The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-16

'Let 1t talk, said Leicester an grily.
 "Yes, sir, but have my own repu- tation to think of, as well as yours I've never lost an election yet, sir and I don't mean to leave any stone unturned in order to win this. Ii was at my suggestion that MT. Gray burn wired to you last night, and I've been working like slave ever since. Judiciously managed, sir, the fact of the postponement of your wedding day will do us lot of good. JUdiciously managed; sir, of course. Weak heart. sir, I was thinking about, and then excess of joy at the thought of the wedding, brought on dangerous com plications which made a Journey out of the country inevitable. That is what I suggest, sir. And may l also say, sir, that you made a bad move in not coming down by the six o'clock train, as I wired this morning. I could then have got a big turnout to meet you. The proper thing was what I wanted. I had arranged for a lot of men to take the horses out of the carriage I had engaged, and have you drawn up to town in style. Your wire an hour ago, saying you would be here earlier, gave me no time, sir Still, I must get over that; but do urge the other, sir. quite appreciate the delicacy of your feel ings, but we must put our feelings in the background at electioneering Miss Castlemaine had her photo graph taken when she was down here, and I've had slide made of it for magic lantern. My idea is that her picture be thrown on a screen tonight before the chairman speaks, and that an explanation be made about the postponement of the wedding. can explain about your coming down unexpectedly. I can say that after your great trouble, al- though your sense of duty made you overcome it in order to come down early, you did not feel like being met by a crowd of your loyal sup porters. That would be a good card, sir, and it would tell with the voters"
 The mans words angered him, but he controlled himself. After all, why shouldn't he let him have his way? The whole thing was a bill of play acting, a farce, mockery-why not play the game thoroughly then?
 He had been drinking freely through the day, and while, as of old, it did not affect him outwardly, it influenced him far more than it would have done few months be- fore. His abstinence had made him far more susceptible to the power of whisky. Under it's influence, more over, he felt like consenting to things which without it he would have scorned. What had taken place had utterly destroyed the feelings which Olive Castlemaine had caused to take root in his heart. Besides, this would be one method of paying off old scores. Let the farce be kept up. Nothing mattered now. Even if the truth were discovered he did not care.
 "Of course the notice is short" went on the election agent, "but I thought it better to strike while the iron was hot. The dissolution yester- day came upon us like a bombshell, but I determined to make capital out of it, and I tell you, sir, there'Il be a tremendous crowd to hear you to- night. There'll be two cards to play, sir. First we shall arouse a tremend- oos amount of sympathy for you on account of Miss Castlemaine being taken ill, that is if the matter is judiciously worked, and then, second, the people are just burning to hear about the causes which led to the Governments downfall. Of course you've got everything first hand, sir. That's enough for tonight, and if we play our game we'll, the battle is nearly won before the other side have had a chance to get a look in.''
 "An right" said Leicester desper- ately, anything to win.''
 That's the proper spirit, anything to win. But I've a bit of unpleasant news, sir-perhaps you can explain it?"
 "What?" asked Leicester.
 Well, you know, sir, you have gen. orally stayed with MT. Osborne at The Grange when you've visited the constituency. Accordingly, took the liberty of calling upon him today, suggesting that he should invite you, as on other occasions, but he refused to do so."
 "Just so." said Leicester; "did he tell you why?"
 "Not a word, sir; as a consequence I engaged rooms for you here at the Red Lion.''
 That's all right" he said. "Mr Osborne is a little out of sympathy with us just now; but on the whole I am very glad. would much rath- CT be here in the hotel.''
 'Still, it's a bit of knockdown blow. MT. Osborne is the most in- huentlal man in the constituency,