The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-30
The EVENING STORY
Holding Tru1nps.
(By w. F. Bryan. }

the ucket that interested Bitter Creek
and interested it nightly.
The camp had reached stage in it's
development where local sheriff was
or greater Importance than a national
ruler. The fight was to be made
strictly on party lines. but the parties
were the Colcvordites and the Myluis-
ties.
1t was agreed that either man would
admirably perform the onerous duties
of the Office, but Ben Colcord and Tom
Mylius both wanted the place, and the
contest would be none the less excit-
ing because the two men were close
friends
This sure is going to be a fight" an
nounced Colcord, when he met his
chum after the nomination. mo hard
feeling If 1 beat you, Tom?"
IF you can" confirmed Myths, with
laugh. II think 1 see myself wear
ing that badge already. Ben
Not if 1 can help it." denied Col
| cord. I've a few ideas as to how to
run campaign myself, and I'm going
| to try them"
Anything short of shooting as
| card, though. You wait and see."
Bitter Creek did not have long to
wait. Colcord led from the first and
took the first trick by fitting up the
| old Bella Union as a picture show.
In between reels he made a speech to
| the audience, and the audience in
ClQQeQ most OIL the town people IN the
course of the evening.
The pictures were changed every
evening, and even the barkeepers at
the new Bella Union" and the
Yalta" were permitted to take time
| off to see the new reel run through.
Business at the faro tables suffered,
| and Colcord would have become un-
popular had it not been that at the
| conclusion of each performance he led
| the audience across the street for a
| drink. patronizing first the Bella
| Union" and then the "'Yalta.''
1t was the general opinion that Col
cord had set a pace too swift for his
| rival to follow, but Myths only smiled.
This smile grew broader the follow
| ing week when Myths played and took
| the second trick. Bitter Creek sadly
| lacked the feminine element Save
for Mrs. Mulligan, who ran the Golden
West hotel, and a half dozen dance
hall women, the census of Bitter
| Creek was entered in the male column
| of the records.
The arrival of Edna Myths created
| nothing less than a sensation, and that
evening the picture show was de-
| serted, while the voters of Bitter
| Creek slowly filed past the Golden
| West in the hope of obtaining a sight
| of the new arrival
Edna Myths was we'll worth the
trouble. She was slip of girl with
coronet of silky hair the color of
virgin SOlO. Sn0 dressed WITH an ART
full simplicity, far more fetching than
the latest fashions, and her smile was
simply irresistible. She was just out
| of college, in love with the west. and
! delighted to be one of the factors in
an election contest.
Tom fitted up store near the pic
ture show. and waff1es. with real
honey. We'd with the pictures as an
attraction. Waff1es were Edna's spe-
| cialty, and with sleeves rolled above
her dimpied elbows, with dainty apron
and a coQuettish cooking cap, her face
flushed from the heat of the fire, she
was a picture-and a moving one
far more effective than the product of
| lantern and film across the street. Bit
ter Creek decided that of the two,
Tom Mylius was far better fitted to
be sheriff.
Colcord racked his brains for some
thing to counteract the effect of the
| waff1les, and brought down to the
Creek half a dozen minor pugilists.
who battled for the benefit of a mere
| handful of spectators, while the rest
of the camp watched Edna make
fudge.
Colcord left the fight and went over
to see what success the fudge maker
was having. The room was packed
with men solemnly masticating the
toothsome compound, while Myths
made a speech.
They listened, as in duty bound, but
all eyes were upon the trim little fig
ure lowering over the stove at the end
of the hall. She had impressed Mrs.
Mulligan as assistant, and the pom
derous figure of the elder woman
| made an excellent foil for the girl.
Edna looked UP with a smile as
Colcord entered and made his way to
the stove. 1t was by no means his
first visit and she had come to like
the frank, breezy man, who at once
was her brothers friend and rival
I'm perfectly happy" she whis-
pered, as she offered Colcord a plate
in a chatting dish, 1 used to say that
1 hoped some day to be able to make
all I wanted to. I've got my wish
sooner than I expected"
"I wish I might have mine" re-
torted Colcord.
"You can't" was the prompt reply.
I'm going to elect Tom as sheriff.
Perhaps if you are real good I'll elect
you the next time"
Its hard to fight fudge" assented
Colcord with a laugh, but there is
still the home stretch to be run off,
You wait and see."
Edna smiled as she shook her head
in disapproval of the claim.
1.-THE way to mems hearts is through
their stomachs,' she reminded
"A lesson you have taught me-" he
admitted. you have dealt me the
trump card"
II thought you told Tom you held
it all along?" she retorted-
This is a new deal-and new
trump" he declared mysteriously.
You wait and see."
He would not explain further, and
presently he made his way back to the
picture theater, where the concluding
bout was just over. 1t had been an ex-
pensive experiment, and Colcord re-
fiected that if fudge could beat fight
! ing in Bitter Creek. he had already
lost.
His trump card was a burgoo. Col
cord was from Kentucky, and he had
pinned his last faith on this savory
stew the weapon of the politician, the
delight of voters for generations.