Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-18

IN the 1ltLt6 pEIV&I9 GOOD.
II don't see why, Just because We are
political opponents. you and should be
personal enemies" was his beginning.
Eelkirk grinned.
Glad you feel that way, Mr.. Musser." he
said. 50 IS
He could not imagine why Jacob Musser
should come to him bearing palm branches;
but he had no particular objection to hav-
ing him do SO If he wished to.
7 want to see" said Musser. somewhat
mean poiitically.b
"You haven't been drinking. have your"
said Selkirk. 81
No" said Musser sullenly. =,
What has turned your head, them? the
editor inquired politely.
Musser's temper rose, but he held 1t Wen
in hand.
II thought we might do little business"
what kind of business?" inquired the
editor.
'eWen, understand that you have rather
heavy obligations secured by your ma
chinery here"
Nothing that 1 can't take care of very
well without your help, Musser, said the
young man, annoyed at having his private
affairs discussed by his enemy.
But you haven't got your renewal, SAID
Musser.
This was straight shot, and it brought
Selkirk's attention to \ focus with Jump.
What did Musser know about that? But
then, what did it matter if he did know
about it?
81 don't see that that's any business Of
yours at ALL" said Selkirkss
Il stand willing to see that you get II
without any trouble Musser answered,
trying to smile genially. II want to make
a bargain with you. There's no use of
beating about the bush. l want you to
come out Monday and election day morning
and say that you have been mistaken. l
want your support for two days"
tYOll'ra too rnOdact - said SAlkirk. His
anger, which had begun to rise, faded, and
he laughed outright. Why didn't you tell
me about this earlier in the campaign? All
you needed to do was to ask, you KNOW
Mo- said Musser. II understand bust
ness. couldn't have done anything for
you then. Now can save your paper for
you
ut doesn't need saving" said Selkirk,
smiling. I'm just much obliged to you.
You show an admirable spirit!'
Musser began to lose his head. Selkfrk's
grin was. maddening. But he gulped his
temper down.
Don't let us get angry, Mr.. selkirk,"
he said. Il merely wish to say that am
willing to make it worth your while to sup
port me in these last days of the cam
paign." He spoke slowly now. eff you will
do it will take care of that mortgage for
you. All l want is fair treatment
At last Selkirk was angry
If had not been more than fair to you"
he said, ''if 1 had not been actually unfair
10 the voters OF TINS L already
have told one story that would have driven
you out of this town and out of this dis
trict for good and always"
What do you mean, sir?" demanded Mus
ser, getting on his dignity in his surprise
Il mean that only Coopers protests
against it-your rivals protests against it
nave prevented me from showing, with full
proofs, that you are bought body, soul
and breeches, by the railroad ring"
Musser paled instantly. 1t was the first
mint that he had had that any knowledge Of
that had leaked out to his enemies. 1t was
like blow in the face. But he still bluffed
don't know what you mean" he said
I'll show yous" said Selkirk, and he took
from his desk the detailed story of the rail-
road scandal.
Musser reachedefor rit and read It. while
Seikirk smiled. ellis face was ashen, but
he tried to laugh. His hands trembled as
ne handed backrthe manuscript
A pretty story, Seilzirk," he said, some
what Shakily, but there are libel laws, you.
You wouldn't even sue" said sell,rk
with a confidence which was Intensely a o.
graVatlng. I've only held it back because
cooper Knows that you are beaten ANYWAY.
ana don't want any more mud in this cam
palgn. It's he Who has saved Won"
It's pack of4ies9' said Musser
Its the absolute truth" said seIl,irl,
land you know it, -
Musser was thinking rapidly. If this did
not exactly put a new face nm roattare IL
made the old face infinitely uglier Row
he must control Selkfrki If that vera
printed he would not only be defeated for
Congress- but he would he drityao 80,
town. - '-
Wen, said he, with a great effort at
self-control. II will admit that Won and
cooper seem to have worked things very
cieVerly or course, your idea is to bring
that out the day before election, when there
Will be no chancs for me to deny it.
You could deny it till you dropped in
your tracks said Selkirk. We've got
proofs
Musser's face pulled like an angry toads
thought to have Selkirk in his power Now
he found that he was more in Selkrks
power than ever.
Cant we make some arrangement, Mr.
selkirk' he asked, humbly
There was something so inexpressibly re-
voting to Selltirk in the whole affair; in
the sight of the man with the greasy,
leaden face, in his attitude of crawling
servility as he sat there and rubbed his
hands in misery, that SeIkirk lost his
hitherto admirable self-control and flashed
out at him:
Your money is too dirty, Musser, to be
touched by honest men,
Musser's face became Iivid.
Dirty is it?'' he said, with rising voice
His aself-control was gone, too, now.
You're running your id paper on it,
nowt
selkirk had no idea what he meant, and
Ouiy BTlIHeu
Then Musser drew a large wallet from his
pocket.
IF you won't listen to reason them he
shouted, pay up! pay up, you miserable
little Cooper toady! 1 own you! Pay up,
d-n you, or III sell you out of here and
take your paper to run it as l pleaser"
Selkirk at first thought the man had gone
crazy. But then Musser showed him the
papers and, as Selkirk gazed, astonished
he told him huskily how he had got hold
of them revealed the whole miserable story
of Misrepresentation and lies which he had
used in Philadelphia But Selkirk did not
weaken. His heart was sick within him;
but he gave no sign of that to Musser.
Then Musser begged again. Then he threat
ened Still Selkirk did not speak. He felt
no temptation to yield to Musser's plead
ing and sell to him; but life looked black
before him. His face grew hard. He took
his medicine.
you think you can buy me with those
papers Musser," he said. You can't. You
can sell me out, that's all. All right. But
you can't get possession here until the day
after election. Now I'll tell you something.
I'll use the paper while it's mine. 1 had
promised Cooper to say nothing of that
railroad scandal. This changes that. Now
/ will! You understand? I'll print 1t, and
1t will hurt you more than any selling out
you can do will hurt me! Go ahead and
rJ-l,o se. all ,,,.-