The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-23

afterward I was man then. Now Pm a parasite. For nigh onto twenty years I've done it, because I can't make nvfn' any other way, for good men and bad men, for them can re spect-most1y for them can't respect. I ain't allowed mind of my own ner conscience, and every time I go cam paignin' I feel like a pup. Do you know what 1t is? It's hell, that's what it is.''
 .swhat we need" said John, '.is civil service
 ACfvn service. They've got civil serv- ice in the postof1ce Did you ever hear of a postmaster or his clerk that
 wasn't in politics7" ?"
 But a grumbling soldier often is a good fighter; witness Jeremy on scouting expedition. It begins at the establishment of Silas Hicks, livery man. Jeremy, being pegieg, cannot tramp the weary miles ahead of him. He drives out into the country, brow wrinkled as he marshals his argu- I ments. He has no eyes for the calm beauty of the afternoon. He pulls 1 in the jogging horse beside field in 1 the middle of which a man is seen driving hayrake. Tn response to 1 Jeremy's hail the man descends from his seat and walks slowly over to the Isfence.
 ..Howdy, comrade." says Jeremy. "Howdy, Jeremy
 "Good harvestin weather "Purty good,n comrade agrees. There is not a cloud in the sky.
  buIging pocket he draws forth q cigar girdled by q gaudy red and gold band. They are very good cigars, costing $1o the hundred. At home repose three I boxes of them, recently purchased. Jeremy has needed new suit and his | wife a new dress for more than a year. These luxur1es, however, must be postponed.
 1 The farmer holds the cigar to his nose, snif1ng approvingly- t.FlI keep l 1t till after supper" He deposits it I carefully on the bottom rail of the l fence beside his water jug Jeremy resorts again to the bulging pocket. Keep that and smoke this l now" he offers generously. The farm l CT lights the cigar. From another I pocket Jeremy draws forth his own weed This pocket Is not so we'll filled and contains only three fers'' for l Jeremyss own consumption. 1 After further preIiminaries Jeremy i opens fire.
 44s.pose you're goin' to git into line i this fall, same as ever, comrade2 P he l remarks casually.
 The farmer leans on the fence in an
 attitude suited to comfortable argu-
 ment. Well, don't knows am" 1 with Johnny Dunmeade on the ticket"
 1 "I'n vote for him. He's all right.
 Does my law work don't think
 much of the state ticket, though Forthwith Jeremy launches into a passionate defense of his party, in
 which the tariff is freely mentioned 1 Reference is made also to the days l when comrade and he shared blankets
 together on the red soil of Virginia.
 He talks rapidly, dreading to hear the I argument which he cannot answer Comrade is not unimpressed, but is far ! from conviction.
 l Well, don't know he says slowly
 And then brings forth the thing that has been haunting Jeremy's nights and days. ''I'm bothered some about that trust company business Looks to me | aS IT some or MuTcaGlIS PO1E4C4AAS
 was at the bottom of it. When they I git to foolin' with our banks, it's time to make a change. If we let lem go | on, how'm to know that my bank l ain't mixed up with 'em?
 There is a silence, while Jeremy
 braces himself for his duty. sI know. 1 It-its been botherin' me, too. But
 he looks away and tries manful1y to I keep the whine out of his voice. "Pm
 aslxin' you as a favor to me to over 1 look it. They've served notice on me 1 that I've got to bring Tn my list for
 the whole ticket or my je5 goes." 4 There is another silence, a longer
 one, while the farmer chews his cigar reflectively.
 I sWell,, he says at last, sTd like to
 do ye a favor, Jeremy. I'll think 1t I over"