Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-08-22

~ Mh BONoI-h
between them. 1t passed from Mr..
Bowser TO the unknown. and his words
were plain as he said:
This will get the boys ready to yell
for you and put you through by accla
nation BE over in half an hour to
give 'em talk"
When the caller had departed. Mr.
Bowser came back 10 the sitting room
with shining eyes and a flush on his
face.
"Was it the gas manT" queried Mrs.
Bowser. knowing he was dying to be
questioned.
"Not exactly"
'If it was the tramp who called here
at about 4 o'clock this afternoon"-
Mr.. Bowser interrupted her with a
hearty laugh and then said:
That's funny-the leader Of the in
dependents and the man who is 10
name the next mayor Of this city be-
ing mistaken for the gas mani ! shall
have to tell that to him for n good
joke"
But what did he want with you"
persisted Mrs. Bowser. 81 thought
YOU had decided long ago to cut poll
tics"
81 made no decision of the kind,
madam. am not one OF those men
who shirk their duty to their coun-
try"
"Well, understood you were out of
it. A year ago n lot of ward heelers
got $50 out of you on account OF poll
tics, and you went out with them and
got drunk and had n fight and came
home without your watch and"-
"StoD right there, womanv he shout
ed as he pointed his finger at her. mo
ward heeler ever got dollar out Of
me. | never went out with a gang. |
never lost my watch or came home
drunk simply had an idea OF run
ming for alderman. but gave IT up ow-
ing to the pressure of private business.
Don't let your malice and bigotry carry
you too far"
"And have you decided to run for
something this springr' she asked as
be paced up and down. followed by the
rat.
81 have I have discovered that sew
en- out Of every ten decent men In this
town think as ! do--that the country is
going to the dogs-and as It Is their
wish that | officially represent their
principles | am going 10 do 1t. Yes.
ma'am. am going to be the next may
or Of this town"
"On an Independent ticket"
"On an independent ticket. The hon
est. upright men have banded togeth-
er at last, and both old parties will be
given the 90 by. We Will sweep them
both into obscurity as the tornado
sweeps the dead leaves from the hill
side. You can order cards tomorrow
reading, Mrs. Mayor Bowser.' ! am
going out now for an hour or two, and
you needn't sit up for me-"
at must he nice to be ward heeler,"
she sighed.
"What have | to do with ward heel
ers?" he loftily demanded rs he turned
on her.
"Oh, nothing, except TO be n soft
mark. You'd better leave your watch
and money with me"
"Madam," he said as he came closer,
az fling the insult back into your teeth
You need not order any cards. While
l shall be Mayor Bowser you'll be
nothing. did not dream that there
Yas n person with such n small soul
on earth. go I'm answer TO the call or
my country. | go TO make speech TO
Il crowd Of patriots. | go to be unani-
mously nominated for the mayoralty."
with that he passed down the hail
and banged the door behind him, and
"a his footsteps echoed on the walk
Mrs. Bowser and the cat looked mt
each other and smiled. Mr.. Bowser
headed for an empty store two blocks
away which had been fitted up as n
headquarters, and as he entered the
place he found about 30 OF the faith
ful" waiting his appearance.
"Hurrah for old honestly Hurrah
for the man who viii save American
they shouted as he entered, ana he
couldn't be blamed for feeling glow
of satisfaction spread all over him.
When he had shaken hands with n
score or so Of his admirers, the man
who had taken 1t upon himself TO boss
things took him aside and whispered:
"You see how the boys feel Every
one OF them is positively aching to lay
down his life for his country. That
FIVE bought two kegs of beer, but
you'd better duplicate It, We don't
want their enthusiasm TO get dry until
you are nominated"
"But | don't propose to buy my noml-
nation" protested Mr.. Bowser
"Tut tut, man. It's only beer TO
keep the boys shouting. You can slip
me the money, and they'll think it's
from me-"
Mr.. Bowser slipped. Then there
were shouting and hurTahing. and the
boss got up on chair and said that
America was going to the dogs Some
thing would he done, however. Mr..
Bowscr. honest, upright and patriot
10 the core, had consented to throw
himself into the breach and become n
second George Washington. They were
| there for the purpose OF nominating
him as mayor, aud he was there for the
purpose Of accepting the honor aud
pledging himself TO rescue the country
from It's shame and degradation. Be
| fore proceeding 10 nominate they would
proceed TO imbibe.
The welkin rang with cheers, and the