Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-06

uC udu lOS5Cu IL OAt CAICAAh6, VhoA Q bell-boy came up with a card. Kent read the name with a ghost of smile relaxing the care-drawn lines about his mouth. There are times when a mans fate rushes to meet him, and he had fallen upon one of them.
 Show him up," was the brief di- rection; and whel the door of the elevator cage cllcked again, Kent was waiting.
 His visitor was a man of heroic proportions; a large man little breathed, as it seemed, by the swift upward rush of the elevator. Kent ad- mitted him with nod; and the gov ernor planted hii lself heavily in 8 chair and begged a light for his cigar. In the match-passing he gathered his spent breath and declared his errand.
 q think We have a little score to settle between us as man to man. Kent" he began, when Kent had clipped the end from his own cigar and lighted it in stolid silence.
 Possibly: that is for you to say," was the unencouraging reply.
 Bucks rose deliberately, walked to the bathroom door, and looked be- yond it into the bedroom.
 We are quite alone, if that is what you want to make sure of," said Kent, in the same indifferent tone; and the governor came back and resumed his chair.
 T came up to see what you want what you will take to quit" he an nounced, crossing his legs and locking the huge ham-like hands over his knee. That is putting it rather ab- ruptly, but business is business, and we can dispense with the preliminar- ies, take it.
 q told your attorney-general some time ago what wanted, and he did not see fit to grant it." Kent responded. T am not sure that I want anything now-anything you have to offer." This was not all he had intended to say; but the presence of the adversary was breeding 8 stubborn antagonism that was more potent on the moral side than all the prickings of con- science.
 The yellow-lidded eyes of the gov ernor began to close down, and the look came into them which had been there when he denied a pardon to a widow pleading for the life of her con- victed son.
 q had hoped you were in the mar ket," he demurred. Tt would be bet ter for all concerned if you had some thing to sell, with price attached. l know what you have been doing, and what you think you have got hold of. It's tissue of mistakes and false hoods and backbitings from beginning to end but it may serve your purpose with the newspapers. I want to buy that package of stuff you've got slowed away in the Security vaults"
 The governors chair was on one side of the writing-table. and Rents was on the other. In plain sight between the two men lay the packet Bucks was willing to bargain for. It was en- closed in box envelope, bearing the imprint of the Security bank. Ken. was looking steadily away from the table when he said:
 What if 1t isn't for sale?"
 Don't you think it had better be-"
 'T don't know. hadn't thought much about the advisable phase of it."
 Well, the time has come when you've got it to do." was the low toned threat.
 "Bu. not as a matter of compui- sion," said Kent. coolly enough. What is your bid?"
 Bucks made 1t promptly.
 Ten thousand dollars: and you promise to leave the state and stay away for one year from the first Tues day in November next"
 That is, until after the state cleo ton" Kent blew a whiff of smoke to the ceiling and shook his head slowly. Tt is not enough"
 The governor uncrossed his legs, crossed them the other way and said:
 "rll make it twenty thousand and two years"
 Or thirty thousand and three years" Kent suggested amiably. "Or suppose We come at once to the end of that string and say one hundred thousand and ten years. That would still leave you fair price for your block of suburban property in Guil- ford and Hawks addition 10 the city of Gaston. wouldn't it?'
 The governor set his massive jaw ! with a sharp little click of the teeth. l
 You are joking on the edge of your | grave. my young friend. taught you l in Gaston that you were not big enough to fight me: do you think you are big enough novT
 "I don't think: I know" said Kent, l incisively And since you have re- ferred to the Gaston days: let me ask . if ever gave you any reason to be- lieve that could be scared out?''
 Keep to the point retorted Bucks. ! harshly. This state isn't broad enough i to hold you and me on opposite sides of the fence. I could make it too hot ! to hold you without mixing up in it J myself. but I choose to fight my own . battles VIII you take szo.0o0 spot {, cash. and MacFarlane's Job as circuit judge when I'm through with him! Yes or no"
 No" 
 Then what vill yo1 tzkez .
 Without committing myself in any sense. I might say that you are get l