or cadaverous； Irish； German or American； all bore in common a certain
indefinable stamp。 Having eaten my breakfast in a large dining…room that
resounded with the clatter of dishes； I directed my steps to the
apartment occupied from year to year by Colonel Paul Barney；
generalissimo of the Railroad on the legislative battlefield；a position
that demanded a certain uniqueness of genius。
〃How do you do； sir；〃 he said； in a guarded but courteous tone as he
opened the door。 I entered to confront a group of three or four figures；
silent and rather hostile； seated in a haze of tobacco smoke around a
marble…topped table。 On it reposed a Bible； attached to a chain。
〃You probably don't remember me； Colonel；〃 I said。 〃My name is Pared；
and I'm associated with the firm of Watling； Fowndes； and Ripon。〃
His air of marginality；heightened by a grey moustache and goatee a la
Napoleon Third；vanished instantly； he became hospitable； ingratiating。
〃Whywhy certainly； you were down heah with Mr。 Fowndes two years ago。〃
The Colonel spoke with a slight Southern accent。 〃To be sure； sir。 I've
had the honour of meeting your father。 Mr。 Norris； of North Haven； meet
Mr。 Paretone of our rising lawyers。。。〃 I shook hands with them all and
sat down。 Opening his long coat； Colonel Varney revealed two rows of
cigars； suggesting cartridges in a belt。 These he proceeded to hand out
as he talked。 〃I'm glad to see you here； Mr。 Paret。 You must stay
awhile； and become acquainted with the men whoahemare shaping the
destinies of a great state。 It would give me pleasure to escort you
about。〃
I thanked him。 I had learned enough to realize how important are the
amenities in politics and business。 The Colonel did most of the
conversing； he could not have filled with efficiency and ease the
important post that was his had it not been for the endless fund of
humorous anecdotes at his disposal。 One by one the visitors left； each
assuring me of his personal regard： the Colonel closed the door； softly；
turning the key in the lock； there was a sly look in his black eyes as he
took a chair in proximity to mine。
〃Well； Mr。 Paret；〃 he asked softly； 〃what's up？〃
Without further ado I handed him Mr。 Gorse's letter； and another Mr。
Watling had given me for him； which contained a copy of the bill。 He
read these； laid them on the table； glancing at me again； stroking his
goatee the while。 He chuckled。
〃By gum！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I take off my hat to Theodore Watling； always
did。〃 He became contemplative。 〃It can be done； Mr。 Paret； but it's
going to take some careful driving； sir； some reaching out and flicking
'em when they r'ar and buck。 Paul Varney's never been stumped yet。 Just
as soon as this is introduced we'll have Gates and Armstrong down here
they're the Ribblevale attorneys； aren't they？ I thought so；and the
best legal talent they can hire。 And they'll round up all the
disgruntled fellows； you know；that ain't friendly to the Railroad。
We've got to do it quick； Mr。 Paret。 Gorse gave you a letter to the
Governor； didn't he？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。
〃Well； come along。 I'll pass the word around among the boys； just to let
'em know what to expect。〃 His eyes glittered again。 〃I've been
following this Ribblevale business；〃 he added； 〃and I understand Leonard
Dickinson's all ready to reorganize that company； when the time comes。
He ought to let me in for a little； on the ground floor。〃
I did not venture to make any promises for Mr。 Dickinson。
〃I reckon it's just as well if you were to meet me at the Governor's
office；〃 the Colonel added reflectively； and the hint was not lost on me。
〃It's better not to let 'em find out any sooner than they have to where
this thing comes from；you understand。〃 He looked at his watch。 〃How
would nine o'clock do？ I'll be there； with Trulease； when you come；by
accident； you understand。 Of course he'll be reasonable； but when they
get to be governors they have little notions； you know； and you've got to
indulge 'em； flatter 'em a little。 It doesn't hurt； for when they get
their backs up it only makes more trouble。〃
He put on a soft； black felt hat； and departed noiselessly。。。
At nine o'clock I arrived at the State House and was ushered into a great
square room overlooking the park。 The Governor was seated at a desk
under an elaborate chandelier； and sure enough； Colonel Varney was there
beside him； making barely perceptible signals。
〃It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance； Mr。 Paret；〃 said Mr。
Trulease。 〃Your name is a familiar one in your city； sir。 And I gather
from your card that you are associated with my good friend； Theodore
Watling。〃
I acknowledged it。 I was not a little impressed by the perfect blend of
cordiality； democratic simplicity and impressiveness Mr。 Trulease had
achieved。 For he had managed； in the course of a long political career；
to combine in exact proportions these elements which； in the public mind；
should up the personality of a chief executive。 Momentarily he overcame
the feeling of superiority with which I had entered his presence；
neutralized the sense I had of being associated now with the higher
powers which had put him where he was。 For I knew all about his
〃record。〃
〃You're acquainted with Colonel Varney？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes； Governor； I've met the Colonel；〃 I said。
〃Well； I suppose your firm is getting its share of business these days；〃
Mr。 Trulease observed。 I acknowledged it was； and after discussing for a
few moments the remarkable growth of my native city the Governor tapped
on his desk and inquired what he could do for me。 I produced the letter
from the attorney for the Railroad。 The Governor read it gravely。
〃Ah；〃 he said； 〃from Mr。 Gorse。〃 A copy of the proposed bill was
enclosed； and the Governor read that also； hemmed and hawed a little；
turned and handed it to Colonel Varney； who was sitting with a detached
air； smoking contemplatively； a vacant expression on his face。 〃What do
you think of this； Colonel？〃
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。