Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-05-09
THE |
GRAFTERS ]
By
FRAN CHS LYN DE
Copyright, 1904, by The Bobbs-Merrill Coz
CHAPTER XIV.
THE GERRYMANDER.

With Judge Marston's hint partly
to point the way, Kent was no long
time in getting at work on the new
lead.
Having been at the time a practi-
toner in one of the counties affected,
he knew the political deal by which
MacFarlane had been elected. Briefly
described, it was swapping of horses
in midstream. In the preliminary
canvass it was discovered that in all
probability Judge MacFarlanes dis
trict, as constituted, would not re-
elect him. But the adjoining district
was strong enough to spare county
without loss to the party: and that
county added to MacFarlane's voting
strength would tip the scale in his
favor. The assembly was in session.
and the remedy applied in the shape
OF bill re-adjusting the district lines
to fit the political necessity.
While this bill was still in the lower
house an obstacle presented itself in
the form Of vigorous protest from
Judge Whitcomb, whose district was
the one to suffer the loss. The county
in question was prosperous one, and
the court fees-which a compliant clerk
might secretly divide with the Judge
appointing him-were large: where
fore WhitcOmb threatened political re-
prisals if Kiowa county should be TAX
en- away from him. The outcome was
a compromise. For elective purposes
the two districts were gerrymandered
as the bill proposed; but it was eX
pressly provided that the transferred
county should remain judicially in
Whitcomb's district until the expira-
ton OF Whitcomb's term of office
Having refreshed his memory as to
the facts, Kent spent a forenoon in the
state library. He stayed on past the
luncheon hour, feeding on a dry diet
of digests; and it was not unit! hun
ger began to sharpen his faculties that
he thought Of going back of the statu-
tory law to the fountain-head in the
constitution of the state. Here, after
he'had read carefully section by section
almost through the entire instrument,
his eye lighted upon clause which
gradually grew luminous as he read
and re-read it.
THAT is what MARION meant; it
must be what he meant" he unused;
and returning the book to it's niche
in the alcove he sat down to put
his face in his hands and sum up the
status in logical sequence.
The conclusion must have been con-
vincing, since he presently sprang up
and left the room quickly to. have
himself shot down the elevator shaft
10 the street level. The telegraph Of
flee was closed. but there was another
in the Hotel Brunswick, two squares
distant, and thither he went.
Hold the pool in fighting trim at
all hazards. Think | have found
weak link IN the chain" was his wiz
ing to Loring at Boston,; and having
sent il, he went around to Cassatti's
and astoniehed the waiter by order
ing hearty luncheon at half-past
three o'clock in the afternoon.
1t was late in the evening before he
left the tiny Office on the fifth floor OF
the Quintard building where one of his
former stencgraphers had set I'D bust
LESS for herself. Since five O'Clock the
Young woman had been steadily Griv-
ing the typewriter to Kent's dictatiou.
When the final sheet came out with
whlrring rasp CT the ratchet, he sud-
denly remembered that he had prom
ised Miss Van Brock to dine with her.
1t was too late for the dinner, but not
too late to so and apologize, and he
cid the thing that he could, stopping
at his rooms on the way to dress while
his cab-driver waited.
He found Portia alone, for which he
was glad; but her greeting was dis
tinctiveiy accusative.
If should pretend to be deeply of
Tended and tell Thomas to show you