The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-26

open IN my pain. NDdt the use OI me
education. anyhow. when I don't get to use
it? Now, If / had a college course and
could get a pull with the men you can I'd
draw the fifteen hundred and live in Chi
cago; while as 1t is. I'll have to go home
and pillow for corn"
I'm sorry l can't trade the place or I'd
throw il TO you. Shacklett." said Mckee.
but the that's got it in his pocket is
going to use IL for his own advantage. and
he's not from our section. Come around
tonight. and we'll go out little while"
When Mckee reached the circular CORR
dor, under the DOME he turned 10 the right
and walked UP TO two men standing there.
Mckee spoke these words he checked
his walk for an instant, and ten minutes
later one of the men entered the room OF
the judiciary committee. He was a men,
Der OF the House from the northern part
Of the State.
"Shacklett. you've come I'D faster than
anybody I ever saw around here" he said
at once after taking his seat, land now
you've been highly honored by being given
forlorn hope to lead. It's up 10 you, and
the remuneration is propOrtionate. If L
don't get the asylum for my town I'm rele-
gated. that's all. If do get it I'm fixed.
I'm paying high prices for winning cards
because I have to- To-day 1 traded my
own promised place the latest investi-
eating committee that's been in sight for
ten years for a clerkship in the railroad
and warehouse and came here to tell you
why.
"All the votes that can be got by them
smooth people in the lobby has been fixed,
and ali the votes that can be traded for
have been got, until have to carry a pass
/ book to keep track of the bills I've prom
Used to vote for. All my personal friends
/ and their personal friends have come to
the rescue, and after the whole lot is added
| together my town lacks nine votes of hav-
ing enough to get that asylum. tn be in
my town. anyhow, for if my present REST
| dence don't get il I'll be taken TO il in
! short order, Now I've plan to get the
/ nine votes. and that's what 1 want to talk
/ about.
"Ill see that you get in the railroad and
warehouse if you'll get for my town nine
votes in the House on the asylum BILL You
| can do il in this way: There's some men
in the Legisla ture-and you know best who
/ they are-who don't care where the thing
/ goes, except that they want to locate 1t
right. Now, there's not much difference
between my town and the other, anyhow,
and some of the members wouldn't keep
you out OF a good thing if they could give
it to you by voting my way. If you tell
em that there's fifteen hundred year in
it for you they'll vote right. see? I've spent
a good deal of time on this thing, working
il all out, and have picked on you as the
| one that can carry it through You can
if you will. and you will If you amt dam
phool-which you amt. Shall We call it
a go?"
Shackletts eyes shone for brief instant
as he turned to some papers to hide his
citation under a lack of interest.
81 don't know whether l can do that or
not" he said. "for you put entirely too
high an estimate on my ability to vote my
friends But I'll try. and if 1 fail you can
trade the clerkship back for the place on
the investigating committee. or dispose Of
it easily enough. of course. When's the
bill coming up?'
Shacklett went over to the House as soon
as his visitor had left and got a roll, which
he studied for some time. He selected nine
members who. he thought. might help him
out in the present situation of affairs
There were two or three more that seemed
thought of increasing his list to provide
for contingencies; but he dismissed that
idea with the determination to get the nine
by some hook or crook and to make it a
matter of necessity so that ne could not
afford to fail and hence must succeed. He
went over to the Leland and saw two Of
the quarry there, and one of them promised
his vote with heartiness that was very
questions that 1t took the edge off Shack
let's bright antcipations by the time he
got a definite promise Then Shacklett
went to the Palace and saw Arnold, OF
Piatt, whom he had once helped postpone
a meeting of the judiciary committee, and
found that member glad Of an opportunity
to reciprocate without any cost to himself.
BY the time Shacklett had seen Dunbar at
the St. Nicholas, and had talked from the
latter's bill, now in the hands of the Senate
judiciary committee, to the clerkship in
the railroad and warehouse Office there
was barely time to get supper before going
to McKees room to keep his engagement
there.
He found Mckee talking to member of
the lobby from Chicago, and the three
walked over to a quiet place much fire.
quented by the Statehouse crowd. Ever
since Shacklett had learned the difference
between threes and full hand, which took
him some time in the dense ignorance of
cards which he brought from his home.
some of the men appointed from Chicago
districts had been anxious to teach him the
second lesson of the great Legislature
game, and had lost considerable money in
previous attempts. Shacklett took to poker
like some youths before him in the world
took to academy board and India ink. and
some others to dominants and diminished
seventies. His nerve was phenomenal. even
in the state capital. and his SAVIOR faire
was charming enough TO bring back the
to make him their victim This evening
being the winner, he was compelled to sit
the game out, and it was late when he
finally took his hat.
You've got enough to take trip" said
Mckee. land 1 propose that you go over
home with me Friday evening and stay
till Monday. It's pretty quiet, but there's
some of the incest people in Illinois at
Warsaw, and you'll get TO see the river
you've been saying you'd like to for
yourself Come now, get your transporta-
ton for my road the outside OF your
book and so over with me. won't your
Shacklett accepted the invitation and on
his TO the room MANNED how IN sae