The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-06-15
CHAPTER xvI-(continued)

never saw you lose your temper sc
quickly BEFORE"
He struck me without provocation. a,
the wrong moment Who Is going tC
speak tonight?"
"Donnelly and Rudolph"
What do you think? Donnelly called
me up by phone this afternoon. Wants
to know If really intend to tear down
the shops. l told him / had nothing
to say on the subject"
Tear them down. should. You're
a rich man. And you could have the
fun Of fighting to build up the trade
your father left. You were talking once
Of rebuilding entirely.
mot a bad idea, Dick. Only, feel
sorry for the men. Let's change the
subject. Dick"
| John, you're the head Of the fam
ily love Patty better than anything
else on Gods earth. Do you mind 2?
Warrington uttered these words
swiftly, before his courage. which he
had suddenly urged to its highest
dropped back
John swung round abruptly.
lis that true, Dick?"
AS l stand here. oh, I know; I'm
not good enough for Patty. / haven't
lived as decently as | might. haevn't
gone through life as circumspectly as
YOU have. drank; success made me
|
las i never hoped or dreamed OF low
Ing any woman. What do you say,
| John?"
Say? Why. you are good enough
| for any woman alive. I am very glad
! Dick. Patty married to you! You old
farmer" affectionately, i've always
been mentally pairing off you two!
Come on; let's hear what the political
windmill has TO say. They're burning
red fire in front Of the hall"
But moment gone their feet had
| dragged with each step: now there
was a llghtness that was dancing
John knew that 1t was all lie; and
Kate, dear Kate! He was a wretch He
slapped Warrington on the shoulder.
TO think OF your marrying Patty,
the little sister,"
| Don't go too fast. john" said War
rington with less enthusiasm. II
haven't said word to Patty yet: and
II she's sensible young woman. she'll
giev me my congo first-off."
| by George. women are strange
creatures. It's the truth, Dick; you
can't tell which way they'll go. But
Patty's no fool" John hadn't felt so
good In many hours.
But love her and God knows |
shah try to be worthy of her, even If
| lose her. ~. Sky-rockets!" with
an upward glance. That's the signal
for Rudolph's arrival at the hall"
| Come on, then!"
Rudolph was the great Jeffersonian
Democrat. not by excellence, rather by
! newspaper courtesy. and that. to be
| specific, by his own newspaper He had
come UP from New York that day to
deliver his already famous speech. He
was one OF the many possibilities In
the political arena for the governor
ship. And as he was a. mulrimillion-
aire, he was sure OF great crowd.
| The police cleared pathway for the
great man. and he hurried up the steps.
| They'll be doing all this to you some
| day.. John declared. as he and War
| rington elbowed through the crowd, the
dog between their legs.
| How d y do, Mr.. Warrington"
A hand touched the prospective
| candidate on the arm. Warrington saw
| Osborne's rubicund nose.
so you're out, too, Mr.. Osborne?"
Il never let meetings so by, Richard.
Good evening, Mr.. Bennington. A man
| with ten millions doesn't look any diff
! ferent from ordinary ,aortaIs, does he /?
But he is different. or he wouldn't have
that barrel A million is like a light
house; 1t attracts all sorts Of birds"
We'll stand at the left" said john
'it's nearer the exits"
Just as you say. / wish I'd left the
dog at home. He's a nuisance in a
crowd like this"
| They presently stood with their backs
to the wall and looked toward the
| stage. Donnelly was already speaking
about the man who was that night to
address them.
Once Warrington caught a glimpse Of
! q battered face in the crowd, but IL
disappeared quickly. However, he said
nothing to Bennington. Again he saw
McQuade moving about. within fifty
IN. n
stopped, and Warrington knew that the
white dog was present.
| Gentlemen" concluded Donnelly,
with flourish, william Henry Ru-
dolph. OF New York. our next gov
| ernor."
Mr.. Rudolph rose majestically and
smiled and bowed.
He began calmly. Mr.. Rudolph
paused In the middle Of a metaphor.
| There was a sudden commotion in the
rear of the hall Men were surging to
and fro.
Stand back!" cried a firm, resonant
| voice, full of anger.
! The uproar increased. Those In the
| forward chairs craned their necks.
| Put him out!'
"a fight"
Blue helmets moved toward the scene
Of action slowly.
Two bulldogs, one tan, the other
| Wnlte, were ngntlnS desperately, near
the exits. In between human legs. un-
der chairs, this way and that, snarling,
swapping. dragging.
1t was Warrington who had cried
out. He had been listening to the ora
tor; and Jove, smelling his enemy from
afar, slyly crept out OF his masters
reach. The white dog had also been on
the watch. In the drop of an eyelid
the battle was on. Warrington in
stantly comprehended the situation,
when he saw McQuade, who had every
confidence in his dog, clear circle. He
pushed his way through the swaying
wall of men and commanded those in
front to stand back. He was furious.
He had no objections to human beings
fighting. but he detested these bloody
conflicts between dumb brutes.
McQuade lost his temper and his di-
erection. He kicked Jove cruelty In the
side, at the very moment when War
rington had succeeded In breaking the
grip. Bennington thrust McQuade
| back violently.
I'll remember that kick. Mr.. Nc
Quade," said Warrington, white in the
| face.
IT don't think you'll be mayor OF
Herculaneum, Mr.. Warrington" re-
piled McQuade, glazing venomously al
the man who had brushed him aside sc
| ct