The deacon grumbled. ""Tain"t more"n a hundred yards to the post office," he said. "Stoppin" me like this an"--an" makin" me get out and crank the car besides. An" I"m in a hurry, too. Couldn"t you--"
"Well, I ain"t in no hurry. If I was, don"t you suppose I"d "a" walked?"
That evening the town hall was filled with discouraged, apprehensive Republicans. A half-dozen newly enfranchised women occupied front seats.
Ed. Higgins confided to those nearest him that he felt as though he was in church, and Alf Reesling loudly advised the convention to be careful, as there were ladies present.
Mr. Hud Lamson, as usual, was the chairman of the "Convention." No one else ever had a chance to be chairman for the reason that Hud did not insist upon having the honour thrust upon him. He simply _took_ it.
Following the usual resolutions condemning the Democratic Party to perdition and at the same time eulogizing the Democratic Administration at Washington, Mr. Ezra Pounder was nominated by acclamation for the responsible post of town clerk. In swift succession, Ed. Higgins, Abner Pickerell and Situate M. Jones were chosen for selectmen. Justice Robb was unanimously chosen to succeed himself.
Then ensued a strange, significant silence--a silence fraught with exceeding gravity and the portentous suggestion of something devastating about to overtake the a.s.semblage. Some one in the back of the hall cleared his throat, and instantly, with one accord, every eye was turned in his direction. It was as if he were clearing the way for action.
Harry Squires, the perennial secretary of all conventions held by all parties in Tinkletown, by virtue of his skill with the pencil, arose from his seat--and stepped to the front of the platform.
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Harry Squires stepped to the front of the platform_]
"Order!" called out Marshal Crow, in his most authoritative voice, sweeping the convention with an accusing eye.
"Mr. Chairman, fellow Republicans and voters of the opposite s.e.x," began Harry, in a distinctly lugubrious tone, "we have now come to the most critical moment in the history of Tinkletown. It is with ineffable sorrow and dismay that I stand before you this evening, the bearer of sad tidings. On the other hand, I expect to derive great joy in offsetting this sad news later on in my humble speech. I am now, gentlemen--and ladies--speaking of our most noted and most cherished citizen, Mr. Anderson Crow, known to you all, I believe, without exception. I--"
At this juncture, up jumped Alf Reesling and shouted:
"Three cheers for Anderson Crow!"
And three cheers were given with a vim. Uncle Dad Simms, a patriot of long-standing but of exceedingly short memory, took the convention by storm by crying out in a cracked but penetrating voice:
"Three cheers for the President of the United States! I don"t keer if he is a Democrat! Come on, now, men! Three cheers for President Cleveland!"
A roar of laughter went up and Uncle Dad, being quite deaf, followed it with two squeaky cheers, all by himself, and then looked about in triumph. Alf Reesling proposed three cheers for President Wilson, and again the welkin rang. Having established a success as a promoter of enthusiasm, Alf mounted a chair and roared:
"Now, let"s give three cheers for General Pershing an" the boys over in France, includin" the four n.o.ble young men from Tinkletown who are with him in the trenches, killin" the botches! Now, hip--hip--"
And once more the air shivered under the impact of vocal enthusiasm.
Mr. Squires held up his hands and checked what might have become a habit by thanking the convention for the timely and admirable interruption, explaining that the digression had given him an opportunity to regain command of his emotions.
"It is, however, with pain that I am authorized to announce, not only to the glorious Republican Party, but to the City of Tinkletown, that--Hold on, Alf! We can get along without three cheers for Tinkletown! To announce that the name of Anderson Crow is hereby withdrawn from the consideration of this convention for the--er--the nomination for Town Marshal. Mr. Crow positively declines to make the race. It is not necessary for me to dilate upon the manifold virtues and accomplishments of our distinguished marshal. His fame extends to the uttermost corners of the earth. For nearly half a century he has kept this town jogging along in a straight and narrow path, and I for one--and I feel that I voice the sentiment of every citizen here and elsewhere--I for one do not resent the frequent reproaches and occasional arrests he has heaped upon me in the discharge of his duty. It was all for the good of the community, and I am proud to say that I have been arrested by Marshal Crow more times than I have fingers and toes. And, I am further proud to add, that on not a single occasion did Marshal Crow hesitate to admit that he was mistaken. Gentlemen, it takes a pretty big man to admit that he is mistaken. But, if you will read the next issue of the _Banner_, you will see that I can write about him much more eloquently than I can speak. He has positively decided not to be a candidate for re-election.
While we are thereby plunged into grief of the darkest hue, I am here to tell you that our grief is mitigated by the most gorgeous ray of light that ever beamed upon the human race. It is my pleasure, gentlemen of the Republican Party--and ladies of the same sect--to present for your--"
Alf Reesling"s voice was heard in plaintive protest. He spoke to his elbow neighbour, but in a tone audible to every one, far and near.
"I"ll be dog-goned if I"ll stand for that. It"s an insult to every man here to say they are of the same s.e.x. We give "em the vote and, by gosh, they claim our s.e.x. I--"
"Order!" commanded Marshal Crow.
The orator resumed. "It is my privilege to present for your consideration the name of one of our most ill.u.s.trious citizens for the honourable office of Town Marshal. A name that is a household word, second only to that of the present inc.u.mbent. Circ.u.mstances over which we have no control--although we did have it up to a short time ago--make it possible for me to present to you a name that will go down in history as one of the grandest since the bonny days of good Queen Bess.
Gentlemen--and at the same time, ladies--I have the honour to put in nomination for Town Marshal our distinguished fellow voter, Mrs.
Anderson Crow!"
A silence even more potential than the one preceding Mr. Squire"s peroration ensued. It was broken this time by Uncle Dad Simms, who proceeded to further glorify his deafness by squeaking:
"And he"ll be elected, too, you bet your boots. We don"t want no gosh-blamed woman fer--eh? What say, Alf?" And Alf, making a cup of his hands, repeated with great vigour an inch or so from Uncle Dad"s ear the timely remark that had caused the ancient to hesitate. It is not necessary to quote Alf, but Uncle Dad"s rejoinder is important.
"Well, _Jee_-hosaphat!" he gasped.
"Is there a second to the nomination?" inquired the chairman.
Marshal Crow arose. "I second the nomination," he said, taking a sudden tug at his whiskers. "Before we take a ballot, Mr. Chairman, I want to say right here an" now that Mrs. Crow will have my full an" undivided support, just as she has always had. I have allus maintained that a woman"s place is in the home. Therefore, when it comes time fer Mrs.
Crow to a.s.sume the responsibilities of this here office, I am goin" to see to it that she _stays_ home an" tends to her household duties. I am goin" to be deputy marshal durin" her term of office, without pay, ladies an" gentlemen, an" I am goin" to lift every bit o" the work off"n her shoulders. I believe in equal sufferin". If she"ll do the woman"s share o" the work, I"ll do the man"s, an" nothin" could be fairer than that. Between us we"ll give the city o" Tinkletown the best administration the office of marshal has ever had. My wife ain"t here tonight to accept the honour you are goin" to heap on her, but I think I can safely promise she"ll consent to make the race. She may kick like a bay steer at first, but when she sees it"s her _duty_ to run, you bet she"ll do it! It"s a case of woman ag"in woman, feller Republicans, an"
man ag"in man. All I got to say is that the best woman"s bound to win. I almost forgot to say that if the voters o" Tinkletown don"t jump at the chance to git a marshal an" a experienced deputy for the price o" one salary, it"s because there"s more derned fools in the town than I thought there was."
Mr. Ed Higgins sprang to his feet.
"I move, Mr. Chairman, that we make the nomination unanimous without a dissenting vote," he cried out. "We got a chance to get the best deputy marshal in the United States of America without it costin" us a red cent, an" besides that, we get the best cook in all Tinkletown for marshal. If there"s anybody here, male or female, who c"n deny that Mrs.
Crow is the best cook alive I"d like to hear him say so. I"ve eat a hundred meals in her house an" I know what I"m talkin" about. I defy anybody--"
"I call for a vote!" cried out one of the women, bridling a little. "And I want to say to you, Ed Higgins, that while I think Mrs. Crow will make the best marshal we"ve ever had, I wouldn"t go so far as to say she"s the best cook in Tinkletown. You haven"t been invited to eat in _every_ house in this town, don"t forget that."
"All in favour of making the nomination of Mrs. Crow unanimous signify by holding up their hands," said the chairman.
Every hand went up. Then a rousing cheer was given for the "next Marshal of Tinkletown," followed by the customary mumbling of "The Star Spangled Banner."
Three full days were devoted by Anderson and the leaders of the Republican Party to the task of inducing Mrs. Crow to make the race against Minnie St.i.tzenberg. At first she refused point-blank. She didn"t intend to neglect her household duties for all the offices in Tinkletown!
"But, consarn it, Eva!" Anderson protested for the hundredth time, "n.o.body"s askin" you to neglect your household duties. Ain"t I agreein"
to handle the job for you?"
"Well, I posi-_tive_-ly refuse to wear a star--or carry a pistol."
"You don"t have to. I"ll wear the star."
"And if you think I"ll traipse the streets of Tinkletown from morning till night, you"re very much--"
"That ain"t any respectable woman"s job," said her husband stiffly.
"You"re not expected to do it as long as you got a deputy."
"And as for snooping around putting my nose into other people"s business,--why--"
"Now, don"t let that worry you, Eva. That"s part o" my job."
"Who"s going to tend jail when there"s anybody locked up in it?"
"I am, o" course."
"And who"s going to be street commissioner, truant officer, chief of the fire depart--"
"You are, Eva,--but I"m going to look after _everything_, mind you. All you got to do is to see that I git somethin" to eat whenever I need it, an" a bed to sleep in at night, an" I"ll--"