The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-06
HIS RISE
 TO POWER
By He Try Russell Millef,
 Arrfhor o "TEie Man Higher Up"
copyrigh t, 1911, by tIse Bobbs-MerriIl Company
 (Contfnued.l

Tn the Kingdom things were awry. The rival monarch was laundering at the gates Worse still, there was dis affection in the very source of dominion, in the army And the min ister in power chose this hour-to get drunk. Anxious glances were being cast toward the deposed minister in his self exacted exile Royal messen- gers were being sent galloping post haste to him to urge him, with fine, unconscious irony. for the sake of past favor. to speak the word that would re- store concord among the mutinous regiments But the ominous silence continued unbroken.
 At such a juncture, we say, John Heath stepped in to defect the course of history.
 Game to the exile, not many days aft CT Mlss Roberta, a messenger not un- der royal seal. Secretary, we may call him, to the new minister, having cur rfed favor by desertion of the old. He was -visibly perturbed and would not desist from his importunities un- til admitted to the presence of the exile Even then. such was his fever fsh haste. he did not notice in his host, as Miss Roberta had done, a vigor inconsistent with certain rumors rife He plunged at once into the mat ter in hand
 we've got Sherrod locked up in a room at the hotel. He's drunk as lord and threatens to throw himself into the rivery.
 aWeII-Iet hfmr' said Murchell, grim ly heartless
 "But'' cried the messenger, eft may r~<. that will sweep us all-Sherrod, Par rott. me-you-on the face of the earth
 ''1 z responded MurcheIl calmly, Jam out of politics and don't care. What do you want noe to dor'
 @Cene with me to the capital, find what's wrong and straighten it out.''
 t-Go to Parrott-''
 ''Parrott's a fourhusher. This is criticaI.''
 ..I won't do it It's trouble of your own making. Get yourselves out of it.''
 The messenger sprang to his feet and began to pace the floor swiftly. He assumed to instruct master. With wild gesticulatfon and passion ate phrase he sketched the impending lamity. The times were ripe for revolution These unutterable fools, Dunmeade and Brent. with their inces- sant ciack about bosses and graft, were getting the people stirred up There was trouble in the air-he, the speaker. could feel it. The organiza- ton was falling to pieces.
 "Do you think MurcheH inquired calmly, "Sherzod's short in his ac- countsT'
 ssssI don't know There are books
 
 And I can't get nothing out of him.''
 Thef swift pacing ceased abruptly The messenger confronted Murchen.
 Who he demanded, lis John HeathY
 ..I don't know," answered Murchell frutnfu1Iy.
 ssVithin less than two years he has received from the state more'n nine hundred thousand dollars for special servicesF'
 Mine hundred thousand dollars! What is John Heath ?''
 .-sI don't know. But think he may be-h-lr'
 The messenger Topped into his chair, helping himself, uninvfted. to a cigar. Murchell. as though taking up a task that the other had left unfinished, rose and in his turn began to pace the floor After a few. minutes he went out of the room. still without speaking. He did not reappear for almost a quarter of an hour But then he wore hat and an overcoat and was carrying a light leather grip.
 '@Corne along.s he commanded. 'sThe hacks waiting
 The guest went along with a1aerity
 When they had reached the Steel City and had changed cars for the capital train 8furehell went to their stateroom and was soon, to all outward appear. ances. sound asleep
 At that mystic hour which we are told is the darkest of all two men were sitting in a hotel room. One Watkins sat stretched out before the dying fire. yawning wistfully for the sleep of which twenty four hours guard duty had robbed him. A litter of newspa- pers on the floor around him showed how he had beguiled the slow vigil. The other. Sherrod, was slouched in a rocker by the table, head dropped for wat,d on his breast and hands hanging fnertIy at his sides. The red trimmed eyeballs were half closed. Drunk evi- dentIy. and more than that. Occasion ally his lips moved; senseless mutter- fngs came from them.
 Steps along the hall, and there was a guarded knock at the door. He opened a cautious crack, peeped out and then threw it open eagerly. Murchell and the messenger entered. Watkins seized Murchelrs hand joyfully.
 Thank the LordI'' he exclaimed. '' have stood it much longer Sherrod seemed to hear the voic, He opened his eyes and stared at tn gIassily. Then lightnin flash of intelligence seemed to pene trate his stupor. 'sMurcheIlv' He managed to stagger to his feet I Then a last wave of drunkenness swep gver him. He fell, sprawIing, uncon |