Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-09-28

on the trail, a short distance from
Chloride camp. A pretty little woman,
stared at respectfully by tho numerous
men loafing about-for women We're
scarce in Chloride, especially pretty and
respectable ones-tripped down the
street, trying to look unconscious, and
entered the door of Brad Boutwell's of
flee. 1t was the noon hour, and he was
alone engaged in the pleasurable occu-
patton of disposing of an excellent lunch
and bottle Of beer. He heard the hesl-
tating step in the outer office, and
stepped to the door of his sanctum,
where he stood, somewhat taken aback
eral seconds after her sweet voice had
asked, SIS this Mr.. Boutwell, that he
recovered his cquanimity and gracefully
acknowledged the fact.
81 am Mrs. Burton-Mrs. Silas Bur
ton. came TO see you-to-to'"
But here her courage gave out for the
moment, and she did the very best thing
she could have done-just wept few
relieving tears, while the sympathetic
Boutwell,, who had been q bachelor
sever since he could remember" as he
himself said, my dear madam-ed' her,
stammered, grew red in the face, vague
ly felt himself triumphant ass, and
finally led her gently to chair, where
she finished her weep.
Then she pulled herself together and
told him the whole pitiful tale. 1t was
indeed-thought Boutwell,, who had al
ways had more money than he had
known what to do with-a narrowing
state of affairs. and so his bachelor
heart, overfowing with sympathy for
the poor, frightened little omissary who
sat before him, and being, it must be
said, rather unsettled by this extraor-
dinary visit, he agreed almost before he
knew it to let the affair alone and switch
the ambitious Hobart off the track.
Then, with her heartiest handshake.
world Of thankfulness shining in her
big brown eyes and fervcnt words of
gratitude ON her sweet lips, the little
missionary was gone, and Boutwell,, his
brain in whirl, sat down to think.
Well, by Jove! Now he had done it!
Why. great sacrificed Cesar!. The thing
was impossible, utterly! He rushed to
the door. His late visitor was not In
sight. He sat down to think more calm
ly this time.
In politics there are complications no
man can overlook or ignore. There are
multifarious considerations and obliga-
tons that must be attended to, and
whose existence is due more often than
not to circumstances whose discovery
by the unsympathetic world would be a
calamity to the individual or individuals
most interested. This case was such a
one. Hobart had ''cinch" on the boss
of Chloride, and was master Of the situ-
alton, and no one knew it SO well as. did
Jere himself, who was never slow about
gratifying opportunities.
Thus Boutwell, communed with HIM
self, and tho result was much perspira-
ton and an uncomfortable conscience.
"Well, no use shedding any tears" he
said aloud, but, by Joye! wish could
keep my word with the little woman.
What little duck she is, and how Bur-
ton ought to congratulate himself! Hum
-hum-hu,n! Poor thing! How rocky
she'll feel when she finds l played such
dirty trick on her. Ye-es, and what'l,
say to myself"
Teddy OHara, whose family had been
kept from starving during the strike q
few months before by the charity of the
''littlo duck and her husband, and who
had awakened from his MONDAY nap
under the Office window about tea min
utes previously, chuckled softly to him.
self aid sneakcd away, remarking as he
reached the street.
"Oh-ho! Thot's it, is ut! AHA! Teddy,
me bye Oi tink yees had betther TEX
thrip over t Apache the day. Yees don't
feel loike workin, do yees, now?" And he
hid his dinner pail and started down the
trail for the county seat, whistling glee-
fully.
OF Mrs. Burton's second interview
with the smooth Mr.. Boutwell, it is un-
necessary to speak at length. 1t was
uncomfortable 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 a 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 brief powwow in
Chairman Boutwelrs Office and would
be along soon. Jere Hobart, as luck
would have it, had got q glorious
Jag" on the night before, and was in
bed at his quarters at Chloride as the
result of fall into the cellar of the
Nugget saloon. He might have pulled
himself together and gone over to
Apache, but everything was ''fixed" and
there was no need, he concluded. So he
grunted and turned slowly over toward
the cocktail on the table, with that ac-
LlOl COISlS lIilS LlS LUZ w blto DOut7
well and a supposedly packed" conven-
ton.
The chairman of the county central
committee called the convention to Or
der and read the call. The convention
effected a temporary organization and
the usual committees were appointed,
during whose deliberations recess was
taken.
Tom Owens came to Mrs. Burton, who,
with number of other women whose
husbands or brothers were interested,
Lirectly or otherwise, in the proceed
ings, was sitting in the gallery. Owens
spoke quickly and earnestly:
1.-The 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
whole mess Of his fellows ready to back
slide. If only they wouldn't come.
P"-
But here he was sent for in great haste
by an anxious constituent and hurried
away. When ten minutes later he looked
nm of tbo 11arxv Mrc p,,,fO,, woo misc