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was impossible to say。 But he contented himself with a brief defiance。
If the bill passed； he declared； the men who voted for it； the men who
were behind it； would ultimately be driven from political life by an
indignant public。 He had a higher opinion of the voters of the state
than those who accused him of slandering it； than those who sat silent
and had not lifted their voices against this crime。
When the bill was put to a vote he demanded a roll call。
Ten members besides himself were recorded against House Bill No。 709！
In spite of this overwhelming triumph my feelings were not wholly those
of satisfaction when I returned to the hotel and listened to the
exultations and denunciations of such politicians as Letchworth； Young；
and Colonel Varney。 Perhaps an image suggesting Hermann Krebs as some
splendid animal at bay； dragged down by the hounds； is too strong： he had
been ingloriously crushed； and defeat； even for the sake of conviction；
was not an inspiring spectacle。。。。 As the chase swept on over his
prostrate figure I rapidly regained poise and a sense of proportion； a
〃master of life〃 could not permit himself to be tossed about by
sentimentality； and gradually I grew ashamed of my bad quarter of an hour
in the gallery of the House； and of the effect of itwhich lingered
awhileas of a weakness suddenly revealed； which must at all costs be
overcome。 I began to see something dramatic and sensational in Krebs's
performance。。。。
The Ribblevale Steel Company was the real quarry； after all。 And such
had been the expedition； the skill and secrecy； with which our affair was
conducted； that before the Ribblevale lawyers could arrive； alarmed and
breathless； the bill had passed the House； and their only real chance of
halting it had been lost。 For the Railroad controlled the House； not by
owning the individuals composing it； but through the leaders who
dominated it；men like Letchworth and Truesdale。 These； and Colonel
Varney； had seen to it that men who had any parliamentary ability had
been attended to； all save Krebs； who had proved a surprise。 There were
indeed certain members who； although they had railroad passes in their
pockets （which were regarded as just perquisites；the Railroad being so
rich！）； would have opposed the bill if they had felt sufficiently sure of
themselves to cope with such veterans as Letchworth。 Many of these had
allowed themselves to be won over or cowed by the oratory which had
crushed Krebs。
Nor did the Ribblevale peoplebe it recordedscruple to fight fire with
fire。 Their existence； of course； was at stake； and there was no public
to appeal to。 A part of the legal army that rushed to the aid of our
adversaries spent the afternoon and most of the night organizing all
those who could be induced by one means or another to reverse their
sentiments； and in searching for the few who had grievances against the
existing power。 The following morning a motion was introduced to
reconsider； and in the debate that followed； Krebs； still defiant； took
an active part。 But the resolution required a two…thirds vote； and was
lost。
When the battle was shifted to the Senate it was as good as lost。 The
Judiciary Committee of the august body did indeed condescend to give
hearings； at which the Ribblevale lawyers exhausted their energy and
ingenuity without result with only two dissenting votes the bill was
calmly passed。 In vain was the Governor besieged； entreated；
threatened；it was said； Mr。 Trulease had informed protestersso
Colonel Varney gleefully reportedthat he had 〃become fully convinced of
the inherent justice of the measure。〃 On Saturday morning he signed it；
and it became a law。。。。
Colonel Varney； as he accompanied me to the train； did not conceal his
jubilation。
〃Perhaps I ought not to say it； Mr。 Paret； but it couldn't have been done
neater。 That's the art in these little affairs； to get 'em runnin' fast；
to get momentum on 'em before the other party wakes up； and then he can't
stop 'em。〃 As he shook hands in farewell he added； with more gravity：
〃We'll see each other often； sir； I guess。 My very best regards to Mr。
Watling。〃
Needless to say； I had not confided to him the part I had played in
originating House Bill No。 709； now a law of the state。 But as the train
rolled on through the sunny winter landscape a sense of well…being； of
importance and power began to steal through me。 I was victoriously
bearing home my first scalp；one which was by no means to be
despised。。。。 It was not until we reached Rossiter； about five o'clock；
that I was able to get the evening newspapers。 Such was the perfection
of the organization of which I might now call myself an integral part
that the 〃best〃 publications contained only the barest mention；and that
in the legislative news；of the signing of the bill。 I read with
complacency and even with amusement the flaring headlines I had
anticipated in Mr。 Lawler's 'Pilot。'
〃The Governor Signs It！〃
〃Special legislation； forced through by the Railroad Lobby； which will
drive honest corporations from this state。〃
〃Ribblevale Steel Company the Victim。〃
It was common talk in the capital； the article went on to say； that
Theodore Watling himself had drawn up the measure。。。。 Perusing the
editorial page my eye fell on the name； Krebs。 One member of the
legislature above all deserved the gratitude of the people of the state；…
…the member from Elkington。 〃An unknown man； elected in spite of the
opposition of the machine； he had dared to raise his voice against this
iniquity；〃 etc。； etc。
We had won。 That was the essential thing。 And my legal experience had
taught me that victory counts； defeat is soon forgotten。 Even the
discontented； half…baked and heterogeneous element from which the Pilot
got its circulation had short memories。
XI。
The next morning； which was Sunday； I went to Mr。 Watling's house in；
Fillmore Streeta new residence at that time； being admired as the
dernier cri in architecture。 It had a mediaeval look； queer dormers in a
steep roof of red tiles； leaded windows buried deep in walls of rough
stone。 Emerging from the recessed vestibule on a level with the street
were the Watling twins； aglow with health； dressed in identical costumes
of blue。 They had made their bow to society that winter。
〃Why； here's Hugh！〃 said Frances。 〃Doesn't he look pleased with
himself？〃
〃He's come to take us to church；〃 said Janet。
〃Oh； he's much too important；〃 said Frances。 〃He's made a killing of
some sort；haven't you； Hugh？〃。。。
I rang the bell and stood watching them as they departed； reflecting that
I was thirty…two years of age and unmarried。 Mr。 Watling； surrounded
with newspapers and seated before his library fire； glanced up at me with
a welcoming smile： how had I borne the legislative baptism of fire？
Such； I knew； was its implication。
〃Everything went through according to schedule； eh？ Well； I congratulate
you； Hugh；〃 he said。
〃Oh； I didn't have much to do with it；〃 I answered； smiling back at him。
〃I kept out of sight。〃
〃That's an art in itself。〃
〃I had an opportunity； at close range； to study the methods of our
lawmakers。〃
〃They're not particularly edifying；〃 Mr。 Watling replied。 〃But they
seem； unfortunately； to be necessary。〃
Such had been my own thought。
〃Who is this man Krebs？〃 he inquired suddenly。 〃And why didn't Varney
get hold of him and make him listen to reason？〃
〃I'm afraid it wouldn't have been any use；〃 I replied。 〃He was in my
class at Harvard。 I knew himslightly。 He worked his way through； and
had a pretty hard time of it。 I imagine it affected his ideas。〃
〃What is he； a Socialist？〃
〃Something of the sort。〃 In Theodore Watling's vigorous； sanity…exhaling
presence Krebs's act appeared fantastic； ridiculous。 〃He has queer
notions about a new kind of democracy which he says is coming。 I think
he is the kind of man who would be willing to die for it。〃
〃What； in these days！〃 Mr。 Watling looked at me incredulously。 〃If
that's so； we must keep an eye on him； a sincere fanatic is a good deal
more dangerous than a reformer who wants something。 There are such men；〃
he added； 〃but they are rare。 How was the Governor； Trulease？〃 he asked
suddenly。 〃Tractable？〃
〃Behaved like a lamb； although he insisted upon going through with his
little humbug；〃 I said。
Mr。 Watling laughed。 〃They always do；〃 he observed； 〃and waste a lot of
valuable time。 You'll find some light cigars in the corner； Hugh。〃
I sat down beside him and we spent the morning going over the details of
the Ribblevale suit； Mr。 Watling delegating to me certain matters
connected with it of a kind with which I had not hitherto been entrusted；
and he spoke again； before I left； of his intention of taking me into the
firm as soon as the affair could be arranged。 Walking homeward； with my
mind intent upon things to come； I met my mother at the corner of Lyme
Street coming from church。 Her face lighted up at sight of me。
〃Have you been working to…day； Hugh？〃 she asked。
I explained that I had spent the morning with Mr。 Watling。
〃I'll tell you a secret； mother。 I'm going to be