home, and under the flashing eyes that stared
unwaveringly, through the big goggles, Uncle Josh halted and stammered
and admitted that he might have been misinformed.

"Then I advise you to be more careful," cautioned the Hon. Samuel
sharply.

"Feller-citizens," said Uncle Josh, "if he ain't a corporation
lawyer--who is this man? Where did he come from? I have been born and
raised among you. You all know me--do you know him? Whut's he a-doin'
now? He's a fine-haired furriner, an' he's come down hyeh from the
settlemints to tell ye that you hain't got no man in yo' own deestrict
that's fittin' to represent ye in the legislatur'. Look at him--look at
him! He's got FOUR eyes! Look at his hair--hit's PARTED IN THE MIDDLE!"
There was a storm of laughter--Uncle Josh had made good--and if the Hon.
Samuel could straightway have turned bald-headed and sightless, he
would have been a happy man. He looked sick with hopelessness, but Uncle
Tommie Hendricks, his mentor, was vigorously whispering something in
his ear, and gradually his face cleared. Indeed, the Hon. Samuel was
smilingly confident when he rose.

Like his rival, he stood in the open road, and the sun beat down on his
parted yellow hair, so that the eyes of all could see, and the laughter
was still running round.

"Who is your Uncle Josh?" he asked with threatening mildness. "I know
I was not born here, but, my friends, I couldn't help that. And just
as soon as I could get away from where I was born, I came here and,"
he paused with lips parted and long finger outstretched,
"and--I--came--because--I WANTED--to come--and NOT because I HAD TO."

Now it seems that Uncle Josh, too, was not a native and that he had left
home early in life for his State's good and for his own. Uncle Tommie
had whispered this, and the Hon. Samuel raised himself high on both toes
while the expectant crowd, on the verge of a roar, waited--as did Uncle
Joshua, with a sickly smile.

"Why did your Uncle Josh come among you? Because he was hoop-poled away
from home." Then came the roar--and the Hon. Samuel had to quell it with
uplifted hand.

"And did your Uncle Joshua marry a mountain wife? No I He didn't think
any of your mountain women were good enough for him, so he slips down
into the settlemints and STEALS one. And now, fellow-citizens, that is
just what I'm here for--I'm looking for a nice mountain girl, and I'm
going to have her." Again the Hon. Samuel had to still the roar, and
the