Argosy, Vol. 120, No. 1 — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

94 | THE ARGOSY. platform, where the band was playing, and where the returned delegates, frenzied with joy, were shrieking above the din: “Lawler! Lawler! Lawler—our next Governor! Hip, hip—soo-ray!” “We swamped ’em!” howled a crimson- faced enthusiast. ‘ There was’ nothin’ to it! Unanimous after the first vote. Hoo- ray!” In his office, Gary Warden heard the shouting, saw the crowd, and listened to the cheers. He stood at one of the windows, balefully watching; sneering at the dele- gates who had returned, flushed with vic- ‘tory. Singleton, scowling, stood beside Warden. | - They saw half a dozen men draw apart from the others. Later the men—delegates, from the gay badges appended to them— rode out of town, southward. “‘ Notification committee,” sneered War- den; ‘‘they’re going to escort Lawler to town. Let’s go to the Two Diamond. I'll be damned if I want to be in town to watch Lawler grin when he sees that crowd! There’s a dozen big guns in that bunch, who have come down from the capital to watch the fun. Well, it’s no fun for me!” However, it was “ fun ” for the delighted citizeng of Willets who, some hours later, saw the committee returning with Lawler. They escorted him to a platform which had been erected in the middle of the street in the absence of the committee, where, after the crowd had cheered him many times, Lawler made his first speech as the candidate of his party. , Energetic citizens had’ gayly decorated the street with flags and bunting—taking Corwin’s entire stock—and the decorations swathed the town from end to end. Warden and Singleton had scurried out of town long before the coming of Lawler. But Jimmy Singleton, with a number of other children who had mercifully been dis- missed by the new school-teacher, were Close to the platform during the celebration. ‘““He’s gonna be Governor, Jimmy,” whispered one of Jimmy’s companions, awe in his voice as he indicated Lawler, who was. just concluding his speech. ‘“T’ve knowed him a long time,” went on Jimmy’s friend proudly, “ Huh!” said Jimmy; “I’ve knowed him longer than you. An’ besides that, he walloped me once. An’ he walloped my paw, too!” Shorty had ridden to town-with Lawler; and Shorty rode home with the candidate for Governor—after the citizens of Willets had shouted themselves hoarse, and the prominent men who had céme down from the capital had taken the evening train home. And Shorty said nothing when Lawler veered from the Circle L trail and headed eastward, toward Hamlin’s cabin. And he waited with much patience outside the cabin while Lawler went in, to stay an uncon . scionably long time. Ruth was alone. And her eyes were glowing with happiness when she saw Law- ler. “ Oh, I know!” she said when Lawler es- sayed to break the news to her. “On his way to town Blackburn rode over and told me. All of your men were in town— didn’t you know that?” “Ruth,” said Lawler, “I will be elected. Won’t you come to the capital with me— to be the first lady of the State?” She looked straight at him her face paling. OS “Wait, Kane,” she said gently. “I— I can’t, just now. Oh, Kane, don’t you see that the higher you go the harder it is for me? I can’t have people say—what they might say—what your enemies would be sure to say! Father is all right, now. But I can’t depend upon him... We will wait, Kane—until we are sure.” Shorty rode with Lawler after they left the Hamlin cabin. Lawler’s expression was noted by the gi- ant, and duly commented upon the fol- lowing morning, in Blackburn’s presence. ‘ The boss’s trail is sure hard to antici- pate,” said Shorty. ‘“ There’s the State goin’ loco over him—nominatin’ him for Governor, an’ folks in Willets makin’ more fuss over him than they did over the Presi- dent—the time he stopped for two minutes in town. Well, you’d think a man would be sort of fussed up himself, over that kind of a deal. But what does the boss do? He rides home with me, sayin’ nothin’ pretty And the gravity of —_earmicnoolame