Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1913 — The Women’s Candidate [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Women’s Candidate

By BYRON WILLIAMS

Oopyrigbt tsi>. Western Newspaper Union SYNOPSIS. In a spirit of fun Mayor Bedight, a summer visitor. Is chased through the woods by ten laughing girls, one of whom he catches and kisses. The girls form themselves into a court and sentence him to do the bidding of one of their number each day for ten days. A legislative measure onnnsing woman -suffrage, which dropped from the mayor’s pocket. It used to compel him to obey the mandates of the girls. His first day Jot service Is with May Andrews, who takes him fishing. They are threatened by the sheriff with arrest Miss Vintng sees what she considers a clandestine meeting between one of the girls and the mayor. Th,e next day he goes driving with Mabel Arney. (They meet with an accident, are arrested and locked up, but escape. The mayor returns to the hotel, finds the sheriff waiting for him, and takes refuge in the room of Bess Winters. He plans to get possession of the incriminating bill. With Harriet Brooks the mayor goes to Investigate an Indian mound. They are cafcght In a thunder storm. Returning later he has rather a stormy interview with “Judge” Vlning. who seeks to find out who returned to the hotel with him. Thursday was Mayor Bedight’s day of attendance upon Margaret Farnsworth. 6he decoys him into a cabin in the woods, and be Is made a prisoner by the game warden. He is later released by One of the girls. He turns the tables on the game warden and makes that gentleman and his party prisoners. After breakfast he goes on the lake with Molly McConnell. They take refuge from a sudden storm In a ruined hut, where they are forced to spend the night. CHAPTER X.—Continued. At daybreak Bedight sighted a boat bearing in from Squirrel Inn. He hailed it and soon the two disheveled adventurers were enroute to the hotel. Jackie made much ado over Miss McConnell, who drew her aside, the roses in her face redder than the color of the Magna Charta. Lata In the afternoon Bedight stole away to the cabin and made his promise of the Friday previous, but the prisoners were in a sullen mood and demanded to be liberated. Monday morning found him assiduous In his attentions to Cleo Summers, who brought out a copy of “Lucille*' and beckoned him to a shady a pot in the wood not far from the Inn. Seating herself on the grass, she banded him the book. Bedight took the book. “I read this to a girl once. I ’’ “Of Course,’* interrupted Miss Summers, “there isn’t a man living who •can read who has not at some time or mother had his dream as he read this tale to a woman with eyes like the akles and Ups like the red, red cherry!” «»•»*• • •

( ' CHAPTER XI. After spending a day with a winsome woman reading Lucille, it is either the hand of Fate or the intentional prank of a witch that sends the same man canoeing with a decidedly pretty girl of the same name! Lucille Walters was a leader at Vassar and popular at Squirrel Inn, where her personality was predominant and pleasing. To none but Jackie Vlniog need she yield the palm of favor and of attractiveness. Upon Mayor Bedight Miss Walters tried all her wiles. In a sworn compact with the “Judge” she sought by every means in conformity with ladylike alluring to wring from him some little slip that would throw light upon bis clandestine meetings—but Bedight baffled her at every clever thrust. She came home at night only to admit her defeat. “He is charming—and decidedly adept at fencing,” was the verdict Miss Walters rendered to her chaperone. And on the pinnacle of this it happened! Jackie Vlnlng and Lucille Walters, star gazing, beheld the rascally Bedight enter the arbor. A half hour later the figure of a woman emerged from the trystlng place. For a time the two stood in the .arbor entrance. The arm of the mayor was about her. Then their lips met in a lingering caress and the girl glided across the lawn as on that other night when Jackie had beheld a like tableau. Undoubtedly the woman was one of them—but which one? Miss Vlning’s anger and contempt for men in general and Bedigbt in particular ran high. "But,” protested Miss Walters, "perhaps his Intentions are perfectly honorable and possibly right here under our noses a romance has budded and blossomed.” - "But—but—” protested the Honorable Jack, stopping herself just at the point of confessing what Bedight had said to her that night on the dock, "I—be said the girt was doing no harm —and —” "Don’t be silly, Jackie,” pricked Miss Walters, ‘lt isn’t wrong to kiss one's sweetheart.”

try as she Would, she could not justify bis Words to her with his act at the arbor. The danger to the gfrls under her protection was imminent. The whole affair had been a travesty at best, and she was unwise to continue it longer. But what method of procedure was best? Jackie thought seriously foir an hour. Then she summoned ap attendant from the office and gave him a message. Having done this she retired. Mayor Bedight was still up at midnight when a woman glided down the hallway and tapped gently at his door. It was opened from within and the girl closed it behind her. “Walter!” she cried, excitedly, “Jackie Vining has sent help to the t sheriff—I just learned it. It’s almost time for him to arrive. You must act quickly. The letter with the bill inside is .still unsealed on her dresser. I tried ts get it -but— failed. You; must ” “All right, Bess,” replied the mayor, patting the girl o«- the shoulder. ‘Til act —and I want to say right here that you’re a trump card. It’s up to your Uncle Dudley to buy you a new sealskin when we meet in Chicago.” The. mayor was moving lively, throwing his few effects into a suitcase. “I’m ready, Bess,” he said hurriedly. "While I’m trying to turn this trick, you slip out and see if Briggs is waiting. It’a an hour too soon, but he may be there. Good-by, little girl. Mum’s the word,” giving her a loving hug. The mayor sped down the hall to Jackie Vining’s room. “Gad,” he ejaculated, “this is a rum thing I’ve got to do —but everything is fair in love and politics—and this is both.”

—Taking a key from his pocket, Bedight slipped it softly into the door. aThe lock -, yielded. Cautiously he opened the door and entered the apai’tment of the “Judge.” A high-low incandescent was burning with the dim light on, and in the glow Bedight’s eyes surveyed the apartment carefully. As his eyes swept the room, he sought to locate two objects of intense interest—the dresser, on top of which was supposed to lie the letter containing the bill, and Jackie Vining! They .were both in evidence, the one in the farther corner of the room, the other in her bed asleep, her round arms thrown upward about her face, her beautiful hair in a braid that fell across the white linen like a rope of gpld. Beside the bed on a chair lay a pile of filmy lingerie, and on top of the heap a pair of black silk hose. Bedight, fascinated, turned his face away. Even a political career would scarce excuse a man for such an intniftiAD LA UDjRIBi “But she will never know,” flashed through Bedight’s mind as he slipped quietly across the room to. the dresser. Yes, the package was there —and unsealed. Hastily slipping the envelope off, he tucked the hill away in his pocket. From a second pocket he brought out another manuscript and substituted this for the one he had lost on the morning of the run through the swamp. He did not read the letter, returning It with the manuscript to the envelope. Wetting the mucilage, he closed and sealed the letter and laid it back on the dresser. Turning to go, his eyes fell upon the face of the sleeper. How beautiful she was —and how unreasonable. For the merest second he hesitated opposite the lacy couch of my lady’s dreams—but the moment was fatal. ‘ By some strange freak of fate the high-low light, feeling an Impulse of fresh current, automatically shifted from low to high. The brilliant glare fell directly in the girl’s face. She stirred, opened her eyes and would have screamed but for Bedight’s presence of mind. Springing forward, he

spoke her name, muffling her startled ejaculation with hlB band, gently laid across her lips. And then as her eyes blazed like torches with their outraged fires, he dropped to his knees-beside the bed and said hotly: “You will never forgive me for this —and I do not blame you. But some day you will understand. I have done nothing at Squirrel Inn to make a gentleman blush for shame —except this —and—I had to do it. I thought I could—could say good-by without awakening you. I am going now. When firßt we met, you gave me a kiss —or if you please, I stole it. In going I am giving in return my heart, and taking as the sweetest memory pf my life this last good-by!" Bowing his head over the face of the half stupefied girl, he touched his lips to hers reverently—and slipped from the room. As he did so a piercing shriek arose.

I'he "Judge” Was coming to her own. It was answered from below. Bedight, scudding along the hall, heard the answering cry and knew the sheriff had arrived. Exit from the hotel by way of the staircase was out of the oueßtion. He darted to Bess Winter’s room, tried the door and breathed a sigh of relief as it yielded. From the room a veranda opened and from the floor of the veranda to the ground was not too much of a drop for au agile man. Bedight hung for a_ mo ment on the rail. Then he let go, landing almost in the arms of an officer,. evidently more surprised than the mayor, who, quicker of * action, pushed the deputy headlong and fled from the scene with speed that would -do -eredit to Jackie Vining. Down the graveh.walk sped Bedight, toward the main road. Already the officer had regained his feet and given the alarm; The mayos EMf3 a call" for help, a hurried explanation, and then footfalls in pursuit. Down the road he ran toward the shadows of the trees along the highway. If Brrggs was there and ready, he would get away in time. Something loomed black in the shadows ahead. It was the car! Bedight, called as he ran—-but Briggs was too surprised to heed. “Crank the car!” cried the mayor excitedly, dashing up to the machine. But tlfe pursuers were upon them as the bewildered Briggs sprang to the wheel. The mayor turned and struck blindly at the sheriff in the lead, whirled and sprang into the machine. The motor aroused instantly and shot ahead, leaving the enraged pursuers powerless in the road.

CHAPTER XU. It was 10 o’clock on the evening of the ejection in Ossian. About the headquarters of Walter Bedight the followers of the victorious representar tive were clamoring for their chosen leader —and among the voters* were innumerable women who had fought shoulder to shoulder with their brothers at the ballot box. Mrs. Holcomb, the president of the Allied Women’s clubs, followed by a bevy of workers, passed through the crowd sind sent in her card. The door was opened to admit them. Bedight came graciously forward, a smile of welcome upon his face. “Congratulations, Mr. Bedight,” said Mrs. Holcomb, “and let me introduce Miss Vining, of Epworth.” Bedight had not seen her until then, but as his eyes fell upon her his heart leaped as the dry grasses to the shower, as the laughing water to the sunshine. He held out his hand. “We have met before, thank you, Mrs. Holcomb;” she said; the roses mounting to her cheeks, and then the crowd surged in. “Please don’t go,” he whispered eagerly to Jackie as he turned to grasp the outstretched hands. And even as he murmured his thanks to th*e congratulatory constituency, *be pressed a button upon his desk. An attendant answered. He whispered a message, still pressing the hands that met his. The attendant slipped hurriedly away. In a moment the door to a private room opened and Bess'Winters flew toward Jackie Vining.

“You dear!” she cried with both arms about the "Judge’s” neck—“but I’ve a confession to make. It was I that Walter met In the arbor. He is my half brother. It was such a lark, and—” But Miss Vining’s face had grown suddenly radiant. “You awful, awful, trouble-maker!” she whispered, hiding her face against Bess’ fair head. “And that night,” breathed Bess as Jackie’s face grew scarlet, "Walter went to your room and substituted another bill in favor of woman suffrage for the one opposing It. You mailed it next day! And it turned the tide for him!” “Oh!” was Miss Vining’s not altogether elucidating comment. “Cbme into the private office,” urged Bess. An hour later Bedight tore himself away from his friends and found them there. “Excuse me a moment,” said the ever tactful Bess, disappearing into the front office. “Somebody’s got to do the honors.” Bedight stood facing the girl, who had arisen. "Can you forgive me?” he pleaded, his eyes striving to gain hers, which were downcast, while the color painted her cheeks as glowing as the pink of a sea-shell. “You promised,” she said deliberately, raising her eyes to his, "to abide by the decision of the court. If you transgressed you were to be fined for life. As ‘Judge* of the court, I pronounce you guilty. You may—kiss me again—if you like —for at last I am willing to admit that you were and are ‘a woman’s logical candidate.’ ” He drew her to him with a reverential tenderness that thrilled her, and as their lips met in betrothal, the campaign band outside the office struck up the air: •'The Moonlight, the Rose and Tou.** (THE END.)

Bess Winters.