r so out he was overtaken
by the colonel, driving briskly along with room in his buggy for Jim.

"Climb in, Jim!" said he. "Dan and Dolly didn't like to see you walk."

"They're looking fine," said Jim.

There is a good deal to say whenever two horse lovers get together. Hoofs
and coats and frogs and eyes and teeth and the queer sympathies between
horse and man may sometimes quite take the place of the weather for an
hour or so. But when Jim had alighted at his own door, the colonel spoke
of what had been in his mind all the time.

"I saw Bonner and Haakon and Ez doing some caucusing to-day," said he.
"They expect to elect Bonner to the board again."

"Oh, I suppose so," replied Jim.

"Well, what shall we do about it?" asked the colonel.

"If the people want him--" began Jim.

"The people," said the colonel, "must have a choice offered to 'em, or how
can you or any man tell what they want? How can they tell themselves?"

Jim was silent. Here was a matter on which he really had no ideas except
the broad and general one that truth is mighty and shall prevail--but that
the speed of its forward march is problematical.

"I think," said the colonel, "that it's up to us to see that the people
have a chance to decide. It's really Bonner against Jim Irwin."

"That's rather startling," said Jim, "but I suppose it's true. And much
chance Jim Irwin has!"

"I calculate," rejoined the colonel, "that what you need is a champion."

"To do what?"

"To take that office away from Bonner."

"Who can do that?"

"Well, I'm free to say I don't know that any one can, but I'm willing to
try. I think that in about a week I shall pass the word around that I'd
like to serve my country on the school board."

Jim's face lighted up--and then darkened.

"Even then they'd be two to one, Colonel."

"Maybe," replied the colonel, "and maybe not. That would have to be
figured on. A cracked log splits easy."

"Anyhow," Jim went on, "what's the use? I shan't be disturbed this
year--and after that--what's the use?"

"Why, Jim," said the colonel, "you aren't getting short of breath are you?
Do I see frost on your boots? I thought you good for the mile, and you
aren't turning out a quarter horse, are you? I don't know what all it is
you want to do, but I don't, believe you can do it in nine months, can
you?"

"Not in nine years!" replied Jim.

"Well, then, let's plan for ten years," said the colonel. "I ain't going
to become a refor