The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-05
HIS RISE
 TO
 POWER
By He qry Russell Miller.
 Aufbor oF "TI le Man Higher Up"
cSryrigh [, 1911, by the Bobbs-Merrin
 Company
CContinued.S


 If you can't think of better word. ? He wished it were not necessary to bring Gregg's name so often into the conversation
 They talked for a few minutes long, CT on uninteresting, 1mpersonal sub- jects until, they saw Gregg appear at Ehm entrance. But Mrs. Deland efHmsive- I Way1aid him, and there was an avvk- w1fd pause which John did not know how to bridge.
 Katherine said, on an impulse, the w1nacm of which may be regarded as deubtfuf: sADout what you said of your career \ don't hke to hear you speak sc-so lightly of it. I think you lave been very brave and splendid. raoe many nnsn would have held out es,Epu have.s ss-s strsY
 R8Was smken eff his guard CT did ndt expect you ts think so-''
 Gy-xay notions Of values and things hmws elaAn9sd good deal, find. And, EmAy so cnY' She looked at Gregg. He WIS stzlI in Mrs. Deland's clutches. was a .vwry selfish. thoughtless girl <ben. delfberateiy-no, carelessly, whfeh Az worse se-5eopardfzed your hap pf4eee t1 thexee4xeh fer my own. hmbs bsem f1S ashamed of it. r. L LN@EFW xH 0EGA LE8S EA&3z4m SGTA0US UAUkO- pfne1s to yog."
 He looked st her steadily. sI have not been unhappy" Then he rose to am18 TT --,
 Hhe latter wzs Svazy eoraiaI. s.Anr 3enm Ee9sra= la <aspt4EeaH me up and waez lnaeh des elsf6 gEkHy tarse, re- naambeF. :s',- ,. But he dad not miss Katherine's tone 70 she said to John, '"Goodby7snd I ann vsry saad of what you have just told me"
 Later, when they were at their table, Gregg said to Katherine, 'I have no t3on Du1zneede is the reason you have kspt me waiting go long,
 Under his game the tinge of color in her eheeks deepened. She made no f replTs snk
 ssuoes 1t ever occur to you.'' he ask ed carefully setting down the glass, that I might get tired of waitihg?''
 Does it ever occur to you,''s she an swered. 'sthat shouldn't care very muchy'
 But of this John could know nothing.
 
 The ceremony of exchanging minis kers was not an elaborate court func- ton Fifty odd gentlemen, represent ing each his principality, met in a hotel paElor and elected Mark SherrOd to succeed William Murchell as chair man of the state executive committee. As the latter retired from the chair which, symbol of his undisputed sway. he had occupied for twenty years and his enemy took his place there was nothing to indicate that the seals of do- min1on had been formally transferred.
 The monarch was not present in per son. Many of the committeeman were surprised at Murchell's presence They to escape the last humiliation of be- accomplished defeat.
 He had gone to the meeting in car rEaee because the weather was rough and his physical condition was not good But when he left he forgot the carriage and started to walk to the house that he called home. He walked mimlessly. head lowered as though he were ponderfng some deep problem. The defiant front that he had main hm1ned h@fore the committee had been c pdse5 Hs was feeling soad-old.
 Els course took him past house of state, where the monarch sat en- throned amid his court, directing the affairs of his kingdom What Mur- eheII saw was the office building of the Atlantic railroad. He entered an elevator and was rapidly hoisted to the proper story A page of ebony skin took his cmrtl ,sza sas .
 .AFurchsIE did net haFe to wait long. Soon he was before fffs former 1iege
 The royal brow wrinkled- .sIsn't this little ndiscreet-considering the present state of public sentimentY'
 t'What difference does it make-now? I've just come from the committee meeting"
 ~Yes?' Sackett understood 'Sher- rods elected, suppose r.
 @YesgH Thanks to your influence
 "rm sorry" Sacketts regret was genuine. But have my duty
 ssro your stockholders, of whom am one Yes, I know I'm mt complain ing" Murchell interrupted mildly s'I came to tell you to keep an eye on the Michigan. I've kept them out of the Steel City for you so far. But they're coming in- They ought to get in; too. At any rate, they're getting ready to spend million in the at tempt. I don't believe Sherrod can keep them out Keep an eye on him. Sackett'
 We're counting on you to hsIp lkhere'
 Murcheli shook his head. 'I'm through
 Look herei Whats the use of your getting your back up over this busi uess? You understand perfectly wei that we must stand in with whoever's 3n top. You put Sherrod out and wei back you as strong as ever. I iwish,' Sacixett said persuasiveiy. you'd keeIi an oversight of the Michigan matter ! doubt myself that Sherrod can keep them out-''
 Little late thinking that. aren't you