The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

now are we coming on in the political
field?"
I'VE are doing business there. and
you have the Argus to thank for it.
You-or your idea, should say-has a
respectable following all over the
State now: as 1t didn't have until we
began to leg for it,
Again Kent acquiesced, making no
mention Of sundry journeys he had
made for the sole purpose Of enlisting
other editors. or Of the open house
Miss Van Brock was keeping for out
of-town newspaper men visiting the
capital.
Moreover, we've served your turn
in the Transwestern affair."" Hildreth
went on. Public interest is on the qui
vive for new developments in that. BY
the way, has the capitol gang any no
ton Of your part in all this upstir-
ring?"
Kent smiled and handed the editor
an open letter. 1t was from Receiver
Guilford. The post of general counsel
for the Transwestern was vacant. and
the letter was a formal tender OF the
office to the Hon. David Kent"
Him. said the editor. II don't un-
derstand that little bit"
'Why?"
'1f they could get you to accept a
general agency in Central Africa or
place where you'd be safely out Of the
way. it would be evident enough. But
here they are proposing to take you
right into the heart OF things"
Kent got a match out of the editors
desk and relighted his cigar.
you've got brain-fag tonight, Hill
dreth. It's a bribe, pure and simple.
They argue that it is merely a matter
of dollars and cents to me, as it would
n of nd
to retain me just as they would any
other attorney whose opposition they
might want to get rid Of. Don't you
see?"
Sure. I was thinking up the wrong
spout. Have you replied to the ma
jor?,'
Eyes. 1 told him my present en-
gagements preclude the possibility of
considering his offer; much to my re-
gret."
Did you say that? You're a cold
plucked one, Kent. and I'm coming to
admire you. But now Is the time for
you to begin to look out. They have
spotted you, and their attempt to buy
you has failed. 1 don't know how
deeply you have gone into Bucks tin
kering with the Universal people, but
If you are in the way of getting the
grip you spoke of-as this letter seems
to indicate-you want to be careful
Kent promised and went his way.
One of his saving graces was the abil-
ity to hold his tongue. even in a conf
Dental talk with as good a friend as
Hildfeth. AS for example: he had let
the suggestion Of watching the Sec
retary OF States office come as a new
thing from the editor, whereas In fact
1t was one of the earliest measures he
had taken.
And on that road he had Travelled
far. thanks to a keen wit. to Portia
Van Brooks incessant promptings. and
to the help Of the lealky clerk in Hen
bricks office; so far, indeed. that he
had found the stool pigeon" oil COM
pany, to which Hildreths hint had
pointed-a company composed, with a
single exception, Of men Of straw"
the exception being the man Rumford.
whose conferences with the Governor
and the Attorney-Genera had aroused
his suspicious.
1t was about this time that Hunni-
colt reported the sale Of the CASTOR
lots at a rather fancy cash figure, and
the money came in good play.
Two things remain to be proved"
said POrtia. in one of their many con-
nings Of the intricate course: two
things that must be proved before you
can attack openly: that Rumford is
really representing the Universal OIL
Company; and that he is bribing the
junta to let the Universal incorporate
under the mask Of his straw company.
Now Is the time when you cannot af-