The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-06
CHAPTER xxv.
AroNEMENT.

A1ONESAENA.
 T7HERE was one matter to be
 settled before Bob might be-
 gin to work out his own and
 his city's political regenera- tion. Two good friends took this bur- den from his shoulders.
 Hardly had his convalescence begun when Sanger's newspapers began to hint. at first vaguely, then more bold ly, at possible criminal prosecutions, even impeachment proceedings. on the ground of Bob's fraudulent nomina- ton. Haggin went to District Attor- ney Martin.
 We got to stop it" he said anxious ly. we got to stop it-an' now. But I dunno how. don't want Bob 10 know nothin' about it till it's all set tied one way or 'nuther. He's got troubles enough of his own without botherin' with nine."
 '.I should think that this is his trou- ble more than yours." Martin suggest ed dryly. eg
 'An' that's where you're dead wrong." Haggin answered eagerly. "It wasn't him bought up those dele gates; it was mei'
 Martin sprahg to his feet excitedly. ''What! You did it? But his comics sion-Remington's affidavit! Haggin. you're lying to save himr'
 ''No, l ain't Iyin'. 1t was Bob lyin' when he told Remington that he done it. l tell you I done it. 1t was this way. Martin. They comes to mel s'posin' it was MacPherson all the time. but 1t was Sanger really-an' tries to buy me an my votes in the convention. l jollies lem along till 1 knows all they've got up their sleeve. Then tells Bob. He ain't feazed. There ain't time for him to see all the Hemenway delegates, so he gives me some of 'em to handle an he takes the rest. An he tells me: Mind you. Tom. use no money now. That's straight. I've got to come out of this with clean hands, He sees his men an bluffs 'em-he's got the goods on lem. you know-an' lines lem up right under Macs and Sanger's noses. sees my men. Some of 'em I bluffs an some of lem 1 can't 1 gets cold feet on the clean hands proposition an buys 'em off-uses my own money. an he don't know nothin' about it- does it spite of his orders" ''But Remington said"- .
 'Pm comin' to that. Afterward- bout two weeks before election day he finds out about 1t from that skunk Malassey. He ought to kick me out. but be don't; just sits down, writes out check fer what l spent an makes me take it; never says word excep' somethin' about there not bein' enough soap an water in the world to wash his hands clean, Then when Pennington accuses him of buyin' the delegates he takes all the blame an never says a word about me. wish to God" Haggin concluded miserably. somebody d kill me! Say, Martin. why can't you prosecute me fer it? I'll plead guilty an tell everything up to where he paid me back my money"
 You'd go to jail. ] couldn't protect you"
 ''I don't care." Haggin answered des- perately. "I'd like to. It'd serve me right fer bein' such a fool as not to do what he told me. an it'd clear him."
 Suddenly Martin pushed a book to- ward Haggin.
 "Haggin. put your hand on this Bi- be" The Bible" happened to be a dictionary. but Haggin knew no bet ter. Do you swear on this book that what you have said is the truth?"
 "I swear" Haggin answered stead fly, his eyes not faItering before Mar tins searching glance.
 Upon my souIr' Martin dropped Imply back into his chair. "I don't know whether you're lying or not"
 Haggin swore in his misery. Course Pm tellin' the truth. Do you think l want to go to jail fer nothin'?'
 Martin wrinkled his brow over the problem.
 "Haggin." he said abruptly after a few minutes thinking. tell me all you know about that convention business" !" And Haggin told him a tale of wholesale corruption such as to cause even Martin, familiar as he was with the devious and foul, methods of our politics. to experience a qualm of dis gust
 We'll see." he said when the ac- count was finished: "l don't think you'll have to go to jaii. Aaggin."
 1t was reported next morning that District Attorney Martin had left the city for two weeks vacation. AS a matter of fact. he was quietly at work ferreting out certain facts in connec- ton with the convention bribery.