in the corner of the room； unlocked it； drew forth a black book； and
running his fingers through the pages stopped at the letter K。 〃Yes；
sent back his legislative pass； but I've known 'em to do that when they
were holding out for something more。 There must be somebody who can get
close to him。〃
The Colonel ruminated awhile。 Then he strode to the door and called out
to the group of men who were always lounging in the hall。
〃Tell Alf Young I want to see him； Fred。〃
I waited； by no means free from uneasiness and anxiety； from a certain
lack of self…respect that was unfamiliar。 Mr。 Young； the Colonel
explained； was a legal light in Galesburg； near Elkington；the Railroad
lawyer there。 And when at last Mr。 Young appeared he proved to be an
oily gentleman of about forty； inclining to stoutness； with one of those
〃blue；〃 shaven faces。
〃Want me； Colonel？〃 he inquired blithely； when the door had closed behind
him； and added obsequiously； when introduced to me； 〃Glad to meet you；
Mr。 Paret。 My regards to Mr。 Watling； when you go back。
〃Alf；〃 demanded the Colonel； 〃what do you know of this fellow Krebs？〃
Mr。 Young laughed。 Krebs was 〃nutty；〃 he declaredthat was all there
was to it。
〃Won't helisten to reason？〃
〃It's been tried； Colonel。 Say； he wouldn't know a hundred…dollar bill
if you showed him one。〃
〃What does he want？〃
〃Oh； something；that's sure； they all want something。〃 Mr。 Young
shrugged his shoulder expressively； and by a skillful manipulation of his
lips shifted his cigar from one side of his mouth to the other without
raising his hands。 〃But it ain't money。 I guess he's got a notion that
later on the labour unions'll send him to the United States Senate some
day。 He's no slouch； either； when it comes to law。 I can tell you
that。〃
〃Nono flaw in hisrecord？〃 Colonel Varney's agate eyes sought those of
Mr。 Young； meaningly。
〃That's been tried； too；〃 declared the Galesburg attorney。 〃Say； you can
believe it or not； but we've never dug anything up so far。 He's been too
slick for us； I guess。〃
〃Well；〃 exclaimed the Colonel； at length； 〃let him squeal and be dd！
He can't do any more than make a noise。 Only I hoped we'd be able to
grease this thing along and slide it through the Senate this afternoon；
before they got wind of it。〃
〃He'll squeal； all right； until you smother him；〃 Mr。 Young observed。
〃We'll smother him some day！〃 replied the Colonel； savagely。
Mr。 Young laughed。
But as I made my way toward the State House I was conscious of a feeling
of relief。 I had no sooner gained a front seat in the gallery of the
House of Representatives when the members rose； the Senate marched
gravely in； the Speaker stopped jesting with the Chaplain； and over the
Chaplain's face came suddenly an agonized expression。 Folding his hands
across his stomach he began to call on God with terrific fervour； in an
intense and resounding voice。 I was struck suddenly by the irony of it
all。 Why have a legislature when Colonel Paul Varney was so efficient！
The legislature was a mere sop to democratic prejudice； to pray over it
heightened the travesty。 Suppose there were a God after all？ not
necessarily the magnified monarch to whom these pseudo…democrats prayed；
but an Intelligent Force that makes for righteousness。 How did He； or
It； like to be trifled with in this way？ And； if He existed； would not
His disgust be immeasurable as He contemplated that unctuous figure in
the 〃Prince Albert〃 coat； who pretended to represent Him？
As the routine business began I searched for Krebs； to find him presently
at a desk beside a window in the rear of the hall making notes on a
paper； there was； confessedly； little satisfaction in the thought that
the man whose gaunt features I contemplated was merely one of those
impractical idealists who beat themselves to pieces against the forces
that sway the world and must forever sway it。 I should be compelled to
admit that he represented something unique in that assembly if he had the
courage to get up and oppose House Bill 709。 I watched him narrowly； the
suggestion intruded itselfperhaps he had been 〃seen；〃 as the Colonel
expressed it。 I repudiated it。 I grew impatient； feverish； the
monotonous reading of the clerk was interrupted now and then by the sharp
tones of the Speaker assigning his various measures to this or that
committee； 〃unless objection is offered；〃 while the members moved about
and murmured among themselves； Krebs had stopped making notes； he was
looking out of the window。 At last； without any change of emphasis in
his droning voice； the clerk announced the recommendation of the
Committee on Judiciary that House Bill 709 ought to pass。
Down in front a man had risen from his seatthe felicitous Mr。
Truesdale。 Glancing around at his fellow…members he then began to
explain in the impressive but conversational tone of one whose counsels
are in the habit of being listened to； that this was merely a little
measure to remedy a flaw in the statutes。 Mr。 Truesdale believed in
corporations when corporations were good； and this bill was calculated to
make them good； to put an end to jugglery and concealment。 Our great
state； he said； should be in the forefront of such wise legislation；
which made for justice and a proper publicity； but the bill in question
was of greater interest to lawyers than to laymen； a committee composed
largely of lawyers had recommended it unanimously； and he was sure that
no opposition would develop in the House。 In order not to take up their
time he asked： therefore； that it be immediately put on its second and
third reading and allowed to pass。
He sat down； and I looked at Krebs。 Could he； could any man； any lawyer；
have the presumption to question such an obviously desirable measure； to
arraign the united judgment of the committee's legal talent？ Such was
the note Mr。 Truesdale so admirably struck。 As though fascinated； I
continued to gaze at Krebs。 I hated him； I desired to see him
humiliated； and yet amazingly I found myself wishing with almost equal
vehemence that he would be true to himself。 He was rising；slowly；
timidly； I thought； his hand clutching his desk lid； his voice sounding
wholly inadequate as he addressed the Speaker。 The Speaker hesitated；
his tone palpably supercilious。
〃The gentleman fromfrom Elkington； Mr。 Krebs。〃
There was a craning of necks； a staring； a tittering。 I burned with
vicarious shame as Krebs stood there awkwardly； his hand still holding
the desk。 There were cries of 〃louder〃 when he began； some picked up
their newspapers； while others started conversations。 The Speaker rapped
with his gavel； and I failed to hear the opening words。 Krebs paused；
and began again。 His speech did not； at first； flow easily。
〃Mr。 Speaker； I rise to protest against this bill； which in my opinion is
not so innocent as the gentleman from St。 Helen's would have the House
believe。 It is on a par； indeed； with other legislation that in past
years has been engineered through this legislature under the guise of
beneficent law。 No； not on a par。 It is the most arrogant； the most
monstrous example of special legislation of them all。 And while I do not
expect to be able to delay its passage much longer than the time I shall
be on my feet〃
〃Then why not sit down？〃 came a voice； just audible。
As he turned swiftly toward the offender his profile had an eagle…like
effect that startled me； seemingly realizing a new quality in the man。
It was as though he had needed just the stimulus of that interruption to
electrify and transform him。 His awkwardness disappeared； and if he was
a little bombastic； a little 〃young；〃 he spoke with the fire of
conviction。
〃Because；〃 he cried； 〃because I should lose my self…respect for life if I
sat here and permitted the political organization of a railroad； the
members of which are here under the guise of servants of the people； to
cow me into silence。 And if it be treason to mention the name of that
Railroad in connection with its political tyranny； then make the most of
it。〃 He let go of the desk； and tapped the copy of the bill。 〃What are
the facts？ The Boyne Iron Works； under the presidency of Adolf Scherer；
has been engaged in litigation with the Ribblevale Steel Company for some
years： and this bill is intended to put into the hands of the attorneys
for Mr。 Scherer certain information that will enable him to get
possession of the property。 Gentlemen； that is what ‘legal practice' has
descended to in the hands of respectable lawyers。 This device originated
with the resourceful Mr。 Theodore Watling； and if it had not had the
approval of Mr。 Miller Gorse； it would never have got any farther than
the judiciary committee。 It was confided to the skillful care of Colonel
Paul Varney to be steered through this legislature； as hundreds of other
measures have been steered through；without unnecessary noise。 It may
be asked why the Railroad should bother itself by lending its political
organization to private corporations？ I will tell you。 Because
corporations like the Boyne corporation are a part of a network of
interests； these corporations aid the Railroad to maintain its monopoly；
and in return receive rebates。〃
Krebs had raised his voice as the murmurs became louder。 At this point a
sharp…faced lawyer from Belfast got to his feet and objected that the
gentleman from Elkington was wasting
the time of the House； indulging in hearsay。 His remarks were not
germane； etc。 The Speaker rapped again； with a fine show of
impartiality； and cautioned the member from Elkington。
〃Very well；〃 replied Krebs。 〃I have said what I wanted to say on that
score； and I know it to be the truth。 And if this House does not find it
germane； the day is coming when its constituents will。〃
Whereupon he entered into a discussion of the bill； dissecting it with
more calmness； with an ability that must have commanded； even from some
hostile minds； an unwilling respect。 The penalty； he said； was
outrageous； hitherto unheard of in law；putting a corporation in the
hands of a receiver； at the mercy of those who coveted it； because one of
its officer