the obdurate other hand, Mr. Hawke was an enemy to pooling bills and
railways. Mr. Gwynn's interest was plainly with Mr. Frost.

"Not that I care personally for the success of Mr. Frost," remarked
Senator Hanway, "but I know how the railways desire that pooling bill,
and how that pooling bill is a darling measure with Mr. Frost."

"Which brings us back," observed Richard, who never took his eye off a
question, once put, until he saw it mated with an answer, "to Mr.
Gwynn's first interrogatory: What can the Anaconda Airline do?"

Senator Hanway explained. The Anaconda Airline could press down the
weights of its influence upon those twenty-three members. The Anaconda
influence might better be exerted through its President and General
Attorney, and perhaps what special attorneys were local to the
congressional districts of those twenty-three.

"Mr. Gwynn," observed Richard, "anticipated something of the kind, and I
think is prepared to request those officers you name to come to
Washington."

"They shall be requested, sir; certainly, sir," rasped Mr. Gwynn.
Richard's words seemed ever to reverberate in Mr. Gwynn's noble interior
as in a cavern, and thereafter to issue forth by way of his mouth in the
manner of an echo. "Certainly, sir; they shall be requested," repeated
the cavernous Mr. Gwynn.

"Now this is highly gratifying," said Senator Hanway. "And you will have
them call upon me, too, I've no doubt. You should wire them at once; the
caucus, you know, isn't ten days away; Congress convenes on the first