The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-25
Copyright, 1909, by Albert Payson Terhune


 off I guess he must a. cleared up close
 to sS0O.Oo0. An then the old fool went
 an blowed it all in Wall Street. an,
 dled before he could make a new pile.
 but; say! Whats this got to do with
 to tba. tn MISS MISS; Shevl1n? am coming It, that Parkham has unearthed. may | look harmless to you and to other | practlcaI Dus1ness-polfticians But to l nine people out of ten it will have very 1 much the look of bare-faced robbery. So much so that it will prove the big gest newspaper sensation of the wear. | Mir. Shevlin will be evervurbere snoIIa,, | of as"
 l catch your meanin'l" broke in Caleb. "The Ilolier'n Thou crowd will raise 8 yell. drag Shev1in out of his snug com table grave an croocify him. Hell be spoke of by the papers an by the man on the street as the rottenest grafter or the century. An ev'ry- where Rey goes. folksll nudge each was bought out O the dough her OF l man stole from the city, An all the time there's no less than a dozen cases Of city graft goin' on in Granite to-day thaI are raw enough to make shevlin's deals look like game of Old Maid | Still" he muttered. dropping his head on his chest in thought. "an that won't Keep this story from aueerin' Dey in S'c1ety and givin her a black eye as the daughter of a crook
 That's why put off Parkman till could see you" explained Caine. "He came direct to me with the news. It's lucky happened to be in town. If he had gone to my managing editor in stead. there would be a scare-head Extra on the streets by now" Well. returned Conover. ''the story's hate to pay hush-money. But I guess this is one of the times when it's got to be done I wonder what's Park mans price?"
 Caine 1auCbed v,irthIecsIp
 "Parkman's as rich a man as you are," he said. And he's so upright that he bends backwards. He would like nothing better than to prove at adage about every man having his price won't apply in Parkman's case"
 Rot" growled Conover. There ain't case on earth where it won't but it's always dead sure to be some thin. Only. I ain't got time. I s'pose, to find out what Parkman's partic'lar rates are. wish I had. If I'd had been able by now to lay my finger on his pet weakness or fav'rite sin or cash price am say Shut upn An he'd a'done it. quicker'n greased lightning"
 You're mistaken averred Caine. ''But that has nothing to do-" 'I know it has nothin' to do with this muddle we're in now" snapped Conover. 'I ain't sayin' it has. But I lC if only we could find out what it is. There never was but one Man that hadn't. An that was why they put Him to death. What do you want for keepin' the story out of the Starr" he ended abruptly.
 Gaines handsome face contracted fin sudden wrath. Then. in spite of him. self. he broke into a laugh.
 eff only you knew better" he sighed in comic resignation. you'd be horse whipped three times a week. What a mighty impregnable armor is profound ignorancei Unfortunately" he went on. more gravely. 'T couldn't avail myself of your very tactfully yelled offer even if I chose. The Star is but one of Granite's four daily newspapers. If I refuse to print the story. the three others remain to-"
 "H'm." unused Conover. 'T s'pose so. I spose so. In another five years there won't be paper in Granite thatu dare print a word I tell 'em not to. 1 wish now I'd bought up their stock already: instead of waitin' until I get some more important deals off my hands A noospaper is good weapon for big man to keep for emergencies. If t'wasn't for the papers I could a pulled off lots of dandy schemes What cinch the old time business men must a. had before printin' was in-
 His voice trailed away. His head once more sank. His eyes were shut; his forehead contracted.
 ] thought IL only 1dlT- began CdlIle
 Shut up!" grunted Conover. ''Pm thinkin'. Leave me be-"
 Caine, in no wise offended. held his peace, and watched the big concentrated the desk chair. For several minutes the two sat in silence. Then Caleb | opened his eyes. The frown had clear | ed: the light of battle 1ickered beneath | his shrewd lids.
 "Caine.' he said solemnly. q got a confession to make. You're the first | to hear it. So be f1attered. Caine. or Man Shevlin had nothin' to do with | the Shevlin Contractin' Company. at | the time the City Hall an the County | Courthouse was started. Six months l before then. he'd sold out the whole | business to me"
 What are-?"
 Hold on a second" ordered Caleb | "EIear all the sad. sad. secret before l you fly up in the air. I bought out the | Shevlin Contractin' Company. lock. still ran it under Shevlin's name. | sos 70 get the good of his old trade. | That's why I worked through agents | I didn't appear in it at all. built the Court House an the moo City Hall | an made close onto a million out of the deal. It was crooked work if you like. But the statoot of imitations'I | keep me from bein' indicted for it. I fifty dollars to fifty douEhnuts the case'll never come to trial. Yessir. I'm the guilty man. all right. An l can prove it."
 Are you quite through?'' asked Caine with exaggerated politeness. as the Fighter paused.
 Yep. That's bout all. Good story for the papers. hey?"
 "An excellent story-for the horse marines" retorted Caine. Really, Conover.' he continued almost plain- lively "I don't see what overt acts of idiocy I have ever committed that you should offer so vile an insult to my 
 What dye mean?" queried Caleb with bland innocence
 ''I mean, every word of that rig marble Is a threat in one of the clumsisst tangles of lies I have ever had the misfortune to listen to. thought better of your inventive DOW ersr'
 You don't believe me?" exclaimed Conover. aggrieved.
 "Pm not lucky enough to have had the Chess Queens training in 'believ- ing at least three impossible things breakfast morning