The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-18
weeks remained. and stiIl there were

| weeks renamed, ana Still there were
half dozen bills Of great Importance
to be brought up, not the least Of
which (by that l mean the gre latest
one) was the Big Seven" bill
have not the document by me just
now and cannot, therefore, give the
details. Sufficient to state, however,
that, if it passed, alot of valua bic min
ing property would go to a certain rail-
road corporation known as the big
Seven" If it didn't pass, big mining
corporation would retain possession Of
the property. Is that clear?
Well, the Big Seven" bill had been
On in the lobby all winter. The chief
attorney of the railroad company and
the chief counsel Of the mining COM
pany, each accompanied by lot of
lesser lights in the way of attorneys
and lobbyists, had been contesting
the ground for weeks, and the whole
state had it's eyes on the capital As
the time for the introduction of the bill
grew near anxious citizens from all
portions of the state began to arrive.
There was the lull before the storm.
Mr. Howell, chief lobbyist of the
railroad faction, came hurriedly into
the sleeping apartment of Mr.. Dono-
van, chief attorney, who was at the
head of affairs, one night about twelve
thirty. He planked himself down on
the bed, rather out of breath for
man who prided himself on being al
ways calm and deliberate. The chief
turned over.
"Hullo, HOWELL that youP What's
up?'
"a good deal That sanctimonious
cuss, Mayne, is against US, that's
what"
"The-dcuce-you-sayr'
That's straight. Heard it from
man that knows, and who wouldn't tell
1t to me unless he was sure"
s'Weu?"
"Well! We've got to have him. that's
an If we get him we're O. K. He
can swing at least six or seven votes by
merely saying aye or 'no'-just as he
pleases."
"Can we"
81 don't know. Tn afraid net That
sort of duck comes high. ! can try,
though"
How much do you think it'd take?''
asked the chief, with a yawn-
Howell pondered. well" he said,
finally, "about twenty-five thousand,
/ should think. He's too well axed to
look at less"
Elk him." said the tired attorney,
laconically, as he turned over to go to
sleep again.
Mr.. Mayne was quite surprised to
hear a knock at his door at such late
hour. He had been in bed since ten,
and was sleeping the sleep afforded by
a clear conscience when the summons
came.
who's there?~ he asked.
.'Me-HowelL" responded that gen
tleman, regardless of the days of his
ooyhood, when he stood FIRST in the
class in grammar at the old brown
school.
Mr.. Mayne was too well-mannered to
express surprise. AS matter of fact,
It is quite probable that he had been
side or the other, though not perhaps
as one O'CLOCK a. m.
Just a moment" he called. Then
he pulled on his trousers, thrust his
feet into a pair of slippers, lighted tho
gas. and opened the door with calmly
courteous gesture which was very eff
fective.
''Ah, Mr.. Howell, Come in! Have a
chair. Do You mshe?"
Mr. Howell was devetee of King
Nicotine, and took the proffered cigar
and the chair which Hon. Mr., Msyne
motioued him to.
They eyed each other ia silence for
few minutes, euding iHdustriouslY at
their cigars the whiie. Mr. Msype
looked politely expectant Mr.. Howell,