The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-09-27

last few days than there has been for q
long time. Maybe we amt goin' to
starve to death after all."
"Just as l expected" said Simon.
IT'S just a Mckinley wave"
Well, IL that's the kind of waves
Mckinley brings, I say he's all right"
"You can't understand about these
things, Cynthia. Women never can.
But you see these gold bugs that have
control of the markets will raise prices
just a little, to catch farmers in their
trap. It's simply another Republican
scheme, and the reason there is so much
business done is because the farmers
are smart enough to take advantage Of
EN-, and sell before they go down"
Maybe we'd better sell our hogs
now If that's the case"
'They are hardly fat enough for the
market"
"Well l don't see what we're goin'
to do. You have gone and bet away
that $50. Maybe we'd better sell our
sheep and cattle during the Mckinley
wave"
9" would, Cynthia. I'd be tempted
to make a clearing sale, were 1t not for
the looks of the thing. You see Har-
rington and some others would say I
was ashamed to live here since the
fight and was goin' to move away"
Il don't see, Simon, as we'd have to
move away if we did sell everything"
mo, not as long as the money lasted,
and they didn't close the mortgage. But
then l suppose we'd either have to
move to the %poorhouse, or to Mexico, or
India, where people have good times"
well If you ever take such a ridicu-
lous notion as to move down there In
Mexico, and live among them Greasers,
you will go alone. I'd never go with
you"
But suppose we move to India"
"Simon Grey! Are you crazy? Why,
they're all heather over there, and I've
heard that there's more people there
now than there is room for. Besides,
where on earth could you get money
enough to take us all that far? Why,
such a suggestion is ridiculous. Maybe
when Joe Harrington hit you he
knocked out some Of -FOUR sense"
But no sooner said than Cynthia real
lied that she had struck the wrong
chord, for such q remark was an insult
to Simon, who had long been noted for
his wisdom. 1t reused his anger every
time he thought Of the fight, and when
Cynthia referred to it, in this fashion,
1t riled him beyond all reason. He
jumped up from his chair, and madly
stamping his foot on the floor, swore
that If she said another word he'd go
to India or Mexico, and he wouldn't
ask her to 60 along, and when he ar
rived there he'd probably marry again,
and she'd never know the difference.
Cynthia was SO amused she laughed.
wouldn't you look pretty, Simon, with
n Of them Greasers for q wifeT"
Referring to that old cuss Harring-
ton again, are you? He was the one
that told you the Mexican ladies are
Greasers. No doubt in my mind but
what it's another blamed Republican
scheme to make people think the Mexi-
cans are not as good as we are. l dare
say they're whittier than you are" and
he shook his fist in her face, to empha-
size 1t.
"Simon," said Cynthia, "take those
eggs and go to town. We need some
groceries, and maybe a little fresh air
might calm you. You know the doctor
said your brain should not be irritated."
'Ill attend to my BRAIN" retorted
Simon, "and also to the buyln' of the
groceries. I want so1ne tobacco for ono
thing. Anything else we needT
II suppose we could all live If you had
tobacco; but If there's any money left
you might get some sugar and Coffee"
Simon then started for Boonsville,
and Cynthia vas left at home with her
two little boys. "Pa looks kinder dilap-}
idated, don't hef" said Jimmie, as he
watched his father disappear down the
road.
Many remarks similar to Jimmie's
were made by the people of Boonsyille
when they saw Political Simon. He
did indeed look d%ilapidated; his figure
WIS less eEeCt, duu iIS 1edlucTS SteLueu
to be dropping.
"Hi, there, Simon" somebody said;
"up again, are your
Eyes. sir" said Simon. "Gp and ever
ready to defend my honor" And then
the fellow laughed.
ITO bad you were so unfortunate"
"Oh, you needn't grieve about it. I
amt any more unfortunate than you
are. The election has put us all in the
same boat-the boat of slavery and
despair"
II don't understand you, Simon"
swell, you will before many months
roll by. W. are elected to be slaves
of the rich men for four more years,
by that time we will all be in despair.
This Mckinley prosperity wave won't
last long,"
Suppose 1t does. though; then what
would you think?"
what = would Il think" Simon
slowly repeated. 81 would think 1t was
another id Republican scheme to de-
ceiye the people,"
well, wouldn't yon be glad If times
did get better, regardless Of the cause?.
Go be continued.)
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