Connecticut western news., 1901-12-26

any where Tn ms house. So I came here | as quietly as possible" A gray ghost of a smile fitted across the old politicians face.
 | Good resolutions for the new year." he said, and Ainsworth's eyes assented. Tt begins tomorrow, and your administra- ton also. By the way, how about Lang | ford ?"
 q have decided not to appoint him." replied Ainsworth. That is the first of my good resolutions"
 T have your written pledge" said Har- | row.
 'FIt is a matter of no consequence, of | course," responded Ainsworth, "that you | got it out of me at 5 o'clock in the morn | ing, when I had not slept for forty eight hours, during which period had travelled several hundred miles and had made | heaven knows how many speeches over a l raw palate. The important matter is that this thing was the price of your sup | port of Bruce and Lawrence for the state senate. I regarded their election as of equal importance with my own because they were thoroughly identified with re- form measures. That was my bargain with you; it was not for myself. And | you defeated both those men,"
 "There is nothing said about these men in this writing of yours," rejoined Har- row, making a feint of drawing docu- ment from his breast pocket. 1.-The nat ural inference will be that it was bar gain for my support of you, and that hay | ing reaped the reward in your election you now repudiate the payment. The publication of this thing will ruin you, | Ainsworth."
 "Our bargain was made in the presence | of'-
 Congressman Hanley, who has since | died" said Harrow with the air of hired mourner. How unfortunate! If he had lived, l should have had to fix him."
 "You ask me to appoint a notoriously unfit man to a very high position" said | Ainsworth. "T once weakly agreed to do so. and now I won't. That's the whole of it."
 | s1t is essential to my plans that Lang | ford should be appointed" said the Boss eff you do not do it, I shall have your written pledge photographed and shall | give copies, with my own story of the af- | fair, to thS man who can do you the most harm"
 "You refer to Morton Raymond" re sponded Ainsworth, "the smartest jour nalist in the state"-
 | "And the man who would have married Schuyler Herold's daughter if you hadn't stepped in," said Harrow. ''The man who may get her yet, for Herold is the last man to approve of your conduct. His views of politics are much like mine." l 'I am afraid there is some truth in what you say," answered Ainsworth, his forehead very red and deeply lined, but | we will have no further reference to Miss Herold, if you please. As to the two men whom you have named let me tell you that I anticipated your threat and have sent for both of them"
 The Boss eyes, habtually half closed, opened wider than Ainsworth had ever before seen them.
 l "You have committed political suicide" be said. Don't you see that if you get these two men here you will force my hand? You can't mean to do this"
 "l mean to start the new year fairly" replied Ainsworth. 'This pledge to you is the ball and chain upon my leg. If can't get rid of it, I will at least wear it openly. I will drag it around with me | throughout my administration, but it shall not coerce me to do one act, how ever small, that is not honest"
 'I will not be party to such folly" exclaimed Harrow. Tt may be neces- sary in the end for me to use this weapon for your destruction, but I will not run nmuck with it. l won't stay here to abet | this madness"
 "You can't help it," said Ainsworth. "1 insist upon your remaining. It is a matter of five minutes probably. Ray mond is staying a. the Carrollton across the way, and it is but stones throw to the Herold residence. An, alreadyp'
 The bedroom door opened and Horace appeared. He crossed to Ainsworth's side with the slow, careful tread of in- herited servitude and spoke in a whisper. Ainsworth turned to Harrow.
 "He has founG Raymond" said he, land has sent messenger for MT. Herold."
 The Boss was about to speak when there was a knock upon the hall door. Ainsworth opened it, and young woman entered, hasty, breathless and trembling with anxiety. She turned suddenly to Ainsworth.
 "Jack," she exclaimed, "what has hap pened? I was so frightened. I was at the door when the messenger came. thought you were hurt and had been brought here"
 Ainsworth took both her hands.
 "Its all politics." he said. There's nothing hurt except my future, and really nobody can hurt that except you, so it's safe. 1 sent for your father"
 ''It was foolish of me to be alarmed, said she, "but the messenger made such a mystery of it"-~N
 There were tears In her pretty brown eyes, and as she stood with her hands clasped in Ainsworth's and her pale face upturned to his a young man came softly in by the door which still stood open Miss Herold was unaware of his en. trance, but Ainsworth looked over hel head into the mans eyes, which were light gray, cold and shrewd.
 "You sent for me?" said the young man, and Miss Herold turned hastily al the sound of the familiar voice. Morton Raymond looked at her for some seconds intently, and then slowly bowed his head
 Raymond" said Ainsworth, "there is 6 piece of news for your paper, and for the whole syndicate of my enemies who take their cue from you. Previous to my elec tion pledged myself in writing to liar row that would appoint Steve Langfort commissioner of banking, and now I've decided not to do it because the man i: not honest. It is only fair, however, tc say that knew that he wasn't when made the pledge, but l believed that could keep him straight while he was 1T office. I have decided on the eve of tn, new year that that sort of thing won't do I have resolved to give public office to nC man who isn't clean"
 Raymond stopped him with an impa tient gesture. Then he pushed back tht ,