The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-09-09

it, to let the affair alone, aud switch the
ambitious Hobart off the track. Then,
with her heartiest handshake, a world
"a thai. diness shining in her big,
brown eyes, and fervent words OF graft.
tude on her sweet lips, the little mis-
slonaly was gone, and Boutwell,, his
brain in whirl, sat down to think.
Well, by Jovei Now he had done lei
Why, great sacrificed Csssarl The thing
was impossible, utterlyi He rushed to
the door. His lnte visitor was not in
sight. He sat down to think more calm.
ly this time.
In politics there arc complications no
man can overlook or ignore. There are
multifarious considerations and obliga-
tions that must be attended to, and
whose existence is due, more often than
not, to circumstances whose discovery by
the unsympathetic would be q calamity
to the individual or individuals most in
terested. This case was such an one.
Hobart had "cipch" on the boss of
Chloride, and was master of the situa-
ton, and no one knew it so we'll as did
Jere himself, who was never slow about
gratifying opportunities.
Thus Boutwell, communed with him
self, and the result was much perspira-
tion and an uncomfortable conscience.
"Well, no use shedding any tears, +"
he said, aloud; "but, by Jovel wish
I could keep my word with the little
woman. What little duck she is, and
how Burton ought to congratulate him
selfl Hum-hum-humi Poor thing I
How rocky she'll feel when she finds I
played such dirty trick on her. Ye-es,
and whatll I say to myself"
Teddy O'Hara, whose family had been
kept from starving during the strike few
months before, by the charity of the
"little duck" and her husband, and who
had awakened from his MONDAY nap un-
der the office window about ten minutes
previously, chuckled softly to himself and
sneaked away, remarking, as he reached
the street:
"O.hol Thot's it, is ut! A-hal Teddy,
me bye. Oi tink yees had better tex bit
thrip over t. Apache the day. Yees
don't feel loike worrkin', do yees, now3"
And he hid his dinner-pail and started
down the trail for the county-seat,
whistling gleetully.
OF Mrs. Burton's second interview with
the smooth Mr.. Boutwell,, it is unneoes-
sary to speak at length. 1t was uncom-
Portable for him, but he kept his wits
about him and did not lower his flag,
and Mrs. Burton went away with white,
drawn face-and with the set lips Of
brave little woman who has made up her
mind to something.
The day for the convention dawned.
The visitors from the outside precincts,
including those from Chloride, were all
on hand to see the fun. 1t was almost
time to call the convention to order, but
TWO or three delegations had not arrived.
The Chloride delegation was one Of:
these. The visitors from that camp re-
ported that the delegation had only
stopped to hold pow-wow in Chair,
mans Boutwell's office, and would be
along soon. Jere Hobart, as luck would
nave it, had gotten "jag" on the night
before, and was in bed at his quarters
in Chloride, as tue result of u fall into
the cellar Of the Nugget saloon. He
nigh. have pulled himself together aud
gone over to Apache, but everything
was "ixed" and there was no need, he
concluded.
The Chairman of the County Central
Committee called the convention to Or
der, and read the call. The convention
effected temporary organization and
the usual committees were appointed,
during whose deliberations recess was
taken.
Tom Owens came to Mrs. Burton,
who, with a number of other women
whose husbands or brothers were inter
ested, directly or otherwise, in the pro-
ceedings, was sitting In the gallery.
Owens spoke quic KY and earnestly:
"Thc Chloride crowd isn't here yet.
Hobart's too sick to come. If Boutwell,
could only be kept away, it'd be o. K.
| for Sile. He's the only man that can
put Hobart in nomination, and there's a
| whole mess of his fellows ready to back
slide. If only they wouldn't come =!
| L"
But here he was sent for in great
haste by the anxious constituent, aud
hurried away. When, ten minutes
later, he looked up at the gallery, Mrs.
Burton was missing.
The six men composing the Chloride
delegation were in hurry, and, in
Boutwelrs three seated spring wagon,
behind his big grays, were making good
time for Apache.
There is deep ravine, nearly always
dry, on the trail between Apache and
Chloride, that has to be crossed care
fully. 1t is an abrupt descent aud yet
more abrupt ascent, aud the trail on the
Apache side of the gully is fanked by
big rocks, which sheltered many high
wayman in the old days. The delega.
tion from Chloride had just reached this
spot, and Boutwell, was urging the
horses up the steep incline, when short
and sharp, aud firm, in a womau's voice
came the command:
The six men in the wagon could hardl,
| believe their senses. Sitting beside tn,
big rock on the left, very pale, but with
compressed lips, and eyes that flashed
fire aud determination, sat small woman
with big Winchester, and the weapon
was cooked and aimed at Brad Boutwell,