Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-01-15
A STROKE OF POLICY.
ny LucY FOSTER MADISON.

young 1ei1OW before MN lSfcSlN.
You are mistaken, sir, in supposing that
| came for any such purpose, returned
Sam Hunter, coldly. "You refused your
consent to the marriage, and as Gilmore,
mean Miss Craig, declines to marry without
il, there is nothing more TO be said. / came
in behalf of the citizens of ChA7okee.'
What do they wantT questioned the
president, sharply.
1T is the same grievance concerning which
you have been approached before, sir. ]
have been sent to lay the matter fully be-
fore you"
''Humphl don't think much of their ad.
vocate," grunted the other. State your
case briefly. / am in a hurry"
AS you are aware, Mr.. Craig, your rail.
road is more than a mile from the town.
You know the condition of the roads. The
drayage will be heavy, and freight is already
taxed to the utmost limit, to say nothing of
the inconvenience TO which our citizens VIII
be put. Now, we know that you have re.
fused to consider this matter, but we ask
you to look at 1t from our standpoint. There
has been no such discrimination made
against any other tow on the line. In
brief, sir, we desire that you run spur TO
Cherokee"
You desire me to build spur to your
go back to your fellow-townsmen and tell
them l won't do it, That railroad was
built for my convenience, not theirs. 1t
doesn't make any difference TO me whether
1t suits them or not. They can use it or let
it alone If they want TO be close to the road
let them move the town down to the depot.
You know the old adage: If the mountain
won't come to Mohammed, then Aoham-
med viii 60 to the mountain"
You mean" cried the young man.
"Just what / say" returned the senior
man, crushingly. Boston, the real estate
man, has the plot in charge. 1t is already
laid out in lots, and if your people don t
take them, others will. We're going to have
town there all right"
''But that would mean ruin to Cherokee"
exclaimed Hunter, dismayed. "You know
that we depend upon the trade of the In
dams and the farmers, and two towns
couldn't be supported They would be sure
to go to the new place"
Certainly. just our own supposition to
a dot / am glad that you see it so clearly"
Mr.. Craig smiled blandly as he saw the dis
comfture of the young lawyer. you may
tell your people for me that Boston viii let
them in on the ground floor"
at is outrageous" cried young Hunter,
with flashing eyes. IL see through your
scheme, Mr. Craig. At last / understand
why you have declined to listen to all of our
pleadings. But / tell you, sir, that this in
famous design shall not succeed. AS sure as
there is a God in Heaven, I'll find some way
to thwart iti''
do that" said the president, affably,
"and you may marry my daughter"
do you mean THAR" cried young Hun
ter, wheeling upon him.
Il do. If you are sharp enough to save
your town from having to move down to
my road you can have Gilmore. But don't
lie awake nights on account of your future
happiness. You'll never do it. AS well
think of bringing the moon to the earth as
to try to beat me. 1t takes smart man to
get ahead of Martin Craig"
'"That may be-" responded Sam, starting
for the door, "but we will see if you have not
found him. Good day."
He strobe out of the building with so much
resolution in his manner that for the mo-
ment Martin Craig was impressed with the
idea that he would accomplish his purpose.
Then he reused himself with an exclama-
ton.
''Pshawi He is young simpleton, and
| am a fool to give the affair a second
thought Cherokee will soon see that there
is nothing else for it to do but to move
down" He rubbed his hands in anticipa-
tory delight and then returned to his duties.
Feeling ran high in Cherokee when Sam
Hunter reported the result OF his mission.
Meeting after meeting of indignation was
held, and various plans were proposed to
Illustrate the railroads scheme, but none
seemed available. There seemed to be but
the one thing before them: to buy the lots
and move the town rather than have a new
town that would absorb their trade. But
young Hunter begged them to wait.
"He will give me his daughter if can
cireumvent him." be said, earnestly. Let
me have a little longer, boys"
As he was a great favorite, and the idea
of getting ahead of Craig very pleasing, the
citizens consented to delay purchasing the
lots. Sam pondered over the problem day
and night. at last he summoned the peo-
pie together in solemn conclave. After a
long consultation with them he disappeared
from Cherokee.
A few weeks after his interview with Pres
ident Craig, Sam presented himself again be-
fore that individual.
WELL" said the president, urbanely,
chow goes it, my young friend? Have you
come to tell me when the town will move
over?"
eve are not going to move" returned
Sam, coolly.
"You are not, Ell? Then what the devil
are you going to do?"
Stay where we are" answered Sam.
'Then / shall start my own town imme.
diately," cried the president, irately.
Pardon me, Mr.. Craig, but do not think
that you viii, !" said the young man, politely.
you don't, Ell? Maybe you viii be kind
enough to tell me why"
with great pleasure. You cannot start
your town because the citizens of Cherokee
own every foot of ground in the site. And
we won't move our town because we don't
want to-"
WHAT" calculated the president, spring
ing from his chair. what do you mean"
"Just what / say" returned Sam, smil-
ingly. AT my suggestion, the people OF
Cherokee decided that they would rather
own the ground and keep their town where
it is than to move. Here are the deeds to
the land. Now have come TO claim my re-
ward"
well, I'll be =" gasped Craig. He stared
stupidity at the young man for few mo-
ments, and then said, grimly: 81 guess
you'll do for son-in-law. You are the first
man to get ahead of Martin Craig. Such
Emartness must not be out Of the family
Make your arrangements with Gilmore for
the wedding as soon as you please, and tell