"Well, I'll be dinged!" said Smith, his brother-in-law. "I'd like to know what you'd been a readin' to make a blazin' old copperhead of you."
Robie held up two or three tracts. The Judge took them, looked them over, and read the titles out loud to the wondering crowd.
"'The Power of Money to Oppress.' 'Free Trade Philosophy.' 'The Money Question.' 'The Right to the Use of the Earth,' by Herbert Spencer. 'Land and Labor Library.' 'Progress and Poverty,' by Henry George."
"Oh, so you've got hold of Spencer and George, have you?" said the Judge.
"No; they've got hold 'f me."
"Spencer!" said Smith, in vast disgust. "What the hell has he to do with it?" The rest sat in silence. The occasion was too momentous for jokes.
"Where'd you get hold o' these?" said the Judge, fingering the leaves.
"Radbourn sent 'em out."
"I'll bet yeh! If there was a rank, rotten book anywhere on God's green footstool, that feller'd have it," said Smith.
The Judge ruminated: "Well, if that's the effect, guess I'll circulate a few copies 'mong the young Republicans of the county. Gentlemen, this is our year."