The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-12

other for votes. Between them f1ut- l tered the delegates and those who had delegates to sell. like hungry summer | nies But they found-the little fellows l at least-no honey pot at Murchell's
 end: no scandal must mar the nomina- 1 ton of Dunmeade. GAS for the cap | tains of tens and captains of hundreds. that is another matter. into which we | may not intrude0 i In crowded streets and swe1tering.
 smoke clouded Hobbies excitement ran high. The Dunmeade ral1ying ground. 1 the only quiet spot in the capital. con- | trasted significantly with the nervous 1 atmosphere of the Sherrod headquar- l ters. Such contentment with the s1tua- l tion could not be feigned! It was in- i fecHous; it spread out among the dele i gates who had pledged themselves to | vote for Dunmeade and nullified the l frantic efforts of Parrott (nominally | managing Sherrod's campaign) to start i a stampede; it kept the neutrals waver- 1 ing
 1 And over the scene. of conflict how | cred a formless one. unseen. unheard, 1 unfelt. spirits always are, waiting but for the crucial moment to swoop l down and decide the issue. Came lull fin the battle. an hour to-
 
 l retired to allotted cots or halves of beds or, more often, to woo fortune over some table of chance, when the reeking Hobbies were depopulated and the headquarters of the generals were deserted by all but their respective | stafs and the yawnfng reporters. There was a knock on MurchelPs door and Greene, leader in Plumville, odu tod hs before had lured MurcheIl from his re- treat on an errand, if not of mercy, at least of salvation. Paine went to him i and whispered his message Murchell shook his head.
 teTeH him'' he said aloud, eff he wants to see me he'll have to come here.''
 Paine whispered protest 'sTeH him. Murchell cut him short, "John Heath will meet him here.'' The messenger started, looked hastily around at the others and grinned in sickly fashion. But he departed i'm mediately, leaving the men in the room to wonder what charm lay in the unfa- miliar name of John Heath. In less than five minutes, rumor out running the fact the hotel was alive. Sherrod had asked for a conference with Murchell.
 Murchell men smiled triumphantly when they saw Parrott and Sherrod. wearing an air of confidence not who'll ly convincing, emerge from the eleva- tor and make their way along the cor ridor to parlor A.
 Sherrod and Parrott entered, care fully closing the door behind them to the intense diSa ppoiptn1ent of the dele gates outside ParrOtt went jauntily up to Murchel1 and shook hands.
 We'll he grinned, we've been hay ing fine little shindy, eh?'' This for the reporters.
 Glad grunted MurcheIl, you're enjoying it.'' There was laugh, in which Parrott did not join. The senator waved his hand, and allQ but Greene left the room, reluctant, but obedient.
 .'See here.'' said Sherrod. Cant we get together? You've got to admit that we've got you beaten
 sIf you think the delegates you've been buying will stick you're mistaken, Sherrod. I've sold you more than fifty myself"
 '.I don't believe it,'' snapped Sherrod Quit bluf11ng and get down to cases. You know you can't beat us in the convention. You aren't trying to. You started all this racket over Dunmeade Just to work up sentiment that will make it harder for me to beat Brent You're so anxious to get eyen.'' be ex- claimed bitterly; ssthat you don't see you're in danger of stirring up a revo- Iution. What will you take to quit? ?''
 '"The revolution has started, Sherrod. And you'll never beat Brent
 Wont I? We'll attend to that when the time comes''
 Because Murchen continued calm ly, you won't be nominatedn He tHrned to the governor s.Parrott, how much have you paid Sherrod to support you for senator?''
 Nothing lied Parrott, albeit with evident uneasiness
 'sThen you're lucky" Murchell com mented. Dan .Hasland paid him $2OO,O00 for the same promise"
 That's a lie,' Sherrod declared hotly.
 Greene commanded Murchen, "call Hasland in. will you? He's in the room next to mine. That is, if Parrott and Sherrod think it neces- sary?" He turned inquiring1y toward them.
 q guess" Sherrod growled, ,ss.Parrott knows I'll not go back on him.''
 Does he?" Murchen inquired dry1y. Look at him!r
 And, indeed, Parrott's face just then showed anything but implicit conf dence in the good faith of his leader
 You needn't go, Greene. And," Murchell added, %I may announce right here that Hasland will succeed me as senator"
 Doesn't that depend,'' sneered Sher- rod, s'on who controls the legislature?''
 ''We'll control it.
 Greene could have hugged himself with delight as he saw Parrott visibly perturbed and Sherrod struggling to