"You mean that he's in the employ of the Ribblevale people?"the Colonel inquired.
"I don't mean anything of the kind,"I retorted,with more heat,perhaps,than I realized.The Colonel looked at me queerly.
"That's all right,Mr.Paret.Of course I don't want to question your judgment,sir.And you say he's a friend of yours.""I said I knew him at college.""But you will pardon me,"the Colonel went on,"when I tell you that I've had some experience with that breed,and I have yet to see one of 'em you couldn't come to terms with in some way--in some way,"he added,significantly.I did not pause to reflect that the Colonel's attitude,from his point of view (yes,and from mine,--had I not adopted it?)was the logical one.In that philosophy every man had his price,or his weakness.Yet,such is the inconsistency of human nature,I was now unable to contemplate this attitude with calmness.
"Mr.Krebs is a lawyer.Has he accepted a pass from the Railroad?"Idemanded,knowing the custom of that corporation of conferring this delicate favour on the promising young talent in my profession.
"I reckon he's never had the chance,"said Mr.Varney.
"Well,has he taken a pass as a member of the legislature?""No,--I remember looking that up when he first came down.Sent that back,if I recall the matter correctly."Colonel Varney went to a desk 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 declared--that was all there was to it.
"Won't he--listen 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.""No--no flaw in his--record?"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 d--d!
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 itself--perhaps 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 709ought to pass.
