Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-09-28

suc meeting, anu you urc uOWn IN Dluc
and white as the orator O
the evening. So you sec, North
there's no help for II; we can
ct you of. You know, yoI
haven't made any address since tn
primaries, and the public are clamorinJ
for you. We've heard II on all side
lately-'Where's Northp Why doesn'
he materialize, and let us hear what h,
has 10 say for himself2' So we've posi-
lively pledged your appearance THU
evening, and II will never do TO disap
point them. I'm sorry, North, thai
you've had such short notice, but wal
up here this morning at nine o'clock u
tell you about II, and you were gone
Clipper sent around several times dur
ing the day, both here and 10 the Office,
and you hadn't got back, and nobody
seemed 10 know what had become OF
you, though Wee did venture the sug.
gestion that you had at last gone TO the
lunntic asylum 10 give yourself upl II
| was rough on Clipper, ! can tell you.
think I'd better go around now and tell
him that you've got back and it's all
right. For, OF course. North, you'll
never think Of failing us7" and Warmers
face wore an expression OF lively
anxiety for an instant.
"Oh, by no meansl" returned North,
percciving that escape from this uncx-
pected and unwelcome predicament was
at least highly impracticable. ~ will
do my best for you, Warner. but you
must not blame me II IL is a sorry fail
ure. shall be poorly prepared for any
oratorical fourishes this evening. I'm
afraid | shall disgust the honorable
voters OF K by my lack OF enthusi-
asm."
Nonsense, North, you'll do nothing
Of the sort" said Warner, with cncour-
nCing decision. you're evidently tired
and blue and inclined TO take pes
simistic view Of things. Just rest until
dinner time, and you'll be surprised TO
see how enthusiastic you'll be then.
Hang IL, man, think OF next Tuesday!
Think of all that's ut stake for our
party; and II that fails 10 inspire you
I'll send brass band around with fire
works and torpedoes TO stir you up.
Something religious has got TO be done"
Have you any serious suggestions to
offer2" inquired North, ncgligcntly. 81
presume ] am To speak In general
way 'on the political situation what
ever that may be. Or has the committee
announced any more definite subject
for me?" with an air OF calm resigna-
ton
Don't think so; but In any case you'll
be perfectly safe In saying just what
you please. Any suggcstions-ps hawl
You know as well as | do Just what
you ought 10 say. Only get your enthu-
siasm up 10 the proper pitch and you'll
take the roof off with your eloquencel
But It's time for me TO take myself
off" he added, with o nimble spring 70
his feet Committee meets ngain In
half an hour, with power to send
for persons and papers, and I'm likely
to be the first person they send for, II
I'm not promptly ON hand"
"lf we candidates only work half so
hard after we get into Office us our
friends have worked to put MS there"
observed North, with languid smile,
na he arose 10 accompany Warner 10
the door, mo one will be put TO the
necessity of hunting up mischief for
our idle hands 10 perform. by the
way he added, with u sudden air Of
interest, II wonder where | can got a
file of the Times? There are various
matters connected with the campaign
that should like to look up"
why, the colonel's got a file"
"Who, Clipper2'
81 mean Dayton. Down In the read |
ing-room. Better see. I'm sure you'll /
find IT," and Warner shot out Of the |
room and rushed Oft To meet his com |
mittee.
Going Immediately in search OF Col. |
Dayton, whom he fortunately found .
without delay, North received not only /
the information that there was n file of .
the Times in the reading-room, hut also |
the coloners permission 10 have the |
aforesaid file removed at once To his
room.
Now" soliloquized North, as, with the
newspaper spread out before him ON the
table In his room, he sat down with
calm desperation In his manner, ~
shall have TO cram local politics most
ussiduously for the next two hours. or
woe betido this unluclSy undertaking
OF minel I'm In particularly difficult
position, and II will require all the
nerve and mother wit that possess TO
eNtricate me creditably. Clippers
Times In just what | need In this emer-
gcncy' ] shall find here my proper POI
litical Views all ready for Immediate
use, and | shall simply need TO commit
them TO memory and air them tonight
MS my own candid and original senti-
ments, In Justice TO Noll, must do
my best! II | succeed in sufficiently
lmbuing my mind with the spirit OF
The Times, catch the salient points OF
the canvass and watch the drift of
public sentiment this evening, | NAV
possibly come off with flying colors!r
Once In the spirit OF H., North grew
quite enthusiastic over his novel under
taking, and the results of his two hours
close application were equally astonish-
Ing and gratifying To him. liy the time
the dinner gong sounded he had quite
,oplous collection of notes ready TO re-
Ter to during his address; and he was
certainly as familiar with the principal
points of municipal interest involved in
the forthcoming election as a careful
examining" Of the political notes and
leaders in the Times from the begin
ming of the canvass down TO the present
time could make him.
Upon going down TO dinner he found
that the mass meeting was the allah
'orbing topic OF conversation among
the gentlemen, and his own speech was
The central point OF comment and inter
,st, He was soon drawn into u spirited
discussion of the political situation, in
which. thnnlxa ~ his na,vlya,n,g,oa