Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-01-23
CHAPTER 1x-(continuea..

CHAPTER IX-(Continued.1
The farmer folk guffawed. Jewett
dubbed his stomach. Judge Van Hart,
his fine face oblivious to all this. went
on his a And Wiley, feeling some-
how, that he had lost an opening round
IN mis- inability to retort to the boss,
crossed the square to his office. He
was furious with himself. He had
planned to keep the announcement of
his campaign until he could see some
OF the men who would be with him
Purcell and Mcbride. of Earlville, Jake
Vance and Arne and some of the scat
tered malcontehts in other counties of
the district. But here the boss had
made a fool of him before his own
people at the very start. He was saw
8 with the realization that Janet
Vance's window in the county building
wa open; that in all likelihood she had
Old Thad's jest and the laugh
Ter. NO. he had not done we'll. And
his bic discomfort with himself came
over him: the pitiless feeling that he
did not measure up to the rough game
men played in business and politics.
He was too much the sentimentalist,
that was 1t.
He was kicking away on his job
trant board member, came in. Hem
minger was from a lonely backwoods
district UP the river whose people, from
poor roads and isolation. rarely came
70 town. He paid q back subscription,
n had a rambling budget of news
from the home folk. And, as always,
the editor listened sympathetically,
and, with thoughts far away, answered
at times.
There was a whaling corn crop and
It was mostly out of h way Of frost.
And the late pasture was drying up.
a some folks were going to ship their
hogs. Some folks would, but DANCED if
he would! Some Of his land. where it
ran up in the bluff, hadn't done much
and he was going to turn in his hogs
and let 'em take the yield. Dinged IL
he knew what was the matter with that
Wiley listened. Then he took a
handful Of pamphlets from his desk.
Ever see these, Burt? Government re-
ports? Maybe your land is too sour?"
Hemminger was %incredulous. Book
farming wasn't much!
Il tell you what I'll do" said Wiley
Ichool. I'll get him and drive up there
and he can analyze your SOIL"
Hemminger's pale eyes shone.
Would you, now? You're q busy man,
H: curran-runnin' fur congress and
T want to see you ALL"
sSure. Folks would be delighted.
Nobody comes up u way much. UP
our way the wimmen still boil soap
We amt much on newfangled ways up
on Broad Bottoms. But IL Jake Vance's
where's and nave coffee-and o could
talk to US, too, Mr.. Curran!"
Wiley watched him with a sudden
awakening hope. d. your folks like
mo up there. Burt? Way out in the
bottom districts"
AVop nm nv 0Sy~ NOV It's a ryohf
lonesome country. But we know you.
Mr.. Curran. You remember the time
you got Abe Smiths boy out O. jail?'
Mr.. Curran's mind went vaguely
back v years.
"Our folks talk about that yit! Abe's
boy hadn't done much but git too much
on board. And you got him out and
sent him home!"
Hemminger was stuffing he govern
,ment crop reports in his pocket. If
you'd come, Mr.. Curran, folks would be
proud. The News. they say up our
bought. And Abe Smiths boy-well.
o come up!"
He went out. and when the editor
raw his farm wagon rumble over the
crossing his face was lit with a fine
glow. Wiley wondered what he had
Of his despond-he had come in
beaten and Inundated from the SUI
pervisors' meeting-tb~ lone board
lnsurgent against the Tanner dom
finance over the rich farmers OF
the southern part Of the county
no went up the path to The cottage
where Aunt Abby's lamp shone-a
lonely figure seated In a rude wagon
that crawled up a gap to the north pc
tween The somber harshness OF the
corn lelds-a blur. fainter. drawing
A-A- Ice. 10rk In tho fnrnanG1fV
of the dun earth. thea autumn Sky
An hour later Curran was chopping
his kindling by the fence. A drop OF
cold rain came out Of the scud OF
cloud. Another-the vast bend OF the
uplands vas lost in a gray veil, n ne
taxpayer roof Of his shop. He stood
for q moment in the enrolling night,
listening to this lulling murmur, the
great dried lands sucking IN the
water, enriching themselves. The scar
pastures would green. the black corn
wheat would lave themselves and rest
until the freeze came. And slowly 1t
seemed to Curran that never q he
loved it all before. Tho fat Midlands.
the never-hungered country! Here were
the best men and women. Afar IN inc
dreamed, Of which he remembered.
the future might DO hideous with
wrong and hate: but here were the
best people. Endangered, u~nfearing.
he vas carrying in the wood for
Aunt Abby's kitchen box. thinking how
friendly would be h stove glow after
this wet chill, how 4 his eagerness
for the supper; the kerosene lamp un.
dor it red shade upon the table, and
the hale, CHEEKY old woman. her glasses
aim with the kettle steam. But he
heard a wag stop. a mans gruff
voice on the crossing below his shop.
He watched curiously the figure come
up the hill and lean over his fence.
n waa HeYnnninRer. the lonely and