And even during his first six months at home from school, when John sniffed the battle from afar, he was glad in his soul that the fight was coming.

Sycamore Ridge had the county-seat; but Minneola, having a majority of the votes in the county, was trying to get the county-seat, and the situation grew so serious for Sycamore Ridge that General Hendricks felt it necessary to defeat Philemon Ward for the state senate so that Sycamore Ridge could get a law passed that would prevent Minneola's majority from changing the county-seat.

This was done by a law which Hendricks secured, giving the county commissioners the right to build a court-house by direct levy, without a vote of the people,--a court-house so large that it would settle the county-seat matter out of hand.
The general, however, took no chances even with his commissioners.

For he had his son elected as one, and with the knowledge that John was investing in real estate in the Ridge and had an eye for the main chance, the general picked John for the other commissioner.

The place was on the firing-line of the battle, and John took it almost greedily.