making an awful fuss about it; but if the Kelley Bill could be put
through it would be a great victory for reform, and would make the
Governor "solid" in the State.

Freckles McGrath was strong for reform. That was partly because the
snatches of speeches he heard in the Legislature were more thrilling
when for reform than when against it; it was partly because he
adored the Governor, and in no small part because he despised Mr.
Ludlow.

Mr. Ludlow was a lobbyist. Some of the members of the Legislature
were Mr. Ludlow's property--or at least so Freckles inferred from
conversation overheard at his post. There had been a great deal of
talk that session about Mr. Ludlow's methods.

Freckles himself was no snob. Although he had heard Mr. Ludlow
called disgraceful, and although he firmly believed he was
disgraceful, he did not consider that any reason for not speaking to
him. And so when Mr. Ludlow got in all alone one morning, and the
occasion seemed to demand recognition of some sort, Freckles had
chirped: "Good-morning!"

But the man, possibly deep in something else, simply knit together
his brows and gave no sign of having heard. After that, Henry
Ludlow, lobbyist, and Freckles McGrath, elevator boy, were enemies.

A little before noon, one day near the end of the session, a member
of the Senate and a member of the House rode down together in the
elevator.