The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 71: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JUST FOR SPITE. face. He looked as though he were about to recite, “‘ Who Killed Cock Robin?” ‘“We’ve got to have you at the head of our party, Mr. Hicks,” the manager began. ‘Well, I’ve been thinking it over.” ‘“Good!” cried Spooner, brightening and jumping into the gap. “A man with your force,a man of your mental caliber, a man with the capacity for work you have—that is what the resplen- dent suburb of Oak Forest needs, and will have. It is your duty as a citizen. I have been urged by the people to make a last attempt to-night. The people want you, Mr. Hicks. You are the logical man for president of the village.” Hicks puffed up like an animated puff- ball. ‘When my country calls I shall not be found wanting,” he said facetiously. ‘Then I may go out and spread the news that John Hicks will head the non- partizan ticket against Dick Pierce on the citizens’ ticket?” “You may. I am your candidate. I pledge myself to carry the non-partizan party through to a flying finish,” said John Hicks, in his grandest manner. CHAPTER III. THE ELECTION. THE next day both candidates were busy with the managers of their parties. The election was very near at hand, and this was the last Sunday for the politicians to do their work. Pierce learned early that morning that his former bosom friend had decided to run against him. With the ax-handle in- cident rankling in his bosom, he put all of his energies into the fight against Hicks. Sunday was spent by both candidates in making personal calls on their friends and acquaintances, for the purpose of gaining votes. . Each party had an automobile out, and during the afternoon the two opposing crowds crossed paths. ‘The occupants of both machines spoke to each other, all except Pierce and Hicks, who glared with their lips firmly set. The election was to take place on Tuesday, and the non-partizan people 629 had their hands full, for their candidate had just been selected, and there was little time in which to work up interest in him. But John Hicks was popular, and they banked a good deal on that. He had a winning way with him. Pierce, however, had been a candidate for the citizens’ party for ten days, and the adveytising’ he had received in that time had put him far ahead in the race. Next morning Pierce and Hicks took the same train as usual, but instead of ‘sitting together, or even acknowledging each other’s presence, each formed the center of two opposing groups of. poli- ticians. Hicks felt that he had the better of the quarrel, for more reasons than one. The people who had intended to rent Pierce’s house for the summer had chosen the day before for their call, and Hicks noticed that they looked at the uprooted sidewalk, the rotten pear-tree, and then went away. He rather gloated over the fact that he had done Pierce that much damage. The supreme test now would be the election. ‘The quarrel would be decided by that; one man or the other would get. the upper hand. Spooner came through the smoker, and took a seat among his colleagues of the non-partizan party. ‘Well, boys,” he began, ‘‘ we did good work canvassing yesterday. If we’d only had Hicks to head our ticket a little earlier, it would have been a _ walk- away for us without a doubt.” “You don’t anticipate any trouble now, dg you?” queried Hicks. “Well, it’s just like this. You're pretty popular with our bunch, but Pierce has a good many friends who have pledged themselves to vote for him be- fore they knew you were in the race. Now that you’re in, they probably would like to change their minds, but they’ve bound themselves to vote for him, and they’ll stick by it.” “But I must win!” cried Hicks. “ Think of the shame and everything. I couldn’t let that fellow defeat me at the polls.” ‘“ But I thought you were such good friends,” cried Spooner in surprise. ‘We were,” answered Hicks simply. CO) (© NOOO