their word."

The President and General Attorney and thirty-two underling attorneys of
the Anaconda Airline, in accord with Mr. Gwynn's request, descended upon
Washington. The thirty-two underling attorneys, coming to town by twos
and threes, were amazed when they found a gathering of the Anaconda
Airline clans. They collected in groups and clots at the Shorcham, the
Arlington, and Willard's to discuss their amazement.

The President and General Attorney, if they were smitten of wonder,
concealed it, and within the hour after their arrival rang the doorbell
of Mr. Gwynn. They were ushered into a room the tamed splendors of which
told the thorough taste that had conceived it. Then their cards went up
to Mr. Gwynn.

Word came back that Mr. Gwynn was deeply engaged. Would the President
and the General Attorney of the Anaconda Airline call again in an hour?
The President and General Attorney had for long harbored a theory that
Mr. Gwynn was the greatest man on earth. Now they knew it; the fact was
displayed beyond dispute by his failure to instantly see them. The
President and General Attorney withdrew, silent in their awe, and Mr.
Gwynn dispatched Matzai to find Richard.

On the hour's even stroke, the President and General Attorney were again
at Mr. Gwynn's. That personage was still unable to meet them; however,
he sent Richard with written excuses for his absence and the suggestion
that Richard, speaking in his place, would put them in possession of his
wishes.

"Mr. Gwynn desired to say," observed Richard, "that Anaconda Airline
interests deeply depend upon Mr. Frost for Speaker."

"What we've said from the beginning!" remarked the President to the
General Attorney.

"Precisely what we've said!" observed the General Attorney.

They had said nothing on that point; but they were too well drilled in
their own interests to fail of complete coincidence with a gentleman who
could call a special shareholders' meeting, elect a new directory, and
revise the entire official family of the Anaconda Airline within any
given thirty days.

"Mr. Gwynn asks you, then," said Richard, "since you and he agree on the
propriety of Mr. Frost for Speaker, to consult with Senator Hanway."

And now the Anaconda Airline was in the war for the House gavel. Under
the supervision of Senator Hanway, it brought its whole smothering
weight to bear upon the Hawke twenty of those twenty-three whose
districts it dominated. The Hawke twenty wri