CHAPTER XXXII.

"He was a man

Versed in the world as pilot in his compass.

The needle pointed ever to that interest

Which was his loadstar, and he spread his sails

With vantage to the gale of others' passion."-Old Tragedy.

It was only a short time before adjournment that Mr. Snyder learned from the Clipper of Arkwright's possible exposure. He at once hastened to his own

.

home and sent word to Mr. Villars that he must see him there at once.

"It was political sagacity in you," he said to Mrs. Snyder, as he laid his broad-brimmed hat on the table, "when you suggested that I give that letter to Villars in your presence.

Mr. Snyder told his wife, as quickly as possible for him, the whole story.

"Arkwright is a fool. He might make himself wealthy. He prefers a little useless popularity. But, Winnie, we know enough to make hay-to use a figure of speech which you may understand-while our sun shines; and, mark my words, he is going under a cloud to-day-to-day, Winnie."

Mr. Snyder had no sooner uttered this meteorological prophecy than his "solar hero" appeared at the door in answer to the note. He was accompanied by Mr. Madmire.

"Mr. Villars," Snyder began, "I desire to dissolve our partnership."

Mr. Villars started and Mr. Snyder added:

"Not that I would make you any trouble, but selfpreservation is the first law of nature-to quote a political maxim; and it would be better for both of us that Mrs. Snyder and I should take a journey, and we wish to go to-day. I think my share ought to be about fifteen thousand dollars.'

"How so?" Mr. Villars asked.

"I have been of a good deal of service in the past, and I think that my services abroad to-day would be worth that much to you. If I were here I might not feel that in conscience I could keep silence about having written that letter at your dictation. Mrs. Snyder, who has a very sensitive conscience about such matters, might not feel that she could keep silence about having seen me do all this."

"This is your game, is it?" Madmire interrupted savagely.

"Yes, Mr. Madmire, you and I have often discussed these questions," Mr. Snyder answered in his ponderous, argumentative manner. "It is simply the law. of supply and demand. There is a great demand for my knowledge. It is for Mr. Villars' interest to buy it all up and get a corner on the market. I am not asking anything which is not in accordance with the laws of political economy. This labor question, Mr. Villars," turning with a heavy smile to that gentleman, "is a hydra-headed one. Your laborers accept your wages because they have no other choice. Your tenants pay your price because they must have a place to live. And I hold out the same condition to you. You have no other alternative."

"Mr. Snyder," Mr. Villars retorted, "you are too

far in the mire yourself. I snap my fingers in your face!"

"By the Eternal, gentlemen, don't stir my blood." "Really, Mr. Villars," Mrs. Snyder interrupted, "don't stir his blood. Let us all be friendly about it, because if there is a man who is likely to do anything when his blood is stirred, that man is James J. Snyder."

"You seem," Mr. Villars said, smiling," very anxious to go to the penitentiary."

"It is not punish-.

"Bosh!" Mr. Snyder exclaimed. able to say a member can be bought, especially when I put it on the typewriter as your agent. But, really, I am surprised that you, who are so used to bargain and sale, should fail to look upon this as an ordinary industrial problem. It is certainly an exchange of value for value."

"Well, Mr. Snyder," Villars said haughtily, "I have too much on hand to talk of this. You have saved a good deal already. For example, I was told to-day that it only took $300 of the $700 you had to defeat Stanley; but if you wish to leave this afternoon, I will give you five thousand dollars."

"By the Eternal, you are stirring my blood!"

"Don't," Mrs. Snyder pleaded, "don't stir his blood." Mr. Villars was the embodiment of unspeakable disgust as he arose to go.

"Very well," he said, "we will close up this bargain to-day-this afternoon-at fifteen thousand dollars. Skilled labor commands high wages."

When Villars and Madmire closed the door, Mr. Snyder surveyed Mrs. Snyder with both eyes. Mrs. Snyder surveyed Mr. Snyder, so to speak, with her

mouth. Wider and wider Mr. Snyder opened his eyes. Wider and wider Mrs. Snyder opened her mouth, each apparently regarding the other as some interesting psychological problem to be solved.

Some who passed Mr. Villars this afternoon remarked that his trying position as the assailant of corrupt political methods was beginning to "tell" on him, and they did not wonder that so many men of less nerve and uprightness let such matters pass in silence.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

"Who has not found himself surprised into action for good or evil, whereof the seeds lay within him, latent and unsuspected until the occasion called them forth?"-HENRY ESMOND.

The early part of the afternoon Oliver spent with his mother and Pearl. It was very soothing to Oliver, after his long conflict with himself and with others, to rest in their affectionate words. He lay on the couch with his head in his mother's lap, and she hummed the old songs she had sung to him in years gone by. He surrendered himself to Pearl's sympathy this afternoon as he had not done in many days. Although he still believed that she would never think of him as a lover, to-day, in the presence of his great trial, he was willing to yield completely to the inspiration of her eyes and voice. As he watched her moving about the room so quietly, he longed to fly from the scene of struggle and debate to some nook of nature where he could be alone with Pearl. But when she sat before him and looked at him with her earnest eyes, he longed to stay in the scenes of struggle and do his duty for her sake.

It was only four o'clock when Mort insisted that he and Oliver should return to the Capitol for the night. Mort seemed perfectly at home this afternoon, chatting gayly at the different desks in Representative Hall, but Oliver found it impossible to talk with any one. When at last the Speaker's gavel fell, it sounded to him like some thunderbolt which he had been defying.