nel Peavy and Judge Brown
came down together, and Ridings and Deering were there also, seated
comfortably under the awning, in mild discussion with Robie, who had
taken the side of free trade, to be contrary, as Deering said.

"No, sir; I take that side for it's right." There was something sincere
in his reply, and Ridings stared.

"How long since?"

"About a week."

"What's got into yeh, anyhow?"

"A little horse sense," said Robie. "I've been a readin' the other
side; an' if a few more of yeh'd do the same, you'd lose some of your
damn pig-headed nonsense." The Democrats cheered, but the Republicans
stared at Robie, as if he had suddenly become insane.

"Well, I'll be dinged!" said Smith, his brother-in-law. "I'd like to
know what you'd been a readin' to make a blazin' old copperhead of
you."

Robie held up two or three tracts. The Judge took them, looked them
over, and read the titles out loud to the wondering crowd.

"'The Power of Money to Oppress.' 'Free Trade Philosophy.' 'The Money
Question.' 'The Right to the Use of the Earth,' by Herbert Spencer.
'Land and Labor Library.' 'Progress and Poverty,' by Henry George."

"Oh, so you've got hold of Spencer and George, have you?" said the
Judge.

"No; they've got hold 'f me."

"_Spencer!_" said Smith, in vast disgust. "What the hell has he to do
with it?" The rest sat in silence. The occasion was too momentous for
jokes.

"Where'd you get hold o' these?" said the Judge, fingering the leaves.

"Radbourn sent 'em out."

"I'll bet yeh! If there was a rank, rotten book anywhere on God's green
footstool, that feller'd have it," said Smith.

The Judge ruminated: "Well, if that's the effect, guess I'll circulate
a few copies 'mong the young Republicans of the county. Gentlemen, this
is our year."

"You've been a sayin' that for ten years, Judge," said Ridings.

"And it's been a comin' all the time, gentlemen. I tell you, I've had
my ear to the ground, and there's something moving. The river is
shifting its bed. Look out for a flood. I'm going to make an entirely
new move this fall; I'm going to put up a man for legislature that'll
sweep the county; and you'll all vote for 'im, too. He's young, he's
got brains, he's an orator, and he can't be bought."

Robie brought his fist down on the counter in an excitement such as he
had never before manifested. "Brad Talcott! We'll elect him sure as
hell!"

Amos hastened to put in a word. "Brad's a Republican."