The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-10-04
THE
CRAFTERS |
by
FRAN CTS Lynn DE
y Oss1Iasas ras. by rhs BO0Os-asrrin Co,
CHAPTER XIV.
TIE GERRYMANDER.


With Judge Marston's hint partly
20 point the way. Kent was no long
tine 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 a swapping of horses
in midstream. In the preliminary
eanvass il was discovered that in all
probability Judge MaeFarlane's dis
trict, as constituted, would not re-
elect him But the adjoining district
was strong enough to spare a 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 a bill ro-adjusting the district lines
to dc the political necessity.
While this bill was still in the lower
house an obstacle presented itself in
the form of y vigorous protest from
Judga WhitooTsb. whose district was
the one to suffer the loss. The county
in question was a prosperous one, and
ehe court fees which compliant clerk
might secretly divide with the judge
sppoif ting hin-were large: where
fore Whitcomb threatened political re-
prisals IL Kiowa county should be TAX
en- awaJ from him. The outcome was
a compromise For elective purposes
the two districts were gerrymandered
as the bill proposed; but il was ex
pressly provided that the transferred
county should remain judicially in
whitcomb's district until the expira-
tion OF Whitcomb's term Of Office.
Having refreshed his memory as to
the facts, Kent spent forenoon in the
state library. He stayed on past the
luncheon hour. feeding on a dry diet
of digests: and Il was not until 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,
J his eye lighted upon clause which
gradually grew luminous as he read
and re-read It.
That is whAs Marston meant; It
must be what he meant" he unused;
and returning the book to its niche
IN the alcove lie 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
20 the street level The telegraph Of
fee was closed. but there was another
In the Hotel Brunswick, two squares
distant, and thi(her he went.
Hold the pooi In fighting trim at
all hazards. Think have found
weak link in the chain" was his wir-
ing to Loring at Boston; and having
sent II. ne went around to Cassatti's
and astonished the waiter by order
ing a hearty luncheon at kslf-past
three O'Clock ia the afternoon.
IL was late I'm tho evening before he
left the tiny Office on the NTH floor of
tbs Quintard building where one of his
former stenographers had set up bust
ness for herself Since i've o'clock the
young woman had been steadily driv-
ing the typewriter to Kent's dictation.
When the final sheet came out with a
wLirriag rasp OF the ratchet, he sud-
denly remembered that he had prom
ised Miss Wan Book to dine with her.
II was too late for the dinner. but not
too late to go and apologize, and he
did the thing that he could. stopping
NJ his rooms on The way to dress while
his cab-driver waited.
He found Port;a alone. for which he
was glad: but her greeting was dis
tinctiveiy accusative
III should pretend to be deeply Of
esadsd and tell Thomas to show you