The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-12-06
Bu B QUICK
copyright BY The Bobbs-Msrrill Company
CHAPTER xVII-Continued.

] told him you're a crackerjack.'
I'm much obliged" replied Jim.
mo use in back-cappin' a fellow
that's tryin' to make somethin' of him
SELF" said Bonner. "That amt good
politics, nor good sense. Anything to
him?'
HE offered me a salary OF seventy
five dollars a month to take charge of
his school," said Jim.
well" said Con, well be sorry to
lose yeh, but you can't turn down any
thing like that"
Il don't know" said Jim. II haven't
decided"
Bonner scrutinized his face sharply,
as If to find out what sort OF game he
was playing.
WELL" said he, at last, ri hope you
can stay with us, O. course. I'm licked,
and | never squeal. If the rist of the
district can stand your kind Of thricks,
] can. And say, Jim"-here he grew
still more mysterious-'if you do stay,
some of us would like to have YOU be
enough Of a Democrat to 60 into the
next convention FIR county superin-
tendent."
"Why," replied Jim, Il never thought
OF such a thingl"
well, think of it." said Con. THE
county's close, and wild a poplar young
educator-an' a farmer, too, it might
be done. Think of It,"
Jim was almost dazed at the num-
Der of propositions" Of which he was
now required to 'think"-and Bon
ner's did not at first impress him as
having anything back of it but blarney.
He was to find out later, however, that
the willy Con had made up his mind
that the ambition of Jim to serve the
rural schools in a larger sphere might
ne used for the purpose of bringing to
earth what he regarded as the soaring
political ambitions of the Woodruff
family. To split the forces which had
defeated Mr.. Bonner in his own school
district, with the very instrument used
by the colonel at the last school cleo |
tion-that, to Mr.. Sonner, would be
a fine thing.
- Adu ga SClJ dhCIl lis scat III
the car, facing Jennie Woodruff and
Bettina Hansen in the Pullman, when
Columbus Brown, pathmaster OF the
district and only across the way
from residence in the school district,
came down the aisle and called Jim
to the smokfng-room.
did an old fellow named Hoffman
from Pottawatomie county ask you
to leave US and take his school?' he
Mr.. Hofmyer," said Jim, yes, he
"Well," said Columbus, II don't want
to ask you to stand in your own light,
but l hope you won't let him toll you
there among strangers. We're
proud Of you, I'm, and we don't want
10 lose you"
Proud of himl Sweet music to the
lnderling's ears! Jim blushed and
1.-The fact is" said Columbus, 9"
NOW that Woodruff district fob hain't
zig enough for you any more; but we
AN make 1t bigger. If you'll stay, l
we can pull off a deal to con-
olidate some of them districts, and s
make you boss Of the whole shooting
natch." !
II appreciate this, Clumb," said
i'm, "but | don't believe you can do q
y
well, think OF it." said Columbus.
And don't do anything till you talk
nth me and a few of the other boys" d
Think of it" again! !
A fine homecoming It was tor Jim. +
18th the colonel waittag at the station
18th a double sleigh, and the chance s
} ride into the srowy country in the s.
seat with JeD1ie-a chance which y
as blighted by the ~colonel's placing 5.
ettina and Nils Hansen in the broad b
ar seat, and Jim In front with himself. IL
he colonel would not allow him to
It out and walk when he could really
reached home more quickly by al
Ding so; no, he set the Hansens h,
at their door, took Jennie home, ii
I'd then drove the lightened sleigh W
errily to the humble cabin of the be
Their excited young schoolmaster. G,
did you make any deal with those ia
'ople down in the western part of nj
e staten asked the colonel. "Jennie
'ote me that you've got an offer" ar
No" said jim, and he old the ra
about the proposal OF Mr.. te
fir,
"Well," said the colonel, "in my m,
of wild-eyed reformer, I've te,
lde up my mind that the first four be
les In the trip Is to make the rural co
lcher's job a bigger job. It's got fig
be q mans size. woman's size job, tre
we can't get real men and real In,
to stay in the work"
think that's a statesmanIike tn
mutation of it." said Jim. TIL,
Well" said the colonel, don't turn Ar
vn the Pottawatomie county job thi
we have IL chance to see what ha
can do. I'll ket some kind of a ma
citing together. and what | want tht
! to do Is to usn this offer as a club col
r this helpbfss school district. an.
lat we need in TO be held up. Do sui