General Hendricks consulted Bemis about politics.

Often he was found in the back room of the bank, and Colonel Culpepper, although he was an unterrified Democrat, in his campaign speeches referred to Bemis as "a diamond in the rough." John was sitting on a roll of leather one day in Watts McHurdie's shop talking of old times when Watts recalled the battle of Sycamore Ridge, and the time when Bemis came to town with the Red Legs and frightened Mrs.Barclay.
"Yes--and now look at him," exclaimed John, "dressed up like a gambler, and referred to in the _Banner_ as 'Hon.

E.W.

Bemis'! How did he do it ?" McHurdie sewed two or three long stitches in silence.

He leaned over from his bench to throw his tobacco quid in the sawdust box under the rusty stove, then the little man scraped his fuzzy jaw reflectively with his blackened hand as if about to speak, but he thought better of it and waxed his thread.