Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-03
1TlHllE EVENING STORY
House Bill No. 20.

self, for a few paltry votes in the house
on minor matters.
He wrote two curt sentences on the
hotel paper and sent II up by bellboy
to Williams room.
Now he'd see if Williams could afford
to ignore him that way. whether he
could kick him out with hearing. even
IL he was Boss of the Lobby and had
bought him and his county for $500.
He went across the city, angry, to
his own hotel. Then he sent for his
county members. calling them by the
bellboy, one by one. and told each OF
them that Mason. for the trolley road.
was willing to give them $50 for their
votes if they would leave Williams, and
that he wanted them to take it.
1t was drizzlins rain when Tompkins
woke, late the next morning. and walked
up through the wet streets to the cap
itol. He had taken the step-pitted himself
against Williams. done what few men,
bers of the house had ever dared alone
to do, and now 1t was UP to the Boss II
Williams sent for him that day he would
have to put his bid at a figure that he
had never paid before.
The house was in session as he entered
the lobby. but he only glanced through
the doors as he went to his customary
seat in tn ecorridor.
A group of men were standing in front
of him. One of them went up to the
house door, looked In, said something to
the others. who walked rapidly away in
opposite directions. A newspaper man
whom Tompkins knew rushed by him.
pad in hand, calling hurriedly to a men,
Der down the corridor.
ToInpllinS wondered what the unusual
interest was about. His eyes Were on the
staircase, where every minute he ex-
pected to see Williams.
A member from his own county came
out Of the house. When he saw him he
came over hurriedly.
What are you going to do?' he asked
"Do-about what?' said Tomrkns
About the bill-house bill No c9-the
B line third rail-What?-D'dn't you
know that Williams has sprung the vote
"a day eary-that he was here this
morning-that the county is In panic
that he will win his bill.''
Tompkins, his hands shaking so that he
could hardly hold his derby hat, stum-
bed to his feet. What. The vote was on /,
His county panic-stricken. He rushe' to
the house doors through a crowd Of men
The clerk was calling out in sing-song.
monOtonouS tones:
House bill No 29-being an &C. %
permit-the Interstate Railroad Ccm~any
to equip its rnes-with third rail-"
MESSENGER slipped a note in his hand
'Here!" he shouted to his county mem
Der. hold them. Delay the vote-do any
thing.'
He opened the paper nervously. RE
read:
Il rely upon YOU to vote for the bill.
Williams
He left the house on the jump.
Where's WIlliams?" he said
Up there" said man, pointing up the
lobby to the Boss office.
He rushed headlong into the presence
of the Boss
Here. Williams he cried impetuously,
what do you mean by springing the
vote on me this way?'
The short thin-faced man with the
steel-gray eyes and the square jaw swung
round in his revolving chair coolly
Well said Williams, calmly, lit ought
not To make any difference TO you. Your
ceunty's solid. isn't it?''
He was looking at the little member
from Tompkinsvule through half-shut
eyes that had a dangerous red. angry
CLEAN in them.
But I'm not ready haven't had time
I can't go back into that house and
vote now."
''Oh, yes. you cam said Williams. You
can do just that
Tompkins stepped toward the Boss of
the Lobby fiercely. He had seen his conf
ty; he knew what they were going to do
He had the whip hand now himself.
Il know your tricks Williams" he
cried You think you've got me- But
I'll tell you something that perhaps you
don't know. IN three minutes from now
I'll
w hat VIII YOU do?
The Boss had risen from his seat He
advanced a step toward Tompkins men
acingly. He opened his watch with a
sharp click.
I'm three minutes from now he said,
and there was not a break in the even,
angry rise of his voice. lin three min
utes from now you will go back into that
house and vote my bill.'
Look here" said Tompkins roughly
Perhaps you don't know. Mr. Will
Hams
Perhaps 1 do" said the Boss. He
stepped close to Tompkns. his fingers
twi. ching. his jaws working. his face
livid with sudden anger. He shook his
fist In the little mans face. do YOU
he said. that I haven't fol-
lowed you ever since you came to this
house and began your little caucus poll
tics tricks. that l didn't know just ex-
actly what you wanted last night. that
didn't do just what I've done in cases be-
catch my fish myself? You-county-to
a notwithstanding bill,"
WHAT said Tompkins, his little,
weak. watery eyes dropping under the
savage. hard gaze of the Boss
..Bought-every one of them-bought
back again this morning." said the Boss.
He hardly glanced at the little. shrink
ing form In front of him.
And you the voice OF the Boss was
again cold and sneering. You will vote
it. too: not because you are going to get
even the little that your county members
will get from me. You're going to vote
that bill because i tell you to-
He tore an envelope from his pocket
and shook it at the little member an
grily. See that. Can you read your
own handwriting? Nice thing that was