The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-13
BY HENRY RUSSELL MILLER
$ MERRILL co.

SSELl MILLER 3OBBS MERRILL CO.,. So it happened that one evening Bob
 received a call from Robbins, Mac Pherson henchman who had the repu- tation of knowing how to deal with all sorts of men.
 "McAdoo," Robbins greeted him, without beating round the bush I'll tell you what Pm after. I come from
 Mac. We want you with us in our fight against Harmon and"- ..All right" Bob interrupted care lessly. Tell MacPherson I'll talk to
 him any time he says"
 But I have authority''- T don't talk to middlemen," Bob said curtly. Good Rlght." "All right" Robbins laughed. You're the doctor"
 The next evening Bob was by ap- pointment shown into MacPherson's downtown office Besides the prospec- tive b0ss. there were in the office Rob- bins and Graham. the independents candidate for mayor. MT. Graham was an elderly gentleman with pretty complexion, white mutton chop whisk-
 CTS and shapely, beautifully manicured hands. He thought he was reformer
 and gentleman of the old school.
 How are you, McAdoo?" MacPher-
 son greeted the newcomer with cor diality cleverly toned down to fit the man he saluted. Shake hands with
 Mir. Graham. You have met Robbins,
 believe. Mir. Graham, this is the
 young leader of the Fourth whom
 we're hoping to have with us." Bob maliciousIy caught Graham's
 ladylike hand in his own iron grasp and squeezed it until the little mans eyeballs rolled in agonys
 "You have a strong grip, MT. Me Adoo, an abnormally strong grip, if I may say so, sir. But''-he recalled the effusively patronizing manner that he
 thought so highly politic-'I am glad to meet you, my dear sir, very glad
 indeed. am glad to meet all those
 who are helping me in my fight.
 may say it has been with no inconsid-
 erable inconvenience that I have con-
 scented to lead in this great reform.
 But have refused to permit. personal considerations to stand in the way of manifest duty. l am for political
 purity, sir. In the past the methods
 of the tough wards, applied to gentle men in politics, may have"- He
 stopped suddenly, warned by sharp ly monitory cough from Robbins. Bob grinned sardonically. "Oh, don't mind me. I'm tough, alb right, but dent mind me- MT. Graham's blush might have
 been envied by young girl. My dear sir, I-er-apologize. Pray do not misunderstand. My remarks do not, of course, apply Don't mention it." Bob interrupted.
 "In tough wards men don't apologize.
 You're goin' to run this campaign yourself?"
 And why not?" Graham once more mounted his parlor hobby. Should not the candidate always be the lead CT? Are we not working for a boss less era. in which the leader will be where he belongs-in the front rank under the folds of our standard:' "Sure! Why. not" Bob rejoined. "Go ahead and try it. It'll be quite
 an experiment. I'll be interested in
 watchin' it-from the outside Surely not from the other side?' Robbins suggested smilingly. From the winnin' side," Bob an-
 swered dryly.
 Well, of course" MT. Graham
 stammered, "of course-er-that is I ahem-I do not propose to-er-dictate tactics to my assistants. We may have to resort to disagreeable means to gain our great end. We must if necessary fight the devil with fire that's it, fight the devil with fire" "Humph!' Bob grunted.
 "Well, gentlemen" Graham conclud- ed briskly, "I must leave you. My
 wife and I are dining out, and I am l already late. I am glad 10 have met you, Mr. McAdoo." He added this from safe distance, his hands be-
 hind him. With a bow, nicely deliver
 ed, he left the room.
 What do you think of him, Me Adoo?" Robbins queried.
 He's curiosity. I'd like to take
 him in glass case with a sign, Hands Off, down to Toms saloon and show him to the boys. Why'd you take him up?" he demanded of MacP Pherson.
 That worthy looked sharply at Bob before responding. "He carries along the old reform crowd, and he'll con tribute his money "I'd prefer to work for man, Bob said contemptuously.
 "Well, are you coming along or not?" What are you goin' to do?'' "In the fist place." said MacPherson, we're going to clean the city of this gang of internal scoundrels''- "Talk business. I'm not Graham" Bob interrupted impatiently. II know that" MacPherson an-
 swered. sharply. ''I'm not preaching
 reform. I mean, we're going to knock Harmon and his crowd out of control
 of the organization and the city and take them ourselves
 Do you mean that" Bob demand I eS keeniy. Or are you only goin' to fight them until they let you to the trough, and then you go back on them