The Cairo bulletin., 1906-07-03

enCe nan ana the custom mousse, dNl
! now stopped at u corner A Dloct
or so to the south lay the freiSht
depot OF the ID. A. a. Il. railroad, ant
also the Office OF the man who hac
sent for him. Brand was not quite
/ sure that he was in any hurry to see
this man. While he was himself Z
product OF twentieth century CONNER
cialism he was still young and he
was in love with a girl who had nigh
ideals, moreover, he believed that he
had few ideals himself where hon
esty and fair play were concerned.
Ii Brand had been positive about
his position on such fine drawn ques-
tons, he would not have had 20 stop
at the corner AS it was, he did stop
to think it over, forgetting that indie
pendence hall was already behind him,
had been behind him ever since he
became second assistant freight agent
with yearning for promotion. And
promotion was the biggest word IL ais
directory Nor only because he was
in love with girl whose father recog-
nized the value Of promotion-and no
other yalues-but because his yearnin8
was fast becoming a keen hunger tor
the high places.
II Matthews wanted TO see HIM
about what he thought he wanted, it
might mean an ugly squall in the
prospects dawning ON his horizon. 1t
is one thing To shut your eyes and
ears and say soothingly to your inmOst
self AN right, all right" 1t is an
other thing to stand up before jury
of your peers and say clearly: !
swear it is right Brand, pauslng,
considered these things-then ne
walked on southwark to meet the man
waiting for him in the freight agent 5
office.
You wanted to see me?" he said
easily.
Yes Mathews pushed aside some
schedules, clapped both hands on the
arms of his chair, and swung round
II am instructed TO send man from
this Office TO testify before that com
mittee. | am going to send you; you
are up on the rebate laws, and youth
know how TO testify. You'll get your
passes and leave tomorrow, and Chic.
sey will take care OF you Whea you
get there He swung back 10 MS
desk. picked up a tariff sheet, and add
ed: Its a splendid chance; the D. a
& B. never tOrgets a friend. go III
and win
And Brand thanked him and walked
out
1t was true that he knew all about
rebates, also true that he knew ne n
ing good Of them, but he knew that
he had been selected because ne would
know just what not 70 know and khat
the d. A. & B. would reward him
for his ignorance.
But Brand was not yet ready to adj
nit that he had been bought lie
would go 10 Washington and look over
the ground-and he would not say
anything to her about it until he came
back
Brand went aboard the ear, feeling
genially sure that he would do the
right thing by the D. A & b. auC
everybody else. He meant, moreover
to have double seat to himself as q
deadhead should, but in this last he
was disappointed. The train was
crowded and he had to share se1ts
with a mild, whiskered litLe man
who smelled of good tobacco, ant
who politely tried to take up no more
room than was necessary in the seat
he had secured before Brand came
in.
Going far2" Brand asked. lie was
always ready to be civil
only to Washington, sir the 9TH
er answered, aud then, as though feel
ing this rather curt, added. Il just ran
up to Philadelphia tor the day.
Well" Brand said, kindly stoop.
ing from his heights I'm bound foI
Washington myself.
"Yes2" the little man said, politely
and then with leisurely convictions
and utterly without heats Well, s,r
there viii be "a good many men COINS
to Washington this week. To accom-.
plish nothing, sir. To Dee brushed
aside like gnats that may hum but
cannot sting. Cannot sting sir
Brand looked alert: You mean the
committee
Yes sir; the committee that is GO
ing to put the railroads on % feather
bed, sir.
lyon think that The railroads have .
good Case?'
NO, sir. they have no case; they
have a certainty, q dead certainty, sir"
Brand felt an unexplained relief HE
testimony might not bc needed b.
considered the little mans emotioAless
summing up and said chsefluly.:
u suppose you are for the rail-
roads,"
ION The contrary. sir, am agains:
them heart and hand Do
"Why2 You think that they do not
play fair? You must admit that rlIl-
road men understand their business
better than outsiders"
The other waved this aside with a
slight motion II q very thin hand.
They are not gentlemen, sir. No gen
uemcn, he replied, with perfect quiet
ude
brand was as+onisbad ne had heard