Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-01-03
Bu HERBERT QuIcK
cAAPTER xvII--cOntlnued.


"rm much obliged" replied Jim.
"No use In back-cappin' a fellow
that's tryin' to make somethin' Of him
self" said Bonner sFhat amt good
politics. nor good sense. Anything to
himT"
HE offered me a salary OF seventy
1--WE dollars month to take charge Of
his school," said Jim.
'Well." said Con. "weIl be sorry to
lose yeh. but ysu can't turn down any
thing like that"
q don't know, - said jim 81 haven't
decided"
Bonner scrutinized his face sharply,
as II to find out what sort of game he
was playing.
SWELL" said he, at last, Il hope you
can stay with US, o. course. I'm licked.
and never squeal II the rist Of the
district can stand your kind OF thricks,
I can. And say, Jim"-here he grew
still more Mysterious you do stay.
some OF us would like TO have sou be
enough Of Democrat to go into the
next convention fr county sdperin-
tendent"
"why.1 replied Jim. Il never thought
Of such thing! !"
"Well. think of It." said Con. 1.-THE
county's close, and wild poplar young
educator-an farmer, too II might
I be DONE Think Of it. -
Jim was almost dazed at the num-
Der Of propositions" Of which he was
now required to "thlnk"-and Bon
ner's did not. at first Impress him as
having anything back of 1t but barney.
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
he 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 elec-
tion-that, to Mr.. conner. would be
a fine thing.
Jim had scarcely taken his seat in
che car, facing Jennie Woodruff and
Bettina Hansen in the Pullman, when
Columbus Brown, pathmaster of the
road district and only across the way
from residence in the school district,
came down the aisle and called Jim
to the smoking-room.
did an old fellow named Hoffman
from Pottawatomie county ask you
to leave US and take his schoolg he
asked.
'Air. Hofmyer," said Jim. yes, he
did"
"well," said Columbus, 81 don't want
to ask you to stand in your own light,
but hope you won't let him toll you
or there among strangers. We're
proud of you. I'm, and we don't want
to lose you"
Proud of himI Sweet music to the
underling's earsl Jim blushed and
stammered.
1.-The fact Is" said Columbus, 81
know that Woodruff district Job hain't |
big enough for you any more; but we
can make 1t bigger. II you'll stay, / !
believe we can pull of deal to con-
soldate some of them districts. and
make you boss OF the whole shooting
match"
Il appreciate This. Clumb." said
Jim, "but don't believe you can do
t."
.slYell. think OF Il. said Columbus
"And don't do anything till you talk
with me and a few of the other boys"
Think Of IT., again
A FIVE homecoming II was for Jim.
with rhe colonel waiting at the station
with double sleigh, and the chance
to ride into the Snowy country in the
same seat-wlth JeDole-a chance which
was bllghted by the colonel's placing
Bettina and Nils Hansen In the broad
rear seat, and Jim IN front with himself.
The colonel would not allow him TO
get ont and walk when he could really
have reached home more quickly by
doing so; no. he set the Hansens
down at their door. took Jennie home,
and then drove the llghtened sleigh
merrily to the humble cabin OF the
rather excited young schoolmaster.
did you make sny deal with those
people down in the western part OF
the slater asked the colonel Jennie
wrote me that you've got an offer"
No" said jim. and he told the
.olonel about the proposal Of Mr..
Hofmyer.
'Well." said the colonel. sIn my
Of wiId-eyed reformer rye
made up my laind that the first four
miles in tile trip 10 to make the rural
I~acher's job bigger job. It's got
10 be q mans size. wOman's size job. I
~ we can't get real men and real
Homen to stay in the work. -
II think THAT'S statesmanfike {
ssTsauIatI0n Of IT, said Jim.
well" said the colonel, don't turn
lown the Potta~atomie county Job [
s1tIl we have n chance to see what
se can do. I'll get some kind OF a
Feeting together. and whaf / want [
rDu to do is to use this offer as a club {
,ver fhfa hpIDlfmm echool district ,