New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-17

bottom of the sheet: You have no business III
notifies: II you don't want to stand the conse-
quences." then signed 1t and remailed 1t 10 the
original sender An hour later he was sorry ne
had done So and tried to get the letter out OF
the postoffice. but failed.
Thus It was that the next evening. as he rode
along the lonely trail leading to the "enemys
country" where he to address Dig meet
ing of cattlemen and make an EFFORT 10 reuee'i'
himself by practically recanting all that ne hau
said derogatory to the opposing candidate WIFI
out losing too much Of his already shattered SELL
respect he was absorbed mentally In thinkihs
over what he should say that he did not near
sudden command to halt. and realized that ne
was in trouble only when sinuous. swishihe
thing hurtled through the air. pnioned MS arms
to his sides and jerked him from his saddle 10
the rough ground
Good shot OF mani" said some one In cow
boy costume, who came up and sat on the VIC
TINS chest I'VE got him right round IN ell
bows fust throw O TIL rope.
Let me up. you ID scoundrel.' fumed
Van Vert. You can take my money without
taking my wind at the same time. can't you?
Easy. m son." chuckled the giant who was
sitting astride of him. as he held the candi-
dates wrists so that the other men. who now
came up. could the more easily tie them. I'VE
don't want y'r stuff Do we. pardner?
"Nopey Van" said the second man. in
voice that Van Vert tried in vain to recognize.
I'VE jest want { put we where we won't make
no mo- fool rmarks bout tn lady THIS az IN
ye-not this evenin'. anyways
See here. boys" said Van Vert, more calm
~ this isn't a square deal. You know I've
got to be at that meeting at Meeker at .
o'clock? Well. it's almost that now. so le,
me 60"
oh no. Jimmie" laughed one OF his captors.
heartlessly Not might. 'Squar' deal
b1ieve We said? Was it a squar' deal f'r you t
git up an make tn talk ye did bout tn little
schoolma'a am las night: Not any. so stan
up Jimmie, an let tn gent tackle we TO tn tree.
Well let we go fore we git cold Easy. lad Ell
ye git gay. won't do a thing but hawg-ue
we an leave We lay till mawnln'.
The next hour was as long one as Jimmie
Van Vert ever spent. The night was emily
one and the ropes with which he was pouho
prevented the free circulation OF blood, so that
in a very short time his extremities were ach-
ing with cold To add to his discomfort, an
owl took its station in the brush near by ana
hooted derisively whenever the prisoner shouted
and the cries Of the owl were responded 10 d!
several wolves, whose voices sounded as 'housh
they were very close at hand
Several times Van Vert heard people go by
on horseback and in wagons and shouted 10
them at the top of his lungs; but the trail was
some distance from the clump of brush ana
they did not hear him. At last, however, when
he had about given up all hope of escaping until
his captors should come and release him. he
heard the sound Of horses coming along the trail
their riders laughing and chatting. ard he lifted
I'm his voice in a mighty effort to make himself
heard The riders evidently heard him, and
stoned He shouted again, and presently
heard them coming toward him.
'Where are you?" called a feminine voice. In
response to another bleat from Van Vert, and
in a moment there was crashing OF underbrush
and the face and form of young woman were
outlined in the moonlight, followed second later
by the wondering countenance Of lad of about
twelve years
How did it happen" queried the young wom-
an after she and the boy had released the candi-
date from his uncomfortable predicament and
he was untying his horse from neighboring
tree.
Van Vert explained. in an injured tone. adding
with as much dignity as he could command: Il
am the candidate for Superintendent of Schools.
and | suppose this is a sample of the methods
Miss Smith and her cowboy friends have adopted
to defeat They knew l was to speak at
Meeker tonight, and thought that by preventing
me from doing so, they could gain few
votes III show en-, when get there"
The young woman laughed merrily. Politics
is a funny business. isn't it?" she said. The
idea of resorting to such measures. But she
added soberly. you should not blame MISS
Smith for what her overZealous friends have
done. Miss Smith is a friend of mine. and l
know she would not sanction such a thing. 1t
1t would be most unfair To accuse her of it. don't
1,.in oil If
grOund?'
Van Vert admitted that it would.
Then as a favor to me-" said his fair rescuer
do not please say anything about It, at least
bv way Of connecting her with the affair I'm
sure one would regret it more than she, if she
knew about it..
After some hesitation, Van Vert promised, and
presently his rescuer and her escort left him.
branching off on "A trail that led toward a farm.
house that he could see in the distance.
The candidate noted with grim smile. on
his return. the CONSERVATION his appearance
created in certain part of the room.
and concluded that two or three men
whom he knew to be friends of his looked
rather sheepish; but he kept his own
sci. and made no reference to his adventure In
the course of the excellent speech he presently
made he took back what he had said about
his opponent in manner so graceful as to win
for him rounds of applause and when he sat
down il with the consciousness that he had
in part redeemed himself.
AS he started, along with Of the other
candidates. to leave the hall, he noticed for the
first time that the young woman who had res
cued him from the FIX In which the cowboys
had left him, had not gone home to stay when
she left him. for there she was. just leaving the
hall in company with an older woman in Wild
owls weeds
who is that" he asked of the candidate for
Sheriff, who at his side
THAT grip" queried the other. Why, boy.
that's your hated adversary. Miss Smith. Hadn't
you seen her before?"
But Van Vert did not hear the question lie
hurried to catch up with the opposing candidate.
who started when he addressed her. but quickly
recovered herself and smiled sweetly upon him.
Miss Smith," he burst out impetuOusy II
don't know what you must think Of me- after all
the low-down things I've said about you and the
holy show made Of myself this evening But
hope you'll believe me when say I'm sorry for
the things I've said-and honestly hope you'il
be elected after all | shall vote for you anv
way, and you can count on lots Of nv friends