The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-07-05

went up and Bunch nearly tainted.
I sent four OF our committee out to
head of Uncle Peter and explain mat
ters, and when turned around Bunch
and some Of his friends had disap-
peared.
Presently the crowd began to get
impatient and catcalls filed the afr.
There wasn't anybody on the plat
form with nerve enough to get up and
tear on a speech, so we had TO SIT
there and look foolish.
Bunch was back in ten minutes look
ing very pale and excited, while the
crowd took up the chorus: Gray!
Gray! why do you stay away?"
Some Of my scouts returned with
the news that no trace Of Uncle Peter
could be found, and | began to wonder
what would happen If the crowd call
ed upon me to produce him.
Half-past eight and no Candidates.
Quarter of nine and no Candidates.
The crowd had its kidding clothes on
by this time, and Bunch was handed
some pretty lively language, but he
was game to the finish, that boy wasl
At nine o'clock the crowd had
thinned out to such an extent that the
referee got up and went home. Gabe
Malone arose to address what was
left of the audience, but before he
n hale V,rrkflya ~ kad q r
somebody in the front line pointed a
toy pistol at him, and he did back
flip Off the platform and hiked for
home.
After that there was nothing doing.
At $3.50 only a few night-hawks re-
mained of the once great audience.
The representatives and committees
on the platform dwindled away until
finally nobody was left save Bunch
and l.
1 looked over at Bunch from time to
time and he looked over at me, but we
never cracked a smile.
At 10 o'clock we still sat there, but
we had. our backs to each other.
At 1910 the audience consisted of
one sea-going hack, with both horse
and driver asleep.
The hack didn't seem to care what
happened.
At 1915 we arose, handed each
other the laugh and went home.
The joint debate was a flzzle, but I
had a shade the best of'it.
| found Aunt Martha and Clara J. in
tears when / reached the villa.
Poor Uncle Peter!" sobbed Clara
j.; "oh, where is he? where is he?"
Hes been assassinated, know It,"
Aunt MarthaRsobbed back. "Oh, that
he had never r=gone into pohticsl"
I succeeded in calming them after
a time, and hy dint of much question
ing learned that two strangers had
called to see Uncle Peter on very
urgent business at about 7:15, and
that the trio had started off hurriedly
in the direction of the river road.
Hank, Barney Doolin and / at once
took a lantern and followed the trail.
About, a mile from the villa on the
bank of the river is big ice-house,
and as we approached 1t we heard the
most unearthly yelling, swearing and
kicking of boards.
Sure, it sounds like the ould man
whin he's excited" cried Barney as
we unbolted the door.
= It was Uncle Peter who stood be-
fore us, a sad spectacle in the Ian
terms light
"The villains!" he shouted; "oh,
John, my boy, I'm so glad to see you!
The villains! they lured me down here
with a lying story that I could see
Bunch Jefferson teaching lot OF
Italian tioaters how to vote!"
/ leaned against the ice-house and
nearly choked-
when they got me here they bolt
ed the door ION me-" Uncle Peter
stormed, and they told me, the VII
lains, not toi describe anything might
see here ini my, speeches against the
Opposition. How could l see any
thing in this damn old ice-houseT
When told him about the joint de-
DaIe ana Oh Lne uOu-hPpSoAohSV "
the Hon. William Gray he calmed
down at oSnce
What do you suppose kept old Bill
Gray avFay%' Uncle Peter asked, as
we walled up the road.
you, can search me, Uncle Peter"
l said Jas we reached the fence by the
road, Just as an automobile came
chuck4chucking painfully along.
We, waited IN the darkness to let
IL go Fby!
Asit passed we saw an agitated old
gentlpman in the rear seat, fuming
and tfretting and urging the chauffeur
to hurry on, but to all the old mans
pleadingx the chauffeur replied stolid-
ly, I'm doin' the best can! the Bub-
bles blnst"
Oh! noble stramgerl What would
have been our finish without you?
toORtinned on Eighth Pasel