The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-12

my job to Harvey, just because ne's his nephew. After the way I've slaVeo for him and done his dirty work ir the ward for ten years!' he added bit 1 terly.
 What of it?". Bob asked, with nc sign of interest
 ! What of iti lose my only chance to make livin'. Here am, thirty five years old I've got no education dop't know bookkeepin' nor anything else. I can't clefk. I ain't strong enough to hold down job in the mills I can take care of myself. But how I'm to make enough for three l don't 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 I do" Mehaffey returned helplessly.
 "You might fight him." Bob sug- gested. "I can't" groaned the squire. "But can," Bob said.s By degrees the possible significance of Bob's words wormed it's way into the squiue's comprehension. His grief gave way to amazement, amazement to an incred IS joy. / "You don Cs m it, Bobw CT always mean what say, don't I" Bob returned impatiently. "Shut up, Jim; Pm thinking" For some moments Bob stared at the ceiling. Then he called out abruptly; "Mike, come fl here and bring the boys-and some more whisky" Mike came in as bidden, bringing the liquor, ''the boys" dropping obediently in behind.
 ''The drinks are on me, boys," Bot said by way of preliminary.
 When every one had taken his quota he continued, Boys, Haggin has turned Jim down."
 'sWell, l guess that lets Jim out, 2 said Mike pityingly. 'I tell him." Bob continued, ''that he | ought to fight him." Mike shook his head. 'Tt can't be done, Bob."
 "Yes, it can." Bob responded tartly "And I'm going to do it." An amazed silence fell upon the 1 group. The silence was broken by Mikes delighted ejaculation. "Be tn poker, it's fine scrimmage we'll be havin'. If amy wan can lick Haggin ye're tn bye, Bob." 'That ye are," assented the others awakened from their wonderment. "All right. Be here tomorrow night l and I'll tell you what to do. And bring 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. I Haggin had been a prizefghter ani a successful one. History records how he fought twenty round draw-bar, fists-with Qonnelly, the heavyweight champion of the world. At the zeniti of his career he abandoned the ring and invested his last purse in an Irishtow1 saloon. And Irishtown counted it ar honor to buy its drinks from the onl, l man that had ever given Donnelly { hard fight. So that Haggin waxet prosperous and sported many dia monds. It was natural result of hi popularity and business that he should go into politics. He developed a cer tain crude genius for the game. H, was good natured-when not opposed He knew hoy to be generous, when t be generous was good policy. Ant he learned to organize his henchmen But beneath all were his fame ant skill as fighter. Consequently h. became the undisputed autocrat o things political in the Fourth ward.
 Now the average American, especial ly the Irish-American, loves fair pla. and has sneaking admiration for tn under dog. Bob already had certail personal following, which nucleus h began systematically to augment.
 '.This young McAdoo of the Fourtl is corker," said the great MacPherson "Of course, Haggin Il beat him; tn old grafter has too strong grip on hi i ward to lose this time. But the young ster will bear watching in the future.
 Say. now, this is a fight" flag gin exclaimed when reports began t come in to him.
 But the fight came to a most unez pected ending.
 The second night before the prima ries Irishtown was in a frenzy of ex citement. The saloons were crowded the streets alive with eager, expectan men and boys. A reporter of one O the morning papers entered Maloney' saloon and accosted Bob.
 '1 hear," the reporter remarke with what was meant as an ingratiat ing smile. that you intend visitini IsaggiR's saloon"
 -An ass,s Bob answered dryly, am1' the guffaws of his followers, "haviu long ears, can hear lot that ain't hi business"
 The reporter flushed angrily. "I toll the same thing to Haggin." he sai' spitefully, and he said if you entered his saloon he'd kick you out. 'Knocl the stiff's block off were his exac words, l believe"
 !. The crowd ctcnd aghast. 1t was { challenge. 1 "Is that so!' ..e!surelY Bob emp