The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-01
CHAPTER x,.
WTsls a Great Price.

#$# M FCHN was standing at the win E kfrdcw ofThts cDnrthonse office +&& The sense z6f f0neliness was upon him again. It may be that the sight of Katherine Hampden s1untsring down Main street in com pany with a bedanneled summer gen. fiemsn had something to do with his mood
 Then another vision was accorded him-a fat whate horse lazily draw ing nm ancient top buggy in which sat Senator MUrchsiI,. Tor ali the world a prcsperous farmer passing into age amid peace and plenty
 "A minute later came a knock at his door ''Comer' he said
 The senator entered. Afternoon, John-''
 what can I do for youT'
 -Humph. Don't seem very glad to see me Yos might ask me to sit down."
 John pointed to chair 'sWhy hesi- tate? It's your courthouse, isn't tt?''
 Understood you'd taken a mortgage on it yourself lately" Murchsll sat nown, looking genialiy at John-
 @-So you think Pm bad man and disgrace to the state?" the senator in- quired at last
 well. just about that" John said quickly.
 --Toad Miss Roberta Pm a bad man, didn't youa"
 ssI could have said that you are a shameful force in politics; that you have exploited a great party and the ignorance of the people; that you have built up a machine for the sole pur- pose of footing the state; that you have got and held power by compelling pub lie servants to use the influence of, their office to perpetuate your machine and by buying the votes of the cor ruptfble- There's probably lot more, if only knew n- I've never heard that you used your power for any good thing Without profession or business you are a rich man Howl"
 --HumphE' grunted MurcheIl, who had listened without display of feeling. Doesn't mean much You'd have hard work proving any of it.
 They relapsed into silence John looked out of the window, awaiting iii cold silence the senator's next words. HurcheI1 preserved his usual impas sive front It was not the first time he had encountered the intolerance of yoath. But never before. save during the sheehan trial, had the intolerance pierced the crust of the man.
 He broke the silence. What do you want to do!''
 IA good many things you wouldn't understa and-principally suppose, to smash you and your organization That proba bIy sounds funny to you.'
 Murchen did not laugh. He merely felt pity for an impractical young Greamer
 '.Ts1 can't smash the YOrganiza tion.''
 -s to deprive the people of the right -sf self government"
 "A pretty phrase. It's common sense politics The people don't want to gov ern themselves-theyc can't. They need some one to take the burden from them. How are you going to smash us?''
 .@It may be simpler than you think. Senator MurchelI. When the people understand what you are they'll smash you--
 The other smiled pityingly. fYou think because you've sent a few poor devils to jail you're a man of destiny. don't you? You think I'm merely wicked old fellow who's got power and is using 1t for his own selfish ends If I were just that you could smash me But I'm more than that. | am: an fnstitution-a part of a necessary institution, one that society, that tsprop- erty. that business, can't get along without You can smash William AEuxchell-that is, put some one in his {