The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 16, 1916, Page 11

IR SRR e g CRAFTY H T THE NONPARTISAN LEADER ELEVEN AS WORSE GRIEF Honest Farmers He Deceived at Last Turn on Him; Dictagraph Catches Little Talk That Wilts Foxy Boss RAFTY’S futile efforts to start the old time political pot a-boil- = Ing “weighed heavily upon his Blows that had never failed to bring - down the persimmons before now had rebpunded like a boomerang. Decoys which he had planted to lead the un- wary had been picked off by the Non-. partisan sharpshobters. His favorite dummy, one in which he reposed the greatest confidence to split the farmer vote, lz}y_ writhing in the agonies of his political death and it was with a. heavy heart that the onetime confi- dent boss' made his way. to the Skinem hotel rather late in the morn- i ng. ; ; His walk lacked the old time force and his face was haggard and drawn. He shuffled along the sidewalk, his hands thrust deep into his pockets, his chin hanging low, a half smoked cigar hung loosely in his lips and his eyes betrayed the fact that he had spent a .sleepless night. SIGNS OF TROUBLE . As he passed through the office of the hotel Sub called h%m to his desk. “The devil’s to pay,” said the little boss in'a hoarse whisper, .Crafty gave him a quick, sh glance. “There’s a whole gang here to see - you,” continued Sub. “They’ve been askin’ for you all morning. Some o’ them came last night.” _Crafty meditated a moment while his fat finger drumming on the top of tht‘e‘ Sdes(llt. : 3 end ‘em up,” he snapped, and turning took the elevator to his head- quarters. Inside his room the big boss yanked off his heavy coat, hung it on a hook and slammed his soft hat on top of it. He then walked to the east window and, looking out into the bright sunlight a moment, raised the win- dow enough to let in a little fresh air. Returning to his desk he replaced the cigar stump with a fresh cigar and took a seat at his big roll top desk. He leaned back in his chair and took several heavy drafts at the cigar while thick clouds of smoke rose to the ceiling. Then there was a tramp of many footfalls in the halt followed by a loud thump, thump, on the door. Crafty started up suddenly and then as suddenly composing himself, very deliberately said, “Come in.” BEARDED IN HIS DEN The scene that confronted Graftgr when the door opened made him quail. There-were at least a dozen men in the crowd that marched into the boss’s. headquarters. Crafty knew none of them and no salutations were ex- changed. The scowls and frowns: that beclouded their faces were decidedly disquieting to the big boss. He glanced from one to the other in puz- zled perplexity. g These were some of the men “fixed” by Crafty’s gumshoemen to get into the farmers’ meetings of February 22. One of them wore a bluish circle under the left eye. Another had a bruised nose.- Upon observing these signs of disfigurement Crafty remembered the telegram he received stating, “Got my- nose ’smashed—you’ll pay the dam- .- ages.” I.-B. -Doubting, one of the members of the party, had evidently been chosen as s?okesman. He was a big, broad shouldered fellow with a tanned and honest faee, firm blue eyes and fists . like a maul. CALLED TO FTIME Doubting cleared his threat and shifted from one foot to the other and in a firm voice said: uw{lat. kind of a game in this you are playing anyway? : : . Crafty winced visibly. Before he eould make answer, the big farmer went on: TR o “We've come down here to tell you what we think of you and your gang of skunks. You lied to us. The men . you sent lied to us.- You purposely deceived us by misrepresenting this Nonpartisan league. You told us it - as a bunch of grafters and poli- &:ia,ns trying to boost themselves into - office. What made you do it2” “Why, er—er, I don’t know what 'yo'u’re talking about,” stammered. Crafty. Then gaining his composure and. confidence he went on, “I don’t know you men. I never saw either one of you. What in the h—1 do you mean by comin’ in ‘here ingultin’ & stranger? Tl give you to understand | - that I'll ‘not stand for this business and unless you change your talk IIf \ have you throWiouten this building,” By N. P. DICTAGRAPH he concluded, at the same time ‘bring- ing his pudgy fist down on the desk with a vicious slam. Doubting was shaking from head to foot. Hot waves of anger swept “over his tanned face and blue eyes flashed flames of fire. “Say, none o’ that stuff, now,” snarled Doubting. “You can’t run nothin’ like that over us. We know who you are. We've got your num- ber. You’re the gink that sent the pussyfooters out to hornswoggle some of us farmers into betraying our own organization. < Well,- we've got - our eyes open. »We didn’t know the truth about this organization before. -Per- sonally I had heard a little about it —but what I heard came through the papers that are controlled through you and your gang. had my doubts about the truthfulness of what they said but not knowing the facts, I was on the fence—.” g “How could we know the truth while reading the papers that you fellers control?” exclaimed another one of the crowd. Crafty paled and fumbled nervously with a heavy paper weight that lay on the desk. JUST A FAIR WARNING “Now, just lay that paper weight down, Mr. Crafty,” said Doubting very deliberately and emphatically while shaking a big blunt finger under the boss’ nose. “There’ll be no rough stuff here unless you start it and if you do—then we’ll end it, you can depend on that. We came in here to warn you not to send your pussy- footers out in our neighborhood again. We won’t be responsible for what happens to them if you do.” After a moment’s pause, the big farmer went on: “We want you to know that we have learned what this organization is. We have learned that it is an upris- ing of the farmers of this state a- gamst just such crooks as you and your henchmen.” Crafty quailed be- fore this bombardment of invictive. “Having learned what this organiz- ation really is we are with it to the bitter end. And by means of it we are S. €. Buff Orphington Eggs for Hatching 15 for $1.50 30 for $2.75 50 for $4.00 100 for $7.00 John A. Winberg, Eldridge, N.D. FIVE PASSENGER -TOURING CAR SPECIAL FEATURES Electric lighting and starting system, High tension magneto. One-man ‘ top Stream-line body. Heavy tufted upholstery. Deep cushions. It’s light weight, therefore easy on tires, and gives low. cost Without question it is the simplest car: manufactured. Nu )ar iced § Seven speeds forward. No gears to strip. No clutch to slip. Easy riding. : Splendidly upholstered. Deep cushioned seats. Any lady can drive a Metz. No hill to steep for a METZ. / : N5 DISTRIBUTORS FOR NORTH DAKOTA AND WESTERN MINNESOTA If the METZ is not represented in your territory wr.\te for dealers’ agency contract, METZ CO., Waltham, Mass. going to teach you fellows the lesson of your lives. e are going to teach you that you must recognize and re- spect -the farmers of this state for they are the majority. I am a farm- er and I‘ve been in this state more than thirty years and I know the cost of success. I would have been a rich man today if it had not been for the gang of political highbinders and industrial pirates that rule this state with a rod of iron.” “I'm a farmer,” he went on after a moment’s pause. “I ‘thave known for along time that the: farmers of this state must get together and help themselves if they are ever'to be re- lieved of the despotism that now holds them down. As I said before, I did not know what this organization was until I went and investigated for my- self. Now I know. You ecan say what you please. You can bribe news- papers to say what you want them to. You can berate and slander the officers of this League and call them what you please but it will not help: you. I know what they are. I know what they are trying to do—mnot only try- GEO. A. WELCH, President J. P. FRENCH, Sec. - Treas. Harness $000Q006000000000000000800000, MAIN STREET New 1916 Models of operation. s Number of parts reduced to the mininum. [ [J [ ] [ J o [ 4 L] ° L] [J ° [ [ [ 4 (] [ 4 [ ° ° [ 4 [ 4 o [ ] ° [d [d [ [ [J [ 4 ° ® (4 [ 4 [ [ [J [J [J ® [ 4 [ [ ] [ [ [ J [J [ 4 [J @ FRENCH & WELCH HARDWARE COMPANY Farm Implements Al Plumbing and Heating Shelf and Heavy Hardware -- ing but are zctually doing. They are digging your poelitical graves and they are going to put you into it and cover you so deep that your ghost will never get out.” ] Crafty had wilted. His eyes were downcast. His cigar had died. His left hand fumbled feebly at his bi watch charm. Suddenly he starbeg, as if awaling from a sleep. He looked up at Doubting and &ng:kmg up ~the box of cigars, extended it to the big farmer, in a voice that tried to be cheerful, said: “Have cigars, gentle- men.” Doubting made a sarcastic smile, waved his hand and said in mocking " tones, - “No, thanks, we buy our cigars.” Then mockingly again, he bowed low, saying, “Good morning Mr. Crafty. We hope you’ll feel better. We hope also, that you’ll attend to your own private business—if you have any. And if you haven’t any business of your own, get some, an;d keep your nose out of other people’s business.” E He then turned on his heel and led the way out of the room, leaving the door open and Crafty hanging in his chair like a wet blanket. PHONE 4] BISMARCK;-N. v. PRICE $600-COM- PLETELY EQUIPPED SPECIAL FEATURES |, - Wood wheels, i '82x3 1-2 Tires i Fibre ‘Grip gear- less trapsmissfon. § B Gasoline gauge Stewart “ speed- ometer. Center control 108-inch ‘Wheelbase, 000000060000800000000000000200000000000000000000 T T R T A =