Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-11-30

1
ing entered the contest for the mayor.
ship. He would drop out now hut for
one thing.
| Lawton had loved Alice Lawrence
| for two years. but he had not yet ask
ed her to marry him. He could not 60
| to the old Judge and demand the hand
| OF his only daughter until he had an
assured income His practice was In
creasing, but that alone would not en-
able him to keep wife. However,
with the addition Of the mayors sal
airy It would be ample. II be did not
get the Office he could not perhaps mar
~ for two years, and two years to .
man in love sometimes seem an etcr-
nifty.
So he determined to fight 1t out and
win the mayors Office II possible By
any means that were not dishonorable.
For Alices sake he would wade
through political rnire, II 1t were only
mire that would wash of.
Even Lawton's enemies admitted his
political gift, but his friends declared
he was too direct, too honest, to enter
the lists with shrewd old schemer
| like Jackson Some Of his advisers
wished Lawton to outbid Jackson for
Luculus Williams influence, but at
| this suggestion Lawton's honor revolt
ed. His counselors laughed and replied
that he had not been in politics long
enough.
But every political boss" has his II
val, black as well as white. Lucullus
Williams had his.
.nere was a negro carpenter In OAK
vile who was longing for Lucullus po,
litical brogans. AS yet. however, Jim
Iawrence-he was former slave of
the judges-had not acquired enough
! influence with his race to render him
an object of bribery.
Yet Jim was learning. He knew that
| to keep ones name before the public
was the first principle of politics. To
| do SO he had offered his services to
! Lawton free of charge, and the young
| lawyer had been glad to accept them.
Il amt much of = speechifyer. Marse
Charley" said jim, but I'm power
full han ut still huntin, and I'll jes' cir
kilate roun' 'mong de colored folks an
git yer all de votes kin, for jes' bodo-
ciously 'spises dat biggfty niger, Luz
cullus Williams. wursuren pisen."
So 1t happen ed the morning after his
conversation with Judge Lawrence that
Lawton on his way to his office stopped
to see Jim at his shop.
Jim's place of business was en- side
street and had been u stable in ante
bellum days. In front Of the wide door,
on each side, two immense oaks, sur
vivors Of the primeval forest. shaded
the moss grown roof in summer and
pelted it with acorns in autumn
The interior Of Jim's shop would have
delighted the eyes of the old Dutch
painters. To his original trade Of car
penter Jim had added the avocation OF
uphoisterer and cabinetmaker. Besides
planned and unplaned wood Of all kinds,
the room seemed hospital for decrepit
furniture. The cobwebby walls were
lined with chairs, sofas and beds In va
rious stages of dissolution or GONZALES
cence. Jim was repairing broken leg
ged chair when Lawton entered
"Mornin'. Marse Charlie. Take dis
chair, Marse Charlie; dat un's missin a
Leg" Sid Jim, bustling forward with
a newly mended chair on his big black
arm and blowing the dust from 1t with
his great thick lips.
"Never mind, Jim. What's the news"
Don't ak me, Marse Charlie"
Haven't you gained me any more
votes?"
"Marse Charlie, I'm feared ! los
some" said Jim, dolefully gluing the
chair leg You know old jerusalem"
1.-The old lame darky?"
"Yes, that lives next door to me.
worked hard on ole Jerusalem, Marse
Charlie, an he swore to me he's gwine
vote for you eff he's Twin kase he
knowed yer gran father, the old gen
eral Well, las night, after all my
talkin' to Jerusalem, dat biggity mig
ger. Lucullus Williams. he tolled Jeru-
salem into the back door of Biggs' bar
room wild drink o. whisky. an II
o'clock las night Jerusalem come a
staggerin' home bulnpin' de fence every
| StcD hi II uooidW IA WI JaNhSol. LII .
| mighty desscouragin'. Marse Charlie,
hit sholy is" said Jim sorrowfully.
'It is, Jim." agreed Lawton, waxing
grave.
"Yes, Marse Charlie an I'm feared
all my votes is gwine de way o. Jeru-
! salem's. De onlies' way to keep EN-
is TO ketch EN- an pen EN- up like pigs,
said Jim, hanging up the chair to dry.
Il suppose Lucullus has command Of
all the liquor he wants.
ITO be sho'. Amt you hyerd what
| Cunnel Jackson done to Lucullusw
mo"
DE cunnel he's done writ Il order on
| all de barrooms In de town for to give
Lucullus all de whisky he aX for. al
Lucullus is tellin de niggers de cupne
wants EN- to drink to his success. De
cunnel says he can't drink wild em all
hisself. But. Marse Charlie. Lucullus
amt noways feared to take de job, dat
he amt. Yes, Marse Charlie. OATS
Low it is, an Lucullus is Jes' gwine
roun' sweatin' whisky"
'Never mind. Jim. we will give ZEN
a good fight anyway"
dat we will, Marse Charlie. But
hits mighty hard fightln' ginst whisky