About half of Bloomtown seemed inspired with the same spirit, and the
freight pulled out amid wild yells of joy. Several of the most agile
among the jubilant ones draped the box cars with strips of faded, soggy
bunting, and Harlow's picture adorned the cow-catcher. The yelling,
that had been discontinued for economic reasons, was resumed in raucous
chorus as the train rolled into Barton to celebrate Harlow's victory in
Jones's town.
The Bloomtown _Herald_ did itself proud that week. A mammoth picture
of the Lone Pine stood forth on the front page. Around it fluttered
one hundred flags. Every page sported roosters and flags in each
available space, between local readers and editorial paragraphs. It
was a thing of beauty and a joy forever--at least to Wat Harlow. One
other cut found place at the bottom of the editorial page. Bill did
not forget to boomerang Wilfred Jones by reprinting the weeping angel.
For a week there were bonfires every night, and a number of Bloomtown's
citizens sought to lighten Barton's woes by buying fire-water there.
Wat swelled until he looked more like a corpulent oak than a lone pine.
"My house is yours," he cried, alternately wringing Jap and Bill by
their weary hands. He had come across once more from his headquarters
in the Court House to make sure his appreciation was understood. Jap
smiled wanly as the village band followed him with its intermittent
serenade.
Bloomtown had long since outgrown the village class; but not a drum nor
a horn had encroached upon the old traditions of that band. Mike
Hawkins was far too conservative to permit innovation, and as there was
no provision for retiring the bandmaster on half pay, the problem of
dividing nothing in half having as yet been unsolved, Mike continued to
hold the job. All day the band had been vibrating between the Court
House and the _Herald_ office, having delivered ten serenades at each
side of Main street, for it was understood that the _Herald_ shared the
victory with Harlow. As the Governor-elect retreated to the other side
of the street, the band at his heels, Bill groaned aloud.
"I wish that that bunch of musicians had had more confidence that Wat
was going to get it," he sighed, "so that they could have learned one
tune good."
Kelly Jones was capering down the street. Kelly had absorbed enough of
Barton booze to make him believe he owned the half of Bloomtown that
did not belong to Wat Harlow. He had been having what Bill described
as "one large, full time." As he came in sight, Bill's brow darkened.
"I've been afraid that Kelly would burst and catch fire," he said
morosely, "and now, by jolly, I wish he would. It's funny how much
your good friends will get in your way when they pair off with John
Barleycorn. Kelly is certainly one ding-buster when he is lit up."
Jap leaned from the door to watch the procession that had formed for
the purpose of escorting Wat Harlow to the station.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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