The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-07

PAaH--4 There Was an Embarrassing Moment. the worlxhouse. I got a year in the pen.'' His tone might have, led one to believe him boasting of a distinction. 'sI- should think,'' said John graTely, you would find it almost a relief to have it served and oyer.'
 s'So I wou1d,' answered Sheehan, with an emphatic sincerity that was not to be doubted. But; I've got family
 "A little late to think of them, ,,isla t it? The sentence would have to be served"
 It wouldn't if you said the word.'
 John shook his head Besides, I'll not be district attorney much longer, and my successor mightn't be com p1aisant.''
 Sheehan leaned oyer the table and clutched John by the arm, his face twitching nervously. q guess you think fe1lers like me haven't got any heart? Let me tell you something. I've got a wife and two kids that think as much of as if I was an ed11- cated reforIner. I haven't seen them in nearly five years, for fear you would trail me through them. But now they are in trouble. Money affairs are all baIled up.. And the wife's got to go under an operation. I don't know whether she'll pull through or not. I ought to be there to- take care Of them.t' ;- sas<sf1t.-i', bI- ;
 A doubtful blessing to them, John thought, studying the dissipation mar red countenance. Still he was not there to pass on Sheehans value to his family. And he remembered having heard that in former days Sheehan had been very proud and fond of his wife and children andAeccentric vir- tue among his kind-faithfuI to them.
 s'I didn't think you'd. let me off. You reformers' was. bitterness-'ar always bent on sending somebody to jail. But will you do this-give me two or three months until the wife gets out of the hospital and I've got things strengthened out some? Then I'H take my medicfne-''
 John thought rapidly. In the begin ming of his crusade he would have en- forced the law vigorously and merci- lessly. believing that in punishment lay healing virtue for the state. Now he had learned its futility, and the broken man in front of him had all ready been punished enough Surely he could show so much leniency and harm no one TF's ts.-s
 s.Pll do that much for you gladly g a he said And if you need any legal help in straightening out your affairs I'll be glad to help you"
 Sheehan suddenly sat bolt upright, the red rushing to his sallow face t.It's that sanctimonfous Blake he said angrily. He's gethn' after me because they think Pm afraid to come back Dirty crook! The banks tryin to collect some old notes of mine that wasn't supposed to be paid"
 Not to be paid? Why?"
 Political notes. Look herer' Shee- l hans face lighted up in slow. cum ming smile that boded no good for Warren Blake. ''Do you want to make 8 big play?.
 John, too, sat up, suddenly alert "Just what do you mean ?'
 Have you been percolatin' around in politics for six years an not known about the Farmers? There's always few easy banks for the politicians. They get state deposits. See? Am then dish them out to the politicians on notes. Sometimes the notes are paid, an sometimes they're just carried d1OuS. My uOleS WdSA U .UC pte1d because helped get the Farmers it's deposits. 1t used to be one of the easy banks. An I guess it is still Else why is bank that's friendly to Mur- chell carryin' deposits under Sherrod? guess they must be gettin pretty shaky, because I ain't the only one they're after I've been sk1rmishin' around here, seein' some men l used to know, an they tell me Blake'S push in good many old notes hard"
 s'But Hampden and Blake, with their stock, wouldn't Iet''-
 : Stock! bet they haven't ten shares apiece. If you want to find that stock ! you've got to look in the tin boxes of the farmers or in the estates of the widows an orphans
 But their last report was fine"
 "That's easy You just carry the notes as . -,-s;,
 Gro Be Continued.)