The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-10-05

Nlhe SHOOK MS neau. III can't be
done. Bob"
"les, it can" Bob responded tartly.
And I'm going to do it,"
An amazed silence fell upon the
group The silence was broken by
Mikes delighted ejaculation.
Be tn poker, it's a fine scrimmage
Wen be havin'. If amy wan can lick
Haggin we're tn bye. Bob"
THAT We are" assented the others.
awakened from their wondcrment.
AN right. BE here tomorrow night
and I'll tell you what to do. And bring
the other boys along-as many as you
can get. Come along. Jim" And,
meckly followed by the squire. who
had not yet recovered from his aston
ishment, Bob left the saloon.
Haggin had been a priZetighter and
a successful one. History records how
fists with Donnelly, the heavyweight
champion Of the world. At the zenith
Of his career he abandoned the ring and
invested his last purse in an lriShtown
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 IIaggin 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 n Ger
tain crude genius for the game. He
was good natured-when not opposed
He new how to be generous, when to
be generous was Il good policy. And
he learned to organize his henchmen.
But beneath all We're his fame II
skill as Il fighter. Consequently he
became the u%ndisputed autocrat of
things political in the Fourth ward.
Now the average American, especial
ly the Irish-American, loves fair play
and has a s~neaking admiration for the
under dog. Bob already had IL certain
personal following. which nucleus he
began Systematically to augment.
This young McAdoo of the Fourth
is a corker." said the great MACPHERSON.
cor course, Haggin II beat him; the
old CRATER has too strong a grip on his
ward to lose this time. But the young
ster will bear watching in the future
Say. noW. this is a fight" Hag-
gin exclaimed when reports began to
come in to him.
pccted ending.
The second night before the prima-
ricS lriShtoWn was in a frenzy of ey-
element. The saloons were crowded,
the streets alive with eager. eXpectant
men and boys. A reporter of one of
the morning papers entered Maloney's
saloon ard accoSted Bob
II hear" the reporter remarked
with what was meant as an ingFatiat-
ing smile. that YOU intend visiting
Haggin'S saloon"
AN ass Bob answered dryly. amid
the outlaws of his followers, "havin'
long ears, can hear a lot that amt his
business"
The reporter flushed angrily. Il told
the same thing TO Haggin,' he said
spitefulIy, and he said if you entered
his saloon he'd kick you out. Knock
lIlN SUN y bl'' III Ntif lliN tAd'N
words. l believe"
The crowd stood aghast. It was n
challenge.
as that so"' L~cisurcly Bob emp
tied his bottle Of beer and then with
out a word left the saloon, followed
at a respectful distance by friends,
torn between delight and fear.
Haggin sat in the rear room Of his
saloon trying to maintain a conyersa-
ton with some of his ~lieutenantS, a
difficult matter because Of the tumult
in the outer room. Suddenly the
clamor ceased: blank silence envclopcd
the saloon. EIaggin sprang to his feet
and rushed to the door. There be
stopped short, petriiicd by Amusement
at the sight before him. for there by
the bar in the midst of an awcstruck,
dazed crowd lowered Bob McAdoo.
Bob calmly struck Il match and
lighted his cigar. Line up. boys he
commanded
Slowly. mechanically, as under :"
compulSion they could not resist, the
men moved to the bar.
"What1l you have? This is on Jim
Mehatfey, boys
Not q man dared to name his drink.
"IIumph,' Bob Sneercd. "WhiSky
for mine. The best I'm the house, bar
keep he ordered sharply. The bar
tender moved fearfully to oleY.
Then lIaggin came to himself. With
a low groWt he sprang in front of Bob,
who nonchalantly looked him over.
"Not a drink dye get in this house,
Bob McAdoo," IIaggin RACED. "NOt n
drink. dye hear An cit out o this
saloon, quick-sce'"
BOh'S only answer was to take the
bottle from the b~artender's I'm ertain
hand, pour himself a liberal portion
ard swallow II at a gulp Then n
seized Il glass of water and tossed its
contents full into IIaggin's face.
The crowd brcathed painfully.
Haggin dashed the water from his
eyes and shook his great fist before
Bob's face. "D'ye know what that
means, Bob McAdooE" he rOared at
means you got to tight