Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-03-03

few Of the eldors-wero more or less |
influenced in voting by his firm, clear
AYE" or mo" W.
1t was an important session, and the
legislature that year had no time for
anything but business Only two
weeks remained, and still there were
half II dozen bills of great Importance
to be brought up, enot the least Of
which (by that | mean the greatest
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, n lot of valuable min
ing property would go to a certain rail
road corporation known as the big
Seven" If it didn't pass, n 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 u lot Of
lesser lights in the way of attorneys
and lobbyists, had been contesting
the ground for weeks, and the whole
state had its 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.
MIR. Howell, chief lobbyist of the
railroad faction, came hnrriedly into
the sleeping apartment Of Mr.. Dono-
van, chief attorney, who was at the
head OF affairs, one night about twelve
thirty. He planled 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 you? What's
up?"
"a good deal That sanctimonious
cuss, Mayne, is against us, that's
what"
"The-deuce-you-say"
That's straight. Heard it from a
man that knows, and who wouldn't tell
it to me unless he was sure"
"Well?"
"Wcll! We've got to have him, that's
all. If we get him we're o, X. 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. I'm afraid not. That
sort OF duck comes high. can try,
though"
How much do you think it'd take%'
asked the chief, with yawn.
Howell pondersd. -,>:sptF-e Wei" he said,
finally, about twenty-five thousand,
ssihfconld think He's too well fixed to
look at less" e ~
Fix him, said the tired attorney,
lacopically, as lie. turned over to 60 te
sleep again.
Mr.. Mayne was quite surprised to
hear knock at his door at such late
hour. He had been in bed since ten
and was sleeping the sleep afforded by
u clear conscience when the summon,
came.
"Who's therc?' he asked.
"Me-Howell," responded that gen
tleman, regardless of the days OF hi
boyhood, when he stood first in thu
class in grammar at the old brown
school,
} Mr.. Mayne was too well-mannered t.
express surprise. AS a matter Of fact
it is quite probable that he had beef
expecting call of this sort from on
side or the other, though not perhap
: at one o'clock a. m. th
, Just a moment" he called. The
, he pulled on his trousers, thrust hi
feet into a pair of slippers, lighted tn
gas, and opened the door with a calml
; courteous gesture which was very ei
fective. Nr
| "Ah, Mr. Howell! Come in! Have
/ chair. Do you smoke?'
. Mr.. Howell was devotee of Kin
Nicotine, and took the proffered cga
and the chair which Hon. Mr.. Mayn
motioned him to-
, They eyed each other in silence for
t few minutes, putting industriously q
: their cigars the while. Mr. Mayn
E looked politely expectant Mr.. Howell