The Washington herald., 1906-11-11
e went back to the next car and wrote

me at Grayson's speaking. standing INST in front q
him Don't fail 20 come. Win explain everything
to you then. WILLIAM PLoVER.
Harley looked at this message with sat
isfaction. Il guess I'm a forger," he
mused. "but az the essence Of wrong Hes
in the intention. I'm doing no harm"
He stopped at the next station, prepaid
the message. and, standing by. saw with
his own eyes the operator send it. Then
he returned TO the train and resumed
his work with fresh zest
And he had plenty to do He had seen
Jimmy GraysOn make great displays Of
energy, but his vitality on this terrible
day was amazing. On and on they went.
right into the red eye of the sun. The
hot rays poured down, and the dust
whiTled over the plain. entering the car
IN clouds, where it clothed everything
floors, seats. and men alike-untn they
were a uniform whitey-brown. It crept.
too. into HaTley's throat and stung his
eyeliids, but at each new speech the can
didate seemed to rise fresher and strong
er than ever, and at every good point ne
made the volleys Of applause rose ike
nfe-shots.
Harley. at the close Of a speech late in
the day, sought his new friend, Plover.
The little man WAS crushed down in a
seat, looking very gloomy Harley knew
that he was thinking Of Kalapoosa. the
spell Of Grayson's eloQuence being gone
for the moment
Tired, Mr.. Plover?" said Harley, put
ting friendly hand on his shoulder
"A little Bit" replied Plover
But it's a great day" continued Har-
ley i tell You, old man. it's one TO be
remembered There never was such a
campaign The story of this ride will be
IN all the papers Of the United States
tomorrow"
Amt he great. Amt he great ex-
claimed Plover. frightening into enthusI-
asm- And don't no hit Wall street some
awful whacks?'
He certainy IS great" replied Harley.
But you wait until we get 70 Weeping
/ Water That's the last stop, and hen
Just turn himself loose there. You
mustn't miss VOID"
Il won't" replied Plover. "T'U have
time, because the Denver Express. on
which I'm going 10 Frisco, don't leave
/ there till l2.i0 No, I won't miss the big
/ speech at Weeping Water"
! They reached Weeping Water al last.
/ although il was fun midnight, and they
/ were far behind time and together they
/ walked TO the speakers stand
/ Harley saw Plover IN his accustomed
place in the front rank. Just under the
/ light Of the torches. where he would meet
/ the speakers eye. his face rapt and Wor-
shiDfuL Then ne looked al his watch.
! 'TWelve-hfteen. he said 10 himself
! THE Denver Express will be here in an
other fifteen minutes, and Susan viii fail
/ on the neck Of her Billy
/ Then he stopped to listen 70 Grayson.
/ Never had Harley seen him more earnest.
more fOrcible- He knew that the candi-
/ date must be sinking from physical weak
/ nesS-his pale, drawn face showed that
/ but his spirit famed up for this last
| speech. and the crowd was wholly under
the spell of his powerful appeal.
/ Harley met, presently. the cousin. San
didge
This is Grayson's greatest speech OF
the day Harley said. and how It must
! please Mr.. Piover!"
/ That's So. replied Sandidge; but
] Billy's all broke up over it."
why. what's the matter? asked Har-
/ lev, In sudden alarm
I The Denver Express is nearly two
I hours and a half late-won't be here until
/ three and at Denver it'H miss the Frisco
! Express. won't be another for a day. So
/ Billy. who's IN hurry TO get TO the
COast-the old Nicks got into him. I
/ reckon-is goin' by the express on the
/ 3. P; the train on the branch liuo that
/ goes out there at two-ten connects with
1 IL, and so does the accommoda ton freight
at two-forty- It's hard on Buly-he hates
! to miss any Of Jimmy Grayson's speeches.
but he's bound 10 gO.'
Harley was touched by real sorrow He
drew his pencil pad from his pocket.
hastily wrote a few lines upon It. pushed
his way 70 the stage. and thrust what he
had written into Mr.. GraysOn's hands
The speaker, stopping to take a drink Of
water, read this note:
Dear Mr.. Grayson: The Denver Express Is two
hours and a half late For trod's sake speak until
% comes; you VIII hear II az 3. when il pulls into
the station II Is a matter Of life and death.
and while you arc speaking don't take your eye OF
the little man with the Whskers. who has been
with Us all day. and who always stands iu front
and looks up az YOU I j explain everything later
h1t please do t. again I say its matter of luc
and death. JOHN HARLEY
Crayson looked in surprise at Harley.
bur he caught the appealing look on the
face OF the correspondent. He liked Har-
/ ley. and he knew that he could trust
him. He knew, moreover, that what Har-
/ ley had written in the note must be true.
Grayson did not hesitate, and. nodding
slightly to Harley. turned and faced the
crowd. like a soldier prepared for his last
and desperate charge. His eyes sought
those OF the little man. hts target looking
up at him. Then he fixed Plover with his
gaze and began.
They still tell in the West Of Jimmy
GraysOn's speech at Weeping Water. as
the veterans tell Of Pickett's rush IN the
flame and the smoke UP Cemetery Hill.
He had gone on the stage a half-dead
man. He had already been speaking nine
teen hours that day. His eyes were rod
and swollen with train dust, prairie dust.
and lack Of sleep. Every bone IN him
ached. Every word stung his throat as
Il came, and his tongue was like q hot
ember in his mouth Deep lines ran
away from his eyes.
But Jimmy Graysos was inspired that
night on the black prairie. The words
leaped in livid flame from his lips Never
was his speech more free and bold. and
always his burning eyes looked into those
of Plover and held him.
Closer and closer pressed the crowd.
The darkness still rolled up, thicker and
blacker than ever. Grayson's shoulders
sank away, and only his face was visible
now. The wind rose again, and whistIed
around the little town and shrieked far
out on the lonely prairie. But above it
rose the voice of GTayson-mel!ow, in
spring. ard aewiug full and free.
Harley looked and listened. and his ad-
miration grew and grew. I don't agree
with all he says" he thought; but. my
God, how well he says it,
Then he covered in the lee Of little
building. that he might shelter himself
from the bitter wind that was searching
him to the marrow
Time passed. The speaker never falter-
ed. half hour. an hour, and his voice
was still full and mellow, nor had a soul
left the crowd. Grayson himself seemed
20 feel new access Of strength from
some hidden source. and his form expand
I'd as ne denounced the trusts and robbe-