A single milliner's bill for $125 was
hailed with delight; $100 expended in treating the Vestal Virgin
Combination Troupe almost canonized his memory; $50 for a simple
buggy ride with Deacon Fisk brought down the house; $500 advanced,
without security, and unpaid, for the electioneering expenses of
Assemblyman Jones, who had recently introduced a bill to prevent
gambling and the sale of lager beer on Sundays, was received with
an ominous groan. One or two other items of money loaned
occasioned the withdrawal of several gentlemen from the audience
amidst the hisses or ironical cheers of the others.
At last Captain Dick stopped and advanced to the footlights.
"Gentlemen and friends," he said, slowly. "I foots up $25,000 as
Roger Catron hez MADE, fair and square, in this yer county. I
foots up $27,000 ez he has SPENT in this yer county. I puts it to
you ez men,--far-minded men,--ef this man was a pauper and debtor?
I put it to you ez far-minded men,--ez free and easy men,--ez
political economists,--ez this the kind of men to impoverish a
county?"
An overwhelming and instantaneous "No!" almost drowned the last
utterance of the speaker.
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