The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-11-29
b-ye. knyB6d, he's fer. I'm

y
An now he's got rich. buildln' bad
streets an roads an taxin' me heavy
TO pay fer II while 1t keeps me scratch.
in to get the intrust on my mortgage
How do I know he's crooked7 I don't
know-1 feel 1t. An I know that no
one gets the nomination less'n he says
so Or Murchell--an' they're tarred
with the same stick"
Johns face was grave 'Then you
ought to vote the opposition ticket. ia
rather you'd do that than not vote at
all"
The momentary flicker Of passion
died down whats the useT' was the
reply. duly given. However I vote
some feller like Sheehan gifts on top"
John sought counsel from his father
But to the judge Caesars wife-that Is
to say. his party and all things thereto
appertalning-was above suspicion; not
so the motives of him who raised
question. SO he took his trouble to
Ri Cranshawe. the Office visitor to
whom Johns Difference had attracted
Sheehan's attention. big man. kindly,
shrewd. with wisdom in the raw. He
listened sympathetically as John
poured out his tale.
ITS like what Sykes says. 1t amt
what we know--it's what we feel
When Jim ShePhan gifts a public con-
tract. we feel there's somethln' crook
ed shout It, When q man gifts nomi-
nstion. we feel that he's made some
kind o. deal with Sheehan. When we
put up a man on our own hook. an
he's nominated-wh which amt often-we
find he's gone over to Sheehan. An
that amt feel. it's know. Jim Shee-
hans represented: we amt. 1t amt
right"
Then why don't you get together
and fght?"
We've got to live" Cranshawe ans
wered simply. I'VE don't lay by money
fast enough to keep us without work
in. We amt got the time ner the
trainin' to make a good fight against
him. We've got no leader" His eyes,
through the bushy brows, rested with
an almost wistful light on the trou-
bled countenance before him. AN
it'd take large sized man fer the
job"
John just then felt very small.
He went to Plumville, an ugly.
grimy, bustllng growing hive of work
ers. with it's drones too. He had the
key to interpret what he saw. He
was permitted to go through the mills
and meet the men; he came out with
hands blackened from much contact
with their hands and In the smut he
felt sort of pride. What he had read
on the farmers brown faces he saw
on their red. scorched ones-the dull
eyed suspicion of those used to flattery
before election and neglect afterward
Under the careful ciceronage of Shee
hans lieuteDants he was led into po
itcal club and saloon, where he shook
hands with many more men, who guz.
zled vast quantities of liquor and
sneered openly at his abstinence. He
was told that here he would meet
men who counted" he did meet such
men british things. moral idiots,
chinless creatures bound together by
the cohesive force of common interest
-punder. This army never slept
could always be relied upon.
What a self centered beast have
been" he cried within himself. "All
this rottenness under my nose, and !
have never perceived itv A great fear
came upon him-fear of the responsi-
Of hot inf oh oil hi m
self being carried
And there was another thing that
deepened those twin creases between
his eyes.
One morning very sleek, high step
ping cob drawing very elegant trap
halted before his office, circumstance
OF which you may be sure New Chel-
sea took prompt and interested notice.
why, hello!' he exclaimed, extend
ing his hand to the visitor. This is
fine"
She observed him hesitatingly. 1T
Is Mr. Dunmeade, isn't it? Yet l think
! should have recognized you any.
where. You haven't changed much,
though It has been a long time since |
asst saw you. Aren't you ashamed OF
having neglected me so long" she con
,iuded Indignantly.
well. you see. Katherine" he grin,
ned, lamely explanatory, i've been out
campaigning
You might at least have come to re-
port your progress to an interested
constituent Are you aware that you
and | are going over to inspect the
new house this afternoon? It's com.
pleted, and you've never seen it yet"
But ought to see some mem
do you think" she interrupted him
again, that I've set all the tongues in
New Chelsea clacking for nothing7
Your campaign can wait. We shall
start at 3"
He hesitated. then surrendered. "Oh,
hang it all! I've earned holiday. I'll