The Globe-republican., 1901-03-21


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 se1f-respect to
accomplish a result, however greatly
we desire it. 1 never will sit down to
dinner with that sort of crowd
again.
At last the caucusses were held and
the result was not decisive One ward
sent an instructed delegation to the
county convention, did several OF
the country towns. 1t became fight
to get these uninstructed delegates
Meantime Fox had fixed up deal with
the controlling forces in two other
counties to nominate Comstock if he
went to the convention with his own
county and able to deliver its votes
A delegation of manufacturers called
on COmstock and pointing out that
they could deliver five of the unin-
/ structed delegates, asked for a 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 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 pha1anx. It has
cost a pile OIL 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 pension.
MIR. Comstock,'' said Weldon. with
tears in his eyes. Forgive me, sir.
for disturbing you, but I can't let 1t
happen without making one appeal to
you. I make bold to do so, sir, be-
cause you have always been kind
to me as your father was before you "
In establishment Comstoclz asked the
old man what it was all about and in
| broken accents Weldon told him that
| the 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 sa1oonkeeper, was in love witt
pretty Mary Weldon, his granddaugh
ter He was an uninstructed delegate
to the convention He had been re
jected by Mary and nad figured out il
his cunning head that the Weldon
were absolutely dependant on the Com
the price of his vote. Fox had beel
approached and hao induced Mrs. Com
stock to play this last desperate car
without letting Comstock know Of it
re Il would go to the poorhouse will
II ingly, SIR said Weldon; but the gir
1T won't hear to it and she has consente
/ to do Mrs. Comstock asks of he
" The poor thing cried all night for ism
u she in love with Aom Burns, as cleve
ct and honest lad as ever stepped? BIT
ne she won't bulge il her decision and
T. came to plead for her
ge There was expression in Con
1 stocks face which no man had eve
Sc, seen there in all his life. He ran
. his bell sharply and sent the servar
as to ask Mrs Comstock to come into til
library. When she entered sne starte
id back in amazement at the spectacle
as her mild-mannered husband. standiu
in behind his table with blazing eye
OF She saw Weldon and knew what W.
ce | coming. She threw up one arm as
lr- to avoid a blow and sought to spea
Before she could do SO the words can
IT from him as from some live volcano
to Madam, you must be mad Do "
m think I am so poor a thing that
ed would accept any result by such meal
ck as you have been usfnE-even to &