BOOK V

THE HOUR AND THE MAN

I

On one of the closing days of the legislative session, Ben Galt lounged
into the anteroom of the governor's office and cornered the private
secretary. "Look here, Dickson, what's the latest demonstration of Old
Nickism? I hear he's giving Rann trouble about that bill of his."

Dickson nodded significantly towards the closed door. "Rann's with him
now," he replied; "they're having it hot in there. Rann may bluster till
he's blue, but he won't make the governor give an inch. That bill's as
dead as a door nail. The governor's got a fit of duty on."

"Or his everlasting obstinacy," returned Galt irritably. "His duty does
more harm than most men's devilment--it stands like a stone wall between
him and his ambition. Of course, that bill is a political swindle, but
there isn't another politician in the State who would interfere in
Rann's little game."

"Oh, between us, I think Rann's honest enough. He believes he's up to a
good thing, but the governor disagrees with him--there's where the row
begins."

"What does the governor say about it?"

"Say?" laughed Dickson. "Why, I asked him if he would approve the
measure and he said 'No!' That's the beginning and the end of his
discourse--a 'No' long drawn out."

The door opened abruptly, and Rann put out his head. "Will you step in
here, Mr. Galt?" he asked, and his voice was husky with anger. "With
pleasure, my dear Major," responded Galt easily, as he crossed the
threshold and closed the door after him. "I am always at your service as
a peacemaker."

The governor was standing before his desk, his eyes upon Rann, who faced
him, red and trembling. Galt had seen Burr wear this impassive front
before, and it had always meant trouble. His eyes were opaque and
leaden, his face as expressionless as a mask. He was motionless save for
the movement of one hand that drummed upon the desk. "If you possess any
influence with the governor," said Rann to Galt, "will you tell him that
his course is ruinous--ruinous to imbecility? If he thinks I am going to
throw away a winter's work on that bill he's mistaken his man. It's
taken me the whole session to get that measure through the legislature,
and I'm not going to have it defeated now by any crack-brained moralist.
He'll sign that bill or--"

Burr spoke at last. "Am I the governor of this State or are you?" he
thundered. His face did not change, but his powerful voice rang to the
full