ey famous among the farmers came about the
middle of October. It was an open-air meeting in the Cottonwood
township, one Saturday afternoon. He and Milton drove out to their
appointment in a carriage which Milton had borrowed. It was a superb
Indian summer day, and they were both very happy. Each had his
individual way of showing it. Milton put his heels on the dash-board,
and sung or whistled all the way out, stopping only occasionally to
say:

"Aint this boss? This is what I call doin' a thing up brown. Wish I
could do this for a stiddy business."

Bradley smiled at his companion's fun. He felt the pride and glory of
it all, but he couldn't express it as Milton did. It was such a
magnificent thing to be thus selected to push on a campaign. The mere
idea of the crowd waiting out there for their arrival had something
royal in it. And then this riding away into a practically unknown part
of the county to speak before perfect strangers had an epic quality.
Great things seemed coming to him.

They found quite an assembly of farmers, notwithstanding the busy
season. It showed how deep was the interest in the campaign, and Milton
commented upon it in beginning his speech.

"If a farmer ever gets his share of things, he's got to take time to
turn out to caucuses and meetings, and especially he's got to stop work
and vote."

Bradley arose after Milton's speech, which pleased the farmers with its
shrewdness and drollery, feeling at a great disadvantage.

"My colleague," he began (preserving the formality of the Delta Society
debates), "has told you of the ring that has controlled the officers of
this county for so long, but he hasn't told you of the inside facts. I
aint fightin' in this campaign to put the town people out and the
farmers in; I'm fightin' to put thieves out and honest men in."

This was a blow straight out from the shoulder and was followed by
great applause. But a few voices cried:

"Take that back!"

"I won't take anything back that I know is the truth."

"Yes, you will! That's a lie, an' you know it!" shouted an excited man
a short distance away.

"Let me tell you a story," Bradley went on slowly. "Last session of
court a friend of mine was on the jury. When court adjourned, he took
his order on the county to the treasurer and asked for his pay. The
treasurer said, 'I'm sorry, but they aint any funds left for the
jurors' fees.'

"'Can't you give me some out of some other fund?'

"'No, that w