friendship should not continue, and should not be known."

"Simply this," answered Cavendish: "I'm--nothing! You're the
Lieutenant-Governor,--who is spoken of, if you care to know it, in the
office of the 'Sentinel' as the only honest official in the state of
Alleghenia. You mustn't tie up to me, nor I to you. I've told you what
my end is going to be. You don't believe it, perhaps, but it's none the
less true. And yours--do you know that the law-abiding element looks up
to you as a kind of Messiah? Do you know that you are the dawn of honor
and integrity which lies behind the present black cloud of lawlessness?
I tell you, John, the promise of your future is such as might nerve a
beaten Napoleon to renewed endeavor. In your hands lies the salvation of
the state."

"I wish I could think so," said the Lieutenant-Governor. "God knows I'd
willingly cut one of them off, if I thought its loss could benefit the
commonwealth. But, as I've had occasion to say to others, in the present
emergency I'm as helpless as a babe unborn. You see how things are
going--one might as well appeal, so far as any hope of success is
concerned, to McGrath himself as to Governor Abbott. There's no getting
around it, Spencer. It's a declaration of anarchy pure and simple, and
with the official seal of Alleghenia at the bottom of the document.
Iniquitous wrong is being done, not only to Mr. Rathbawne in refusing
him the protection of the law to which he is entitled, but to the cause
of the strikers themselves, if they can justly be said to have a cause.
Nothing ever was or ever will be gained for the benefit of the many by
the violence of the few. It can only end in one way: by the
interposition of the federal troops. You know what happened at Chicago.
It will be the same thing here; and before it is over we shall see
people shot down like rats in the streets of Kenton City."

"I hope it won't come to that," said Cavendish; "but even so, all's well
that ends well. Provided that order is finally restored"--

"But what credit is it," broke in Barclay, "to the state of Alleghenia
to have her law-breakers suppressed by the national government? Don't
you see that it would be only a final proof that she is too incompetent
or too indifferent to do it herself? From the point of view of the
state's good name, I doubt which is worst, her present attitude or the
interference of federal force."

"Will it come to the latter in any event?"

"Undoubtedly. T