became a
common sight before evening
The young editor, disguised with the
people, the town and the election, remained
in his Office all day. When returns came in
from all the townships he was not surprised
to learn that both the Turley's Point candi-
dates were badly defeated.
CHAPTER XVIII
"THAT CAN NEVER BE-"
Simmons and Strong found the bitterness
OF personal defeat somewhat sweetened by
the knowledge that their enemy had gone
down with them. Morose, gloomy and ILL
natured, each went moping about the
streets, cursing his own ill-luek, and won
dering what blight had come over their
town that 1t could not be saved from iney-
liable ruin. Allen Gray had come at last to
reai'ze that Turley's Point was doomed. and
~ nus endeavors to save it were worse than