The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-02-09

never fergit the first case John tried.
That was way back when he was
youngster in Haines Office in Water
vile. Hadn't been there long ana
Haines was busy startin' that Somer-
set railway, SO they left the kid IN
charge of lot of the legal work. one
day old Eben Wood-you remember
him, hard-headed old cuss!-
came into the office and said his colt
had been stolen the man claimed lie
he'd a half interest in him and ned
jes come an taken him. Wanted to
know what John would do to git him
back"
Tissue writ of repleyin. said
John. Who's your man?
Hold Nelson said Eben.
you might hev thought it would
hey stumped John to bring his first
suit agin his own uncle. But did it?
No, Stree Wouldn't hev made no diff
ference to John eff it he'd been his own
father. If he thought man was
wrong. he'd sue him; and if he thought
a man was right, he'd defend him.
I'll bet John Nelson's taken more cases
without gettin' a cent out OF them
right through the law court. too-than
any LAWYER in the State o Maine. Never
turned a man down yet that he thought
had just case because he hadn't mon
ey TO pay. And never defended a case
yet that he thought was wrong What
you need il another lawyer he'd say.
-. Well, anyway, he got the colt
back"
John Nelson usually does get what
he goes after, don't he?"
Old Sam Hill never said much. but
when he did speak. everyone listened.
Sam had known Johns father and
mother over in Waldo county when
he was young and had shared in the
general rejoicing when it was learned
that Sank Nelson had Il baby and it
was boy.
Look at the way that boy got his
education. Got up before daylight ev
cry morning while he was in Colby,
tended the fires and swept two school.
before he went to his Rotations at
eight O'Clock. Worked in cotton
mill vacations, taught night school
stayed out one term and taught coun-
try school, and one summer he drove
cab for y. ] Norris John knew
everyone in town and some of them
were willing to pay the price of the
fare To ride with him. Old Norris got
more money ont OF his cab that SUM
mer than he'd ever got in a year be
fore. If anyone tells you John Nelson
amt a business man you tell him he's
10, H.,
hing he's tackled yet and he's done
il honestly
BY this time the Little Man had
forgotten all about friend wife and hcr
Ye2stCake 1t was the first night he
had got a chance to settle the affairs
OF the nation for long time and his
punishment wouldn't be any worse i!
he stayed through to the end.
Domley was keeping quiet
Just then the music from the dance
N the Grange Hall upstairs ceased
and there was a general exodus of all
the eligible young men to the store
below. much to the disgust Of the bud
ding bellies
We'll got EN- all settled, folks?''
asked sandy-haired youth with an
exaggerated pompadoar. who you
dom now?'
We're dom John Nelson. Want
YOU named for him. jack
You're right was Ny dad went
to school to him in Wateryille. He's
got an awful lot of respect for John
Nelson ever since he s'traightened out
that bunch OF roughnecks in the high
school up there and made EN- into
men mighty fine ones, too. some of
EN- My dad says that school was so
bad that they couldn't carry on reci-
tation even, and they got John Nelson
green from college. and in three
weeks there wasn't a better actin
bunch of fellows in the county They
liked him, too. My dad saFs he never
missed football trip or a baseball
trip with the boya, or a school affair
the whole four years he was principal
Ny dad says he made a man of him
:. Jinkst There goes the music and
| told Nancy we'd head the line for the
Lady of the Lake. | see where | get
my hair pulled"
shouldn't hurt if you did git that
pompadOur Of your'n pulled a little,
+ SHlitu Ddil I'LL dIlSl MN III ll9. cttii
had no use for newfangled notions
Thep he softened a little. Jacks a
good kid though. even though he does
wear his hair cut pompadour."
And his fathers a mighty fine
man added Long Tom with convic-
ton. Even If he is a Democrat,
don't believe John Nelson's got a bet
ter friend in the world than Ben
Smallwood and Johns got barrel
Ct EN-. Makes 'em everywhere he
goes. Don't make no difference
whether you're hod carrier or a bank
iesident--if John knows you and
YOU re square. he's your friend
How'd he ever happen to git mixed
i up in this political fight them.
Domey had at last got a chance to
/ speak
Mixed up in this political fight:
Why, John Nelson's been in politics
j ever Since he was twelve years old
But there politics and politics
Hiram Floyd was the real politician
of the bunch. He could tell you the
insi'le story of every political fight
since Burleigh ran for Governor
against Cleayes.