The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-02-08

spasm as to have lingering death
later with you at the head of it. Way
mouth. You can't team me-"
"You let me say Il word right here!"
clustered Everett. Il wash my hands
of any deal with Spinney. I've got
the bulk of that convention behind me.
don't propose to be shunted."
II supposed you all remembered the
details OF what you did last evening"
returned the general coldly. ''ls 1t
necessary for me to remind you, Mr..
Everett, that Chairman Presson turned
over to Spinney paper in which you
agreed to appoint him to a state Of
fee? That transaction was noted along
with the rest, sir. would remind
you, gentlemen, that the convention is
waiting"
Thelismer Thornton caught the sec
retary Of the state committee by the
arm and propelled him toward the
door, ordering Harlan to open it. "Sis-
nal that band! Start it to going!' he
directed. keep those delegates easy"
| He turned on the chairman. "Now.
Luke, you're licked. And it's your own
deadfall that's caught you. There's a
new bribery law in this state. You
| haven't forgotten it, have you? It's
state prison"
Look here, gentlemen" he went on,
addressing the members of the state
committee, you've got just five min
utcs' leeway between good political
walloping and striped suits. Get out
on the floor. Get busy with those del
| egations. And the man of all Of you
who dares to say one word too much
about what's been done here today
will peek through bars and wish his
tongue had been torn out by the roots
before he talked. Presson, this thing
is out of your hands. You shan't cut
your own throat, say. Get on to
that floor, men,"
They went. 1t was the rush Of men
to save themselves. Each man as he
passed out cast a glance upon the pa
pers that General Weymouth clutched
and a second glance at Harlan, brawny
guard, at his side.
"Take Everett across to the commit
tee room and call in the men who were
to present him." directed the duke, re-
leasing the chairman. "And it's up to
you two to give 'em story that will
hold 'em. It's short notice. but we've
got General Weymouth for text.
Look here, Dave"-he whirled on Ev-
erett, who was frantically protesting
"sour strength was the strength the
boys Of the machine put behind you.
1t hasn't been personal strength. Get
across there, you and Presson! I'm
eating dirt myself. Get down on your
hands and knees with ME and make
believe you like it,"
He hustled them out.
The band was rioting through jolly
melanee of popular melodies.
| The old man hesitated a moment and
then walked across to the general.
ward, politics Is most always case
| of dog eat dog, but 1 want to assure
you that I'm not hungry just now il
you are not, And my grandson seems
to have more political foresight than I
gave him credit for. I'm getting old, I
see!"
|
answer. He swung about and went to
Spinney.
"I reckon they'll raise your guard
now, Arba," he said, nodding at the
stolid and plain men. .'There isn't
much more that You can do, either to
harm or help. You'd better pull chair
out to the edge OF the stage there and
listen to what good fellow you are
when your orators nominate you. Then
before the applause dies away you'd
better start for home. It'N be a good
time to get away while Presson is
busy" 1t was plain that. lacking any
other object, the duke was venting the
last of his spleen on this wretched VIC
tim of the game. Before you go, give
me one of those Honest Arba' ribbons.
l keep scrap book Of jokes"
The abject candidate had no word to
offer in reply. He was white and trem-
bling.
"You can suit yourself as to your
further movements, Spinney," said the
general. noting the mans distress.
"There's rear exit from this hall"
remarked the duke significantly.