Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-06
The CARPETBAGGER
BY OpIE READ AND FRANK PKLEY
copvghted by Laird Lee PubishersAn Rights Reserved
By Permission of the Publishers


told it,"
Willetts objected. He yielded to
no man in respect for Old John Rey-
nolds, he said, but he believed that
sentiment should cut no figure in such
a case. Wiley JONES'" he added,
was my friend. He did me many d
good turn and 1 naturally feel his
death very keenly. The only person
who has even been suspected Of this
crime is a free man today and that
too, without establishing his inno-
cence in court. do not say that Rey-
nolds killed Jones-what l believe
doesn't matter, perhaps-but some
body killed him. If the old man didn't,
who did?"
Here the militia officer gave his
opinion. All civil courts were hum
pugs. If you want justice you must
60 to the drum-head rather than to
the bar. Men who made money by
dealing out Justice" were necessar-
lily corrupt, or at east full Of tricks,
the same as you would find 1t In any
other business. What the entire coun-
try needed was a military govern
ment. When was England greatest
and most feared by the nations of
the earth? When the helm Of state
was grasped by the iron hand of
Cromwell. The Secretary, being a
lawyer by profession, took issue with
him. The Auditor, being an industri-
Gus drinker, proposed a song. He
said a song was more convincing than
an argument The Speaker thought
that they ought to look seriously at
the coming political crisis. THE
election is almost here, you know"
$50 it is" remarked the Governor.
The Auditor wanted to know wheth-
er or not all the judges had been ap-
pointed and whether or not they
could sing. The Auditor was drunk.
The Speaker hoped that they might
sing the right tune in the right key.
He looked at the Governor, expecting
him to say something, but he did not.
The Auditor began to sing. The
Speaker called him to order. wait
a moment" he cried. 1--WE are on a
serious subject now. You must re-
member that we've got government
on our shoulders"
You must want to be reelected"
said the Auditor. II don't care how
it goes. l want to go back to Wiscon-
sin and catch some fish. Say, I've
got a place on a lake there that's full
of fish-muskellonge as long as bar
rel stave. Let's all sing Home,
Sweet"
Shut up; do be serious for mo-
ment, won't you?"
"Oh, I've been serious long enough.
l was shot at the other day and that
was serious enough. Governor, that's
good wine-must have found it in the
cellar here. Everybody sing"
The dinner was to have been a
business meeting" but it seemed to
be drifting away from it's original
purpose. Why a militia officer, a
stranger who had no possible interest
in their affairs should have been invit-
ed, the Speaker could not make clear
unto himself. 1t was to have been a
political conference, the discussion Of
vital interests, and why the Governor
was so free with his wine, the Secre-
tary coud not make out. Formerly
such occasions had been feasts Of
state where important matters were
discussed and disposed of and the
heads of all the departments had been
present to receive advice and instruc-
ton. There may have been songs,
but no one would have dared to pro-
pose such thing until the hour had
grown too mellow for business. The
Governor would not only have
frowned upon il, but would have shut
the door upon the offender. Now he
laughed when the Auditor broke in
upon every attempt 10 get down to
business.
Jim paced up and down the veran-
da, and Nellie and Roy took an occa-
sional peep into the dining room, the
boy, wide-eyed in admiration of the
militia man.
I'm this life, who is it that deserves
success?" said the Speaker.
Some one replied the honest
man." and there was a good -humor-
ed laugh. All eyes were turned upon
the Governor, but he did not even
smile.
THE honest man may be inCompe-
tent" said the Speaker. Honesty
isn't everything. Ability stands at
the head of all virtues, in my opin-
ion. Simple honesty may get one and
ones friends into trouble; therefore
honesty may be dangerous. No, sir;
the man who plays his cards for all
they are worth is the man who ought
to win-in a political contest, for in
stance" He fixed his gaze on the
Governor, who sat dreaming in a
cloud of smoke. II claim the man
who is out for the stuff" said the
SpSdhtl, 10 lllS lSiiO" VIM OeSHe ~
succeed. 1t is foolish for any one to
throw away his own chances. When
he throws away the chances of his
friends. also, it is a crime" He fixed
his gaze on the Governor.
The chief executive frightened sud
denly. Il was out in the country to.
day and 1 found excellent prospects
for the coming crop" said he.
"A crime, l repeat" said the
Speaker.
This rain comes in good time,
the Governor remarked, putting his
cigar.
I'VE saw the crop planted, but who
will witness the harvesting thereof"
said the Secretary, and the observa-
ton suited the gravity of his counte-
nance.
II don't think ! SHALL" spoke uI
the Auditor. unsteady of head. I fee
myself slipping"
None of US need to slip if the right
thing is done" said the Speaker, sig
nificantly.
The Governor laid down his cigar