The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-02-07

III Il gay, what shall we say OF
EdGNS6E that which now opened? The
Gssz@S center of gayety was East
ridge. The italian villa was the
scene Of one continuous house party.
1t was Inevitable that John and
Katherine should meet. 1t happened
one morning few days after the
Sheehan trial when John was leaving
the postoffice with his daily mail A
trap drew up In which sat Katherine
and young man John remembered
u saying Of hers concerning one whom
people were apt to sneer at as a spec
ulator," but whom she thought .'splen.
did because he had had the brains and
courage to make his own fight and
win" He had no difficulty in identi-
flying that man with Gregg, of whom
he had heard more than once Gregg
was an attractive fellow, a few years
older than John. OF athletic build and
pleasant manner. He joined Rather
Inc in congratulating John on his re-
Gently acquired fame
I'VE expect to see you often on the
ridge. There will be tennis He will
make you play" she said to Gregg.
who responded pleasantly.
I'D like to have the chance, Mr..
Dunmeade. I've been hearing about
your game"
But. although Gregg spent nearly
every week end on the ridge, John
did not keep his promise Indeed, he
had little time for recreation, and that
little was put in with Haig, with whom
he was rapidly cementing a friendship
The June primaries were at hand
John felt less pride than responsibility
when he found that he was expected
to lead tia campaign to capture the
'county nominations from the machine
and that, by tacit consent of friends
and enemies alike. upon him deyolved
the task of choosing the reform ticket
He gave much thought to this task. II
was not simple There were many un-
worthy gentlemen, he discovered. will
ing to be swept into office by the wave
of popular protest And he could have
learned here had he been so minded.
that even reformer must employ the
wisdom OF the serpent. He achieved
results at which politician might
have sneered. but which were on the
whole very promising in the light Of
his inexperience.
In Haig John found an unexpected
but Invaluable aid. The novelist had
once been a political reporter. The
reform ticket was nominated Muir
chell, cynlcally willing to let the re-
form wave run its brief course, with
held his hand. Bereft of it's familiar
weapon, fraud. the machine was easily
conquered by a people thoroughly an
gered. Even Plumville gave the re-
formers a small majority. Haig hail
ed John as little boss"
John Indignantly rejected the title
MY work is done, or, at least. will be
when they're elected. / can't interfere
with them then"
Say. aren't you afraid. the cows
will take You for a bunch of nice
green. succulent clover? Just wait"
Haig grinned. ''until they're in office
Make no mistake, sonny; you'll need
to keep a tight rein on them About
a year from now | expect to see some
pretty little. homemade illusions badly
busted"
The promised journey to the ridge
had not yet been made
One afternoon Haig found him busy
In his office Flows the bosslet? Had
a shave today? Feeling conversation
al? You and are going ont for little
drive this afternoon"
We're not hope you are. I've
got things to do"
''This American habit OF Industry Is
becoming a positive mania. Are you
coming peaceably or viii you go any
how?'
'T'lI do neither" John continued bis
writing.
"All right" Haig seated himself,
deposited his feet on the desk beside
John and commenced an apparently
intermlnable monologue on the apocry-
phal cleverness Of dog he once had
owned
John threw down his pen in disgust
"I surrender" he groaned '11l go to
get rid Of YOU"
, Thought could persuade you
Come right along I've got buggy
outside
John put his papers away and meek
ly followed to the waiting vehicle
Haig drove. chattering volubly Of
whatever came into his mind. But
when Haig turned into the ridge road
John stirred uneasily.
Going anywhere in Particular"
Anywhere you'd like to go7''
Moo. guess not
Then well 20 TO the Hampdens
There's always somebody there"
"Oh, no, we won'tl Let's go back
the other direction. like the south
road better"
"oh, You dol Why not HampdensT'
'FWell, you see," John began to ex-
plain lamely. "Hampden and I aren't
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