Scattergood Baines

not to come to maturity for twenty years. That was Scattergood's way. From his history, as it is to be gathered from the ancient gossips of Coldriver, one is forced to the conclusion that few of h

may see where he has forgone immediate profit in order

already his property, was replaced by a railroad. The waters of its river and tributaries were dammed to give a cheap and constant power which should be connected in some way to this electricity of which he

benefit. He knew that it is not uncommon for those whose business is the common good-such individuals as legislators and governors and judges-to assume some such attitude, and he knew that it was regarde

eople must be had, and the people had handed over their consent in trust to their elected representatives. Scattergood saw at once that it was preferable to be one from whom governors and

h he held in his hand, "that I got to g

ed the bowl of politics to discover wh

fe Siggins. Other non-political gentlemen who represented money and business had seen, as Scattergood did, the necessity for becoming political, and had chosen their moment to endeavor to take the state away from Messrs. Siggins & Co. and to hold it thereafter for their own benefit and behoof. They were, therefore, laying their plans to win the legislature by winni

ajority of the towns voted local option with regularity. The new powers would first sweep the town meetings for

e considerations which determined him to dip in his spoon on the side of Siggins and the old order. But there was one obstacle. Scattergood desired local option, for he was now the employer of many men, both in the w

h. In other words, Scattergood saw the wisdom of defeating both the contenders locally, and then of throwing in with Siggins as to the fight for state control.... But of this determinatio

habitants. It came about that more politics than hardware was discussed on Scattergood's piazza, but to the casual listener it seeme

ogle sauntered past and pa

year," said Scattergood. "Jest got

said Mr. Bogle, waggling his ancient head

on runnin' for le

Pazzy Cox ag'in." Pratt was pos

run ag'in' him, Marvin?

oin's in the state. Tryin' to upset Lafe

puttin' up Jim Allen on a whisky pl

didates, Bogle? H

ar

em outsiders chooses, eh? Coldriver hain't got

machinery, Scattergood. We got noth

one more party that hain't controlled so folks could git a chance.... W

only it hain't got no votes, an

nto this here ca

bone

n fellers ought to take a ha

ke I ever hear

dn't there? 'Ta

be got up-if anybo

they? Have to have a man to head

with it. Parties t

d seeder I jest got in. Labor sa

hem newfangled not

cts progress of you. Look up to you,

vin, visibly please

t of talk goin' around about you. Politics. Uh-huh! Heard several say it was a pity

aybe I have. Maybe I have. An

lead. Ought to look into that seeder, Marvin. Folks'll say: 'Marvin Towne's got him

good. Calculate I might examine i

im Allen, eh? Hain't neither of 'em desirab

idees," s

or t'other. Now if they was some

in'

all the best citizens after you. Set a example to the s

judicially. "Calc'late to

ritin'," sai

e it. Considerin' everythin

ich men as you is to be depe

s a call for me to go

. "Marvin, I'm tellin' y

t to find out about this

he gazed his hands went automatically to his shoes, which he removed to give play to his reflective toes

an employee, but more importantly as a dependable representative who could carry out

ow Marvin Towne, don't you? Br

ke the palm

or the legislature, Pliny. Strange there hain't

, lat

f you listened.... Set around the

om

Ever discuss this

d," sai

can't run the man they want f

Calc'late they

aid Scattergood

lemen viewed the situation, and their alarm subsided. Indeed, both perceived where it could be turned to advantage. A canvass of the situation showed them that the new Prohibitionists, though they talked loud and long, were made up mainly of the discontented and of a few men always ready to join any novel movement, and promised at best

tentous visit, and called a greeting to Wade Lumley, dry-goods me

n' this mornin',

on the road this evenin'. Time to beg

ar-old, h

in the

n calculates he's got a three-year-old that'll make any

. "Willin' to back them st

se, seems as though," said Scattergood. "Jest half a mile from Pettybone's

road spryer 'n Green's hoss-for a h

"Hoss races is uncertain. G

n a meeting between the horsemen, an argument, loud words, and

to the dam-half a

step across with me and deposit that there hunde

evening politics were forgotten and excitement ran high. Next day it arose to a higher pitch, for Town-marshal Pease had forbidden the race to be run through the p

unconscious that to all intents and purposes he had been ordered by Scattergood to mak

in. Hain't all goin'

How's a feller goin' to win votes if he can't git nobody to talk to him, that's what I want to kno

g hain't it? Know Kent Pil

her-i

lic office

Board of Select

ling his head. "Calculate to be on good

e to loan him two thousand dol

to him,

d Marvin,

is note, think you cou

ain s

n, won't you?

es

calc'late

you

estion. It was you said something Marvin, w

ou want me t

asked a question. G'-by, Mar

the out-skirts of a village-a farm on which he succeeded in raising the most ample crop of whiskers in

rgood. "Come to look at mow

k at one,"

ne, don

ad

ess of implemen

Been tryin' to borrow money off of my brother-in-law, but he don't calclate to len

I should indorse for

ent, and start

s. What you need

tgage and another thousand to

you kin run

it the

see you git ahead. Where d'you

of

l. When you got t

eks to-

day after the

ut your implements,

you'll

nothin' unforeseen comes

ood's selection that was purchased. Scattergood knew what was necessary and what would be economical, and that was what

town meetin'

y," sai

e to do y

ys do

e, it had such food for conversation that even cribbage under the barber shop languished, and one had to walk into the road to pass the crowd at the post office of evenings. As to the horse race, it resembled a

vote or two more than fifty. Postmaster Pratt appeared certain of better than a hundred, and so did the opposing party. One or the other of them was certain

'em." It was his first direct order. "Fetch

g, and Town-marshal Pease, his star displayed, patrolled the town to avert disorder. He patrolled until the meeting went i

Scattergood's face. Town questions were decided, matters of sidewalks, of road building, of schools, and every instance Marvin Towne's fifty-two voted as a unit, swinging from one side to the other as their peculiar interest dictated. On all minor questions it was Marvin Towne's

e o'clock of the afternoon before nominations for the high office of legislator were the order of proceeding. Jim Allen and Pazzy Cox were placed before the meeting as candidates amid the stimulated appl

on arose, as bef

e office of representative in the legislature. The polls is open

then

airs. Pliny Pickett burst into the room, his

to the dam. Everybody out. Hoss race!... Hoss race!..." He turned and ran frantically down the stairs, and on his heels followed the voters of Coldriver. But one or tw

ouples, in squads, and to take their seats. Scattergood was stand

n, Mr. Chairm

er-the voters has gone. I h

tings don't calculate to take account of hoss ra

was to fail in your duty as a public officer, folks might git to think you wasn't the sort of

on no longe

s is open

tarted for the box, but Town-marshal Pease, aw

p the votin' till I git back. That

s more important than hoss

ght where he is, and guard the

s from without, indicating excitement and delight, were carried through t

o vote has done so," said Scattergoo

motion, and it was c

suggested S

ely. The result stood, Marvin Towne: fifty-three v

ative to the legislature," said Chairman Pilk

s of this meetin'," said Scat

as driven to Scattergood Baines's hardware store. Scattergood sat on the piazza, and as

n private?" sa

vacy. Folks is welcome to l

itician and partially estimating the

us clever,

to," said

itics f

late t

ou aim

fter the politi

ur me or

u till my m

is here Prohi

it's necessa

n figger the party machinery's behind you.

to be," said

not willing admiration, "yo

litics kind of a side issue to the hardware business. Find it mighty stimilatin'. Politics took in m