The St. Johns herald., 1922-10-12
Caliph of East Wamport
By H. IRVING KING
co by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)

co by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)
 If there are caliphs in Bagdad there are also caliphs in the rural districts-nO relation to O. Henry or Haroun-al-Rasc either! In the rural districts they are called political bosses. Such one was John J. Phettyplace, caliph of East Wamport. I will take back, partially, that about there being no connection between J. Jas they called him-and Haroun- the-Just; there were one or two points of resemblance. In the first place, J. J., like the other caliph, was the commander of the faithful-that IS, the workers" and strict party men. secondly, like HarOun and all cal iphs who are on their jobs, he kept his ear to the ground and knew what was going on among his people.
 But enough of the caliph for a few minutes. Allow me to intro duce you to the caliph's. daughter, the Princess Annie. Bagdad's roofs rOf fretted gold never sheltered a more delightful vision. Henry For sythe was in love with Annie, and had it from her own dear lips that his affections were reciprocated. Henry was a most eligible young man, held an important position in East Wam- ports principal manufactOry, was slated for promotion and bound to go to the top. He was sturdy, athletic youth and good looking. He was just the man for Annie, though there was one subject in which they had noth- ing in common. Henry hated politics while Annie took a deep interest in them. She had inherited good share of her fathers native shrewdness and loved to sit and hear him discourse on political matters, making now and then pertinent suggestion out of her own wise little head But what has politics to do with love or love to do with politics? We shall see.
 One evening Henry took his courage in both fists, as the saying is, and went in to ask J. J. for his daugh- ter's hand. Now the fact is that J. J. had dreamed dreams about Annie and built air castles for her. He saw that she had brains; why should not her married life be on the heights? He loved to picture her as a congress- mans lady, the governors lady, or even a senator's .ady.
 He never thought of her as mar ried to great author, great scfen- tist, or even a millionaire. You see J. Us world was a world of politics, and its heights of fancy were peopled only by successful politicians. It therefore came to him with a shock when rising young business man stood before him and boldly proposed to make Annie his wife. He had seen the youth about, of course, but other | youths had been about Annie also, and for the only time in his life the Caliph of East WampOrt had al lowed his fancies to blind him to realities. When J. J. had recovered from his surprise he turned the young suitor dOwn-turned him down hard and brutally, so that Henry came out | of the house in a state of rage and despair. Annie was waiting for him on the piazza-the mOon-flooded piaz- ga, the vine-draped piazza, where the air was heavy with the scent of the hOneysuckle. He begged her to fly with him; he poured out protesta- tiOns of undyIng love, mingled with abuse of the caliph.
 At first Annie turned little pale and, just for an instant, threatened to become fearful. Th|n she got a firm grip upon herself, calmly assured Henry of the cOnstancy of her affec- tiOns. advised him to wait hopefully for better times, and dismissed him in manner which he thought, under the circumstances. cold and unfeellng. Some little time after this ]. !. heard that project for a "citizens' movement" was showing signs of life in his domains. Now the caliph had no fear of the recognized opposition party-he had that hog-tied. But these citizens movements" annoyed him. Because you never can tell-accidents are liable to happen. However ably you may conduct your brace game, however perfect may be the hidden machinery which controls the rou- lette wheel, however, skillfully you may stack your cards, some little cog in the machinery is liable to slip. some trlf1ing Humble" in the han ding of the 'pasteboards" may be made and the whirling ball falls into a numbered slot where 1t was never intended to go; a hand Is dealt to player which was never intended for him.
 So these "citizens' movements" though they seldom amounted to any thing and their life was ephemeral,