San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-04
:. Yo1l nrc IN. BnSSett2,' he nsltcd.


you are MT. BdssettS" he asked.
"You are Mr.. BassettT' he asked.
"That is my name. Take seat, sir"
replied Windward
''Then you know something about the
French spoliation claims, guessr' said
the man.
Windward smiled knowingly, and nod
ded his head, and wondered what was
coming next.
IL knew old Tom Bassett-he was your
grandfather
MY great uncle" explained Wind
ward.
"Well, why he never got those claims
through is a mystery. Hewas mighty
smart man-as smart, sir, as they make
'em-aud he worked hard at it all his
life"
Curious" said Windward.
Every; it beat air. exclaimed the
countryman. However" he continued,
"rm in hopes they really will go through
this winter. Our member of congress
promised me personally that he would
introduce the bill and push it'-those
were his words. Said he, MIR. Blamms,
will push it,"
81 hope ne will" said Windward. "Fd
like to get my $4,000.
"Well, I've only four thousand and
| odd dollars, but they would come handy,
all the same" said Mr.. Blamms, "espe-
cially as I've got a mortgage to raise
next spring. Now, Mr.. Bassett, you are
interested in this thing. You see, here
it is. Our member will push the bill,
but there ought to be somebody to push
him. Now, then, couldn't you go down
to Washington and see how it looks?
We can't pay much; but there are
number of us where belong who are in
terested. and guess we could make up
q fee of $500 in case the bill went through
unless you're as squeamish as old Tom
Bassett was" ..-....-. ..... be-.
How so?' asked Windward.
"Why, ne used to say he wouldn't talk
money. IF sucoeed, he said, I'll have
money enough, and / wouldn't charge
anybody for failing He was great
man, Tom Bassett was; yes, sir, big
| man"
well, will think about it," said
Windward; and after some further con-
versation on the subject Mr.. Blamms de-
parted, much encouraged by the young
lawyers interest.
"He's d chip of the old block, " thought
Mr. BlamlnS as he thumped on down the
long stairways to the street.
Windward did think about it that day,
| and very seriously, and something in
this vein: Here are claims aggregating
| $12, 10000 | have small fortune at
stake myself The claims are just. Con-
gress has SO confessed time and again.
They must be paid, and some time will
be paid. am familiar with the case.
It offers splendid chances for good work.
| can make n reputation at least l am
doing nothing here. Why is not this my
''opening?' believe I'll run C0T'n to
Washington, if only for few days, and
take look around. ..
Feeling thus, he wrote two letters
one TO his mother, in which he antici-
pated and did his best to remove her OBJ.
| iections, and one to his old college chum,
Peter Stevens.
The replies were such as he had ex.
pected. Mrs. Bassett opposed the visit,
but gave a grudgipg consent, and
Stevens overlooked with cordiality and
pressed him by all means to come. 81
advise you to wait, however, till Jan
uary," he wrote, ''as congress does little
before the holidays. From January on
everything jumps, This is the political
session, however. We are all president
making, and can't promise that French
claims will get much attention. l still
hang on to my Office, as l find the same
scarcity of clients of which you com
plain, only know McArdle, of whom
you wrote, by his reputation, which is
that of a man who says less and does
more than any lobby lawyer in town.
They tell many strange stories about
him; he used to spree dreadfully, but |
| understand is SOLDERING down. He lives
in good style, and has very handsome