Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-03-22
Madam, you must be mad"


their marriage. The dinners were at
tended by a motley crowd whose pres
ence and whose conversation was an
offense.
This will not do" he said, sternly.
1--WE must not lose our self-respect to
accomplish result, however greatly
we desire it. l never will sit down to
dinner with that sort of a crowd
again.
At last the caucusses were held and
the result was not decisive. One ward
sent an instructed delegation to the
county convention, as did several Of
the country towns. 1t became a fight
to get these uninstructed delegates
Meantime Fox had fixed up deal with
the controlling forces in two other
went to the convention with his own
county and able to deliver it's votes.
delegation of manufacturers called
on Comstock and pointing out that
they could deliver five Of the unin-
structed delegates, asked for pledge
that he would stand for certain tariff
schedule on wood. Again it required
all Fox and Mrs. Comstock could do to
get his consent to such an arrange
ment."
Must | go to congress as an auto
maton," he protested; with my vote
pledges on all subjects?"
Fox explained that the tariff sched-
ule always was fixed in party caucus
and he could go on record in the eau
Gus in some way that would not do
violence to his convictions.
Then came the denouement. Fox
announced two days before the conven
ton that victory was won. I'VE have
one vote more than the opposition and
they can't touch our phalanx. 1t has
cost a pile Oh money but it is our
meat"
The next morning Comstock received
a call from John Weldon, an old man
who had been in his service for many
years and in the service Of his father
before him. Some time before he had
been retired on a pension.
Mr.. Comstock," said Weldon, with
tears in his eyes. Forgive me, sir,
for disturbing you, but | can't let 1t
happen without making one appeal to
you. l make bola TO do so, sir, be-
cause you have always been kind
to me as your father was before you"
In establishment Comstock asked the
old man what it was all about and in
broken accents Weldon told him that
Inc day before Mrs. Comstock had
come to his house and told him that
Comstock was about to be defeated
for the nomination. There was but one
way to save the day. Tim Maloney,
the saloonkeeper was in love with
pretty Mary Weldon, his granddaugh-
ter. He was an uninstructed delegate
to the convention. He had been re-
jected by Mary and mad figured out in
his cunning head that the Weldons
were absolutely dependant on the Com
stock pension and bride should be
the price Of his vote. Fox had been
approached and HAD induced Mrs Com
stock to play this last desperate card
without letting Comstock know of it.
II would go to the poorhouse will
ingly. sir" said Weldon; but the girl
won't hear to it and she has consented
to do as Mrs. Comstock asks of her
The poor thing cried all night for isn't
she in love with 4! ON Burns, as clever
and honest lad as ever stepped? But
she won't bulge il Eer decision and |
came to plead for her." ,r
There was an expression in Com
stocks face which no man had ever
seen there in all his life. He rang
his bell sharply and sent the servant
to ask Mrs. Comstock 10 come into the
library. When she entered SIG started
back in amazement at the spectacle of
her mildmannered husband, standing
behind his table with blazing eyes.
She saw Weldon and knew what was
coming She threw up one arm as IL
to avoid a blow and sought to speak.
Before she could do so the words came
from him as from some live volcano:
Madam, you must be mad. Do you
think l am so poor thing that
would accept any result by such means
as you have been using-even to the