The Washington herald., 1906-11-18

runs" replied the driver.
''Then drive to IL; If We follow the trees
we must reach the bridge. and then
things viii be simple"
The driver became more cheerful. the
rain ceased, and the moonlight increased;
but Harley lacked confidence. He had a
deep distrust OF the Platte River. II
seemed 10 him the most ridiculous stream
IN the United States making a pTesump-
tuous claim upon the map. and flowing
often in a channel d mile wide with only
a foot OF water But he feared the
marshes and qUicks3nds that boTdered its
shallow course.
They reached the line OF gaunt trees,
dripping with water and whipped by the
wind, and Harley's fears were justified.
The river was there. but they could not
approach it, lest they be swallowed up in
i the sand, and they turned back upon the
prairie,
we must find a house" said the can
didate '1f it comes 10 the pinch we can
pass the night in the carriage, but / don t
like to sleep sitting"
They bore away from the river, driving
al random, and after an hour saw q
faint light under the dusky horizon.
The lone settler,' exclaimed Harley
who began TO cherish fond anticipations
/ The driver was not lOath, and even the
/ horses. seeming to have renewed hope.
/ changed their sluggish walk 10 a trot
! They had no hesitation I'm seeking shelter
( at that hour, entire strangers though
( they were. such an act being in perfect
/ accordance with the laws of Western hos
/ pitality
As they approached. a bare wooden
/ house unprotected by trees rose out of
] q ba
| acre or so about il, and apparently there
/ had been Il Few rather futile attempts 10
make lawn.
! Looks cheerless." said Harley.
But il holds beds said the candidate
You save your voice" said Harley.
III call the farmer and I hope il Will be
a man who can speak English, and not
some new Russian or Bohemian citizen
He sprang out Of the carriage glad TO
relieve himself from his cramped and
stiff position, and walked toward the lit
tie gate in the wire fence There was
sudden rush of light feet, a stream Of
fierce barks and snarls. and Harley
sprang back in alarm as two large bull
dogs, red-mOuthed. flung themselves
against the fence.
i said YOU had no cause TO regret that
war" called the candidate from the car
riage.
The wires were strong. and they held
the dogs: but the animals hung 90 the
fence, fierce as wolves; and Harley. lifting
up his voice. added 10 the chorus with
HI! Ii, Mr.. Farmer. Strangers want 10
stop with YOU
The din was tremendous. and presently
a window In the second story was showed
up. and a man. fully dressed. carrying a
long-barreled rife in his hands. appear /
cd at IL. he called TO the dogs. which
ceased at once their barking and snarling.
and then he gazed down at the intruders
in no friendly manner. Harley saw him
Clearlv-a tall, gaUnt old man, white
haired. but muscular and strong. He held
the rifle as if he We're ready 10 use it-d
most unusual thing in this part Of the
country, where househOldeTs seldom keep
firearms.
What do you want?' he called. in a
sharp high voice
Beds" cried Harley. eve are lost. /
and if you don't take us in Wei have /
to sleep or the prairie. which is a trihe /
damp
WAL. I low it hez raiued right
smart" said the old man, grimly.
Harley noticed al once the mans use OF /
right smart an expression with which /
he had been familiar in another part Of /
the country, and it encouraged him. he /
was sure now OF hospitality.
Who are your the old man called
'Mr. Gr9yson, the nominee for Presi-
dent Of the United States. is in the car
riage, and ! am his friend. one of the
newspaper correspondents travelling with 4
him"
Wait q minute"
The window was closed. and in few
moments The old man came out az the
front door. lie carried the rifle on his
shoulder. but Harley attributed the eacti
70 his haste at the mention of Jimmy
Graysons ) name
Ny name is SimpsOn-Daniel Simpson"
he said, Hospitality Tell the driver TO
put the horses I'm the barn
He waved his hand toward a low build
ing IN the rear of his residence. ana then
he invited the candidate and the CORE
spondent 10 enter. He looked curiousIy.
but with reverence At the candidate
You are really Jimmy GraysOn." he
said Ia know YOU off-hand By vour
picture, which I guess hez been printed in
evFy newspaper in the United States.
low it's a powerful honor to me to hev
You here
And it's a tremendous accommodation
to us for YOU TO take us" said Jimmy
GIayson. with his usual easy grace.
But Harley was looking a { Simpson with Il
a gaze no iess intent than the old man
mad bent upon Grayson. The accent and
Of the host were of a region far
distant from Nebraska, but Harley. who
was born near that wild country. knew
the long, lean. narrow type of face. with
the high cheek-bOues and the watchfuI
black eyes. Moreover. there was some
thing directly and personally familiar in
the figure before him
Under any circumstances the manner
of the old man would have drawn the at
tentiOn of Harley. whose naturally keen /
observation was sharpened by the train
ing Of his profession The old man seemed
distracted His fingers moved absentIy I
on the stock of his rifle. and Harley in
Ierred az once that he had something Of
weight on his mind
Ne an the Of woman hey been settin'
late" said Simpson. When Won git oI.
YOU don't sleep much But it'll be q 7
long time, Mr.. GTayson. before that fits
you. \
he led the way into a room better fur I
nished than Harley had expected to see. Z
4 coal IRE smOldered on the heart and 7
the arrangement Of the room showed [
some evidences of refinement and taste.
An old woman was bent over the fire {
but she rose when the men entered. and [
turned upon them face which Harley S
knew AT once TO be that of one who had Z
been frightened by something. Her ewes {
were red. as If she had been weeping.
Harley looked from host to hostess with 7
curious glance bat ne was still silent [
This Is Marthy, my wife. genlemen.' q
said Simpson. Marthy. this Is Mr. Gray c
son, the greatest man in this here United 7
states, and the other IS one of the news j
paper fellers that travels with him." '
Jimmy Grayson bowed with great co1r-
esy, and apolcgized so gracefully for the /
intrusion that an ordinary person would O