The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-06

things did this princely gentleman de
 sire, and for them he was willing tt
 pay-the least price that. must be paid
 He, like Miss Roberta and Watkins
 was astounded when he beheld. not a
 shuning. harmless shadow, but man
 who showed the marks of ages bat tering, yet was clear minded, hale and hearty, who had not forgotten how to drive a close bargain, who knew ex- actly what he wanted and who got it. So pleased was he by his discovery that the next morning, breaking sol emn promise to Murchefl, he reported it to Sackett. st Richard 2 he declar- ed, :. is himself again.'''
 But by that time Murchell was well on his way back to the capital.
 A rumor that the once great poli- tician was on the train quickly spread among the passengers, and many of them found occasion to stroll past his seat. But there was no visible ripple of emotion to betray to their curious eyes the swelling senseof triumph within him.
 When, his energy sapped up by the sickness, the seriousness of which he did not yet realize, he had confronted Sackett and declared his purpose to quit, he had spoken in all truth. but, the operation over and strength creep ing back into the body whose tissues austere living had never devitalized, the hunger, the need for action reas- serted itself
 Hence he planned; not. consciously to reseek his old power and responsi- bflity, but from his castle in the forest to make sudden, unexpected forays to harass those who had deprived him of his glory Then came the opportunity b wreak the sweetest of all revenges to save those who had thrown him over. to torture his enemy with the sense of inferiority and obligation, perhaps the warrior soul leaped-to make of revenge also lever to open the gates in the road back to. su- premacy.
 Under the stimulus of sharp, snc-> cessful action he felt almost the strength of his prime. Whirring wheel struck from rail an iron song of triumph in which his soul joined the, mad, exuItant shout of. the viking re- turning victorious
 But he found a Sherrod who had had time to think, to measure the situation, who had recovered his nerve And of Sherrod this may be written: he was great fighter, cunning and daring. conscienceless, proud, disloyaHyes- but even his treacherfes were ac- eomplished with certain reckless grace and decision that gave them the seeming of the born masters in stinctfve strategy. And he had what MurchelI had not, a personal magnet ism that often won faith even where interest failed: though he lacked what made MurcheIl great, inflexibility ands self control. Coward he was not. Al most any man, beaten by the same Knowledge of crime and imminent dis covery, with so much to lose, would have suffered lapse from courage. But the hour of cringing and weak ness was past
 MurehelI found him in the same hotel room, through the open windows of which biting wind had swept the last trace of the fetid fumes of tobacco and whisky. MurcheH carefully closed and locked the door and, without speaking. sat down across the table from him. Sherrod's eyes, cool, not defiant, but aggressive, meffacing al- most, locked with Murche1ps~ steady ones.
 'fWeIl?" The voice was cool.
 T went to Wilder" said Murchell, almost in whisper. He is selling your securities today at the market He will lend you the balance To morrow a man will come with the cash. -,4<s.-s
 yl z And in returns" sherrod knew the prince. Y
 He wants some charters in Adeiphia and some traction. legislation. He will explain in detail when you see him. have promised him what he wants. You will see that he gets it. 7
 Yes The balance-you say it is a loan. How am Ito repay2s'
 That is for you to say Murchell paused, then added, q understand banks are still paying for the privilege of state deposits. 2
 How much do Paine sand Watkins known
 . As much as,I guessed.''
 T can keep their mouths shut.'' > Again silence, broken, first by Sher- rod. His lips twisted in a. faint sheer.
 Are you waiting for my gratitude? I have none. I'm sick stilI,s but Pm not afraid, as I was yesterday, and Is understand the situation You haven't done this for me-
 .'Is there any reason why I should do it for you ?,
 Sherrod began to feel that he could DO longer endure the others contemptu- ous, relentless gaze-that, in spite of his will, his own was wavering. The coolness vanished. He almost hissed out his words. s.sYeu came here expecting to gloat over me, didn't you? You think be- l cause you've caught me with the goods Il on you're superior being. You needn't Everything I am, Bill Mur- I chell.. you are. I s'pose when you were I sick,you had the parson around to pray over you, didn't you? When you were praying did you tell the parson how you got to be so rich2''