to receive him, but the latter reseated himself, as soon
as Broadcastle had introduced his fellow-members of the Committee. He
listened to what followed with an air of thoughtfulness, tinged with a
faint and exasperating suggestion of amusement. At a neighboring table,
his official stenographer took down every word which fell.

Colonel Broadcastle was not accustomed to mince matters, when the
occasion demanded brevity and conciseness. Now, he stepped to within a
few feet of the Governor's table, and stood rigidly confronting him,
with his hands clasped before him on the head of his stick, in the
position of parade-rest.

"Governor Abbott," he said, in his curt, dry voice, "these gentlemen and
myself form a Committee appointed by a meeting of the business men of
Kenton City, to protest against the state of affairs now existing in
connection with the strike at the Rathbawne Mills. It is only generous
to presume that other matters have diverted your attention from an
appreciation of these conditions. The situation is without parallel in
the annals of Alleghenia. Disorder is rampant, and destruction of
property is freely indulged in by the strikers without any apparent fear
of molestation. Despite the fact that there is a large police-force, it
makes no effort to check these operations. The sole reply of Chief
Pendle to the protests of those interested in the promotion of law and
order has been that he will not suffer any outside interference in the
control of his department--the which, in view of his responsibility to
the public, can only be regarded as sheer and intolerable insolence! An
appeal to Mayor Goadby has elicited the response that the whole matter
lies in the Governor's hands."

The Colonel paused. The Governor, leaning back in his chair, and
fingering a pencil, smiled slightly and nodded his head.

"I suppose that is so," he said. "Continue, continue, Colonel
Broadcastle."

"It is the sense of the law-abiding element of Kenton City," went on the
Colonel, flushing at the condescension of his tone, "that the limit of
endurance has been reached. If, willfully or otherwise, the police do
not act, my regiment is prepared to act as substitute. I have already
placed it at the service of the Adjutant-General. His reply, like the
Mayor's, was to refer me to you for orders. I am here to receive them,
sir."

"Your offer is appreciated," said the Governor suavely. "We of Kenton
City have reason to be proud of the Ni