We've got copies of every letter and telegram
you've dictated since you had this desk dragged out here a week ago
Saturday."
"I'm taking all that for granted," was the curt admission.
"Then we'll come down to the nib of the thing and put you out of your
misery. You've got two things to do--just two, Hardwick. One of 'em is
to clean house and make a good job of it, just like you let Evan believe
you were going to do when you sent him out to tell the people of this
State a lot of things that you didn't mean to have come true; cut out
all the deals, all the private tariffs, all the little preferentials and
palm-warmings. When you've done that, you'll find that the other thing
will mighty nearly do itself."
"Name it," rasped the magnate.
"It's just merely to take your railroad out of politics in this State,
and keep it out. We've had enough of you, McVickar, and more than
enough. Is it a bargain?"
"It's a damned one-sided bargain thus far, Blount. What do we get for
all this?"
Again the senator chuckled genially. "You may not believe it, but we're
going to let you down easy. You do these two things that I've mentioned,
and get rid of Kittredge and a few others that have been caught
red-handed, and the Supreme Court investigation won't touch your
railroad as a corporation--in other words, it'll go after individuals.
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