The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1911-02-18

Two for One Seat
By M. ]. PHILLIPS
Copyright. lsN. by Associated I1tersr~ press

oelatea Literary Press
the girl who had sat on his lap
Coombs fancied that she blushed.
Now that he could get 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 neighbor-
mood, who had been able to give her
advantages beyond the ordinary. Her
good looks and her becoming dress
We're OF the city rather than the
country. He speculated whether her
eyes were dark gray or brown.
Coombs arose to make his speech
Inc audience applauded the hand.
some boyish-looking candidate They
listened closely while he sketched
hatlonal affairs and conditions in
thelr own state, then in their own
district The moment had come for
the attack on Congressman Scott, but
Coombs did not make 1t. He looked
into the eyes of the girl on the front
seat Doubtless she thought him like
all politicians-ready to climb at the
/
down that others reputation that he
might build up his own Well, he
would show her he was not an ordi.
nary politician.
The Bristow neighborhood was
rather disappointed in the tameness
OF the speech; the chairman and sec,
rotary were grumpy. But Coombs
didn't care; he walked out with the
girl
You will ride back with u.s." he
asked
ehe 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,
Il mean," she said, that l am
Frank SCOTS daughter"
The campaign drew to close
Coombs was scheduled to spend the
last week in this county, and he man.
aged to see good deal of Beth Scott
between meetings. They avoided
politics, but found many other sub
1ects to talk about They had read
the same books and admired the same
plays. There were so many things
TO discuss that Coombs took to run
ming over to the home of Miss Scotts
uncle, where she was visiting, morn.
ings or afternoons O. evenings
whenever the hardworked party
motor car could be spared. and he
had an hour to himself
Election day came, and Coombs
was beaten. He made a good run
better than shrewd politicians had
expected, for Frank Scott was de-
servedly strong.
Coombs, somehow, did not mind
the defeat; there was no sting in II.
Demottyile gloried in his good show
ing, and received him almost as
hero when he came home He be-
came, almost in night, prominent
citizen. In two weeks his law bust.
ness doubled. He had arrived"
Miss Scott was going home, and
Likewise he planned, az he had been
planning for month, to say some
hing else. But 1t was hard to get II
out; Beth was SO unconscious of
what was going on beneath the sur
face of his mind.
At last he plucked up courage to
speak:
Ever since that night at the Bris-
tow school I've been wondering how
you'd like Demottville."
ITS a pretty little city isn't it?"
she asked, with interest
Yes l have a little home
there, surrounded by fifty-year-old
naples. There's fireplace in the
living room, and deep-padded leath.
er chair that | like to draw up before
the fire. That chair would hold two
just as easily as-as an automobile
seat"
Oh" breathed Beth Scott, compre-
hendingly.
But there's no use talking about
It I suppose" went on Coombs, visit
fully. your father has won. and
you are going DaCk TO washington
the most wonderful city in the coun-
try. That's the only reason I'm sor-
ry I lost. If I'd been successful,
there'd have been something to offer
you"
do you think" said the girl soft
ly, that would make any differ
ence, if one-cared? And I've seen
Washington. But I've never seen De-
mottvile and-and that chair!"
When the next session of congress
opened Frank Scott was hailed as a
Napoleon of politics by his COL
leagues. They had tried many
schemes to retain the magic letters,
IN. c." after their names. But to
marry ones daughter to ones most
dangerous opponent-that was more
than scheming; it was genius!
The Proper Answer.