The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-02

interested. Half dozen Of nv com
petitors We're in the lobby and as
was signing the register they crowded
around and asked questions
You here. too, on that road role
contract" asked the hotel clerk
Yes | replied.
But you're too late. old boy said
tho salesman for Pittsburg house.
The award is to be made in few
hours
III bet a hat this gentleman gets
the contract said the hotel clerk.
iii go YOU replied the salesman
Well ! exclaimed this thing is
taking OH such sporty look I'd better
get busy or my friend, tho clerk will
be IN the hole We all laughed and
then, on tho quiet some of the boys
told me everything had been ixcd.
There were three county commissions
crs One was clergyman. lie was
chairman The boys. Of course.
wouldn't approach him Chcy had
agreed as they do occasionally. 10 pre-.
vent costly competition, that one OF
the number should e"t .his contract
II was his turn. never was in the
combination. OF the other two com
misSioners one had been bribed He
was strong character and dominated
the other commissioner, who was a
milk and water sort OF creature
With the situation confronting me
there only was one thing to do first.
That was to get the commissioners to
postpone action. II was Saturday
When the commissioners met I went
before them and explained that my
company had not received advices OF
the competition until a late day; that
had hurried 10 the city, that wished
to put in Il bid; that there was moth
Ing for the county to lose and possibly
much to gain by postponinG action I'M
I'll Monday etc.
The man who had been bribed said
he YVES opposed 10 delay. It was my
fault il did not get there earlier The
commissioners had studied the sub
jet fully and he moved the contract
be awarded
Il argued some more and so did the
others opposed to me, and it was late
In the afternoon when a last the com
missioners agreed to let the bids go
over until Monday.
II had studied the clergyman while
was talking. He was one OF those
dun. stolid Germans, slow Of sneech
and action. I knew if | was to win
that boards approval first must win
him.
There were two exits to the court
front.
one on the side. When the commits.
sioners and others were departing
was on the lookout. and as the clergy
man started coward the side door I
followed him. You know the salesman
thinks he is justified in doing anything
TO land an order, SO went IN To thc
reverend gentleman and told him
wanted him TO d. me a great favor;
was great home body and de-
fNS fn6 1Naiy, I,
more trying TO nc than to be about :,
strange hotel in a strange town on
sunday. loved the country and
asked If he would permit nc to go to
his home. spend the Sabbath with him
attend service, listen to his sermon
and cat the good wholesome food his
wife cooked.
II spoke ardently, a S do when I'm
doing my most earnest lying and the
old chap sort of warmed up His buggy
stood In a wagon shed nearby and he
invited me to get in. AS we rode out
OF town | set to work adroitly to find
his weakness. j found it, His ambi-
ton was 10 lave good cattle He
loved cattle His church was door
or he was SO dull a preacher that he
never had prospcred His whole life
had been one Of struggle and stinting
Then lie told me of a high grade calf
man never had owned a blooded animal,
ana he thought that calf was one OF
the finest he ever had seen
1T was nearing dusk. and We were
not far from the clcrgyman's home,
which was four miles from town when
the preacher pointed to a field near by
and said: There's the calf now
locked and saw the animal know
no more about Hereford hcifcrs than
| do OF sacred llamas. but began to
express my admiration of that one.
asked the clergyman to stop the buggy.
We got out and approached the calf.
declared it surely was a thorough
bred The clergyman haltingly said
he didn't think SO. But ] insisted the
calf was thoroughbred, and cnthusi--
astjcally announced that intended to
buy tho animal if ! could get it for
& reasonable price. The Clergyman
looked doleful. but accompanied me To
the farmers house, and after a little
dickcring I got the calf for $35. We
hitched the calf behind the buggy and
proceeded.
when VIC were near. the clcrsyman's
house ! told him would like him to