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Read Ebook: Mr. Crewe's Career — Volume 2 by Churchill Winston
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Ebook has 1409 lines and 64681 words, and 29 pages
"Hello, Austen," said a voice, which he recognized as the Honourable Brush Bascom's, "didn't know you ever came down here in session time."
"What are you doing down here, Brush?" Austen asked.
Mr. Bascom grinned in appreciation of this pleasantry.
"I came for my health," he said; "I prefer it to Florida."
"I've heard that it agrees with some people," said Austen.
Mr. Bascom grinned again.
"Just arrived?" he inquired.
"Just," said Austen.
"I thought you'd get here sooner or later," said Mr. Bascom. "Some folks try stayin' away, but it ain't much use. You'll find the honourable Hilary doing business at the same old stand, next to the governor, in Number Seven up there." And Mr. Bascom pointed to the well-known window on the second floor.
"Thanks, Brush," said Austen, indifferently. "To tell the truth, I came down to hear that promising protege of yours speak on national affairs. I understand you're pushing his bills along."
Mr. Bascom, with great deliberation, shut one of his little eyes.
"So long," he said, "come and see me when you get time."
Austen went slowly down the street and entered the smoke-clouded lobby of the Pelican. He was a man to draw attention, and he was stared at by many politicians there and spoken to by some before he reached the stairs. Mounting, he found the door with the numeral, and knocked. The medley of voices within ceased; there were sounds of rattling papers, and of closing of folding doors. The key turned in the lock, and State Senator Nathaniel Billings appeared in the doorway, with a look of polite inquiry on his convivial face. This expression, when he saw Austen, changed to something like consternation.
"Why, hello, hello," said the senator. "Come in, come in. The Honourable Hilary's here. Where'd you come down?"
"Hello, Nat," said Austen, and went in.
The Honourable Hilary sat in his usual arm-chair; Mr. Botcher severely strained the tensile strength of the bedsprings; Mr. Hamilton Tooting stood before the still waving portieres in front of the folding doors; and Mr. Manning, the division superintendent, sat pensively, with his pen in his mouth, before the marble-topped table from which everything had been removed but a Bible. Two gentlemen, whom Austen recognized as colleagues of Mr. Billings in the State Senate, stood together in a window, pointing out things of interest in the street. Austen walked up to his father and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"How are you, Judge?" he said. "I only came into pay my respects. I hope I have not disturbed any--entertainment going on here," he added, glancing in turn at the thoughtful occupants of the room, and then at the curtains which hid the folding doors to the apartment of his Excellency.
"Why, no," answered the Honourable Hilary, his customary grunt being the only indication of surprise on his part; "didn't know you were coming down."
"I didn't know it myself until this morning," said Austen.
"Legislative case, I suppose," remarked the Honourable Jacob Botcher, in his deep voice.
"No, merely a pleasure trip, Mr. Botcher."
The Honourable Jacob rubbed his throat, the two State senators in the window giggled, and Mr. Hamilton Tooting laughed.
"I thought you took to the mountains in such cases, sir," said Mr. Botcher.
"I came for intellectual pleasure this time," said Austen. "I understand that Mr. Crewe is to deliver an epoch-making speech on the national situation to-morrow."
This was too much even for the gravity of Mr. Manning; Mr. Tooting and Mr. Billings and his two colleagues roared, though the Honourable Jacob's laugh was not so spontaneous.
"Aust," said Mr. Tooting, admiringly, you're all right."
"Well, Judge," said Austen, patting his father's shoulder again, "I'm glad to see you so comfortably fixed. Good-by, and give my regards to the governor. I'm sorry to have missed him," he added, glancing at the portieres that hid the folding doors.
"Are you stopping here?" asked the Honourable Hilary.
"No, I met Mr. Redbrook of Mercer, and he took me up to his lodgings. If I can do anything for you, a message will reach me there."
"Humph," said the Honourable Hilary, while the others exchanged significant glances.
Austen had not gone half the length of the hall when he was overtaken by Mr. Tooting.
"Say, Aust, what's up between you and Redbrook?" he asked.
"Nothing. Why?" Austen asked, stopping abruptly.
"Well, I suppose you know there's an anti-railroad feeling growing in that House, and that Redbrook has more influence with the farmers than any other man."
"I didn't know anything about Mr. Redbrook's influence," said Austen.
Mr. Tooting looked unconvinced.
"Say, Aust, if anything's in the wind, I wish you'd let me know. I'll keep it quiet."
"I think I shall be safe in promising that, Ham," said Austen. "When there's anything in the wind, you generally find it out first."
"There's trouble coming for the railroad," said Mr. Tooting. "I can see that. And I guess you saw it before I did."
"They say a ship's about to sink when the rats begin to leave it," said Austen.
Although Austen spoke smilingly, Mr. Tooting looked pained.
"There's no chance for young men in that system," he said.
"Young men write the noble parts of the governor's inaugurals," said Austen.
"Yes," said Mr. Tooting, bitterly, "but you never get to be governor and read 'em. You've got to be a 'come on' with thirty thousand dollars to be a Northeastern governor and live next door to the Honourable Hilary in the Pelican. Well, so long, Aust. If anything's up, give me the tip, that's all I ask."
Reflecting on the singular character of Mr. Tooting, Austen sought the Gaylords' headquarters, and found them at the furthermost end of the building from the Railroad Room. The door was opened by young Tom himself, whose face became wreathed in smiles when he saw who the visitor was.
"It's Austen!" he cried. "I thought you'd come down when you got that appeal of mine."
Austen did not admit the self-sacrifice as he shook Tom's hand; but remembered, singularly enough, the closing sentences of Tom's letter --which had nothing whatever to do with the Gaylord bill.
At this moment a commotion arose within the room, and a high, tremulous, but singularly fierce and compelling voice was heard crying out:--"Get out! Get out, d-n you, all of you, and don't come back until you've got some notion of what you're a-goin' to do. Get out, I say!"
These last words were pronounced with such extraordinary vigour that four gentlemen seemed to be physically impelled from the room. Three of them Austen recognized as dismissed and disgruntled soldiers from the lobby army of the Northeastern; the fourth was the Honourable Galusha Hammer, whose mode of progress might be described as "stalking," and whose lips were forming the word "intolerable." In the corner old Tom himself could be seen, a wizened figure of wrath.
"Who's that?" he demanded of his son, "another d-d fool?"
"No," replied young Tom, "it's Austen Vane."
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