Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-12-26
copyright By Tho Bobbs. Merrill Comp
BY BRAND WHITLOCE

telling Carroll how Grant came to
Springfield from Galena seeking
commission in the army Ford diplo-
matically broached the subject of a
conference between the colonel and
the SENATOR The colonel heard him
to the end, but said nothing. 4 His
mustache simply lifted little with
the curl of his lip. Ford. was evident
ly disappointed.
Have you any reply?" he nskoa. cor
any message?"
Eyes" said the ecloasL and his
gray eyes flashed under his shaggy
brows. present my compliments TO
Senator Warren. and tell him that II
he ever presumes to speak 70 me
again In all his life, III slap his face,
and II he resents 1t I'll kill him"
The next morning an interview
with Warren appeared in all the ipa-
pers.
II would prefer" the senator was
reported as saying, ito retire to pri-
vate life and resume my Interrupted
law practice, If / were not compelled
to seek vindication by the bushwack-
ing Of this doting old migrate, who,
disappointed in his attempts to
monopolize patronage that belongs to
patriotic party workers, now skulks
behind the sympathy his years and
infrmities excite, towage guerrilla
warfare"
The colonel read the interview at
breakfast
Half an hour later a man stopped
by his chair in the lobby and said
something to the colonel that made
him drop his paper, and look up over
his eyeglasses with a scowl The
man. was known as Birdy Quinn, and
he had lost his job in the water office
the week before, because Warren
wished to make room for fellow who
could deliver more votes at the COM
ing primaries than Birdy could.
Are you sure?" the colonel asked.
"Sure! Isn't it all over the ward
this morning?"
'You're sure that Pat Gibbons con-
scented to run as Warrens candidate
for state senator in the First dis
trict against Carroll-after promising
me-.me? He bent his brows angrily
and pointed with long forefnger at
his own breast.
well, hell's bells!" said Quinn
Wasn't Baldwin working with him
half the night?"
well, Birdy," he said YEARLY, 81
guess I've got one more fight left in
me-"
Most men thought 1t was Warrens
interview that caused the colonel to
consent at last to lead the opposition
against him. though some said it was
but the fascination Of politics, which
is like the fascination Of the sea, SC
that man who follows it once must
follow It till he dies.
81 never thought I'd live to see the
day when I'd be glad to find the old
mans chair empty" said Eph Hark
ness Of Macoupin that afternoon. He
had come up from Carlinville in re
spouse to a telegram from the colonel
and having registered, and given his
bag and linen buster to a bell-boy
was removing his big felt hat to NOR
his wet brow.
I'm afraid he won't be able Il
stand the strain OF campaign" sale
Carroll.
"stand the strain Him?" ex
claimed Hardness. why, he'll BIZ
alive and drawing pay when they're
referring to 81 Warren as ex-senator
II hate to have them say such NEAR
things about him." Carroll persisted
thinking OF the interviews.
IF they think they kin say an!
meaner things bout him than he kir
bout them, jes' let 'em lam in,
chuckled Mosely of Alexander.
"Yes," unused Hardness, 9TH be the
greatest fight we've had in Illinois
since Logan's time. We've got lead
err now"
There was an echo Of the old days
In his voice, which, with It's gentle
hint OF regret, was lost on Carroll
who had not known the colonel in the
old days.
For a month the colonel did not e
out OF the hotel He was up early
and at work, his cigar in his mouth
debating letters, sending kilograms
receiving callers. When he slept, nj
one knew. He never had his hat off
He ate his meals from a tray in hil
room, after the food had grown cold
His headquarters recalled patheticall!
the old days when his power and su
premacy were unquestioned, The!
were crowded day and night with tn,
back.numbers and the sorehead
Baldwin had talked about, who cam,
with their grievances, their impossl
BILE schemes, their paltry ambitions
OF such stun the colonel had to maxi
his machine.
The night before the primaries
crowd. foul with the reek Of tobacco
alcohol and Precipitation, was shut
fling about In the hall and anteroomi
Of the colonel's headquarters Tn,
crowd was noisy, profane and conf
dent. But inside, the steering com
mittee was assembled, and 1t WA
very sober. Garwood, at the Uttered
table, had been scratching his heat
over political equations.
Conventions had been held In al
the thirty.slx outside districts, an,
sixty.nlne candidates had been nom
mated, flfty.hve representatives an,
fourteen senators. or these the,
could depend upon twOnty.nine. ]
requires fifty-two to control a legls
lative caucus, when the party has
bare majority on joint ballot, so the,
would have to nominate at least twer
try.three Of their candidates in Coo
county TO get caucus majority. af
suming tho ultimate election of then
all. Flftyseyen candidates were L
be selected in Cook county on tn