The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-01-30

me III COuBTdJuthtluB JOnh Ou us ic
Gently acquired fame.
I'VE expect to see you otter on the
ridge. There will be tennis. re will
make you play" she said to Gregg
who responded pleasantly.
Td 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. Jobr
did not keep his promise Indeed. he
had little time for te.n cation, and thatI
little was mt in with llaig, with whom
he wa ra r.tr"a ing friendship.
The june priniu..>s were at hand.
John felt less pride than responsibility
when he found that he was expected
to lead the campaign to capture the
county nominations from the machine
and that. by tacit consent of friends
and enemies alike. upon him devolved
the task of choosing the reform ticket.
He gave much thought to this task. 1t
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 a reformer must employ the
wisdom of the serpent. He achieved
results at which a politician might
have sneered, but which were on the
whole very promising in the light of
his inexperience.
but Invaluable aid. The novelist had
once been political reporter. The
reform ticket was nominated. Muir
chell cynically willing to let the re
| form wave run its brief course, with
| held his hand Bereft of its 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 a little boss"
| John Indignantly rejected the title.
MY work is done, or, at least. will be
when they're elected. I can't interfere
with them then"
Say. aren't you afraid the cows
will take you for bunch Of nice,
| green. succulent clover? Just wait"
| IIaig 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. "How's the bosslet? Had
a shave today? Feeling conversation
] al? You and I are going out for little
drive this afternoon"
Were 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 will you go any.
how?"
an do neither" John continued his
writing.
"All right" Haig seated himself.
deposited his feet on the desk beside
John and commenced an apparently
interminable monOlogue on the apocry.
pndl CleNeTHeSS Ol II uOS lie once Tdu
owned
John threw down his pen in disgust
81 surrender" he groaned. "I'll go te
get rid of you"
Thought I could persuade you.
Come right along I've got buggy
outside"
John put his papers way and meek
ly followed to the waiting vehicle
Haig drove, chafterng 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 goT
moo, | guess not"
"Then We'll go to the Hampdens
There's always somebody there"
"Oh. no, we won't. Let's go bach
the other direction. like the south
road better"
"Oh, you do! Why not IIampdens?
"Well, you see" John began to ex.
plain lameIy, "Hampden end l aren't
on very good terms and
Lord, Don't I know that? He
spends most of his time enumerating