Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-03
BY EDWIN oVIATT.

My offer for your county votes said
Mason. the attorney for the Tompkns
trolley roads, looking quietly at the lit
tie member from Tompkinsville, lis
$780,
Tompkins. his little, weak. watery eyes
blinking at the throng passing back and
forth in front of him in the House cor
ridor, tilted back in his chair against the
marble balustrade of the lobby. All about
him We're members of the House, stand
ing in corners. leaning against the wall
Over all hung blue haze of cigar smoke
through all rose a rising hum of mems
voices
You know. of course. Mr.. Mason,
said Tompkins, looking thoughtfully al
the end of his cigar. that the county i:
already pledged to Williams to vote fol-
the interstate railroad bill, and that it's
any of them to vote for you and the
trolley opposition now
The other nodded.
Tompkins puffed a ring of smoke at the
ceiling and took his cigar from between
his lips.
How much" he said, staring
shrewdly at the lobbyist for the trolley
roads beside him, how much did you
say you would give if were to bring
my county around from Williams and
the interstate railroad to your
"One thousand dollars" said Mason
1 will think it over" said Tompkins
1t was the fourth day of the last de-
bate Of the session-the contest in which
ne had taken sides at the start with a
promise to Williams. the boss Of the
LOBBY, to support with his county vote
the bill to equip the B line of the railroad
with third rail. And he had carried
out his promise. Through all the at
tempts OF the trolley roads to bring his
county into line against the b,T until
now he had remained firm. true to the
twenty members of his county who had
agreed to vote with him for Williams
and his bill-true to Williams, who had
promised m $500 when 1t passed.
And yet-for weeks he had wished that
he had not jumped so quickly at Viii
Iams' offer. He might have wa ted. seen
what the trolley road would do, might
And now Mason, the leader of the trolley
lobby. had come to him with his offer of
S1OU-juSt tw'ce as much as he could
hope to get from Williams-if he would
bring his county around against the bill.
Why should he, with twenty of his
pull him off with less than other menu
bers of the House were getting?
He got UP from his chair and Wake d
rapidly up to the winding stairs to his
room. There he rang the bell, impa-
tiently.
Tell Mr.. Mason" he said to the hall
boy. Ito come to my room at once"
Mason" he said. when the trolley
lobbyist had shut the door and stood be-
fore him. with quick, questioning eye,
ssyrntp tk,se
of certain agre ement which you would
make if l would bring my county over
to the trolley roads from Williams"
We'll" said Mason.
Tompkins blew a ring of smoke at the
ceiling. Things are a little different
now from what they were this morning. .
he said.
WELL said Mason again, what is
your proposition?'
II have decided said Tompkins, that
ty votes and my own, day after tomor-
row If you care to pay for them"
Mason turned sharply and looked the
little county leader in the face.
''How much do you want?' he said.
His voice was cold.
Il want" said Tompkins. 5000.
THAT is good deal of money, Tomp-
kins," said the trolley lobbyist, slowly
Tompkins grinned shrewdly and Tipped
the ash from his cigar.
repeat, lie SdIu. cUOlly. Cndt II
you want my county to leave Williams
and the Interstate railroad and come
over to the trolleys that is my price"
II will compromise on S1.5oO." said Ma
son. angrily.
'Two-thousand-dollar said Tomp-
kins. He took out his watch.
When he looked UP Mason stood be-
fore him, his face flushed, an angry look
in his eyes.
II will pay it. Tompkins.'' he said.
sternly, because I've got to. But
want you to know that / consider it pure
and simple blackmail. And want it
business. You understand?
Tompkins nodded as Mason opened the
door.
II understand" he said
When he had shut the door he smiled
and took out his watch. 1t was . o'clock
He still had time to see Williams and
ask his price, and then. He smiled
again, shrewdly.
He entered the hotel of the Boss with
a light-hearted step. He stopped a hall
boy in the brilliantly lighted corridor
and sent up his card to Williams room.
When he had waited a quarter of an
hour and no answer came he sent up an
other card. But Williams was still
busy
And a half hour later he tried again.
And still the Boss did not reply
He was angry now. He sat down at
the broad writing table and drew
piece of the hotel paper toward him.
He would show Williams that he was
been content to take little ten-dollar bills
from young attorneys and fifty-dollar
checks from big corporations and one
hundred dollar bills from Williams him.