The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-01-04
By HERBERT QUICK
Copyright BY Tbs Bobbs-Merrill Company
CHAPTER xvII-Continued.

udA A1ViihCtohcs bidhC }Odt hC ~
quired. "He asked IRE about you, and
I told him you're a crackerjack.'
'Im 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
him7'
five dollars a month to take charge Of
his school," said Jim.
'Well," said Con, wen 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, II 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 you do stay,
some Of us would like to have you be
enough Of q Democrat to 60 into the
next convention fr county superin-
tendent."
why" replied Jim, II never thought
Of such thingw
well, think Of It," said Con. 1.-THE
county's close, and wild poplar young
educator-an' farmer, too. 1t might
be done. Think of It,"
Tim wac almost da1ad ~ tba r,ur,
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 1t 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
be 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.. Bonner, would be
a fine thing.
the 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
s-Ass%sp slgn<eAis SCHOOL," he
asked.
"Mr. 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
Off there among strangers. We're
proud Of you, sim, and we don't want
to lose you"
Proud of himl Sweet music to the
underling's earsl Jim blushed and
stammered.
THE fact Is" said Columbus, IT
know that Woodruff district Job hain't
big enough for you any more; but we
can make 1t bigger If you'll stay, 1
believe we can pull off a deal to con-
solidate some of them districts, and
make you boss OF the whole shooting
match"
II appreciate this, Clumb," said
Jim. "but l don't believe you can do
It,"
swell, think of it," said Columbus.
"And don't do anything till you talk
with me and few Of the other boys"
Think Of it, again.
A fine homecoming 1t was tor Jim.
with the colonel waiting at the station
with a double sleigh. and the chance
to ride into the snowy country In the
same seat with Jennie-a chance which 7
vas blighted 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 out and walk when he could really
have reached home more quickly by q
Going so; no, he set the Hansens /
down at their door, took Jennie home, [
and then drove the lIghtened sleigh v
merrily to the humble cabin of the b
rather excited young schooImaster. {
did you make any deal with those L
people down In the western part of n
he state?" asked the colonel. Jennie
wrote me that you've got an offer" a
mo" said Jim. and he told the r
colonel about the proposal Of Mr.. t,
dofmyer II
SWELL" said the colonel. ain my n
of wild-eyed reformer. I've I,
made up my mind that the first four h
niles in the trip is to make the rural c,
eacher's job a bigger Job. It's got Fl
o be a mans size. woman's size job, II
IT we can't get real men and real In
women to stay In the work"
81 think that's statesmanlike Il
Of It," said Jim. Il
We'll" said the colonel, don't turn A
own the Pottawatomle county job II
ntil we hove chance TO see what h,
re can do. I'll get some kind of a M
Meeting together, and what | wan, n
on to do is to use this offer as a club &C
yer this helpless school district al
What we need is to be held up. Do 81
he Jesse James act, Jiml" W
aI con't Colonolfr n,