Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-02-18

ciaAy 4Ou KNOW L can auOfu II,
with my crop all ut SKIES and sevens
aud the niggers wantin' the earth III
two week rations.''
Its one or the other of u.s." persist
ed Eldon. You know. squire, we've
only got to post your name, and Jim
Ingalls, might as we'll go back to his
crop for all the votes he'll get in this
county, much less the Barraclaw."
The squire jumped to his feet and
took turn up aud down the long gal
lery. His round red face grew seri-
GUS as he reflected that Eldon was
speaking the simple truth. After all,
why not help the boy? He was too
young, but he rather liked his ''stand
and deliver methods. Then he was
Jim Eldon's son-old Jim, who had
slept under the same blanket. foraged
for chickens and starved with him
during the mad days of 1868. and they
had been shoulder to shoulder in the
dark years or reconstruction until old
Jim went to his rest in the little grave
yard beside the Barraclaw.
See here, Barnes Eldon, want to
know what put this dun foolishness
into your head a-runnin' to represent
this heah county and you not six
months over the age limit?'
1.-TWO years. SQUIRE" cheerfully re-
sponded Eldon.
"That amt no answer to my ques-
ton" And the shrewd gray eyes
bored deep into Barnes Eldon's blue
ones until the red wave went up the
tanned face to lose itself in the roots
of close cropped dark hair Make a
clean breast of it, boy. There's some
woman at the bottom of this.''
Eldon grinned. II reckon l will
have to make confidant Of you,
squire. Ever since Jessie Eldridge
and l went up to that Missouri col
lege together we have been sweet
hearts. but you have heard. reckon
that old man Eldridge is dead set OH
making Jessie marry Dick Brantley.
Brantley has the money. and he has a
record. but the money makes anything
go With the old man. Jessie won't
hear to a word Of it. and the old man
has been leading her life of it for
the last year. She says if get elect
ed she will marry me right away, dad
dy or no daddy. We want to show old
man Eldridge that Dick Erantley's
not the only man in this part Of the
world that can make living for his
daughter. That's why, squire"
''Thought so. Well, Jessie's q mighty
nice little gal. You've got more
sense'n l give you credit for, Barnes,
and I'll think it over. Hal Eldridge
always was ready to sell out for a
fea's hide and taller. Been a-huntin'
lately?"
Eldon took the hint. mot much l
haven't. Ingalls, and Robinson amt
putting in time on deer and bear"
He laughed easily. shifting his six
feet Of stalwart body over the gallery
railing, dropping to the ground be.
meath. you'd better think fast
squire. My minds on politics. and it's
bent on seeing decent man go UP
from the Barraclaw. You don't seen
to favor me. so l reckon might as
we'll order the handbills struck. John
son III be likely to charge extra on &c
count of having to rush them. We
haven't any time to lose"
"Now, look heah, Barnes Eldon. I'm
a busy man, with no time for your
blame foolishness; sides, want you
to understand this heah county ain't
no boys football. amt a-goin' one
step. and you might as we'll drop that
fool talk"
Eldon sprang into the saddle. ether
it'll have to be me. I'm young. but
I've got a clean record on cows" AnG
before the squire could get in pro
test he had disappeared down the
south road in cloud Of dust.
"Well, I'll be- And the squire
mopped his face theoretically. Their
his eyes began to twinkle, and hi
broke into huge laugh. "It's a 60
and blamed good way to even up OF
Hal Eldridge for sneakin' my labol
while l was up there with some more
fools a-tendin' to other folks bust
ness"
The crisp fall morning bristled will
the keen winds that swept up TIN
Barraclaw. centering around Wasl
Evans store, where the primary wa
held. All the antagonism of the cleo
ton was concentrated in the race TO
the county judgeship. 1t had its be
ginning in an old feud between TIN
two candidates that had more thar
once occasioned bloodshed. Neithe
of them was there. but there wer
plenty Of their supporters on tn
ground. and a wave Of excitemen
went through the men as rumo
spread and gained ground that til
Judge of the election had been threat
ened by the opposition-that he woul'
be shot If he attempted to serve.
The Harraclaw being the larges
township in the county and therefor
the most important rallying point
most of the other candidates wer
present except Ingalls,. who had gon
home to the st. Jean. Jack Robinson
and his henchmen were lined up Ion
before the polls opened. prepared t
give both ingalls, and Eldon stif
fight. Mcpherson. the threatened judge