Barbour County index., 1906-06-13
THE
GRAFTERS |
By
FIR AN CTS Lynn DE
" Copyright. 1901. by The BObDs-Msrrm Coz 9
CHAPTER XX.-CoNTINUED.

Precisely" was the smiling rejoin-
der. you will note that l said at
that time Later Developments
more especially this charge made open
ly by the public press of juggling with
foreign corporations-have led me to
believe that as the public prosecutor
l may have duties which transcend all
other considerations-of loyalty to a
party standard-of-"
Kent took his turn at interrupting.
"Mr. Meigs, there is nothing to be
gained by fndirection. May l ask you
10 come to the point?"
Briefly, then: the course pursued
by Senator Duvall in the Belmount af-
sair leaves an improved charge against
Others; a charge which l am deter
mined TO sift to the bottom-you see,
L an speaking quite frankly. That
charge involves the reputation of
men high in authority; but l shall be
Strong to do my sworn duty, Mr..
Kent: l ask you to believe that"
Kent nodded and waved him on.
You will readily understand the
delicacy Of the task, and how, in the
mature Of things, am handicapped
and hedged up on every side. Evi-
dence-of a kind to enable me to as
sail n popular IDOLS exceedingly diff
ficult to procure"
1T is" said Kent, grimly
Exactly. But in revolving the mat
ter in my own mind, | thought Of you.
You are known at the capitol, Mr..
Kent. and l may say throughout the
state. as the uncompromising antagon-
ist of the state administration.
have asked myself this: Is it posi-.
BILE that n cool-headed, resolute attor-
ney like Mr.. David Kent would move
so far and so determinedly in this
matter Of antagonism without substan-
tally paving the ground under his
feet with evidence as he went along?"
Kent admitted that it was possible,
but highly improbable.
so | decided" was the smile-tem-
pered rejoinder ''In that case it only
remains for me to remind you Of your
public duty, Mr.. Kent; to ask you in
the name of justice and Of the people
'of the state, to place your information
in the hands of the public prosecutor. 4"
Keats face betrayed nothing more
than his appreciation of the confidence
reposed in him by the man whose high
sense of official honor was making him
turn traitor to the party leader who
had dragged him through successful
election.
Il have what evidence need. Mr.
Meigs," he declared. But if l make
no secret of this, neither do conceal
the fact that the motive pro bono pub
lico has had little to do with its ac-
STIMULATING. l want justice first for
what might be called purely private
end. and l mean 10 have it,"
Precisely" smiled the attorney
general. And now we are beginning
40 see our way little clearer. 1t is
not TOO late for us to move in the QUO
warranto proceedings. If you win call
at my Office I shall be glad to reopen
the matter with YOU"
And the price?" said Kent, shortly.
"Oh, my dear sir! must we put it
Upon the ground of a quid pro quo?
Rather let us say that we shall help
each other. You are in position to
assist me very materially; | may be
in a position to serve your turn. Come
TO my Office tomorrow morning pre-
pared to do your duty as an honest,
loyal citizen, and you will find me quite
willing to meet you halfway
Kent rose and opened his watch.
"AIr. Meigs, l have given you your
opportunity, and you have seemed to
give me mine." he said, coolly. "Will