Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-25

Bobbin's plan. He rose to his feet slowly,
touching Billy on the knee and giving him
a warning look he did
Mr.. Chairman" he said. Il have to beg
a favor of the convention"
The delegates watched him in surprise.
Even Bull showed curiosity. For just a
moment Mussers eyes flashed as if with
hope that help had fallen down from heaven
to him. but when he saw who it was that
spoke he leaned back, wondering, as were
the others of the audience.
Il am not a delegate to this convention
Selkirk said, although | might have been.
l am here, elected by your courtesy to be
its secretary, more as journalist than
politician. But may l ask the privilege of
the fioor?'
will some one make a notion" asked
Sam Bull
He let his eyes rove among the interested
faces and stopped them as if casually on
the countenance of the man he had ar
rangd with for this by-play. This man rose
at once and made the motion. 1t was quickly
carried, in spite of MusserS Redeemed face
and sputtering objections He had not the
least idea what was coming, but he knew it
might be dangerous.
Jack bowed.
Thank YOU" said he. Now I shall beg
the further favor of the right to transfer
that high privilege to another-a stranger
in Toms River and one not accustomed to
the deliberations of such assemblages as
this May | have it? The-the gentleman
for whom l crave the privilege is not poll
tician, and is quite ignorant of formalities
and rules, yet he has some things to say
which l am sure you will agree are most
important"
There were movements of intense curios-
ity throughout the hall but Jack showed
by neither word nor look who IT was he
had in mind. Sam Bull put the motion as
he had before, and it was carried by a
body of wide-awake and puzzled men.
Then it was that Selkirk lifted Billy Stick
er until his swinging feet were firmly plant
f,N,1- TT
nent and some criticism hummed through
the hall Some believed that Selkirk had
played an elaborate joke upon their dignity,
and that il should not be tolerated, but the
vote had been given and could not be re-
scinded.
This" said Selkirk, with his hand on
Billy's waist, lis the gentleman of whom
spoke. His presence here is due to the fact
that have engaged him to help me-later-
in the editing of the Express. Just now he
is its errand boy, and does his work faith
fully and well. What he has to say is some
thing that you can all afford to listen tc
and something that you can all ahord &c
ponder over. | have told him to merely tel
his story. He has no idea of what 1t means
to you or what it's significance may be tc
the voters of this district
Sam Bull grinued.
well, 1 reckon we can listen to what Bull
has to say" he said, II he don take toc
much time"
"He won't" said Selkirk.
Billy was ViSibly embarrassed. fOr an III
slant his tongue refused to work. Then his
eve caught that of Betsey Bobbin In the
gallery, and sitting next to her were Mercy
and Bess Cooper They were friendly faces
and they treasured him. And when, next
to them he saw his mother sitting and saw
that she was smiling in encouragement, ne
grinned at her and regained his self-com-
mand
Say, fellers," he said slowly. and tittei
went about the hall to which he gave an
answering grin. you don't know me-
amt no great shakes, and never spoke be-
fore a crowd before. I'm just kid that
tramped it from New York here with his
ma and looked for work along the way
We only found it yesterday. when we was
pretty nearly starved. Now / don't know
effect here on this cauckiss or whatever II
may be. but ! hope it will. You see, 1t was
like this; Ma and me, we started from New
York two weeks ago to look for work OF
| find my father. / amt never seen my
| father. We struck hard times most all the
way. There amt no work for US between
| here and New York city. Ma could get
a-plenty, but they said they wouldn't have
"A woman with a child although l could
| have worked all right, and am a-wQrkin
| now in Mr.. SelklrS's office. We had tc
scratch round pretty lively to git enough &c
eat, and then we didn't get it. But 1t was
| right here in Toms River that we run
| against the hardest graft of all. 1t was
| noon, | guess, or maybe not. when we was
| comm down about half a mile from here
| There was a house with green blinds or
it.
| At this point Jacob Musser. who had
been watching the proceedings will
startled curiosity, seemed suddenly to have