Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-06-09
John Henry
MAKES A
COMPACT
aBy GEORGE v. HOBART

Uncle Peter Grant and his old en-
emy, Bill Gray. were squaring on be-
fore the grand clash at the polls; and
~ election day drew nearer the tight
waxed herosr, and Ruraldens seemed
20 be very evenly divided for Gray
and for Grant.
Uncle William had not yet attempt
ed TO speak In public. but his bench
man, Bunch. was about the busiest
mosquito that ever stung q face.
That boy was AL over the place.
When be wasn't handing out the Con
talk 10 the mothers, OF buying candy
for the kids. he was down In the Rye
Resorts helping somebody's tide to
come In
And might a. well tell you that
wasn't anybody's ossifsd man myself.
Bunch and hadn't spoken since
that evsntful morning when Uncle
Peter called upon me to uphold the
honor Of the family.
We sat up nights sharpening the
harpoons for each other, and It got so
that every tire Bunch doomed up on
the horizon he growlsd. and every
time he saw me he'd bark and run the
other way.
One day had fash Of Uncle VIII
liam, with Bunch and Alice. hiking AL
over town IN an automobile. bowling
and smiling and throwing the glad
gaze At the populsce.
TUIfIlow~~ 80 ~ har-
zine buggy and putting on more dog
than plate of sausagss.
A neat BIT Of stage business, and
the old gesxer made good
Il was up to mo.
ducksd for the iong-distance tale
phone, called mp q Bubble shop In
New York, and ordered . motor-car.
painted red, white and blue, sent to
me IN Ruraldene at once.
When Il arrived / told Uncle Peter
that he ana Aunt Martha must snug
xle down IN the busy barouchs and
steer II ell over town.
~Try 10 80 some place where the
boodlums win stone you I advised
IF you can get good hard wallop
over the koiro with rock Il win Gre
ate an awful lot Of sympathy and win
votes for usi-
Uncle Peter looked the benxins
buggy over and said. why don't you
run the machine. Johnf"
What you want me to run the
Bubble" ] exclaimed. and let the
opposition see that you're q shine
chauffeur Nix. Uncle Peter: you've
rot TO get busy with the choo-choo
cart and do your own stsering-for
the honor Of the familyi Don't give
the public Q chance to say that old
Bin Gray Is the only guy with the Cog
glss lhzt can blow q Bubble through
the streets Of Ruraldensl The rubber
sweater and the Dutch awning over
the forehead for yours and on your
wayf"
But John" protested Uncle Peter,
Il never handled q machine like this
before. Do you really think II win
make much difference with the votsrs
q don't show my ability ~ chauf-
fsurf"
-Diffsrsncsi- ] repeated: why. II
you don't show thcm that when II
comes TO handling IN sutomobuxzard
you have old Bill Gray stung through
the porous plaster. then IT'S all OIL
Hasn't your opponent been out for
hours doing the grapevine twist and
cutting the figure eight through the
burtnsss portion Of the town. and caus-
ing 20 many narrow escapes that all
the doctors IN the district are watch
cng him-with their fingers crossed
Cut loose. Uncls Peter. for the honor
Of the family, cut loosei"
Finally, with much reluctance. our
candidate and Aunt Martha climbed
into the cosl-oil coupe.
I gave him his nnsl instructions.
Nov. Uncle Peter" I said, grab
that wheel In front Of you firmly with