Courier Democrat., 1904-11-24

upfoded. one OF the men ran 10 tue
farther end OF the car With q strip of
red. white and blue bunting and tack
ed it securely. while another fastened
the other extremity to the railing OF
the steps by Meredith. The two COM
panions Of this pair performed the
same operation with another strip on
the other side Of the car. They ran
similar lines Of bunting near the roof
from end to end. so that except for the
windows the sides Of the car We're
completely covered by the national col
ors. Then they draped the vestibules
with lags. 1t was all done in trice.
Meredith's heart was beating fast.
"W'hat's it all about:" he asked.
"Picnic down the line" answered the
man in charge. removing tack from
his mouth. He motioned to the con
ductor Go ahead"'
The wheels began to move: the dec
orators remained on the station plat
form, letting the train pass them, but
Meredith, craning his neck from the
steps, saw that they Jumped on the
last car.
mats l0e CeleOT0IlOu: aSheO
Harkless when Meredith returned.
"Picnic down the line" said Mere
dith.
"Nipping weather for picnic. A bit
COOL don't you think? One of those fel-
lows looked like friend Of mine.
Homer Tibbs. or as Homer might look
II he were in disgrace. He had his hat
hung on his eyes, and he siouched like
a thief in melodrama as he tackled up
the bunting on this side Of the car"
He continued to point out various
familiar places, finally breaking out
enthusiastically as they drew nearer
the town: Hello! Look there-beyond
the grove yonder! See that house:"
Eyes, John"
That's the Bowlders'. You've got to
know the Bowlders."
I'D like to-"
.The kindest people in the world.
The Briscoe house we can't see because
it's SO shut in by trees. and. besides. its
q mile or so ahead Of US. Wen go out
there for supper tonight Don't you
like Briscoe: He's the best they make.
Wen go uptown with Judd Bennett in
the omnibus, and you'll know how u
rapid fire machine gun sounds. l want
to 60 straight to the Herald Office" he
finished. with q suddenly darkening
brow.
AFTER all, there may be some ex-
planat!on," Meredith suggested with a
little hesitancy. H. Fisbee might
turn out more honest than you think"
Harkless threw his head back and
laughed. Honest. A man in the pay
of Rodney McCune. Well, we can lie,
it wait till we get there. Listen.
There's the whistle that means were
getting near home. Why. there's an
oil well"'
$50 it is
"And another-three, five, seven
seven in sight at once! They tried i,
three miles south and failed. but you
can't fool Eph Watts. bless him!
want you to know Watts"
They ran by the outlying houses OF
the town amid thousand descriptive
exclamauons from HAIRLESS, who wish
ed Meredith to meet every one in Car
low. But he came to a pause in the
middle of a word. do you hear mu'
sic" he asked abruptly, ''or is it only
the rhythm Of the ties:"
.1t seems to me there's music in the
air" answered his companion. I've
been fancying heard it for q minute
or so. There: Moves. It's band
isn't it:''
NO. What would a band-yes. i,
is-'
The train slowed up and stopped at c
water tank 900 yards east Of the sta
ton, and their uncertainty was at ar
end. From somewhere down the track
came the decorating boom of q cannon
There was a clash of brass. and th,
travellers became sure Of band play
ing Marching Through Georgia.
Meredith laid his hand on his com
papion's shoulder. John" he said
.John-
The cannon fred again. and ther
came cheer from 5000 threats, th
shouters all unseen. The engine cough
ed and painted, the train rolled on. an
In another moment It had stoppe
alongside the station in the midst Of
riotous jam of happy people who wer
waving flags and banners and handkel
chiefs and tossing their hats high i
the air and shouting themselves hoarst
The band played in dumb show.
could not hear itself play. The peopl
came at the smoker like long wav,
and Warren Smith. Briscoe, keatin
and Mr.. Bence Of Gaines were swer
ahead of it. Before the train stoppe
they had rushed eagerly up the step
and entered the car. Harkless was o
his feet and started to meet them. b
stopped.
what does 1t meanT' he said and b.
nan to grow pale. els Halloway-di
McCune-have YOU
Warren Smith seized one Of hj
hands and Briscoe the other. ''Wh:
does II meant" cried Warren. VI
means that you were nominated Il
cuns1eu 1t ave minutes after o'cloc
d af6a1odn!"
3~Oa~4he,s ssesnd ballot" shouted II
AnASa saesk - yoaln1 Eishee nlannl