Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-28

DuL lS1DdShck AlllQ ol CEuulS III WlID
al kinds. 'Tain't always safe to jedge
a candidate by the kind Of cigars he
gives out neither. I've found that out"
They reached that part OF Orham
which is called the Neck and pulled up
before small building bearing the
sign, Solomon Bangs, Attorney at
Law, Real Estate and Insurance.
Here the captain turned to his com.
panjon and asked: Sure you haven't
changed your mind, Elsie? You want
that school teachin' job?"
Il haven't changed my mind, Cap.
tain Eri."
well, wanted to be sure. should
hate to ask Sol Bangs for anything
and then have to back out afterwards.
Come on, now"
Solomon Bangs was the chairman
Of the Orham school committee. He
was short, stout man with sandy
side whiskers snd bald head. He
received them with becoming conde-
scension and asked If. they wouldn't
sit down.
why, I've got little business I
want to talk with you bout, SOL" said
the captain. Elsie, you set down here
and make yourself conf table, and Sol
and me II 20 inside for minute"
AS he led the way into the little pri-
vate office at the back of the building
and seemed to take it for granted that
Mr.. Bangs would follow, the latter gen.
tleman couldn't well refuse. The pri-
vate Office was usually reserved for in9
terviews with widows whose home
stead mortgages were to be foreclosed,
guileless individuals who had indorsed
notes for friends, or others whose busi-
ness was unpleasant and likely to be-
accompanied with weeping or profan-
ity. Mr.. Bangs didn't object to fore
closing mortgage, but he disliked to
have prospective customer hear the
dialogue that preceded the operation.
On this occasion the door of the sane
tum was left ajar, 80 that Elsie, al
though she did not try to listen, could
not very well help hearing what was
said.
She heard the captain commenting
on the late cranberry crop, the excep-
tionally pleasant weather OF the past
month and other irrelevant subjects.
Then the perfumes of the campaign CT
gars foated out through the doorway.
Let's see," said Captain Err, "when's
town meetin' dayY'
"First Tuesday in December" replied
Mr.. Bangs.
"Why, SO tits, so It's. Gittin' pretty
nigh, amt tt? What are you goin' to
git of the school committee fort"
me? Get of the committee? Who
told you thatr'
"Why, don't know. You are, amt
you? Seems to me heard Seth Win
gate was goin' to run, and he's from
your district, SO thought, of course
us Seth going to try for the commit
tee7"
"Seth's good man." was the equivo.
cal answer.
"A good man! He amt any better
man than am. What's he know about
schools, or how to run 'em?''
well, he's pretty popular. Folks
like him. See here, Sol, what's this
bout your turnin' Betsy Godfrey of
her placer"
"Who said I turned her Off I've
been carrying that mortgage for SO
long It's gray headed. can't be Santa
CLAUS for the whole town. Business Is
business, and I've got to look out for
myself"
"Ye-es, s'pose that's so. Still, folks
talk. and Seth's got lots Of friends"
"Eri, I amt denying that you could
do heap to hurt me if you wanted to,
but l don't know why you should. I've
always been square with you, fairs I
know. What have you got against
met"
'Oh, nuthin', nuthin'! Didn't hear
you was tryln' to get that Harniss
teacher to come down here and take
Carrie NiXon's place when she got mar
rledT'
"Well, I thought of her. She's all
right, isn't she7''
Yes, s'pOse she is. 'Twould be bet.
ter If she lived in Orham, maybe, and
folks couldn't say you went out Of
Town Tor teacher when you could
have had one right from home. Then,
she's some relation Of your cousin, amt
she? Course, that's all right, but
well, you can't pay attention to every
thing that's said"
Gould have got one right from
home! Who'd we get? Dave Ell
dredge's girl, 1 suppose. I heard she
was after it,
The conversation that followed was
In a lower tone, and Elsie heard but
little Of 1t. She heard enough, how
ever, to infer that Captain Fri was
still the disinterested friend, and that
Solomon was very anxious to retain
that friendship. After awhile the
striking Of matches indicated that
fresh cigars were being lighted, and
then the pair rose from their chalrs
and entered the outer Office. Mr..
Bangs was very gracious, exceedingly
SO.
Miss Preston" be said, "Cap'n
Hedge tells me that it--er-night be
possible for us--er-for the town to Sc.
cllra-ar-ta--in shor+ f6r ,,o +o b,rA