nted to--[_Turning to_ JIM.]--But he gave that up, too, because Joe
Vernon, my father, wants it. Oh, Jim! Jim! [_Sinks on steps, sobbing._

MRS. VERNON. [_Crosses to her._] There, Kate, I knowed it would be too
much fur you. [_To_ JIM.] She's took on this way since daylight.

JIM. Say, you fellers ain't got spunk enough to keep hoss flies off a
you. What do you want? Cold victuals?

BOLLINGER. Come on, fellers--[_The_ MEN _start off._] hold on, here's
Joe. [MEN _return._

MRS. VERNON. Joe Vernon!

_Enter_ JOE _and_ DAVE.

JOE. What's the matter, Jim? ain't nobody hurt? Why, Kate--

JIM. You made a pretty mess of it, ain't you?

JOE. What?

JIM. [_Pointing to_ KATE.] Tellin' everything.

JOE. Well, that ain't all of it.

JIM. What ain't?

JOE. Why, they put them blamed telegrams up at the convention--I
didn't see them till the fust ballot was over, and they'd nominated
_me_--

MRS. VERNON. For Jefferson, Joe?

JOE. [_In great excitement._] Yes, for the Legislature.

_Cheers from_ CROWD.

JIM. There, Kate, do you hear that? Now, what's the use cryin'?

JOE. And I made a speech--

MRS. VERNON. Git out.

JOE. Git out yourself--

MRS. VERNON. Say, your pa's been nominated, and made a speech!

JOE. Well, lemme tell you--

JIM. Well, never mind the speech, Joe--you're as good as elected
anyhow.

JOE. And you done every bit of it--why, I took them blamed telegrams,
and I told that convention everything I knew. Everything Kate told
me--about your getting off the track 'cause you liked her. Tom, you
told me yourself that Jim wasn't makin' no canvass fur the nomination.
Do you know why? 'Cause he liked my Kate. Last night he gimme his
resignation as sheriff. Do you know why?

BOLLINGER. Afore he give him the hoss?

JOE. Long before--and Jim Radburn, I believe you knowed then who that
feller was, and I told the convention so. He did give Travers the
hoss, and then I said, "He give up his pony to this feller 'cause
he didn't have the heart to make Kate feel bad"--and I said--"What's
Mizzoura--what's Pike County comin' to if we kin persecute a man like
that," and, by golly, they jus' stood on their hind legs and hollered
fur you!

BOLLINGER. I'm a-comin' inside myself if he pulls both guns. [_Comes
over the stile._

JIM. Why, Tom.

_They shake hands._

JOE. An' they're up there now, like a pack of howlin' idiots,
unanimously re-electing you sheriff by acclamation, and "Vivy Vochy,"
over and o