Gloucester County Democrat., 1911-11-16

was Slttlng, the one SneHt member OF
q noisy group.
Where can see you alone?" the
squire interrupted without apology.
"You can see me right here. Boys"
| At the unspoken suggestion the group.
| with frank, matter of fact obedience.
gathered up their bottles and went
| into the barroom.
'.Well?" Bob interrogated
! The squire dropped into chair.
| "Haggin's turned me down he an
nounced despondently. He says
can't run again. He's going to give
my job to Harvey, just because he's
/ his nephew. After the way I've shaved
for him and done his dirty work in
the ward for ten yearsp' he added bit
terIy.
"What of it?' Bob asked. with no
sign of interest.
What of it! lose my only chance
to make a Twin. Here ! am, thirty
| five years old. I've got no education
| don't know bookkeepin' nor anything
else can't clerk. amt strong
enough to hold down job in the mills.
can take care of myself. But how
I'm to make enough for three don't
1 see''
| "Three?'
"Yes. there's goin' to be baby soon,
and / can't see''
"Humph. You politicians have got
no business to have kids. What are
you going to do?"
what can l dor" Mehaffey returned
helplessly.
.You might fight him." Bob sug-
gested
Il can't groaned the squire.
sBut can." Bob said
BY degrees the possible Significance
of Bob's words wormed its way into
the squire's comprehension. His grief
gave way to amazement. amazement
/ to an incredulous joy.
sYou don't mean it. Bob?"
81 always mean what | say. don't
! I?' Bob returned impatiently. "Shut
up, Jim: I'm thinking"
i For some moments Bob stared at the
ceiling. Then he called out abruptly:
Mike, come in here and bring the
| boys-and some more whisky"
Mike came in as hidden. bringing the
/ liquor, .'the boys" trooping obediently
in behind.
"The drinks are on me, boys" Bob
said by way of preliminary.
When every one had taken his quota
he continued. Boys. Haggin has
4 turned Tim down"
well. | guess that let's Jim out"
said Mike pityingly.
Il tell him." Bob continued. "that he
ought to fight him."
/ Mike shook his head. ''It can't be
done, Bob"
Eyes, it can" Bob responded tartIy.
"And Pm going to do it,"
An amazed silence fell upon the
group The silence was broken by
Mikes delighted ejaculation.
BE TIL, poker. it's fine scrimmage
we'll be hayin'. If amy wan can lick
Haggin ye're tn bye. Bob.'
THAT We are" assented the others.
awakened from their wonderment.
All right Be here tomorrow night
and I'll tell you what to do. And bring
i the other boys along-as many as you
can get. Come along. Jim" And.
meekly followed by the squire. who
had not yet recovered from his aston
ishment. Bob left the saloon.
/ Haggin had been prizefighter and
a successful one. History records how
he fought twenty round draw-bare,
hoe ,ci h
champion of the world At the zenith
! of his career he abandoned the ring and
invested his last purse in an Irishtown
saloon And Irishtown counted it an
honor to buy its drinks from the only
man that had ever given Donnelly a
hard fight. So that Haggin waxed
prosperous and sported many dia-
/ monds. 1t was a natural result of his
popularity and business that he should
go into politics He developed GER
4 tain crude genius for the game. He
was good natured- when not opposed.
He knew how to be generous, when to
| be generous was good policy. And
| he learned to organize his henchmen.
But beneath all were his fame and
skill as fighter. Consequently he
became the undisputed autocrat of
| things political in the Fourth ward
Now the average American. especial
/ ly the Irish-American. loves fair play
and has sneaking admiration for the
4 under dog. Bob already had a certain
personal following, which nucleus he
began systematically to augment.
This young McAdoo of the Fourth
is corker." said the great MACPHERSON.
.Of course. Haggin II beat him; the
old CRATER has too strong grip on his
ward to lose this time. But the young
ster will bear watching in the future" !"
Say. now. this is fght~ Hag-
gin exclaimed when reports began to
come in to him.
But the fight came to most unex-
] pected ending.