The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-24

estants had appeared - young men mostly. audacious egotists who. the people said. thought they were wiser and better than other men, dared to criticise what their neighbors accepted and presumed to instruct their elders. In the end they were broken, silenced sadly una that in the subcon- scious memory of men the echo of their protest was still ringing. They are forgotten now.
 John Dunmeade was a normally in- telligent young man. healthy of mind and conscience. who had never been tempted. hence never tested. He had heard the protestants of his day. of course. but they dealt with problems so remote from his own simple exist ence that he had care1essly accepted his elders apprafsement of them He had an ingenious belief in the great ness and goodness of men who attained high position in life. such men as Senator Murchell.
 Despite his charity and credulfty, he was. when occasion presented itself, quick to see the fundamental verities of the case-as Stephen Hampden had learned
 He was not unam bilious. although the spark had smoldered until, appar-
 
 come the suggestion of his nomination. When he perceived the distinct approv- al with which his neighbors received the suggestion his heart leaped within him. They were good. kind people. If he should prove faithful servant fin little perhaps-wfth una affected mo- desty he contemplated the prospect to him might be committed service of wider scope.
 The conceded fact that his nomina- Hon came solely by grace of Murchell's and Sheehan's decree caused him vague misgivings. Jeremy Applegates plaint startled him. Hampden's offer did not tempt-it revolted him What troubled him most was that these things were done in the light of day and that no one-Jerefny did not count. the victim would naturally pro- test-seemed to care
 After careful consideration of his un- imposing bank account John invested a part of it in horse despite the teas ing of Aunt Roberta, who accused him of joining the cavalry''-to wit, War ren Blake and the troop of undergrad du- ates that clattered over the roads at Crusaders heels. He was not thor oughbred. blue ribbon winner, like Cru sader, but just plain horse that. with buggy attached. could trot a mile in something less than five minutes or if you weren't particular as to gait would bear you. in the saddle all day with equal willingness. He was big. raw boned beast with a Roman nose and eyes continually showing white. which quite belied his placid temper. and John called him Lightning So John and Lightning. two industrious cam paigners, between whom a perfect un- derStanding existed, went about their business of getting votes-and learn ing.
 Lightning's duties generally consisted in standing under the shade of some tree. while John. a volunteer who at least earned his dinner. worked with the farmers in the fields And over the dinner table or when the days work was Gone John chatted with the farm CTS. The labor was good for his mus cles and digestion. and the chat was good for his soul
 Often he found that Jeremy Apple gate or one of Jeremy's fellow scouts had blazed the trail for him. But some times he found skeptics who asked per tinent questions.
 why should l vote for ye?" asked Dan Crisweil, citizen of Baldwin township. one evening
 John began to batter the stock party arguments. which carried conviction neither to the. skeptical CrisweIl nor of a sudden-to himself. He broke of abruptly in the middle of sentence.
 ''AS you say" he laughed uncomfort- ably Why should you vote for me?'
 Does sound kind O. foolish, don't it? Reckon ye won't have nothin' to do with the tariff or the single gold stand ard ner prosperity neither. The hull party won't make ye git after the law breakers if ye're cheek by jowl with Jim Sheehan an he don't want it. What want to know is are ye honest -or will ye take orders?"
 "That sounds logical.'' John assested.
 'sIt's common sense. Only most can didates think we're too simple to think ont An I don't know as they're far wrong he added thoughtfuIly.
 When John left. however. Criswell shook hands with him cordially. '.I guess I'll vote for ye-this time I can't swaller rhe hull ticket. though stomach wouldn't stand it Ye look like ye'd be yer own man. Leastways. I'll chance it-''
 And John replied. troubled. "I won't regard that as promise. I'm not sure that you ought to vote for me"
 Another day he met one Sykes, hill farmer. little. wizened fellow who looked as though he had worn himself out in the struggle to wiring a living out of the steep slopes.
 ''I ain't voting' he said
 "Well," John laughed cheerfully. eff can't get vote I'll be content with information Will you tell me why you won't voteT'
 ''Weil. if ye will have it. Jim Sheehan nominated ye. If ye'd been the right kind O man he wouldn't "a had nothin' to do with ye. Any body he's fer, Pm against. l rec1ect when he come to Plumville nothin' but drinlzin' bum