Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-10
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Matawan county. whose center 1t was. And
Grafton. wavering in fealty to Conover
might yet be won to the Standish ranks by
on sort Of speech So with the glow
awaited the night. All he asked was a fair
hearing. This. presumably. was for once
to be accorded him.
At the hotel on his arrival he found Karl
Ansel waiting. The big, lean New Eng
lander was in state OF whte-hot wrath.
You got my telegram and the notice Of
the caucuses. I supposed" he growied as
Give met him.
mo. ordered all mail forwarded here
and kilograms. too. I broke away from my
route Saturday. when I found couldn't get
hall at smithfield. I Cancelled my date
there and went over to Deene leaving word
Then. yesterday"
Never mind that. We're done! Beat!
Tricked!'
What do you mean?"
THE county conventions-the caucuses!
In every-nearly every one of the eight
counties Conover worked some blackguard-
ism. To some he sent kilograms that you
backed out. In others his chairmen tried
the back door act. And I wrote you how
| they'd snapped the dates and caught us
unready. Then"
Give recalled the anonymous letter which
Later events had driven from his memory
If only he had been able to lower himself
to his opponents level and take advantage
OF 1t-of the treachery in the Couover
ranks! If
But Ansel was still pouring out the flood
Of his ill-temper.
"Whipsawed us. right and left" he de-
CARED Beat us at every point as easy as
taking candy from a baby. What are we
tours against
Were lot of honest men against a
gang OF crooks. And in the long run
'The long run, Ell? Well, the run has
begun. and they've got us on it. We're
beatw
Poor old Ansel," laughed Give, "how
many times during the past fortnight have
YOU pick yourself up again and go on with
tine fight. Just as you'll do now
Not on your life! Lob, well. suppose
I will, II 1t comes to that! But It's burn
ing, blazing shame"
IF it wasn't for just such burning, blaz-
ing shames, there'd be no need for our
campaign. It's to crush such shames' that
we're working. Cheer up! I've great hopes
for tonight's meeting"
Tersely he described his trip the draw
backs he had encountered, and the better
chances that seemed to attend the Grafton
volley Of queries and explosives.
I'D heard Of this press-muzzling," said
he as Standish ended. land have one way
speeches and ads and advance notices to
be printed In the biggest paper in the next
state. and scattered all through the Noun
tain state as campaign documents don't
think even Conover can. block that move"
"Splendid!' cried Standish. "Old man,
you're genius!'
''No, I'm not" contradicted Ansel. rather
ruefully. but some one else is. I don't
know who"
"I don't understand
why, the idea was sent to me three
days ago, anonymously. Typewriter on
think Of thatr'
Anonymously
Eyes. I wonder why. The ideas go
good. one would think the orisinator'd
"Unless It came from the conover
camp?'
"Just what occurred to me. Anyhow,
YOU'D 5ays refused e accept
LIVERY man to his own folly. It's done
now"
II sure ia. And with few more such
tips. Conover would be DONE too He's
carried matters Mechanically for years,
but now maybe some one he's ridden rough
shod over has turned on him"
The great night had come. Give and
AnseI, arriving at the Opera House, found
that gaudy. gayly-lighted auditorium full
to the doors. On the stage sat the mayor.
the proprietor Of one Of the papers. half
nitaries The boxes were filled with we'll
dressed women. Evening suits blended
with the less conspicuous costumes OF the
spectators who stretched from stage to en-
trance. from orchestra to roof A band be-
low the stage played popular ana national
airs.
The news of Clive's eccentric pre-conven-
ton tour. Of his eloquence. his clean man
liness and the obstacles he had overcome.
had drawn hundreds through sheer curl
osity More had come because they were
weary OF Conover's rule and eagerly dc.
had to offer them in place Of bossism.
skilled by experience In reading the