The success at the primaries did not tempt Halliday to relinquish his efforts on his employer's behalf. He was indefatigable in his cause. On the west side where the colored population had largely colonized, he made speeches and held meetings clear up to election day. The fight had been between two factions of the party and after the nomination it was feared that the defection of the part defeated in the primaries might prevent the ratification of the nominee at the polls. But before the contest was half over all fears for him were laid. What he had lost in the districts where the skulking faction was strong, he made up in the wards where the colored vote was large. He was overwhelmingly elected.
Halliday smiled as he sat in the office and heard the congratulations poured in upon Judge Featherton.
"Well, it's wonderful," said one of his visitors, "how the colored boys stood by you."
"Yes, I have been a friend to the colored people, and they know it," said Featherton.
It would be some months before His Honor would take his seat on the bench, and during that time, Halliday hoped to finish his office course.
He was surprised when Featherton came to him a couple of weeks after the election and said, "Well, Bert, I guess I can get along now. I'll be shutting up this office pretty soon. Here are your wages and here is a little gift I wish to add out of respect to you for your kindness during my run for office."
Bert took the wages, but the added ten dollar note he waved aside. "No, I thank you, Mr. Featherton," he said, "what I did, I did from a belief in your fitness for the place, and out of loyalty to my employer. I don't want any money for it."
"Then let us say that I have raised your wages to this amount."
"No, that would only be evasion. I want no more than you promised to give me."
"Very well, then accept my thanks, anyway."