The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-03-04
The FAIR CANDIDATE.


of his opponent had developed, and
must be overcome by some means If he
hoped to win. Unfortunately, he was
worried, and his actions showed Il; on
one or two occasions while speaking he |
had given way to puerile bursts of tenn
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 childlike remark
well, II a woman doesn't want to get
herself talked about she'd better keep
out of politics"
This he practically repeated to a mix
ed crowd at Conover's schoolhouse, in
one of the strong cow districts" on
Friday night before election, adding:
Il cannot believe that parents inter-
estcd in the future welfare Of their chill
/ dren are willing to intrust their early
/ training to the hands and methods OF
+ one who so far forgets her womanhood
as to stand as candidate for a public
office" OF course he regretted the re-
mark almost as soon as 1t was uttered,
and recognized that the silence with
which 1t was received was the silence
Of a disapproval too strong to find ex-
preston in words. But 1t was too late
for regrets, and he expressed none.
The next afternoon came a brief but
pointed note from Miss Smith, In which
she gently reminded him that his youth
had evidently led him astray so far as
to forget the fact that she was practi-
cally defenseless, and that in speaking
of her as he had he had been both I'M
manly and ungentlemanly. This, COM
} ing as 1t did, at time when he was
, mentally cursing himself for an ass and
, brute, did not tend to soothe him, for
he knew that every word the note con-
! tanned was true. So, instead of answer
ing it as man should, he wrote at the
bottom of the sheet: You have nc
business In politics If you don't want
!, to stand the consequences" then signed
l it and remailed 1t to the original sender
An hour later he was sorry he had done
j so, and tried to get the letter out of the
: postoffice, but failed.
!. Thus 1t was that the next evening, a
he rode along the lonely trail leading t
Il the "enemy's country" where he wa
+ to address q big meeting Of cattlemel
v and make an effort to redeem hlmsel
# by practically recantlng all that he ba
d said derogatory to the opposing cand
4 date without losing too much of his a
% ready shattered self-respect, he was 8
RI absorbed mentally in thinking owe
ID what he should say that he did not hea
a sudden command to halt, and realize
n that he was in trouble only when
snuous, swishing thing hurtle
through the air, pinloned his arms I
10 his sides, and jerked him from his SAL
~ die to the rough ground.
- Good shot, OF manv' said some OF
:. in cowboy costume, who came up an
- sat on the victims chest. Eye got hi
~ right round tn elbows, fust throw
ia the rope"
= fumed Van Vert. "You can take n
:. money without taking my wind at t
80 same time. can't you"
Easy, m son." chuckled the gia
who was sitting astride him, as he he
y, the candidates wrists so that the 9th
a man, who now came up, could the mo
~ easily tie them. 1--WE don't want
"a stuff. Do we, pardner?"
"Nopey, van," said the second mi
ION in voice that Van Vert tried in Vi
to recognize. 1--WE jest want t put
OF. where We won't make no mo t,
nd. rmarks bout tn lady tbs ag'n y
ar not this eyenin', anyways"
not "See here, boys" said Van We
ese more calmly, this isn't a square dc
raj You know I've got to be at the meet
,eir at Meeker at o'clock? Well, it's aim
inc that now, so let me go"
cod "oh, no, Jimmie" laughed one of
opt captors heartlessly. Not TING
hat 'Squar' DEAL b'leve We said? Wa
ing squar' deal FIR you t git up an N;
,ert TIL talk We did bout tn little schI
On ma'am las night? Not any. SO ST
his up. Jimmie, an let tn gent tackle
dis to TIL tree. Wen let We go fore We
pttv cold. Easy, lad. Eff ye git gay
an won't do thing but hawg-tie We
e OF leave ye lay TIL maWnln'
see The next hour was as long one
get Jimmie Van Vert ever spent.
rus night was chilly one, and the re
ties. with which he was bound prevel
ONE the free circulation of blood, so tina
got a very short time his extremties '
'u're aching with cold. To add to his
comfort, an owl took its station in
he brush near by and hooted derlsi
Vert whenever the prisoner shouted, and
him cries of the owl were responded t
but several wolves, whose voices soul
of as though they were very close at q
men Several times Van Vert heard pc
has 20 by on horseback and In wagons,
ured shouted to them at the top of his IL
ired, but the trail was some distance
red the clump of brush, aud they did
ing hear him. At last, however. whe
that had about given up all hope of esca
Dung until his captors should come an,
/ 10 lease him, he heard the sound Of b,
coming along the trail, their r
ct,on laughing and chatting, and he llftt
were his voice In a mighty effort to
max himself heard. The riders evid
netit. heard him, and stopped. He sh,
had again, and presently heard them
.yeral ing toward him.
good. How did 1t happen% QuerieS
was young woman, after she and thu
favor mad released the candidate fror