The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-16
THE EVENING STORY
Two for One Seat.
(By M. ]. Phillips.)

tioneering."
| On the back seat of the car the
chairman and secretary of the coun-
| ty committee were arguing as to the
best sort of speech for COombS to
make at the Bristow schoolhouse, for
which they were headed. On the
| front seat the chauffeur steered the
car straight into the harvest moon
which was rising like a great shield
at the end of the white road. Beside
| him Coombs, candidate for congress,
was secretly INDUCING himself in one
| of the 1et-downS which come even to
! the best regulated candidates. He was
heartily sick of the campaign; of the
daily association with small politicians
who treated him with more or less
| familiarity; of repeating the same
things over and over to audiences
| friendly, hostile and Indifferent.
He was tired of the whole BUSH
ness; for the moment he sincerely
wished he were back at Demottville
pegging away at his law practice. and
letting some one else work and fret
for political honors. And if he were,
he would be enjoying this perfect
evening-an August changeling set
with pretty girl on a moonlight
night naturally appealed to the
bachelor Coombs. And there were
| pretty girls in Demottville.
i The car came upon a group vending
| it's way to the schoolhouse- There
were five of them-two boys twelve
or fourteen years old, and three
young women. "Oh, you candidate!"
called one of the boys, as the car was
| "Stop," commanded Coombs. brief
| ly. He had been taught never to
overlook any BETS" in the parlance
of the politician. Every person had
possibilities. no matter how humble.
| Every one welded some influence
possibly commanded a vote. and
vote was a vote, wherever garnered.
IAN aboard" he invited cheerily as
| the car stopped.
They came promptly, the boys with
whoops of delight. They dragged
| one of the young women, laughing
and protesting between them. They
tugged at her like young bears and
| happening the girl was deposited in
his lap, the others had bestowed
themselves on the runningboard. and
| the car was on its way.
Il hope you'll pardon this en-
thusiastic response to your invitation"
said the girl, striving to rise. Il had
no option, you see; it was come, or
get torn to pieces.
same reason replied Coombs, for
the boys stood guard, shouting,
you've got to stay right there, Cous-
in Beth!''
Besides" continued the candidate,
81 welcome the opportunity to make
| a convert. In return for this ride l
shall expect your vote election day"
"Indeed?" questioned his passen-
ger. restraining herself unwillingly
qualification can you urge for con-
! gress? Are you competent or ex-
Derienced? Do you WELD influence in
Washington? Are you an orator?
Can you do better than the man who
| has represented this district for ten
| years ~
1 piled with a laugh: ITO all your
questions I fear must answer no.
ET,he girl smiled at him as she stepped
| out of the car cat least you have
the virtue of modesty,'' she said.
The chairman and secretary mad ar
rived at a conclusion, and the for
mer now took the candidate aside to
saw in the hoarse whisper peculiar to
| politicians: ''This part of the county
| is strong for you, and they like TO
see the animals stirred up. Go after
Frank SCOTS record; go after him
personally. You can't make mis-
take by putting his hide on the fence
out here
| Their late passengers had front
seats in the schoolhouse Coombs dis
| covered when he made his way to
the rostrum and waited for the chalr-
man to call the gathering to order:
The two boys winked ana glggleo
| when they caught his eye, and then
leaned over to whisper something to
the girl who had sat on his lap.
| Coombs fancied that she blushed.
Now that he could get a good look
at her, Coombs realized that she was
very pretty. He wondered idly who
| she was Probably the daughter of
some wealthy farmer of the neighpor-
hood, who had been able to give her
advantages beyond the ordinary. Her
good looks and her becoming dress
were of the city rather than the
| country He speculated whether her
| eyes were dark gray or brown.
Coombs arose to make his speech
The audience applauded tho hand
some, boyish looking candidate. They
| listened closely while he sketched
national affairs and conditions IN
| their own state, then in their own
district The moment had come for
the attack on Congressman Scott, but
I Coombs did not make it. He looked
into the eyes of the girl on the front
seat. Doubtless she thought him like
/ all politicians-ready to climb at the
expense of another; anxious to tear
down that others reputation that he
might build up his own Wen. he
would show her he was not an ordi-
nary politician.
The Bristow neighborhood was
lrather disappointed in the tameness
of the speech; the chairman and sec
didn't care; he walked out with the
"You will ride back with us?" he
She shook her head. and held out
her hand. mo; but thank you for
what you did not say tonight"
''What do you mean ?" asked
Coombs. He was oblivious of the fact
that two score voters, whose ballots
might elect him, were also waiting to
shake hands.
st mean she said that I am
Frank SCOTS daughter
The campaign drew to a close.
Coombs was scheduled to spend the