The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1907-08-24
THE
SAVING OF
OLLIE
By Annie Hamilton DOnnell
lCopyrlght. BIZ Joseph B. Bowles.)

naQ SAID IT, Inc anxious lines on ner
forehead and about her good, red
mouth bore it out. She let her mend
ing Slide from her knees and the
slender foot on the cradle-rocker cease
its jogging. The drowsy baby opened
grieved eyes.
Mothers worried, SOM" she cried,
bending yer the puckered little face.
Tell mother what to do" But the
baby proffered no advice. How
could he know day after tomorrow
was voting day up here in the hills?
that voting day meant temptation,
and that temptation meant father?
"Ollie's been such a good boy all
this while" the woman murmured
with a little squirt Of tenderness. Ten
III months, was it? since-yes, it
was II months that he had been such
a good boy. 1t had taken about a
month to get over last voting day.
Well, she must think. She must sit
here and think harder than ever. Why
could she not think of a way to save
Ollie?
A shadow fell across the baby's
quilt, and she glanced up hastily.
Dread clutched at her throat. Could
the temptation already have begun?
But it was not Oliver Card in the door
way. It was the big, imposing figure
Of the Square" Sabra arose in con
fusion. The Square was Windy Hills
great man.
ollie 'round?"
mo; he amt got home yet"
"Sho; that's too bad. / counted on
seeing Ollie. Just-er-a little matter
Of business, Mrs. Card. These are
business days. Well, l can't wait I'M
til dark; I've got to hunt up some
other men," He rolled toward the
door with the gait of one whose an
cestors at least had followed the sea.
But in the doorway he turned.
Don't happend to know Olllie's-er
ticket, do your" he inquired with an
air Of disinterestedness "You don't
remember to have heard Ollie mention
his man for senator, / suppose? Didn't
know but you might have heard him
mention the matter. Clifford D. Ross
is a particular friend of mine" There
was quiet emphasis on the last.
Virgil Mcneil is who Olllie's going
to vote for" responded Ollie's wife
with promptness. 1--WE heard him
tell times enough. And I'd vote for
him, too, if | had my rights-he's tenn
perance. Your party'd ought to put
up better men instid of worse ones
if you want us to split our ticketsl"
Sabra was dauntless in her politics,
and her convictions were as sacred
as her religion. "Ollie's going to
vote for Mcneil she repeated, deci-
sively, but she had not reckoned on
her man. The great mar of Windy
Hill was possessed Of patience, also
of vile.
The small one in the cradle stirred,
and called for more jogging.
"Hullo, what have we here?" The
great mar was coming back into the
humble little room. The look of in
terest on his shaven face was not lost
upon the small ones mother. She
lifted the warm little morsel from the
cradle and displayed it proudly on her
knee.
"T-r-rrrrl" trilled the great man,
making eyes at the baby and snap
ping his fingers b%oisterously. Would
he come to me, think?p
Why, Of course-wouldn't you,
SOM You'll go to the nice, kind gen
tleman, won't your laying the tiny
bundle in the ~outstretched arms.
That's the ticket-here we are!
Now wen see who you look like
ollie, as I livel He's the image Of his
father, Mrs. Card. That's all right,
young man; you couldn't do better"
Very gentle the great man loosed
the tiny grip from his w~atch-chain
and laid the little one back on its
mothers knees. The frolic was over.
@Good-by, little chap; don't forget
the old fellowl Sorry Ollie isn't at
home. Good afternoon, Mrs. Card"
And he was gone. The humble little
room was a humble little room once
more, its transient, borrowed great
ness departed with the Square.
Hes a nice mamie held you right
in his arms, son? Right in his arms,
and him worth all his thousands
There amt a richer man in this coun-
ty than the Square. And influence
myI We wish father could a.voted
for his man, don't we, Little Son?
Then-my! who knows what he
might've done for fatherlg
She caught the little red Est in her
tender palms and kneaded it gently
between them.
WHAT she cried. What, sonl"
for a crumpled, moist wad Of paper
peeped from the ist-came gradually
into view as she unrolled it. She
stared, uncomprehending, then com
pretending. 1t was-had been-a
crisp new bill. "Sonl Son. it's ten
dollarsl He's left ten dollars in your
little handi The Square did It. Little
Sonl' She sat and stared in a sort