The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-07

you made mistake. I'm not reduced to love-making for business
 "The U. P. A. wants live men, not mummies," was the ultimate word of Levin, general agent. It echoed with Bigelow's departure, that was abrupt enough to have the effect of bang. "No Bicks, no job," said Tom to him self he returned to Johnsburg. Well
 see, you old Caterwaul, The apostrophized Levin. "I'd like to cut your dirty clawsi'
 "Tell me about these men," he said to
 Miss Wilkins. principal of the Lea ave- nue school, when he got back. Mrs. Bicks and MT. Bagley had seen him enter Miss Wilkins office. The office of the principal and the office of Mrs. Bicks faced each other on the same cor ridor.
 "A conspiracy, I fear" murmured the Jones and Burnaby agent pouting his lips
 humorously at Mrs. Bicks. DO you admire Miss Wilkins?" asked Mrs. Bicks munching MT. Bagley's bon bons daintily.
 Little dried up old maid growled Bagley, recalling certain humiliations he
 owed the quiet Miss Wilkins Mrs. Bicks pretended not to hear. Have maple cream" she urged pleasantly. Across the way Miss Wilkins was look ing thoughtfully at Bigelow's list. MT. Sharpless" she said, twas put on the board to please the Methodists. He is a busy man and begged off. They promised to call him only for the important meet ings and to excuse him from the others. Of course they do just the other thing. Mir Carroll is in Alaska. He would have been a good man for you. MT. Dickson and Mir Burgess were left over from the old board. They don't like the way the school business Is managed, and they stay away from meetings. I've been told they were insulted at the last one they at tended"
 How about John McCallum?" He attends board meetings when the action of the board is mixed up with things outside"
 "He has more influence than Mrs. Bicks?'
 "He owns the board when he chooses. :" Hes an educated man. Has he any public conscience?"
 1; Not much" Miss Wilkins hesitated over this confidence. "The schools are a tool hardly any more. to him. He has good ideas when he takes enough interest to mention them. I don't think you'll get him out for Wednesday night" "Thank you. said Bigelow. He is in town. and I shall try"
 McCallums being in town did not ap- pear in the least to aid Tom Bigelow' s cause. MT McCalum was wound up in a tormenting mesh of state politics, and the schools of Johnshurg could read from Noah Websters spelling book for all he cared Bigelow secured the Reverend Ed , ward Sharpless, listened daily to diatribes upon the Johnsburg school board, the text book agents, the whole rotten scheme of modern education from Dick soa and Burgess. pursuing these two dis affected ones in the hope of gaining their : support, but from the polished porphyry Of McCallum's indifference he could strike
 no spark.
 The day of the meeting broke upon nc visible excitement The Morning Trumpet contained pictures of the superintendent of public instruction at his desk' and of Mrs Bicks posed as Mary Queen of Scots" There was column encomium of the chldrens work in preparation for the coming contest. and a fine print notice that the board would meet at eight sharp"
 Tom Bigelow regarded the pictures, and read the notice. Then he made another unsuccessful attempt upon McCallum 1 revisited his doubtful board members, and l returned to the attack upon the Big Man ] The office was closed. so he rang the bel , of the McCallum residence. MT. Mccall l lums little daughter had been taken sud 1 denly ill MT. McCallum would sec nc l one. Dickson and Burgess had ''about l decided" not to go near the meeting, and when Tom volleyed at them once more, settled immovable in obstinate re- 1 fusal. Defeat was what he faced, but l the agents were to be given a chance tc l present their claims to the board in ten minute speeches. He would make tht | best speech it mas in him to make. l It was seven o'clock when he returned to the hotel At the desk stood Zenophor