The San Francisco call., 1904-10-09

far-away Gods country to the east
ward, Of the Gastonian epic, OF all
things save only two-the exile's cast
for fortune in the untamed West, and
one other.
That brings us little nearer TO the
things that be-and 10 your prospects,
David" said the guest. How are you
fixed here2"
Kent shrugged.
Castor is dead. as you see; too dead
10 bury"
why don't you get out Of II, them"
Il shall some day. perhaps. Up to
date there has been no place TO go TO
and 10 good way TO arrive. Like some
thousands OF others, I've made an ass
Of myself here, Loring."
BY coming. you mean? oh, don't
know about that. You have had some
hard knocks, I take il. but If you are
the same David Kent 1 used to know
they have made bigger man Of you"
Think so?"
I'D bet on il. We have had the Gas
ton epic done out for US in the news
papers. No man could live through
such an experience as you must have
had without growing few inches
Hello, What's this?"
A turned corner had brought them in
front Of a lighted building in Texas
street with a struggling crowd gath
cred about the porticoed entrance As
LorinE spoke there was rattle of
snare drums, followed by the dum-dum
OF the bass, and a brass band ramped
out the opening measures Of cam
- paign march.
Tt is a rally" said Kent, when they
had passed far enough beyond the zone
Of -throated' clamorings to make
the reply audible. Il told you that the
CASTOR wolf-pack had gone into poll
tics. We are in the throes of State
election nd fc 70 ne q
speech-making at the opera-hOuse to-
night. with Bucks in the title role. And
there is a fair measure of the deadnesS
OF the town. When you see people
flock together like that to hear a brass
band play. 1t means one of two things:
that the town hasn't outgrown the
country village stage. or else it has
passed that and all other stages and is
well on its way to the cemetery"
That is one way Of putting IT," Lor-
ing rejoined. IF things are as bad as
that, it's time you were moving on,
don't you thinlz2"
I guess So" was the lack-luster re-
Eponse. only I don't know where to
go, or what TO do when ] get there"
They were crossing the open square
IN front of the Wide-eaved passenger
station. A thunderous tremolo, domi-
mating the distant band music, thrilled
on the still air. and the extended arm
Of the station semaphore with its two
dangling lanterns wagged twice.
My train, said Loring, quickening
his step.
NO" Kent corrected. TT is a special
from the vest. bringing a Bucks crowd
10 the political. rally. Number Three
isn't due for fifteen minutes yet, and
she is always late
They mounted the steps to the sta
tion platform IA good time TO meet the
three-car special as it came clattering
in over the switches. and presently
found themselves in the thick OF this
crowd Of debarking railiers.
II was mixed masculine multitude.
fairly typical Of time, place and occa-
sion, stalwart men Of the soil for the
greater part bearded and bronzed and
rough clothed, with here and there a
range rider in picturesque leathern
chaps. 50 gging pistols and wide-fiapped
sombrerO.
Loring stood aside and put up his
eyeglasses. II was his first sight near
at hand Of The untrammeled West in
puIis naturalibus, and he was finding
the spectacle both instructive and di-
Vertiug. Looking TO Kent for fellow
ship ne saw that his companion was
holding himself stifIly aloof; also, he
remal ked that none Of the boisterOus
partisans flung a word Of recognition
IN Kents direction.
Don't you know any Of them?'' he
asked
Kents reply was lost in the deep
chested bull-bellOw Of a cattleman from
the Rio Blanco
Hold on a minute, boys, before you
scatter Line UP here, and let's give
three cheers and a tail-twister for next
Governor Bucks, Now. then-every-
body: Hip, hip"
The ripping crash Of the cheer Jared
LOring's eyeglasses from their hold and
he replaced them with a smile -Four
lines the ear-splittinG shout went up.
and as The echoes Of the tiger" trailed
OF into silence the stentOrian voice was
lifted again
Good enough, Now. then, three
grosns FOR the land syndicates, alien
mortgages and the Western Pacific
Railroad, by grabs! And to hell with
The responsive clamor was a thing
TO be acutely remembered-sustain
long-drawn. vindictive: nerve
wrenching pandemonium of groans,
yelpings and catCals. in the midst of
which the partisans shufied in loose
marching order and tramped away
downward.
THAT answers your question.
doesn't it?" said Kent smiling sour
~ If not 1 can set it out for you
In words. The Western Pacific is the
best hated corporation this side of
the Mississippi. and 1 am its local at
tOrney."
i don't envy you,'' said Loring. "'I
had no ioea the opposition crystallized
Itself IN any such concrete i'll will.
You must have the whole weight of
public sentiment against you in any
railroad litigation"
1 DO" said Kent, simply. IF every
complainant against Us had the right
TO pack his own jury we couldn't fare
worse"
What is at the bottom of it7 Is
II our pricking of TIE CASTOR bubble
by building on 10 the capital?"
oh, no; it's much more personal to
these shouters. AS you may, or may
not, know, our line-lil1e every other
Western railroad with no competition
has for its motto, An the tariff the
traffic viii stand and il bleeds the
country accordingly. But we are for
getting your train. Shall we go and
see how late IL is?''
CHAPTER III.