The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-03-07

;apissi. BE had his own desk In the ssn
ste chamber, aud a big leather chair In The
lobby OF the legislative Headquarters, WA
always reserssd for him during the ses
ksona. During the evening. when be had
sniahed supper, "uEe,e Bilt" sas there un
| ~ ten o'clock, when, with unfailing Tegu
lariIy, he went upstairs to bed.
1 Incidentally, IL should ba stated thai
"unele Bill" was rich. Many exaggerated
stories were told Of the vast fortune which
the old man had laid away. Az a matte:
Of fact, he did own several thousand acres
Of fertile farm land. aud couple Of three,
story buildings in his county seat lie was
worth several hundred thousand dollars
lie was by no meaHs a miaer. He had been
known 70 play a game Of poker with tho
boya," in which he rarely lOst; he drank
bis toddy with the rest; the experienced
ineuabers Of the legislature counted 'uncig
Dill" a good fellow" who was far from
being such fool as he locked and acted
0ae thing they an knew or econ learned.
When anything crooked" waa going on
Uncle BID" could not be eaunted on.
Uncle BIZ was In his seventies and a
confirmed bachelor when a strange thinr
happened. lie cane iown 70 the CAPITAL
one session with a pretty voting wife. His
cronies weEu assonisbcl, but the nsre fact
that he was married apparently made lie.
tie difference In "Uncle Isill's" peeuitari.
ties. He still wore hia red flannel shirt
and bis high boots. lie was still anxious
thai everybody should hear him give his
Justly celebrated imitation Of the gray
wolfe bowl. Az the same time he was Dc,
vcslua itself 90 his ynnng wife. People who
tried 10 jest with him on the subject quick.
ly discovered that he could bite a. well
as howl like o woif
The wife developed social aspirations. II
happened that the leader Of society In the
c1pitsl was The wife Of one Of the long.
time United States senator's from the state.
On one occasion Mrs. DTadIAw, 10 whom
Uncle Bin" had given free rein In che
matter Of expenditures, sent out Invitations
for a reception at the hotel. The wife Of
the United States senator was invited. She
did bot come and failed 10 take any no.
tlec whatever Of The invitation. No one
In The smart nct' at the capital nut In an
appearance. Instead, thcy talked about
Uncle Bills" ciirontcry In expecting 90
ioist his former hired Eirl" into polite
society. ''Unslr Dill' heard this talk ana
kept Il all carefully from his wife. but be
stored Il all 10 In his wrli-traincf old mem.
DRY, al thrcugh TIA. session Mrs. Brad
law made vain and pitiiul attempts 70
break into society. ~ =hc got gas snuhs,
which Uncle iii" dm his best to explain
away.
A year later tho term Of The United
States senator, whose wife tad been one
~ Nrn al .ta4 \
20 he reelected The legislature was close
Every vote counted. Uncle Bills" was
one Of those which were badly needed.
Then the wife Of the United States scr.
htnr sent out invitations for a reception.
This time Mrs. Bmdlaw was on her list
"Uucle BIT would not let her go. He
even refused 10 allow her 70 send regrets.
wait q few dayr," he reid. "aud see
what will happen"
In few days one Of the managers Of
the senators camnaiEn came around 10
have a talk with "trrle Bal"
Mrs Lansing" be- said "was Eorry
that Mrs Bmdaw could not como to her
reception. Senator Lansing asked me- TO
say that he hoped both you and Mrs.. Hrad.
hw would come TO the next reception on
Thursdoy"
Wei. VIC v'on't. aaid Uncle Rill." III
Senator lansing hes ANYTHING 10 say 10 me
he had better rur3c around end say Il him.
sell. haven't got timc 60 waste ,Alkin'
TO you. Kindly tell tho senator that have
a long memory and that I've been In politics
tho long 90 bite on a hare hook"
4 day or two later matters came 10
climax In the senatorial fight. senator
lansing needed a couple of votes 60 insure
his election and he was hard pressed to
find them. One evening he came TO the
Jones house and asked for "t'ne,e Bill"
lie was directed 20 the big chair In the
lobby, where the cid man occupied his
usual place.
'acuxe my not gcitin' o." raih 'TTnele
BEL "liow arc yon thia evcnin'"
Senator lansing Expressed desire for
private talk and was finally accommodated
lie and Uncle lill'' went upstairs and
locked the door behind them.
There amt no usc n two old ielIers Ike
US heating around che bush, said Uncle
Bill, - when they sat down together. NIL.
lic-that'S my wife--Wants to get en- invite
70 al the do;ns here a. the capital. Shs
thinks 1t ed be fine tn bust into sosiety.
don't take no stock in that kind of thing
mysclt. Bai what the Rih wants she's
goin' to GIT. II ran git Il for her"
WHY, Bill broke In Senator Lansing.
Mrs. lansing cent your wife an invita-.
ton to her lest reception end was disap,
pointed because she did not come She"
"fes," answered "trele Dlli. II know
she did, bat ! wonder n YOU remember
how you alt treated Mllie las, session.
do. You must think lin foolish to take
On invitation jHst before sou eofne up for
election on the square IN tell you what
I'll do. Ii you want 70 sit my vote you've
got 30 give me contract In black and
white Miilie gifts nm invite 70 all your wife's
doin'E for thc ncxt Fix rs-hrFe an In
Washington. too,"
Senator lansing pointed ont the absurd
ity of the request. and was met With the
statement that IN no other way could he
secure Uncle Hili's' vote. The next day,
after a further consultation, lie made a
second call and found "Ninsle nll'' NJ firm
NJ before. by this time Il was certain that
Uncle Bile" vole wa absolutely essen
iial to Senator Lahsing's saereas, and Il il
! matter Of record that q contract in writ.
ing was as5ually drawn up and signed by
he two parties to the bargain. The eoa.
tract itself il said to be rsill in existence
n state not far west Of the Missisaippi
river.
Mrs. Bradlaw developed later inta
woman Of many social EEaces. As "uncie
BIZ said Al the START, be bad the rnnnsy
10 pay the billa. and he neyrr made The
liehtest objection TO amy Of her expeiidi
Iaros, She even finally Suereeded 10 get.
ing him 10 put en- a dress suit in the even
ne, though t. lbs day OF his death be ciana
10 his red shirt and hish baota for ordi-
nary occasions. hicAEo Tribune.
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