o you and your
neighbors make boarding the scholars? I have pulled out State money for
more than a thousand miles of State roads in this county. I got the
State to pay every cent of the expense of that iron bridge across the
river. I lugged off bigger appropriations for my district than any other
man who has been in the House--because I know the ropes and have the
pull. I could have played angel, and not brought home a plum. Would that
suit you?"

"I ain't detracting from what you got for us. But while you was dipping
with your right hand for us, you was dipping with your left hand for
yourself and them that trained with you," retorted Davis.

"And I wasn't to take any ordinary, human, business precautions about
looking out for myself in any way, then?"

"You wasn't supposed to be representing yourself down there."

"For one hundred and fifty dollars every two years, and my mileage, I
was to give up all my own business and my interests, and play statesman,
pure and holy, for you up here? Refuse to help those men down there who
helped me when I wanted something, and go down in the rotunda twice a
day and thumb my nose at the portraits of the fathers of the State
because they played politics in their time? That what you wanted me to
do?"

"I've only got this to say," retorted Mr. Davis, afraid to argue:
"You're proposing to jam your grandson down our throats, now that you've
made your pile and got tired. You're going to have a man from this
district that will do what you say and keep on flimflamming the people.
I and them with me say no, and we'll show you as much in the caucus
to-day."

"For the sake of having your own stubborn way--like most of the others
that are howling about 'The People' in this State just now--you are
ready to tip over this district's apple-cart, are you? Is that what you
are trying to do? You take what I have given you, legislation and money
that I've paid for labor in this section, and then propose to kick my
pride in the tenderest place? I'll show you, Davis!"

"Well, show! We ain't a mite scared."

For some moments the throng in the town hall had shown waning interest
in this discussion. There seemed to be matters outside that distracted
the attention of those near the windows.

"There's a fire up Jo Quacca way!" called some one. The windows of town
hall were high and uncurtained. All could see. Smoke, ominous and
yellow, ballooned in huge volumes across the blue sky of the June day.