The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-01

q Cr0mely WOfT1eQ 61r. 1Qo wet blanket brigade tried to capture the conven- ton this afternoon. They have been hearing things since the morning serv- ice, and they came back to the con- mfttee meeting with the idea that the best all their fhssing would do would be to make the corrupt political thieves in this town pay more for their hive of vice. They were almost in favor of passing back the contributions, but my old pal Nsaikem and your Uncle Horace hurrahed awhile and got them to come on, boys We quit, dippy with en- thusiasm-'
 "Congratulations, said Wallingford, with a chuckle. "Blackie, do you sup pose this bunch of good men would stoop to a littie-er-weI, say, not trickery, but diplomacy, to save Court house square from the hands of the wtcked? f
 .wen,'' stated BIackie slowly and weighing his words carefully, If there's to be any dirty work you'd bet ter fool them Let me do It.
 Spender Walltngford hired touring car and chauffeur for a week and put in his time entertaining Charley Jackson and his friends of the county commission and the aldermanic board, appearing as a jovial. smiling, chuck ling. pink faced host of impressive appearance, attractive personality and faultless garb. There was not man in that crowd who had not been bred in suspicion and fostered in distrust, yet by the end of the week they grew to like WaIlingford as much as he dis liked them.
 -'You ought to try it, Jim," urged BIackie as they dressed on Saturday morning. ssOf course. know myself too we'll to thilsk I'll. stick, but it does me lot of good while it lasts. m as contented as deaf and dumb actor playing leads in a moving picture com pany.'
 "Go to it." encouraged wallingford, a trif1e covetously. Its the one thing I, never tried. but from its effect on you I think I might like tt.''
 The gentlemen who were to turn the courthouse into a fashionable cafe for willing workers had an early and an earnest conference with the gen. tleman who was to own the court house until after the election, and Wallingford gave them written agreement to sell the courthouse to them on demand at stipulated figure Thereupon Wallingford gave them two more drinks and cigar and excused himself, immediately afterward hold ing another important conference and making visit to the bank From there he rushed to the county audi tors office, where he displayed his certified check to Charley Jackson and his quiveringly interested colleagues. depoztted his check with his sealed bid and smoked a quiet cigar while he waited the few minutes between then and II o'clock, at which time the bids were to be opened.
 Strangely enough, Wallingford en- countered no opposition from Dr. Maik- ems church, which did not put in a bid at all, but there were three other offers higher than his own, it transpired at 11:06. However, there was some tquestion as to the ceHtifcation of one Of the checks, and one of the offers was not made in the exact form pre- scribed, and the third one was not ad- dressed to the proper authority, so Wal lingford, not at all to his surprise, but somewhat to his relief, for he had sus- pected a trick of some sort even at the last, was announced as the lucky con testaut.
 Wallingford, attended by the happy gentlemen who intended to cater to the cfty's elite and recherche millhands, clerks and ward workers, walked across the hall to the county recorders office, where Courthouse square was duly and formally deeded and transferred to J. Rufus Wallingford, his heirs, admins trators and assigns forever.s
 ''The buyer buys a drink" proclaim ed Charley Jackson jovially. skipping the lucky purchaser with affectionate proprietorship upon the broad back. 'sWallingford, I bet that's the first time you ever owned courthouse."
 'sIt is,p admitted Wallingford, chuck ling. Get off of my property" And he bundled them into his automobile and rushed them to a barroom that they were not in the habit of patroniz- ing. He ordered and paid for a gen erous array of bottles; then, excusing himself for few minutes, he rushed back to the courthouse, where, while frantic subofhcials telephoned wildly, but Vainly, to all Charley Jackson's usual haunts, the courthouse fancier duly. formally and firmly deeded and transferred Courthouse square to the Rev. Mail1em's church, its heirs, ad- ministrators and assigns forever.
 The ecstatic Blackie Daw was the most interested witness to this com mendAble transaction and to him Wal Hngford delivered the good deed.
 Hustle right down with this and get the balance of the money he crisp ly directed. Meanwhile I'll go up to the hotel and settle our bill. Then I'll meet you in the back room of that delirium tremens factory across from the depot. It won't be safe to stay in this town when our uplift work is known.''
 "What's the matter with this town that you want to leave it so quick ?'' demanded Blaclzie. You're not afraid ! of that bunch of pfkers hope. They're afraid to kill you for fear that they might lose the election I'm going to stay and go to church tomorrow Why, Jim they're arranging q SDeciaI sarv