Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-04-18
CHAPTER V.
In the Nineveh Blade Sanctur.

-
went direct to the office of the
Nineveh Blade when he had seen Strick-
land off for st. Louis.
niN Cantrll. editor Of the Blade.
was red headed young Democrat who
cherished old fashioned principles.
There was no thought in his clean
mind of devious ways to make politics
pecuniarily profitable. One could no
more have bought" him than one
could have bought Patrick Henry or
''Old Hickory" Jackson, and he was
just about as fiery and fearless as
those two earlier Americans. Conse-
Quently. many politicians spoke Of him
as that stubborn young fool. Dick
Cantrill Of the Nineveh Blade"
As Colonel Todhunter entered the
Blade office Tuning little man almost
extinguished under a big and very
rusty silk hat was terminating What
had plainly been stormy interview
with Dick Cantrill.
"Hello. Eph!" said Colonel Todhunter.
surprised. 1T amt often l find you
hObnobbin' with Dick Cantrill. Go
right ahead. Don't let me interrupt
your
There was a wicked smile on young
Cantril's mouth. Were just about
Ode now. colonel" he interposed.
esquire Tucker was trying to induce
me to support Yancey in this campaign.
but had to decline. The Blades for
Colonel Strickland tooth and nail, now
that he's out for the nomination"
''And you and the Blade are both
burned fools. sir-that's all I've got to
say!' snapped the little old man under
the big hat. You don't know which
Cantrillr'
Squire" said Dick. grinning coolly.
~'thar amt the only viewpoint from
which look ut the matter. know
Colonel Strickland and know Steve
Yancey. and | know Strickland's the
best man. That makes 1t my duty to
support him. squirrel
Its to your interest to support the
winner. you young idiot. and was
talking to you for your own good!"
cried old Tucker. "Stephen K. Yancey
has got all the money Influence behind
him in this campaign. and he'll be NOM
mated by an overwhelming majority.
You'll put up mighty poor mouth
then. Dick Cantrill. begging for the
public printing in the Blade, and I'll
see to 1t that nothing comes your way!'
Go right ahead. Crack your whip.
squirrel retorted Dick Cantrill calmly.
II reckon you and l have different
ideas about politics, but there needn't
be any hard feelings unless you insist
on it Anyway, we might as well get
the whole thing thrashed out right
now, as long as we've got started"
"Tll see If can't make you change
your tune before I'm done with you
sir!" And old fuckers cold little eyes
narrowed venomously. You're talk
ing mighty big now. Dick Cantrill, but
the Yancey enthusiastically have the
last say, my young gamecock"
1.-THE Yancey administration be hang
cdr replied Dick Cantrill, and then
he laughed and settled back in his
chair. but, shucks. squire, can't
talk to you like could to a younger
man. Let's go easy You're for Yam
cey, and I'm for Strickland. and that's
all there is to 1t. Every mans got q
right to his own opinion in free
country. squire"
s'Very well. sir. very well. If you
will have 1t that way" retorted ole
Eph Tucker. but you're backing 9
loser. Dick Cantrill, and you're going
to suffer for it Stephen X. Yancey
will snow Bill Strickland under Sc
deep that Bills friends II never b.
able to dig him out. sir!''
Dick Cantrill stretched his armI
above his head. "Such being the case
squire" he replied. lit don't make an!
difference to you Yancey people wha
me and the Blade see fit to do. so 20,
can just keep your shirt on"
Old Tucker glared at the amused
speaker.
At this moment fourth figure wa
added to the group. 1t was that o
Lycurgus Quivey. the schoolmaster o
Nineveh. a gaunt and homely repre-
sentative of rustic learning with {
face pathetic in its meek usefulness
swell, well. Lycurgus.' cried Dicl
Cantrill cordially. I'm glad to Sc
you. Blest if | hadn't begun to fea
the Blade wasn't going to have poem
from you this week. And that woul,
never do. sir!''
Lycurgus Quivey cleared his throa
neryously. 81 reckon you'll be surpris
ed, Mr. Cantrill," he said at last. "bu
tn truth is I've written a politica
poem this time. | know Colonel Stricb
land so well. sir. and | like him $
much that | thought I'd write Stricl
land campaign song. 1t might DO som
good at mass meetings and barbecue
and such things, il seemed TO me-"
Old Eph Tucker snortcd and glare
at the embarrassed speaker Coloue
Todhunter bgaIued his apnrnval Din