TH SWIRL AND QUICKSAND. 'HERE are eddies and currents of public sentiment which will sometimes appear at most unexpected and inopportune junctures to disturb the serenity and upset the calculations of the most shrewd managers of political affairs. Thus it was that after years and years of uninterrupted success, based upon reasons recapitulated in a previous chapter, there arose in the Roosterville District a sudden, unheralded revolt against the Hon. P. C. O. G. N. Tightpucker, who, for lo! these many years and years, had represented that district in Congress. It came like a clap of thunder from a clear sky to all parties concerned, for he and his advisers, his henchmen and parasites had for so long controlled the running of the machine, and every cog, and wheel, and pinion had for so long worked so smoothly, it did seem utterly preposterous and impossible that any break in the same could occur sufficient to overthrow the tyranny it represented. To the surprise, however, of everybody, there suddenly broke out a revolt against the man and his methods of such a nature and of such astounding proportions that it came very near accomplishing its purpose. The details of this remarkable political conspiracy and rebellion will be more clearly comprehended by a perusal of a communication made by Mr. Crickett Smallbore to the Hon. Zebulon Wirepuller, who had from the beginning been the general manager of Tightpucker's political affairs. Mr. Crickett Smallbore, it may be necessary to explain, was one of the members of the original conference held in Tightpucker's house when the plan was there perfected to bring him out and elect him. When the job then and there undertaken had been fairly and successfully completed, Smallbore had been selected by Tightpucker for a private secretary, and in fact for the sixteen years following that event was a sort of persistent parasite sticking to the fortunes of Tightpucker, upon whose bounty he existed. In return for this he had given his patron the devotion of a true believer. All that he was capable of doing for his benefactor he did with a zeal born of hunger and with gratitude unstinted in its measure. It was not the magnitude of Smallbore's help which had made him one of the most useful members of the Tightpucker ring, but the kind of help which he was able to furnish. He was so indefatigable in his efforts to please, so persistent in trying to perform, so indomitable in thrusting his little pod-auger of assistance down into every difficulty which got into Tightpucker's way, that Tightpucker frequently assured his friends. that Smallbore's services were to him well nigh invaluable. If a caucus was to be looked after in any part of the district, Smallbore was always ready to go post haste |