wer of
oratory. The slate was put through simply by the address of the
chairman of the committee.

On the way out they met Councill and Jennings walking out with Chairman
Russell, who had his hand on a shoulder of each, and was saying, with
beautiful candor and joviality: "Well, we beat you again. It's all fair
in politics, you know."

"Yes, but it's the last time," said Jennings, who refused to smile. "We
can't give this the go-by."

"Oh, well, now, neighbor Jennings, you mustn't take it too hard; you
know these men are good capable men."

"They are capable enough," put in Deering, "but we want a change."

"Then make it," laughed Russell, good-naturedly defiant.

"We will make it, bet y'r boots," said Amos Ridings.

"Let's see yeh," was Russell's parting word, delivered with a jaunty
wave of his hand.

The farmers rode home full of smoldering wrath. They were in fighting
humor, and only needed an organizer to become a dangerous force.

VII.

THE FARMERS OUST THE RING.

The following Saturday Bradley, who was still at work with Milton, saw
Amos Ridings gallop up and dismount at the gate, and call Jennings out,
and during the next two hours, every time he looked up he saw them in
deep discussion out by the pig pen. Part of the time Jennings faced
Amos, who leaned against the fence and whittled a stick, and part of
the time he talked to Jennings who leaned back against the fence on his
elbows, and studied Amos whittling the rail. Mrs. Jennings at last
called them all to dinner, and still the question remained apparently
unsolved, though they changed the conversation to crops and the price
of wheat.

"Brad, set down here and make a lot o' copies of this call. Milt, you
help him."

The call read:

"A NEW DEAL. REFORM IN COUNTY POLITICS."

"A mass convention of the citizens of Rock County will be held at
Rock Creek Grove on September 28th, for the purpose of nominating a
people's ticket. All who favor reform in politics and rebel against
the ring-rule of our county officers are invited to be present.

"Per order,

"AMOS RIDINGS,
JOHN JENNINGS,
WILLIAM COUNCILL,

"_People's Committee._"

"What's all this?" asked Milton of his father.

"We're going to have a convention of our own."

"We're on the war path," said Amos grimly. "We'll make them fellers
think hell's t' pay and no pitch hot."

After dinner Amos took a roll of the copies of the call and