News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-12-23
Abncr Daniel
WILL N. HARDEN


we now are in the mire," she said.
Just then Pole Baker came to Miller.
81 don't want to make no break" he
eaid, "but I've got idea I'd like to
work on them hill Billies in the jury
room if you hain't no objections l
hain't got time to tell you about it, but
as you are a-runnin the shebang l
thought I'd ak permission"
go and do what you think best,
Pole" said Miller recklessly. 1--WE can
trust TO your head, and anything is
better than nothing just now. l really
think it's gone by the board"
"All right thanky'," said Pole as he
shuffied away. He marched straight
to the jury room and without rapping
opened the door and went in, closing
the door after him. He found the men
all discussing the matter and was de-
lighted to find that the strength of the
opposition now rested chiefly in Bartell
and a few men who seemed afraid to
pull away from him. Pole slid up to
Bartell and said as he drew him to one
side, Say, Mr.. Bartell, what on earth
have you got agin Alan Bishop?'
"Why, nothin', Pole, as 1 know Of"
said Bartell rather sheepishly. "Nothin'
as know Of"
"Well, it looks to me like you got a
mighty pore way O. shown good will.
Why, he's the best friend you got, Mr..
Bartell, an totes more votes in his vest
pocket fer you than any man in this
county"
Huh. You don't sayr grunted Bar
tell in slow surprise. "Well, he never
told me about it."
"Beca'se you hain't announced yore-
self yet" said Pole. with a steady eye
and set face. Why he said tother
day to several of us at the log rollin'-
you remember you rid by on yore bay,
leadin' milk COW by rope. Well,
after you passed Alan Bishop said:
Boys thar goes the only man in this
county that has convictions an the
courage to stand by 'em. They say he's
goin' to run fer the legislator, an eff he
does I'll do al kin to elect i'm. He'll
make the best representative that we
ever had. He's got brains, he has"
"You don't say!' BartelPs face
beamed, his eye kindled and flashed.
That's jest what"'
II hadn't the least idea he was fer
me-" said Bartell, drawing a deep
breath. ''In fact, lowed he would be
aagin anybody but town man."
''Alan never talks much" said Pole
I'm a Of xyiotiot. bo re
the time comes fer it. But, la me, Mr..
Bartell, this is agoin' to break him all
to pieces. He's in love with old Bar
clay's gal, an she is with him. Eff he
puts this road through today he'll git
his daddy out o. debt an Barclay will
withdraw his opposition. l don't know
now you feel, but I'd hate like smoke
to bust a man all to flinders that
thought as much O me as Alan does O.
you"
81 never kDowed he was fer me-"
was BartelPs next lettering step in the
right direction
''Well, vote fer the right O way, an
you kin ride to an from Atlanta durin'
session all rail. Me an Alan will pull
fer you like yoke O steers-me with
the moonshiners, an my mountain clan
that amt dead yet, an him with his
gang. What you say? Put up or shet
up"
"Ill do what l kin" said Bartell,
new light on his face as he turned to
the others. "GentIemen," he began
"listen to me a minute. | see a good |
many of you was affected by Alb Dan
iers speech an sort O want the road |
anyway, so eff
81 don't exactly Ike them specks," |
broke in a fat, middle aged man at a |
window. by gum! l believe old Alb |
had us down about right. Eff we kin |
git sort O opened up along with tile rest |
o creation, say les git in the game.
Huh"-the man finished, with a laugh |
ing. shrug-"I don't like them hyspecks
one Bit
''Me nuther," said a man beside him.
''Nur me!' came from some one else.
'Well, I'm willin' eff the rest are" an
nounced BartelI. "AIl in favor hold up
yore hands,"
Ole bdheE SIIuueu DEOduly as ne |
counted them. "All up-the last one"
he said, then he sprang for the door ana |
stood before the eXpectant audience.
foot, toot!' he cried, initiating the |
whistle of locomotive. "All aboard. |
The roads a settled thing. They say |
they don't want no specks, and they |
amt a-goin' to have 'em. Hoorayw
The audience was electrified by the |
announcement. For an instant there |
was a pause Of incredulous astonish-
ment, and then the floor resounded |
rom the clatter of feet, and glad shouts
filled the air
Alan, his face ablaze with startled |
triumph, came toward Adele and Mil
Ter. pole worked the rabbit foot on
them back there" he said. II don't |
know what he did, but he did some
thing"
"He told me he had a card left"
laughed Miller. "I'll bet he had it up
his sleeve. There he is now. Oh, Pole,
come herep'
The man thus addressed slouched
down the aisle to Them his big brown
eyes flashing merrily under his heavy
brows, his sun Drowned face dark with
Lbo H,,el0 90 fri,