Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-18

tnaf luo1Yloual anything but unsolicited
support. he felt quiet encouraged ovel
the situation in general, and began Il
think that perhaps the bosses were over
rated. As be went about town. meeting
this and that person, and occasionally
talking the matter over with them in
plain way, II appeared to him that hi.
ambition was to be given q fair chance
and thet the voters would use their own
judgment IN the matter, instead OF fol
lowing the dictum Of anybody. That
was all he asked-a fair FIELD and NO
favor.
One day while Jed was eating break
fast his telephone rang he had had 4
phone installed on the local line recent
lyl. Squire Edwards was calling.
g Is that Mister Aldenf'i be asked. very
cordially.
Yes You're Squire Edwards.''
Yes. Say-if you're coming over to-
day, make It SOS to be ia my Office about
three this afternoon. Something I'D
that'll interest you.''
up ~
''Oh, can't tell you over the wire-too
many receivers down. Come in sure.o
"AiI right" said Jed.
He thought Il over all the morning and
speculated on whether be was taking a
proper step. His intuition told him that
the Squire had some scheme afoot to rope
him in. But he concluded to 60 aud
avoid pitfalls as best he could.
When Jed reached the lawyers oflce
in the afternoon his ear caught the hum
Of voices which stilled rs be entered.
There were fully dozen men Of Kings
ton present and two or three strangers.
His acquaintance greeted Jed warmly,
especially the Squire, who pumped his
arm vigorously and rested a hand in q
most friendly way on Jed's shoulder.
"Glad to see You, Mr.. Alden, y he said.
Have q cigarf's
"TLank yew, don't smoke. Never
learnt tn habit
Everybody else was pulling away, and
the room was hazy.
'Ha, hal'' laughed the Squire. eYou'I
have to smoke II you get far in politics.
j want to introduce you.'' And he con-
Quoted Jed toward g group which broke
mp and 3 stranger stepped from it.
"Mr. Whittier, let me make you ac-
quainted with Mr.. Aiden-Jed Alden. We
know him IS. He's our first selectman
and a 1arned good leller.'
50 Pleased, indeed, to know you, !" was
the greeting Of Mr.. Whittier, and il
popped into Jedis mind Immediately that
this was the Granger emissary, who, the
Squire told him on his early visit. had
been to Kingston in behalf Of his chief.
he understood the situation perfectly.
Whittier had come again. This was q
meeting Of the Squire and his local
Granger adherents to canvass the matter
as II had developed OF late, and be had
been called In for reasons that would
shortly develop. Under the stress OF his
discovery, Jed's reply to the greeting Of
bis new acquaintance may have lacked
something in enthusiasm.
The Squire spoke next.
Mr.. Alden, Mr.. Whittier, Is you per-
haps know, is interested in the canvass OF
Prentiss Granger for the governorship.
He wired me yesterday that be would be
here today to see how things were coming
on In Kingston and asked me to get the
boys. together for . talk. Accordingly,
| asked In q number of our leading citi-
zens who believed were friendly to our
cause, and not wishing to slight anybody
! extended the invitation to you. In our
former talk" here the Squire squinted
over his spectacies, ssyou didn't fulIy
commit yourself but I thought you
seemed interested in the Granger move
ment and likely to support il after you
had given the matter the calm considera-
tion that, have noticed, you always do
all matters before acting.n
The Squire was at his best in this little
harangue, and it impressed Jed. in spite
Of his wariness.
It was up to him 20 speak now. He
saw that he must either leave abruptly
and thus offend those who had taken
pains to invite him there, or remain and
be understood as committing himself to
the Granger cause. He could not man
fully stay and assume q neutral position,
for matters would be discussed. doubt
less, that only warm and sincere Changers
should hear and know.
On the other hand, Jed had been so inn
mersed In his own case that be had really
given,Iittle thought to the state situation.
True, be had been receiving, as had all OF
bis neighbors, copies Of the Burton Daily
Citizen for some time, which devoted lib.
eral space to the character, achievements,
claims and qualifications Of the Hon.
Prentiss Granger. and ridicpled the pre-
tensions and chances for success Of Rollin
} Spencer. For these papers Jed had not
ubscribed-indeed. he undertook to re
fuse them Of the carrier. but the lattel
J grinned and said he'd guarantee 'twoulc
| ur III Eatf " JUL WouA0 WI tOA-r III
: 'en. But Jed had merely glanced al
them-hs was no great reader anyway
: He really could not place himself on ths
: question offhand and act honestly, yet b,
, felt the embarrassment Of his present stu
! alton.
: 'tWelI, Squire, yew know that Nv,
. ben pootty busy Of late in q little 'fai
o. my own, an don't know but pesky
: little bout the guv' norship. Course Pv'
] heard more bout Granger N hev abou
! t'other one-what's lis name3--an'
{ natcherly'd favor the man / know mos
s OF. Same time, things might come NJ
D that'd change my mind, seein' faint yer,
! hard fixed yit, an do knows ough
e to take any part in yeour meetin' her
3 today. I've told yew iist as tits an III
9 leave yew to say"
e Mr.. Whittier spoke.
II ~ think, Mr.. Alden, we understand