The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-06-13
Continued
CHAPTER XII.
Burbank Fires the Popular Heart

guised street railway grab. out OF
which Senator Croffut got handsome
counsel fee" OF fiftyodd thousand
dollars. Bat as the rout went on, ever
more audaciously and recklessly. he
became uneasy. In mid-February he
was urging me TO 20 West and try 10
do something 10 curb those Internal
grabbers" refused 10 interfere He
went himself. and Woodruff reported
to me that he was running round the
state house and the hotels like crazy
man; for when he got into the thick
OF II. he realized that II was much
worse than Il seemed from Washing
ton. In a few days he was back and
NJ me again.
Its very strange" said he suspIc-
lously. THE boys say they're getting
nothing out Of II. They declare they're
simply obeying orders"
Whose orders7" asked.
Il don't know" he answered. his
eyes sharply upon me. "But do know
that. unless something II done. III not
be returned 20 the Senate. Wen lose
the legislature. sure. next fall"
1T does look that way" said with
touch Of melancholy. THAT street
railway grab was the beginning Of our
rake's progress We've been going II.
hell bent. ever since"
He tossed his handsome head and
was about 20 launch into an angry de
Tense OF himself But my manner
checked him. lie began 20 plead.
You can stop IL. sayler. Everybody
out there says you can. And. n am
reelected. I've got n good chance for
the presidential nomination. Should
get II and be elected. we could form
a combination that would interest you.
I think"
Il was n beautiful irony that In his
,onceit he should give as his reason
shy should help him the very reason
Shy I was not sorry he was 10 be
beaten. For. although he was not
dangerous. still he was a rival public
hgure TO Burbank In our state. and
we'll. ace.dcz;s sometimes happen. un.
less they're guarded against
What shall I do7- asked him.
stop them from passing any more
black bills. Why. they've got half a
iozen ready. some Of them worse even
than the two they passed over Bur.
banks veto. n week ago"
.Isor fuafaur.rss
He cited three Power Trust bills.
But why don't you stop those
hrce7- said I. They're under the
pccial patronage Of Dominick. You
ave Influence with him"
Dcmi1ieki" be rrcaned. "Arc you
-srl r-sf,i errhail
caily. he went on: I'll do what !
can. but" lie threw up bis hands
lie was OF for the West that night.
When he returned. his face wore the
look OF doom. He had always posed
for the benefit 81 the galleries. capc'
ciaily the women IN the galleries But
now he became slovcn In dress. often
issued forth unshavcn. and sat
sprawied at his desk In the senate.
his chin on his shirt bosom. looking
vague and starting when any one
spoke 10 him.
Following my advice on the day
when I sent him away happy. burbank
left the capital and the state Just be-
fore the Ave worst bills left the com.
mittcea. lie was called TO the bedside
% his wife who. 10 all the newspapers
announced. was nj the point Of death
at Colorado Springs.
While he was there nursing her NJ
she 'hovcrcd between life and death. .
tho bills were damned through the
senate and the assembly.
lie telegraphed the lieutenant gov.
ernor not 20 sign them. a. he was r..
turning and wished 10 deal with them
himself lie reached the capital on a
Thursday morning. sent the bills back
with a ringing" veto message. and
took the late afternoon train for Col.
orado Springs. II was a. good a 20.
lltioai -grand-stand play" a. ever
/ thriilcd people.
Tho legislature passed the bills over
his veto and adjourned that night.
Press and people. without regard 20
party lines. were loud In their cxecra.
lions OF the abandoned and shame.
less vretches" who had betrayed tho
state and had covered themselves with
eternal infamy." quote from an edi.
toriai in the newspaper that was 70.
garded ne my personal organ. hut
there was only praise for Burbank;
his enemies. and those who had doubt.
ID his Independence and had suspect.
cd him of willingness 10 do anything
10 further his personal ambitions. nd.
mitted that he had shown fearless
courage. inneSlblo honesty. and tho
highest ideals % private sacrifice 10
public duty" Aud they eagerly or.
aggerated him. 10 make his white con.
trast moro wildly with the black OF
the satanic spawn" In the iegiala.
ture. His fame spread. carried far and
wide by the sentimentality In that sup.
posed struggle between heart and con.
science. between love for the wife Of
his bosom and duty to tho people.
Cariotta. who like most women took
no interest In politics because u lacks
"heart-interest." came 20 me with eyes
swimming and checks aglow. She had
Just been reading about Burbank's
heroism.
Isn't he splendidi" abe cried. u
always told you he'd be President.
And you didn't believe me-"
"Be patient with me. my dear" said
J. u am not woman with seven.
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