Besides, when you looked at it from the street, unless
you lived around there and knowed about it, you'd of thought it was us
built that fence to spite them and not them to spite us.

Old Man Wright was running on what they called the Independent ticket
that fall; there was three parties and the town was all tore up. Of
course everybody knows there oughtn't to be but just two
parties--Republicans and Democrats. Me being from Texas, original, I
don't see why anybody should be anything but a Democrat; but Old Man
Wright he had a way of picking out things.

Well, they held the election along in November. I might of knowed how it
would come out. They ain't done counting all the Wright votes yet over
in that ward of ours. At about half past six they'd had time enough to
count all the sufferedges that Old Man Wisner taken down in the
silk-stocking part of that ward.

At about half past three in the afternoon the papers come out with
bulletins and says the ward was "conceded to Wright." I should say it
was conceded! I conceded it, anyways, as soon as I knowed he wanted to
run.

Well, sir, it was more like old times then than we'd seen since we moved
in there--like the times when we was sher'f in the Yellow Bull country.
The old man he come in a-laughing along about suppertime and under his
own steam, and says he:

"Bonnie Bell, your pa is going to be high in the nation's councils right
soon, because he is going to be alderman in one of the most important
wards in this here town. I may be mayor some day; and when you're mayor
you're due to chirk up and think of being president--if you are a
humorist. Also, your pa is hungry. Please get Curly and me all the ham
shanks and greens they is in the house.

"And, besides," says he when Bonnie Bell was going out, "pull the front
door wide open tonight. Take the lock out and hide William where they
can't any of my horny-handed friends find him. They'll be in here
tonight, a bunch of them, to sort of celebrate our glorious victory.
There may be several bands along in here--I hope and trust so. I
shorely am fond of music and I like bands. Whenever I get elected sher'f
or anything I want the band to play--all the bands they is."

Well, that was some night! I was glad for once we had come to Chicago,
for there is more bands in a town that size than there is in Cody.

Old Man Wright he was more natural than I'd ever saw him for a long
while. I don't know if it was quite fair the way