nth, Colonel Broadcastle. I
congratulate myself upon my privilege of reviewing it, to-night. And we
have reason to be proud, as well, of the intelligence which has made
such an organization possible. Your disinterested devotion"--

Broadcastle flung up his chin.

"I am not here to receive compliments, sir!" he said abruptly.

"Nor I to bestow them," answered the Governor, unruffled. "As
commander-in-chief of the state forces, I believe it is not outside my
province to render deserved commendation to a subordinate."

"Oh, do not let us juggle with words, Governor Abbott! It is precisely
as commander-in-chief of the state forces that the time has come for you
to act; it is precisely as your subordinate that I am here to receive
your orders. Assume the responsibility which confronts you, issue the
commands proper to the emergency, and you will have no more tireless
executor of them than I. My regiment can be on duty at the Rathbawne
Mills inside of six hours"--

"But, my good Colonel Broadcastle," broke in the Governor, "the state
has no need of your regiment for the moment! Calling upon the militia is
no light matter, sir. You talk about my ordering out the Ninth as you
would advise me to ring for a messenger-boy!"

"The welfare of the municipality, if not that of the commonwealth,"
replied Colonel Broadcastle firmly, "demands that an immediate stop be
put to this lawlessness. We are dealing with extremities, sir!"

The Governor swung forward, and placed his elbows on the table.

"You will permit me to be the best judge of what the welfare of the
commonwealth may be," he retorted. "Whatever lawlessness exists--and I
think you have grossly exaggerated its extent, Colonel Broadcastle--is
due to the selfish obstinacy of one man. In my opinion, Mr. Rathbawne is
entirely in the wrong. He had fair warning, which he did not choose to
heed. If his property suffers at the hands of the strikers, he has only
himself to blame."

"It is not a question of Mr. Rathbawne, or of any other individual,"
said Broadcastle, "but of the integrity of the state of Alleghenia!"

"The integrity of the state of Alleghenia," answered the Governor dryly,
"has been intrusted, by the vote of her citizens, to me, as chief
executive."

"An action," exclaimed the Colonel, "which I venture to predict they
will shortly have reason most bitterly to regret!"

Governor Abbott rose abruptly to his feet.

"This interview is at an end, Colonel Broad