The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

636 ‘Can you swear that it was this iden- tical piece of wood?” asked the judge in an awful voice. ‘Well, of course,” Pierce reddened and backed water, ‘‘ of course, I couldn’t be positive about that. But it was a new ax-handle, and it — it looked like that.” Spooner stood dazed. He had just heard Hicks accuse Pierce of carrying home an ax-handle, and now a similar accusation from Pierce caused him boundless surprise. Deciding that it would be much better to say nothing until he saw Hicks again, Spooner kept his own counsel and lis- tened while the election judge took up the argument. ‘That is a very serious accusation, Mr. Pierce,’ said the judge. ‘“‘A man can be sent to State’s prison for tamper- ing with a ballot-box. ‘The election being a tie, offers a very good motive. I should hate to think that either of the principals in this election have sunk to such means in order to bring about the defeat of the other, but such seems to be the case.’’. CHAP PER. Viz A DOUBLE ACCUSATION. By noon the story was all over Oak Forest. As the election had been a tie, everybody was certain that somebody had done some “ dirty work.” At about one o’clock, Spooner and Hicks sent out a dozen little boys with big scare-head circulars, charging, as follows: RICHARD PIERCE, Candidate for President of Oak Forest on the Citizens’ Ticket, was seen coming home last night ~ with a new ax-handle under his arm, similar to, if not the same, one with which the window in the Board-Room was forced and the ballot-box broken. Was that one of those strange circumstances that cannot be explained, or is RICHARD PIERCE guilty of tampering with the ballot-box, a CRIME for which a severe penalty is provided ? We put the question to you, MR. VOTER. It is up to you to decide whether or not Justice shall be meted out and the VILLAGE OF OAK FOREST regain her fair name. THE ARGOSY. The subjoined testimony has been received from four of Oak Forest’s prominent citizens who saw Mr. Pierce come home with the ax-handle. Then followed statements from the four to the effect that they had seen both the ax-handle carried by Pierce and the one used in breaking the ballot- box. ‘The scandal caused by these circulars was overwhelming. |The _ telephone- wires were kept hot in all directions transmitting the news and evidence dis- covered by the non-partizan party. Hicks had done what he thought right. He did not like to attack his former friend in such a vicious manner, but the evidence was clearly against Pierce, and the people should know. _ He was rather surprised, during the two or three riotous hours which fol- lowed the circulation of the startling announcement, that Pierce did not send in his challenge for a duel to the death. But by four o’clock in the afternoon he understood why Pierce had not retal- lated in that way. Another set of boys ran around the town, their arms full of circulars. Hicks rushed out and eagerly picked up the one thrown on his front porch. He had stayed home from work all day, as had most of the other politicians. Hicks gasped as he noticed that the circular was almost a copy of his own, reading as follows: JOHN HICKS, Candidate for President of Oak Forest on the Non-Partizan Ticket, was seen coming home last night with a new ax-handle under his arm. The ax-handle was similar to, if not the same, one with which the window in the Board-Room was forced and the ballot-box broken. It has been stated by the unscrupulous Non- parlizan Party that our candidate,-Richard Pierce, Was ca!rying an ax-handle similar to the one used in the crime. This is erroneou3. The ax-handle which Mr. Pierce carried home last night is of a different brand than the one found in the town hall this morning. Both are on exhibition at Crossman's drug-store. We invite an inspection. We also call upon JOHN HICKS to produce the ax-handle which he carried home last night. ‘He can’t do it, we believe, for that is the one found in the Board-Room this morning. CO OO (©