The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-05-19

Snyder or any of them come in, just
tell 'em I'll be back directly
With these few parting observations
he waddled off.
Mr.. Rounder was not bad man at
heart. He was a lover of good-fellow-
ship, and was himself the prince OF
good fellows.
He was the son of preacher-a
Baptist and Virginian of the old
school-but he rarely attended church
as often as once In month. and now
bore small indication of his early re-
ligious training, except such scant in
dicia as might be CLEANED from his
ludicrous Biblical references and quo
tations. He had always been some
what of rake, and naught but the
expected happened when he was trans
mogrifed into politician. He went
from bad to worse. and from worse
to politics.
AS auditor of the state he had gath
cred about him corps of assistants
wholly to his liking, excepting two.
The political views Of Mr.. Blunt were
entirely too radical, and those of Mr..
Sibley altogether too slippery. But
both Mr.. Sibley and Mr.. Blunt, the
one as his chief clerk and the other
as his private secretary, had possibly
acquired more knowledge about the
inner workings of the administration
of Mr.. Rounder than that gentleman
cared to have made public, SO he made
swift to endure what could not be
altered, grunting and putting his life
comfortably away, and accumulating
fat and fees as he went rolling and
lolling along.
sSib," said he, when stepped into
the gilded palace of sin around the
corner to get me something cool, the
gentleman in the white apron in
formed me that fellow had just been
In there who was going to make q
talk to the board this morning against
Mr. Snyder and Mr.. Crandall and all
of them, and try to get us to raise the
assessments on franchises; says he
represents some kind Of a Peoples
Welfare Society, or some such fool
thing or Other-now wouldn't that
singe your eyebrows?"
ut certainly would" was the prompt
reply.
"But say, Sib; we oughtn't to listen
to that fellows talk-tryin' to drive
capital out of the state. Why, It we
should listen to that dumb fool, we
might turn Mr.. Jones and Mr.. Snyder
and all of 'em against the party"
"He must not be heard" said Sibley.
"But we've got to hear him, Sib."
ssHe must be heard" said Sibley.
"Hold on there a minute the per-
picked statesman suddenly exclaimed,
there comes Mr. Snyder now; Well
just talk to him about IT,"
At that moment tall, elegant look
ing gentleman, with pleasant face
and merry, twinkling eye, walked
briskly into the room, and the robust
Auditor sprang ioyously to his feet,
with rather more alacrity than might
have been expected, considering his
weight. why Why. how are yan. Colonel,
how are YOU" said he; "how's every
sixteen foot of you? Be seated, Col
onel, be seated"
How have you been. Billy" the
brevetted Colonel inquired.
"Oh," responded the Auditor with
a heavy sigh, I've been keeping on
the reservation pretty welh thank
you--treading the wineprcss alone.
Colonel-tramping out the vintage OF
the Lord at the same old stand; ach-
ing bit at the elbows and knec-caps,
though. But I'm able to sit up a lit
tie. and take nourishment."
And Mr.. Sihley WINGED with pain.
at thought OF the aching knee-caps
and elbows.
"Gout. chr High living. | suspect
"No. no: 'tisn't that. Colonel.
'Tisnt my homely fare that's troubling
me. | can't account for II at all. un-
lcas II comes from sitting In damp
churches. and eating late meals' o.
sundays, caused by listening to long
sermons suppose you know. Coli
onel, there's a fellow up here trying TO
give us trouble about the assessments
today"
The colonel" had heard Of II: had.
In fact. been observing The movement
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