The National tribune., 1896-08-20

| his back to the wall, had something TO do
| with this.
The next time the Colonel and the Major
met, they traded smiling greetings and shook
hands with effusive cordiality. Then, by
tacit consent, they adjourned 10 the future
polling-place.
Order" said the Colonel, genially, "is
the fust law of natuh. WhatH yeh swal-
low?"
The Major mentioned his weakness, and
then glanced hesitatingy at the Colonel, his
glass in the air. II wus jjes' talkin' with
some of the boys down the way" he said,
slowly, can they think they hev picked out
the right man fer Sheriff. and then he
emptied his glass, watching the Colonel mar
rowly.
The Colonel beamed a friendly response
outside the circumference of his cup. "An'
/ was talkin' with some mo- of them down
heah, an they seem to have fixed the mattah,
as yeh say, without askin' US. I hahdly
think they have made a mistake"
The Majors smile grew more confident as
he Strengthened little, and replied, airily:
The boys knows what thar doin' sure enuff.
In big matter of this kim, they amt a.
goin' to do the wrong thing"
Then the Colonel's smile broadened to the
edges of his face, and each saw pleasing
visions through the bottom of glass
clearly.
The campaign and the excitement pro-
gressed together. No general caucus was
held. The Office of Justice of Peace sought
Judge Sampson and found him at home,
waiting, and three candidates for the Super
visorships were soon found to be far in the
lead.
About this time somebody whispered
!, tho Cnl He hot ,aIo
him sc0wl and mutter something about
Judas Isca'iot -; and somebody else carried
a rumor to the Major that caused him to grit
his remaining teeth and utter vague remarks
about snakes in the grass. The next time
they met they passed in dry silence; the
ColoneIs glance was fixed on a distant
mountain peak, and the Major saw some
thing intensely interesting straight ahead.
Each used every effort 10 get votes and their
constituents, with the same Overpowering
interest that they would take in a dog-fght,
cheered them on with jealous partisanshir.
Every man in camp was politician enough
to know that the vote would be close, though
he made outlanGish claims for his candidate
and backed his Dragging with all his posses
sions. The Colonel told the story frequently
of how Mai. Morrissey had left wife and
family in Missouri, because necessity knew
no relations-in-law, and the Major retaliated
with yarn TO the effect that Col. O'Shana-
han would never have got out of Kentucky
if he had not been TO excellent judge of
horse-f1esb.
Election day was a holiday in Paradise
Bar. Every inhabitant was feverishly and
actively interested. Hans Scopenhauer laid
in an extra supply of distilled trouble and
added 10 his Office armament. Then every
one voted. The immigrant frem Cork and
the late corn-husker from Iowa balloted side
by side; the broken English of the Dutch
man, just over, and the soft accent of the
SOU of Alabama had equal voices in the
election.
But when the Major and his marshals
brought up Juan Moreno to help save the
country, there was vigorous protest from
the Colonel and his Aids. 1t was The next
worst crime to voting twice, they claimed :;
+" An insult to the right of suffrage, by Gawd,
suh," said the Colonel. And nobody dared
to attempt to vote twice at the first election
| at Paradise Bar. Arguments on the subject
would have been carried on with pistols in
| stead of words, and the passing of the lie
would have been followed by boom in
cemetery lots. Moreno was "greaser {;
shiftless, dishonest and ignorant, did he not
possess every qualification of the intelli-
gent voter? Then the judicial mind of Judge
Sampson, both Clerk and Judge of the first
election, shone forth and averted trouble.
There is no good reason why he should
not vote, " he said; every qualification that's
mssin' in him is missin in some one of yew"
An awkward silence fell upon the crowd.
An attempt to point out his defects might
make the Judge personal in his answer.
And SO Moreno triumphantly cast his vote,
and the frOwn on the Colonel's brow gath
cred more wrinkles.
Then a brilliant thought flashed athwart
his mental sky. The Majors unpaid board
bill was certainly larger than his. And
while the Judge waited in silent dignity
for the sun to say goodnight to Paradise
Bar, the Colonel and two or three of his sup
porters disappeared. The voters waited in
expectation for the closing of the polls, still
alternating calls for refreshments with con-
lectures as to the result.
There was scu11ie outside, An excited
murmur Of surprise, and then the Colonel
marched proudly into the room with Sing
High on his arm.
The fat placidity of Sing Highs face wore
a look Of pleased expectation. 1t had been
made clear to him that lie was to play some
important part in the drama that was excit-
ing Paradise Bar from the Red Eye to the
suburbs, though he was not at all certain
what he had to do. There was an excited
discussion, and<m0re than one angel-maker
was drawn. But Judge Sampson, with calm
| impariiality, decided that his case was simi-
lar 10 MorenO's; that no qualifications had
been declared necessary, and that they had
| ali voted without regard to race, color or
previous condition Of penal servitnde; and
that Sing High should vote. The same
awkward silence fell upon the crowd, and
the Judge took Sing to one side aud in
structed him in the grave duties of an
elector.
Sing Highs smooth countenance was
scanned with smiles ut his own importance.
There was a whispered and animated con-
ference between him and the Judge and
then he came forward aud voted as the sun
went down.
The counting of the ballots was finished,
and the results, except for Sheriff, announced,
when fatal accident occurred. Hans SEQ
penhauer ran out Of liquid exhilaration.
He had to 20 across the street to borrow of
rival, with whom he main aimed open war
fare and secret friendship, and the peaceful
reputation of the Red Eye was left un-
guarded.
The Judge impassively gave out the re-
suit.
For Sheriff." he said, "the vote stands:
Maj. Morressey, 1873; Col. O'Shanahan, 1913;
Joe Emerson, l."
For a minute silence succeeded the an
nouncement of the vote. The Major and
| the Colonel sat opposite each other at the