The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-12-13

lazy feet.
Good morning, Sheehan," he said
with pleasantness that would have
carried n warning to a calmer observer
than the boss.
without invitation Sheehan sat down.
WELL" he growled. "you did It didn't
your When a young feller like you
! thinks he Is better than his party he's
got lot to learn"
John considered this statement for n
| moment. II do not" he concluded,
think am better than my party"
Sheehnn caught the point. Huh!
Guess you don't know who the party
| is"
That's just what I'm trying 10 de-
| eide Perhaps you can enlighten me"
81 can. A party" Sheehan spoke
with intense conviction-"a party is
those that control it."
Then in Benton county you're the
partyT
"Eggsactly! Me and Murchell."
Then, modestly, do think I'm bet
ter than the party" John responded,
still pleasantly. "And, as you say,
I've a lot to learn. Have you come to
teach me?"
Say, hain't you no respect for my
position in this countyT'
For your position great deal; for
| you-none at ALL"
Sheehan grinned in spite of himself.
81 like your nerve. That's what
makes me sore" he went on reproach-
| fD1Iu I pla IN In
you favor. gave you chance to
get in strong with US. And you 20 and
beef it by throwin' down the state
ticket What did you do it forT
I'm afraid you won't understand,
Sheehan. It's a question of ideals"
Sheehaa snorted. Ideals! know
all about 'em. What's ideals? Can
you eat 'eln? Can you wear 'em?
Can you stuff 'em into your pants
pocket like thisT' He illustrated Dy
drawing out a fat roll OF bills. "Will
they get you votes? When l came to
Plumville fifteen years ago all I owned
was the shirt on my back. Now | can
buy out any man in Benton county ex
ceptin' Steve Hampden and MurChell
and when they want anything here
they're glad enough to come to me and
make it worth my while to give it to
'em. didn't get it by havin' ideals"
How true, John thought, judging
from his narrow experience. Was it
possible that the seats of the mighty
were reserved only for the Murchells.
the Hampdens, the Sheehans? He
thought disgustedly Of the coarse
british thing before him. Yet Sh-e-
han could command his retinue Of fol
lowers. One of them entered Johns
mind He looked up suddenly. "Shee
han. VINO is Butch Maley?"
"Who's Butch Maley? He's the
Fourth precinct. Fourth ward, that's
what he is, and it's the biggest precinct
In the ,ity. He's the whole works
voters and election board"
You mean he monkeys with the
count?"
Il mean" replied Sheehan signti-
cantly, that when we need a few
Butch's precinct"
II see. I've heard of those precincts
Hmm. Sheehan, | don't think you're
as smart as you think you are. What
did you come to teach meT
81 come to give you another chance
You can give an interview sayin' that
you was MISUNDERSTANDING you're
! for the state ticket strong and want
all your friends to vote for it."
els that an order or requests"
"Whichever you please" Sheehau
answered shortly.
:. "And if l don't do it,"
g There's another man runnin' fol
t district attorney"
/ "Why, Sheehanr' John simulated
reproachful surprise well. Surely you
wouldn't go back ON your party! But
! l forget-you're the party, aren't you
suppose Simcox belongs to the party
1 too" Simcox was Johns opponent
I "And If l doW
+ '"Then you'll win"
, John got leisurely to his feet. His
c visitor also rose. "Sheehan, you're ly
= ing. You'll knife me in any case
Well, won't do it. So go ahead and
I beat me-if you can. I'd rather b(
beaten than be beholden to you, you
4 Do you know what you are, Sheehan'
: You're not smart, you're just greedy
= and there's been nobody to thwar
!. you. You're just big bully with .
soul as fat as your body. Do you know
you're getting awfully fat" He begaI
prodding the other, none too genuy
a about the ribs and stomach. His
fingers found only soft, yielding cush
; ions of fat.
Don't get fresh, young feller." Blu
Sheehan drew back, nevertheless
: John followed him and continued hi
i inspection.
"If I'm elected, Sheehan, I'd advise
> you TO buy a passage to Mexico o
a some place where extradition law
. don't hold. You needn't bother abou
a round trip ticket, either. In tn,