Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-09-07

q "What Of it2" Bob asked, with nc
sign of interest.
What of it! I lose my only chanci
to make a liyin'. Here 1 am, thirty
! five years old. I've got no education.
/ don't know bookkeepin' nor anything
else. l can't clerk. l amt strong
enough to hold down a Job in the mills.
I can take care of myself. But how
I'm to make enough for three l don't
I see."
"Three?"
Yes, there's goin' to be a baby soon,
and 1 can't seq
"Humph! You politicians have got
no business to have kids. What are
you going to do?"
what can 1 dor Mehaffey returned
helplessly.
You might fight him." Bob sug-
gested.
81 can't" groaned the squire.
But l 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.
you don't mean it, Bob?"
81 always mean what I say, don't
~ Bob returned impatiently. "Shut
up. jim; I'm thinking.'
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 oD~edlently
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
turned jim down"
well, I guess that lets Jim out"
said Mike pitylngly.
Il tell him." Bob continued, that no
ought to fight him"
Mike shook his head. 1T can't be
done, Bob"
Yes, it can" Bob responded tartly.
"And I'm going to do it."
An amazed silence fell upon the
group. The silence was broken by
Mixes delighted ejaculation.
BE tn poker, it's a fine s~crimmage
l Wen be hayin'. If amy wan can Hck
Haggin we'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
the other boys along-as many as you
can get, Come along, jim" And,
meekIy followed by the squire, who
had not yet recovered from his aston
ishment, Bob left the saloon.
Haggin had been Il prizeGghter and
a successful one History records how
he fought a twenty round draw-bare
fsts-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 Irlshtown
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 a GER
tain crude genius for the game. He
vas good natured-when not opposed.
He knew how to be generous, when to
be generous was a good policy. And
he learned to organize his henchmen.
But beneath all were his fame and
skill as a fighter. Consequently he
| became the undisputed autocrat Of
things political in the Fourth ward.
Now the average American, especial
ly the Irish-AmerlcaR, loves fair play
and has a %sneaking admiration for the
under dog. Bob already had a certain
personal following, which nucleus he
began systematically to augment.
This young McAdoo of the Fourth
Is a corker," said the great Macpherson.
"Of course, Haggin IL 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.
But the fight came to a most unex-
pected ending.
The second night before the prlma-
ries 1rishtown was IN a frenzy of ex-
I 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 and accosted Bob,
{" hear" the reporter remarked
with what was meant as an ingratiat-
Ing smile, that you intend visiting
Higgins saloon"
IAN ass" Bob answered dryly. amid
the outlaws of his followers, "havin'
long ears, can hear a lot that amt his
bnsinasArN