a far country-第38章

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Whereupon　the　Colonel　tore　himself　away　from　his　reflections。

〃What's　that；　Governor？〃

〃Mr。　Gorse　has　called　my　attention　to　what　seems　to　him　a　flaw　in　our
statutes；　an　inability　to　obtain　testimony　from　corporations　whose　books
are　elsewhere；　and　who　may　thus　evade；　he　says；　to　a　certain　extent；　the
sovereign　will　of　our　state。〃

The　Colonel　took　the　paper　with　an　admirable　air　of　surprise；　adjusted
his　glasses；　and　became　absorbed　in　reading；　clearing　his　throat　once　or
twice　and　emitting　an　exclamation。

〃Well；　if　you　ask　me；　Governor；〃　he　said；　at　length；　〃all　I　can　say　is
that　I　am　astonished　somebody　didn't　think　of　this　simple　remedy　before
now。　　Many　times；　sir；　have　I　seen　justice　defeated　because　we　had　no
such　legislation　as　this。〃

He　handed　it　back。　　The　Governor　studied　it　once　more；　and　coughed。

〃Does　the　penalty；〃　he　inquired；　〃seem　to　you　a　little　severe？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　replied　the　Colonel；　emphatically。　　〃Perhaps　it　is　because　I
am　anxious；　as　a　citizen；　to　see　an　evil　abated。　　I　have　had　an　intimate
knowledge　of　legislation；　sir；　for　more　than　twenty　years　in　this　state；
and　in　all　that　time　I　do　not　remember　to　have　seen　a　bill　more　concisely
drawn；　or　better　calculated　to　accomplish　the　ends　of　justice。　　Indeed；　I
often　wondered　why　this　very　penalty　was　not　imposed。　　Foreign
magistrates　are　notoriously　indifferent　as　to　affairs　in　another　state
than　their　own。　　Rather　than　go　into　the　hands　of　a　receiver　I　venture　to
say　that　hereafter；　if　this　bill　is　made　a　law；　the　necessary　testimony
will　be　forthcoming。〃

The　Governor　read　the　bill　through　again。

〃If　it　is　introduced；　Colonel；〃　he　said；　〃the　legislature　and　the　people
of　the　state　ought　to　have　it　made　clear　to　them　that　its　aim　is　to
remedy　an　injustice。　　A　misunderstanding　on　this　point　would　be
unfortunate。〃

〃Most　unfortunate；　Governor。〃

〃And　of　course；〃　added　the　Governor；　now　addressing　me；　〃it　would　be
improper　for　me　to　indicate　what　course　I　shall　pursue　in　regard　to　it　if
it　should　come　to　me　for　my　signature。　　Yet　I　may　go　so　far　as　to　say
that　the　defect　it　seeks　to　remedy　seems　to　me　a　real　one。　　Come　in　and
see　me；　Mr。　Paret；　when　you　are　in　town；　and　give　my　cordial　regards　to
Mr。　Watling。〃

So　gravely　had　the　farce　been　carried　on　that　I　almost　laughed；　despite
the　fact　that　the　matter　in　question　was　a　serious　one　for　me。　　The
Governor　held　out　his　hand；　and　I　accepted　my　dismissal。

I　had　not　gone　fifty　steps　in　the　corridor　before　I　heard　the　Colonel's
voice　in　my　ear。

〃We　had　to　give　him　a　little　rope　to　go　through　with　his　act；〃　he
whispered　confidentially。　　〃But　he'll　sign　it　all　right。　　And　now；　if
you'll　excuse　me；　Mr。　Paret；　I'll　lay　a　few　mines。　　See　you　at　the　hotel；
sir。〃

Thus　he　indicated；　delicately；　that　it　would　be　better　for　me　to　keep　out
of　sight。　　On　my　way　to　the　Potts　House　the　bizarre　elements　in　the
situation　struck　me　again　with　considerable　force。　　It　seemed　so
ridiculous；　so　puerile　to　have　to　go　through　with　this　political　farce　in
order　that　a　natural　economic　evolution　might　be　achieved。　　Without　doubt
the　development　of　certain　industries　had　reached　a　stage　where　the　units
in　competition　had　become　too　small；　when　a　greater　concentration　of
capital　was　necessary。　　Curiously　enough；　in　this　mental　argument　of
justification；　I　left　out　all　consideration　of　the　size　of　the　probable
profits　to　Mr。　Scherer　and　his　friends。　　Profits　and　brains　went
together。　　And；　since　the　Almighty　did　not　limit　the　latter；　why　should
man　attempt　to　limit　the　former？　　We　were　playing　for　high　but
justifiable　stakes；　and　I　resented　the　comedy　which　an　hypocritical
insistence　on　the　forms　of　democracy　compelled　us　to　go　through。　　It
seemed　unworthy　of　men　who　controlled　the　destinies　of　state　and　nation。
The　point　of　view；　however；　was　consoling。　　As　the　day　wore　on　I　sat　in
the　Colonel's　room；　admiring　the　skill　with　which　he　conducted　the
campaign：　a　green　country　lawyer　had　been　got　to　introduce　the　bill；　it
had　been　expedited　to　the　Committee　on　the　Judiciary；　which　would　have　an
executive　session　immediately　after　dinner。　　I　had　ventured　to　inquire
about　the　hearings。

〃There　won't　be　any　hearings；　sir；〃　the　Colonel　assured　me。　　〃We　own　that
committee　from　top　to　bottom。〃

Indeed；　by　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　the　message　came　that　the
committee　had　agreed　to　recommend　the　bill。

Shortly　after　that　the　first　flurry　occurred。　　There　came　a　knock　at　the
door；　followed　by　the　entrance　of　a　stocky　Irish　American　of　about　forty
years　of　age；　whose　black　hair　was　plastered　over　his　forehead。　　His　sea…
blue　eyes　had　a　stormy　look。

〃Hello；　Jim；〃　said　the　Colonel。　　〃I　was　just　wondering　where　you　were。〃

〃Sure；　you　must　have　been！〃　replied　the　gentleman　sarcastically。

But　the　Colonel's　geniality　was　unruffled。

〃Mr。　Maker；〃　he　said；　〃you　ought　to　know　Mr。　Paret。　　Mr。　Maker　is　the
representative　from　Ward　Five　of　your　city；　and　we　can　always　count　on
him　to　do　the　right　thing；　even　if　he　is　a　Democrat。　　How　about　it；　Jim？〃

Mr。　Maker　relighted　the　stump　of　his　cigar。

〃Take　a　fresh　one；　Jim；〃　said　the　Colonel；　opening　a　bureau　drawer。

Mr。　Maker　took　two。

〃Say；　Colonel；〃　he　demanded；　〃what's　this　bill　that　went　into　the
judiciary　this　morning？〃

〃What　bill？〃　asked　the　Colonel；　blandly。

〃So　you　think　I　ain't　on？〃　Mr。　Maker　inquired。

The　Colonel　laughed。

〃Where　have　you　been；　Jim？〃

〃I've　been　up　to　the　city；　seem'　my　wifethat's　where　I've　been。〃

The　Colonel　smiled；　as　at　a　harmless　fiction。

〃Well；　if　you　weren't　here；　I　don't　see　what　right　you've　got　to
complain。　　I　never　leave　my　good　Democratic　friends　on　the　outside；　do
I？〃

〃That's　all　right；〃　replied　Mr。　Maker；　doggedly；　〃I'm　on；　I'm　here　now；
and　that　bill　in　the　Judiciary　doesn't　pass　without　me。　　I　guess　I　can
stop　it；　too。　　How　about　a　thousand　apiece　for　five　of　us　boys？〃

〃You're　pretty　good　at　a　joke；　Jim；〃　remarked　the　Colonel；　stroking　his
goatee。

〃Maybe　you're　looking　for　a　little　publicity　in　this　here　game；〃　retorted
Mr。　Maker；　darkly。　　〃Say；　Colonel；　ain't　we　always　treated　the　Railroad
on　the　level？〃

〃Jim；〃　asked　the　Colonel；　gently；　〃didn't　I　always　take　care　of　you？〃

He　had　laid　his　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　Mr。　Maker；　who　appeared　slightly
mollified；　and　glanced　at　a　massive　silver　watch。

〃Well；　I'll　be　dropping　in　about　eight　o'clock；〃　was　his　significant
reply；　as　he　took　his　leave。

〃I　guess　we'll　have　to　grease　the　wheels　a　little；〃　the　Colonel　remarked
to　me；　and　gazed　at　the　ceiling。。。。

The　telegram　apropos　of　the　Ward　Five　leader　was　by　no　means　the　only
cipher　message　I　sent　back　during　my　stay。　　I　had　not　needed　to　be　told
that　the　matter　in　hand　would　cost　money；　but　Mr。　Watling's　parting
instruction　to　me　had　been　to　take　the　Colonel's　advice　as　to　specific
sums；　and　obtain　confirmation　from　Fowndes。　　Nor　was　it　any　surprise　to
me　to　find　Democrats　on　intimate　terms　with　such　a　stout　Republican　as
the　Colonel。　　Some　statesman　is　said　to　have　declared　that　he　knew
neither　Easterners　nor　Westerners；　Northerners　nor　Southerners；　but　only
Americans；　so　Colonel　Varney　recognized　neither　Democrats　nor
Republicans；　in　our　legislature　party　divisions　were　sunk　in　a　greater
loyalty　to　the　Railroad。

At　the　Colonel's　suggestion　I　had　laid　in　a　liberal　supply　of　cigars　and
whiskey。　　The　scene　in　his　room　that　evening　suggested　a　session　of　a
sublimated　grand　lodge　of　some　secret　order；　such　were　the　mysterious
comings　and　goings；　knocks　and　suspenses。　　One　after　another　the
〃important〃　men　duly　appeared　and　were　introduced；　the　Colonel　supplying
the　light　touch。

〃Why；　cuss　me　if　it　isn't　Billy！　　Mr。　Paret；　I　want　you　to　shake　hands
with　Mr。　Donovan；　the　floor　leader　of　the　'opposition；'　sir。
Mr。　Donovan　has　had　the　habit　of　coming　up　here　for　a　friendly　chat
ever　since　he　first　came　down　to　the　legislature。　　How　long　is　it；
Billy？〃

〃I　guess　it's　nigh　on　to　fifteen　years；　Colonel。〃

〃Fifteen　years！〃　echoed　the　Colonel；　〃and　he's　so　good　a　Democrat　it
hasn't　changed　his　politics　a　particle。〃

Mr。　Donovan　grinned　in　appreciation　of　this　thrust；　helped　himself
liberally