Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-08

er's enemies; swearing thar sooner or late,
he would get to thesbottom OF what he con-
sidered plain conspiracy against the good
name of an honest man; fighting for
Cooper, tooth and nail, In every way he
knew The battle had gone against him
he knew that-but he had hopes of good
news from outside1 the village. and. al
though he was by no means confident, con-
sidered that Cooper had atgeast chance.
It's been about the Hveliest election
Toms River ever see," said he to Cooper.
Don't you feel down-hearted none-theres
some men that's got sense left in New Jer-
seyi See IL there ain't!"
Cooper looked at him keenly, and could
tell by his face that he had very little hope
himself. but his presence oomforted him,
and he grinned, almost I'M the old way. IL
was the first time he had seen him during
the day. although Bull had tried to find
him half dozen times during the after
noon.
You know that that story amt true
about me, don't you. Sam?' he asked.
There's six black eyes in Toms River
tonight that made for fellers that said 1t
was" said Bull. with simplicity and perfect
truth.
The crowd began to gather not long
afterward, and while there were some shy
glances and some curious looks among
those who greeted the candidate for the
most part those who came tried in an awk-
ward way to act as if nothing unusual had
happened. and as If Cooper's honesty had
never been questioned by anyone There
had been a reaction of sentiment in his
favor late in the day, and there were many
men in the crowd, which quickly increased,
once the start was made, who, as they
shook hands with the pale but bravery
smiling candidate, were sorry that they
had let their impulse sway them to believe
such stories Of him Indeed, as he stood
there on his doorstep, in the black frock
coat and doeskin trousers which Betsey
Bobbin had made for him to receive his
nomination in. and with a smile on his
kindly, grizzled, old face, 1t would have
been hard indeed to have believed him cap.
able of such a trick as had been imputed
to him.
BY 8 o'clock he had been brought. as he
always was by contact with his kind, to
frame of mind which permitted him to re-
gard what had happened with the calm OF
a philosopher. He even joked about 1t more
than once, although the thought of his lit
tie daughter" still up there in that dark
ened room, quickly sobered him each time.
By the time when the first returns might
reasonably be expected his spirits had so
far revived that his face, when the smiles
left it, simply dropped as of old into genla!
lines of good-natured gravity, instead OF
assuming the deep, careworn look which II
had worn all day 1t was conversation
which he overheard in a group that did
not know that he was near which COM
pletely restored him to good nature sam
Bull was in the center of it, and they We're
discussing the events Of the previous night
and the day with some earnestness. lie
gathered from what he heard that 1t was
the general consensus Of this opinion that
his defeat was certain, but, as he had Tor
hours regarded this an established con-
clusion, the talk did not cut him.
why" Sam was saying, I'D bet most
anything on him up to o'clock last nightI.
said a bystander "I heard you bet your
whiskers!"
And amt shaved for thirty year," said
Sam, regretfully.
Cooper, who had been In the shadow
and unseen, stepped forward after this,
and asked Sam If it were true. Sam ad-
mitted it, and Coopers laugh which fol-
lowed, was genuine. 1t rang across the
width of the whole grassy Enclosure with
It's gathering throng, and Miss Betsey heard
it, marveled at it and joyed because of it
on the front porch, where she was trying
to make the women comfortab BILE in as many
chairs as she had been able to bring out
from the house or borrow elsewhere. 1t
even fioated into the window of the room
where the bruised and battered, bandaged
and aching Billy Sticker lay, and made him
smile a little, weakly. He did not under
stand just what had happened to him when
the crash came at the office, but ne UNDER
stood that hearty laugh
WELL" said Cooper, I'm awful sorry,
Sam. I'll pay the barber for you; and we'll
hope that they'll grow again, and even
handsomer'
Soon after returns were received from
the first polling place in Toms River to
report. Sam Bull had the management
of this affair. even as he had had of a
large part Of Cooper's, picnic. He glanced
at the penciled slip with some excitement,
and when he saw the figvres on it, his
frown was blacker than a thunder cloud.
But he marched up and whispered them
in Cooper's ear, while Betsey Bobbin, who
had joined them for moment. fixed an
anxious gaze on Cooper's face. She re-
f1ected with pride that no one looking at
the two men could doubt that whatever re-
suits were told upon the paper We're more
disconcerting to Sam Bull than they were
to Caleb Cooper.
"Wel," said Cooper, looking at him quiz
zically There's big lock of your whisk-
ers gone, Sam; but the only thing to do Is
to take them figgers back there to that fell
Ter and let him show EN- up.
This side amt had anything to hide so
far, and we won't begin by holdin' back
the figgers that we've said we'd show"
Sam started toward the lantern. Cooper
caught Betsey's eyes fixed upon him and
he beckoned to her. She edged her way to
him.
"Betsey, If you'll tell that band to start
somethin' nice and lively, jest as them fig
gers comes there on that screen, I'll be
much obliged to you.
She did, and, just as the brilliant circle
of light, with its scrowling lettering APP
peared upon the screen, the band began TO
play Hail Columbia
The screen said:
"Two election districts in Toms River
show: .o
Caleb Cooper. ............. 21O
Jacob MusSer. ............... ago
Betsey looked at them and shuddered, but
looked at Cooper with smile.
At about this time Henry Hubbard, I'M
able longer to control his anxiety about the
injured boy, rose up from his place there
at the edge of the swamp and started to-
ward the Cooper house.
AS he started there came wallingly
through the evening air the whistle of the
train approaching from Philadelphia.
tTo be continued)
Why Do Boys Hate BathsP