The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-10-15

ASAAOFc ucUl ludl HIS uSGrly killed
me. I have never mentioned it, but it
has been like sword hanging over my
happiness
"Then it shall not fall" he told her.
1T shall not fail! If those blockheads
vote against it, I'll buy the right of
way if it takes the last cent I've got.'
This forced a smile to Adeles ips.
"Then we'd be as deep in the mud as
we now are in the mire," she said.
Just then Pole Baker came to Miller.
Il don't want to make no break" he
said, "but I've got a idea I'd like to
work on them hill Billies in the jury
room if you hain't no objections. 1
hain't got time to tell you about it, but
as You are a-runnin' the shebang I
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. really
think it's gone by the board"
"All right, thanky'," said Pole as he
shuttled 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 4 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 off,"
said Bartell rather sheepishly. "Nothin'
as I know Of"
well, it looks to me like you got
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 sayv' 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 a set face why, he said t'other
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 all kin to elect i'm. He'll
make the best representative that we
ever had. He's got brains, he has,"
"You don't sayw Bartelps face
beamed, his eye kindled and flashed.
''That's jest whatv'
II hadn't the least idea he was fer
me-" said Bartell, drawing a deep
breath. In fact, lowed he would be
agin anybody but a town man.
"Alan never talks MUCH" said Pole
in tone of convictions: ''he acts when
the time comes fer it, But, la me, Mr..
Bartell, this is a-goin' 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. 1 don't know
how you feel, but I'd hate like smoke
to burst a man all to flinders that
~ d
you
II never knOwed he was fer me-"
was Bartell's next tottering 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 a 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"
I'll do what I KIM said Bartell, u
new light on his face as he turned to
the others. "Gentlemen," he began.
''listen to me minute. see a good
many Of you was affected by Alb Dan
iel's speech an sort O. want the road
anyway, so Eff
II don't exactly like 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 the rest
o creation, l say les git in the game
Huh''-the man finished, with laugh
ing shruS-"l don't like them hySpecks
one bit''
Me nuther," said man beside him.
'Nur me" came from some one else,
"Well, I'm willin' eff the rest are" an
nounced Bartell. All in favor hold up
gore hands,"
Pole Baker grinned broadly as he
counted them. "All up-the last one."
he said, then he sprang for the door and
stood before the expectant audience.
'Toot, toot!' he cried, initiating the
whistle Of locomotive. "An 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