The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-05-11

II am very much obliged to you, Os-
borne. If win out, on my word of
honor, I'll do something for you"
| You aren't afraid of McQuade ?"
| anxiously.
my dear Mr.. Osborne, am not
afraid of the Old Nick himself I'll
| give this man McQuade the biggest
| fight he has ever had. Bolles will have
his pains for nothing. Any scandal he
can rake up about my past will be
pure blackmail; and / know how to
deal with that breed"
"McQuade will try something else.
then. He's sworn to stop you. I'm glad
you aren't afraid Of him."
| Il can't think you enough
Il wander about town a good deal:
nobody pays much attention to me:
| so lots Of things fall under my notice
I'll let you know what 1 hear You'll
| find all the decent people on your side,
surprise or no surprise. They're tired
of McQuade and Donnelly. Some of
| these paving deals smell. Well, I'm
Keeping you from your work." Bill
rose.
Help yourself to these cigars" said
Warrington gratefully. passing the
box.
| Bill took three.
| Good night, Richard"
| Good night, Mr.. Osborne. If by any
good luck I become mayor of Hercu-
1 ~ aiot ioiSSt youT SERVICE
| tonight"
That's all that's necessary for me: ="
| and Bill bowed himself out. He layed
his course for his familiar haunts.
| Warrington picked up the letter
| which Osborne had SO fortunately
come upon. He was often amused at
the fascination 1t held for him. He
would never meet the writer, and yet
not day passed that he did not strive
| to COnf1ra I'M an ipoa pt M fiua Iilrapaco
And he had nearly lost 1t. The creases
were beginning to show. He studied it
thoroughly. He held 1t toward the
light, All, here was something that had
hitherto escaped his notice. 1t was a
peculiar water wark. He examined the
folds. The sheet had not been folded
originally, letter-wise, but had been
fiat, as IL torn from a tablet. He
scrutinized the edges and found signs
OF mucilage. Here was something, but
| 1t led him to no solution. The post
office mark had been made in New
| York. To trace letter in New York
| would be as fmpracticable as subtract
| ing gold from. sea-water. 1t was a tan
| talizing mystery, and IL bothered him
more than he liked to confess. He
put the letter in his wallet, and went
| into the sewing-room, where his aunt
was knitting. The dear old lady smiled
| at him.
"Aunty, I've got a secret to tell
YOU"
| What 10 it. Richard?'
| I'm going to run for mayor"
| The old lady dropped her work and
held up her hands in horror.
You are fooling, Richard!"
| i am very serious. aunty."
| But politicians are such scamps,
| Richard
| Somebody's got to reform them"
But they'll reform you into one of
| their kind. You don't mean it,"
| Yes, l do. I've promised. and 1
can't back down now"
| mo good will come Of it," said the
old lady, prophetically, reaching down
| for her work. But IL you are deterrn-
ined, I suppose it's no use for me to
talk. What Will the Benningtons say ?'
They rather approve the idea I'm
/ going up there early tomorrow. I'll be
up before you're down. Good night"
He lightly kissed the wrinkled face.
| Have a good time, Richard; and
God bless my boy"
| He paused on the threshold and came
back. Why. he did not know. But hav-
| Ing come back, he kissed her once
again. his hands on her cheeks There
were tears in her eyes.
You're SO kind and good to an old
woman, Richard"
| "Pshaw! there's nobody your equal
In all the world. Good night" and he
stepped into the hall.
The next morning he left town for
Bennington's bungalow In the Adiron-
dacks. He arrived at in the aft
ernoon. and found John, Kate and
| Patty at the village station. 1t was
nearly two hours drive to the lake,
which was circled by lordly noun
tains.
isn't it beautiful?" asked PATTY.
with kind Of proprietary pride.
| 1T Is as fine as anything I'm the
Alps" Warrington admitted. "Shall
we go a-fishing in the mornins7''
| IF you can get UP early enosgh..
| Trust mel" enthusiastically.
"How's the politician" whispered
Kate, eagerly.
! about to find himself in the heart
OF great scandal. The enemy has To-
Gated us, and this afternoon the Times
Is to come out with a broadside. I
haven't the least idea what 1t will say,
nor care"
That's the proper way to talk" re-
piled Kate approvingly.
But what's this talk about politics ?"
John demanded.
Warrington looked at Patty and Kate
in honest amazement.
''Do you two mean to tell me-" he
asked, that you have really kept the
news from John?"
You told us not to tell" said Kate
/ TepTOdcHIully.
! well, I see that I shall never get
any nearer the truth about women.
thought sure they'd tell you, Jack, that
I'm going to run for mayor this fall"
| mol"
| Truth. And it's going to be the
| fight Of my life. ! accepted In the
4 spirit Of fun, but am dead in earnest
/ now.
I'm harangue the boys in the shops"
volunteered John, though there's a
| spirit of unrest I don't like. I've no
doubt that before long / shall have a
fight on my hands. But I shall know
exactly what to do" grimly. But hang
business! These two weeks are going
| to be totally outside the circle OF bust
ness. hope you'll win, Dick. Wen
burn all the stray barrels for you on
election night"
"There'll be plenty of them burning.
But I shall be nervous till I see the
| Times"
you'll have 1t in the morning"
| Warrington sighed. Half an hour
later the bungalow came into view.
There was no little excitement over
the arrival Of the mail boat in the
morning. They were all eager to see
what the Times had to say. There was
a column or more on the first page,
subheaded. Warrington's career was
rather accurately portrayed, but there
were some pungent references to cab
bages In the leader on the editorial