Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-22

local power, instead of myself ruling the cities from the state capital. Why had I done this? Perhaps the bottom reason was that l shrank from per hitting any part of the machine for which was directly responsible to be financed by collections from vice and crime. I admit that the distinc- tion between corporate privilege and plunder and the pickings and steal ings and prostitutions of individuals is more apparent than real. admit that the kinds of vice and crime I tolerated are far more harmful than the other sorts which are petty and make loathing outcasts of their wretched practitioners. Still, was snob or Pharisee or Puritan enough to feel and to act upon the imagin- ary distinction. And so, had left the city bosses locally independent for, without the revenues and other aids from vice and crime, what city political machine could be kept up?"
 "Dominick" I exclaimed.
 "Exactly!" said Woodruff. Now, MT. Sayler, the point is just here. I don't blame you for wanting to get out. If had any other game, I'd get out myself But what's to become of us--all of your friends, not only in this state but throughout the country? Are you going to stand by and see them slaughtered and not lift a finger to help 'em?"
 There was no answering him. Yet the spur of vanity. which clipped into me at thought of myself thrown down and out by these cheap ingrates and scoundrels. had almost instantly ceased to sting. and my sense of weary disgust had returned. If I went into the battle again., what work faced me? The same old monotonous round. To outfiank Burbank and Good. rich by tricks as old as war and pol itics, and effective only because hu- man stupidity is infinite and unteach- able. To beat down and whip back into the ranks again these bandits of commerce disguised as respectable, church-going. law-upholding men of property-and to do this by the same old method of terror and force.
 You cant leave us in the lurch." said Doc. And the game promises to be interesting once more. Idon't like racing on the fiat It's the hur- dies that makes the fun"
 I pictured myself again circus horse going round and round the ring. jumping the same cid hurdles at the same old intervals. Take my place. Doc" said I.
 He shook his head. I'm a good second" said he, but rotten bad first"
 It was true enough. He mysteri- ously lacked that mysterious some, thing which. when a man happens to have been born with it, makes other men yield him the command give it to him, force 1t on him, if he hangs back.
 What do you want me to do?" asked
 That dinner tomorrow night is in suiteL. Gotoit-that's the shortest way to put Roebuck and Dominick out of business. Face 'em and they'll skulk." N.
 Its a risk" said I. I saw at once that he was right, but was in a re- luctant humor.
 Not bit of it," was his confident reply. T had horse that was crazy would run away on any old provo cation. But no matter how busy he was at kicking up the dust and the dashboard, you could always halt him by ringing bell once. He'd been in the street car service. That's the way 1t is with men. especially strong men, that have been broken to the bell. They hear 1t ring and they can't resist. Go up and ring the bell"
 Co ring it yourself" said I.
 You're the bell" said he.
 (To be continued.J