Bradley arose after Milton's speech, which pleased the farmers with its shrewdness and drollery, feeling at a great disadvantage.
"My colleague," he began (preserving the formality of the Delta Society debates), "has told you of the ring that has controlled the officers of this county for so long, but he hasn't told you of the inside facts. I aint fightin' in this campaign to put the town people out and the farmers in; I'm fightin' to put thieves out and honest men in."
This was a blow straight out from the shoulder and was followed by great applause. But a few voices cried:
"Take that back!"
"I won't take anything back that I know is the truth."
"Yes, you will! That's a lie, an' you know it!" shouted an excited man a short distance away.
"Let me tell you a story," Bradley went on slowly. "Last session of court a friend of mine was on the jury. When court adjourned, he took his order on the county to the treasurer and asked for his pay. The treasurer said, 'I'm sorry, but they aint any funds left for the jurors' fees.'
"'Can't you give me some out of some other fund?'
"'No, that won't do—can't do that.'
"'Well, when will yeh have some money in?'