Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-02-27
HE :FAIR CANDIDATE.


OF nv opponent mao OevelOpeO, 1n0
must be overcome by some means II he
hoped to win. Unfortunately. he was
worried. and his actions showed II; on
one or two occasions while speaking be
had given way to puerile bursts Of TEN.
per that by no means enhanced his
chances for success. Some Of the older
heads had warned him that by making
slurring remarks about his opponent he
would only hurt himself, to which he
responded by the childllke remark:
"well. II woman doesn't want to get
herself talked about she'd better keep
out Of politics."
This be practically repeated to.a mix.
ed crowd at Conover's schoolhouse, In
one Of the strong Cow districts" on
Friday night before election, adding:
II cannot believe that parents inter.
ested In the future welfare Of their chill.
dren are willing to intrust their early
training to the hands and methods Of
one who 80 far forsets her womanhooL
a. to stand as candidate for a public
office." or course he regretted the re.
mark almost NJ soon 40 It was uttered.
and recognized that the silence with
which It was received was the silence
Of a disapproval too strong to find ex.
preston In words. But It was too late
for regrets. and he expressed none.
The next afternoon came q brief but
pointed note from Mis- Smith, In which
she gently reminded him that his youth
had evidently led him astray 40 far a.
to forget the fact that she was practi.
cally defenseless, and that In speaking
Of her a. he had he had been both un.
manly and ungentlcmanly. This. com.
Ing as It did. at a time when he was
mentally cunning himself for an ass and
q brute, did not tend to s0othc him. for
he knew that every word the note con.
talned was true. So. instead Of answer.
Ing 1t a. man should, he wrote at the
bottom Of tho sheet: You have no
business In politics II you don't want
to stand the consequences" then signed
It and rcmailcd It to the original sender.
An hour later he was sorry he had done
30. and tried to get the letter out Of the
postoiiice, but failed.
he rode along the lonely trail leading to
the "eneMy's country" where he was
to address a big meeting Of cattlemcn
aud make an effort to redeem himself
by practically recanting all that he had
said derOgatOry to the opposing candi.
date without losing too much Of bis a.
ready shattered self.respect, he was 10
1No, u1Nn 1Ss lsN
what he should say that he did not hear
a sudden command to halt. and realized
that he was In trouble only when q
sinuous, swlshing thing hurtled
through the air, plnloned his arms to
his sides. and jerked him from his sad.
die to the rough ground.
Good shot. Of man!' said some ono
In cowboy costume. who came up and
sat ON the victims chest. I'VE got him
right round TIL elbows. fust throw O.
the rope"
Let me up, you - scoundrei!'
fumed Van Vert. "YOu eau take my
money without taking my wind at the
same time. can't your
EASY, m son." chuckled the giant
who was sitting astrlde him. as he held
the candidates wrists 10 that the other
man. who now came up. could the more
easily tie them. I'VE don't want y'r
stuR. DO we. pardnerY"
"NOpey. van." said the second man,
In a voice that Van Vert tried iu vain
to recognize. I'VE Jest want Z put 70
where ye won't make no mo- fool
r'marks bout TIL lady tbs ag'n ye-
not this evenin', anyways"
"See here. boys" said Van Vert.
more calmly. "this Isn't q square deal.
You know I've got to be at the meeting
at Meeker at 8 o'clock? Well. it's almos,
that now. 20 let me TO-"
"Oh, no, Jimmiew laughed one Of his
capt0rs heartlcssly. mot t'nIght.
'squar' deal ! b,lleve ye said? Was II
q squar' deal r. you Z git up an make
TIL talk ye did bout tn little school
ma'am las night9 Not any. So stan
up. Jimmie. an let tn gent tackle We
to tn tree. Wen let ye 20 fore W VII
cold. Easy. lad. Ef 70 git gay we
won't do thing but hawg-tIe ~ an
leave ye lay TIL mawnIn'."
The next hour was a. long a one a.
Jimmie Van Vert ever spent. The
night was q chilly one. and the ropes
with which he was hound prevented
the free circulation Of blood. so that IN
Z very short time his extremltles were
aching with cold. 10 add to bis dis.
comfort. an owl took its station In the
brush near by aud ho0ted derIslvely
whenever the prisoner shouted. and the
cries Of the owl were responded to by
several wolves. whose voices sounded
~ though they were very close at hand
Several times Van Vert heard people
20 by on horseback and In wagons. and
shouted to them at the top OF his lungs
but the trail was some distance fronl
the clump Of brush, and they did moi
hear him. At last. however. when be
had about given up all hope Of escaping
until bis captors should come and re-
lease him, be heard the sound OF horses
coming along the trail. their RIDER
laughing and chatting. aud he lifted uI
his voice In a mighty effort to make
himself heard. The riders evidently
heard him. and stopped. He shouted
again. and presently heard them com
Ing toward him.
"How did It happenT queried tn,
young woman, after she and the boy
had released the candidate from hi,