The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-06-05

the mlre, one per-
fectly good repu-
tation torn to
shreds, honest
motives twisted
and warped"
Didn't you expect it," she asked.
We'll, not anything so bad as this, -
he confessed. Its a nice mess you've
got me into, isn't it?''
"Oh. Billy. you're such a gutter"
she sighed.
Il never wanted to run for mayor,
anyway" said he. You egged me on
to it,
Il wanted you to do something more
worth while than amuse yourself"
said she. BILLY, you have great pos
sibilities in you, if you'll only really
try"
We'll, I've tried" said he And
this is the result. Mud-slinging, repu-
tation-wrecking, a joke to all your
friends. Why, only this afternoon as
l was coming up here met Bob Whit
ing and Charlie Green and they
seemed to think 1t was overwhelmingly
funny to give three cheers for her
honor. the next mayor. OF course
there's no chance of my being elected.
but they needn't make quite such a
silly joke of it."
Perhaps you won't be SO much Of
a joke after election tomorrow"
Don't you believe that" said he.
I've got just about as much show as
SNOWFALL in-in-July." he ended
lamely.
It was o'clock the next afternoon
when Billy Capen, rather whitefaced
rushed up to the veranda where Mar
ion Orion sat fussing with tea things.
Say, what am l going to do?" he
groaned helplessly.
About WHAT" she asked.
1--WE been hanging around headquar-
ters," he said 1T seems that I'm
going to be elected beyond the shadow
of doubt"
ooh, Billy" she cried radiantly,
TITS awful" he groaned. "Whatll
1 do?''
She stared at him.
Il believe if I really am elected. I'll
go right down and resign" said he.
BILLY Capen." she cried. I'D like to
shake you!"
Il wish you would" he said lugu-
briously. 'I'1l make a sweet little
mayor, won't I? Well, the downfall
of this beautiful burg be upon your
head. You put me up to it. You in
duced me to run when the reform
crowd nut my name up Now, see
what you've done?"
TITS perfectly splendid" she cried.
why, Billy. you're the right man for
the right place. They've needed you
for ever SO long. I know you've got
it in you"
Il wish thought that way" said he
Didn't you want to be elected?"
moi"
She stared at him
Then-then what on earth did you
run tori"
We'll, I though there wasn't the
least chance of my getting it; so
didn't see how it was going to do any
harm, and though the attempt, the
trying. would show you-well would
please you. Marion, and-and-oh
hang it, the plain truth of the matter
is l wanted to make good with you.
Now I've gone and got elected mayor,
and-and-if I've got to be his honor.
you'll have to be her honoress-the
power behind the throne"
She flushed slightly. She did not
look at him Instead her eyes we're
fixed on the blue flame Pickering be-
meath the bubbling brass kettle.
b.
Dress, as you choose to call twill
you do just as say"
why, of course"
Then you won't throw Mike Touhev
out as head of the street department?
You know Mike was our gardener here
once. I'm very fond of Mike
Billy Capen stared at her silently
for good minute.
Why, Mikes the biggest CRATER of
the whole ring It's his scalp the re-
form crowd is particularly after. I'll
have to throw him out whatever you
say"
Even if won't marry you if you
do?"
Even II you won't marry me if I
do" he repeated
She put out the lamp under the
kettle. She jumped from her chair
And just for that 1 will marry you.
Billy" she cried. Il was afraid
afraid it really was as you said: that
you didn't care anything about the re-
form crowd or about being mayor I
was afraid you were doing it just to
make good with me-"
We'll. that's all I'm doing it for
he maintained Stoutly