Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-05-23

Party lines were obliterated, and men
who Stunned the primaries and other
wise shirked their political duties
raised the cry of corruption, and a
civic league was formed to fight the
ring.
In this struggle, as giving him the
chance to front the enemy in a fair
field. David Kent flung himself with
all the ardor of born fighter. Mass
meetings were held, with Kent as
spokesman for the league, and the
outcome was decency triumph which
brought Kent's name into grateful
public prominence. Hildreth played
an able second, and by the time the
obnoxious ordinance had been safely
tabled, Kent had semi-political fol-
lowing which was all his own. Men
who had hitherto known him only as
corporation lawyer began to prophe-
sy large things of this fiery young ad-
vocate. whose arguments were sound
and convincing as his invective was
keen and merciless.
Figuratively speaking, Portia stood
in the wings and applauded. Also,
she saw that her protege had reached
the point where he needed grooming
for whatever race lay before him.
Hence her urgings, which made tri-
umvirate out of the council of two.
with Broolles Ormsby as the third
member.
On the porch Of the Brentwood
apartment house was David Kent.
With the striking of the city hall clock
at nine Mrs. Brentwood had COM
planned of the glare of the electric
crossing-lamp and had gone in, leav
ing the caller with Penelope in the
hammock on one side of him and
Elinor in basket chair on the other.
Their talk had been of the late NUM-
cipal struggle, and of Kent's part in
it: and, like Miss Van Brock, Penelope
was applausive. But Elinor's congrat-
ulations were tempered with depreca-
ton.
81 am glad you won for the league.
of course; everybody must be glad of
that" she said. But l hope the Ar
gus didn't report your speeches cor
rectly. If it did, you have made a
host of bitter enemies"
What does a mana real man
care for that?" This from the depths
of the hammock
81, at least. can afford to be care
less" said Kent. 81 am not running
for office, and have nothing else to
lose, politically or otherwise.
"Can any man say that truthfully?"
Elinor queried.
Il think 1 can. have given no hos
tages to fortune"
But I think you owe it to yourself
to be more careful in your public ut
terances." she insisted. eff these
men on the other side are only half
as unprincipled as your accusations
make them out to be, they would not
stop short of personal violence
81 am not hunting clemency or per-
sonal immunity just now" laughed
Kent. "On- the contrary, I am only
anxious to make the score as heavy
sas possible And so far from keeping
pi
fess that / went into this franchise
fight chiefly to let the capitol gang
know who 1 am and where 1 stand"
A sudden light came into Elinors
eyes and burned there steadily. She
was of those who lay votive offerings
upon the shrine of manly courage.
Zone part of me approves as much
as another part disapproves," she said
after time. 81 suppose it isn't pos
sible to avoid making political enc
mics; but is it needful to turn them
into personal enemies?"
He looked at her curiously.
81 am afraid l don't know any mid
die path, not being politician he
objected. "And as for the enmity of
these men, shall count it an honor to
win it. If do not win it, shall know
am not succeeding
Silence for another little space, which
Miss Brentwood broke by saying:
Don't you want to smoke? You
may"
Kent felt in his pocket.
81 have no cigar"
She looked past him to the ham
mock. "Penelope!" she called softly;
and when there was no response she
went to spread the hammock rug over
| her sister.
You may smoke your pipe" she
said; and when she had passed behind
| him to her chair she made another
| concession: 'Let me fill it for you
You used to-"
He gave her the pipe and tobacco,
and by curious contradiction of terms
began to wonder if he ought not to 90.
Notwithstanding his frank defiance
of Brookes Ormsby, and his declara-
| ton of intention in the sentimental
affair. he had his own notions about
the sanctity of betrothal. Mrs.
Brentwood had Vanished, and Penelope
was asleep in the hammock. Could
he trust himself to be decently loyal
TO Ormsby If he should stay? Nice