undred of his congressmen, who voted for
a national law prohibiting the giving of railroad rebates. He was
assured by all of them that it was done to satisfy temporary
agitation, but the fact that they voted for the law at all, as he
explained to Senator Myton, at some length and with some asperity, was
a breach of faith with "interests in American politics which may not
safely be ignored." "And what's more," he added angrily, "this is a
personal insult to me. That law hits my Door Strip."

And then out of the clear sky like a thunderbolt, not from an enemy,
not from any clique or crowd he had fought, but from the government
itself, during the last days of Congress came a law creating a
Department of Commerce and Labour at Washington, a law giving federal
inspectors the right to go through books of private concerns. Barclay
was overwhelmed with amazement. He raged, but to no avail; and his
wrath was heated by the rumours printed in all the newspapers that
Barclay and the National Provisions Company were to be the first
victims of the new law. Mrs. Barclay and Jeanette were going to Europe
in the spring of 1903, and Barclay on the whole was glad of it. He
wished the decks cleared for his fight; he felt that he must not have
Jane at his elbow holding his hand from malice in the engagement that
was coming, and when he left them on the boat, he spent a week
scurrying through the East looking for some unknown enemy in high
financial circles who might be back of the government's determination
to move against the N.P.C. He felt sure he could uncover the source of
his trouble--and then, either fight his enemy or make terms. It did
not occur to Barclay that he could not find a material, palpable,
personal object upon which to charge or with which to capitulate. But
he found nothing, and crossed the Alleghanies puzzled.

When he got home, he learned that a government inspector, one H. S.
Smith, was beginning the investigation of the Provisions Company's
books in St. Paul, Omaha, Chicago, and Denver. Barclay learned that
Smith had secured some bills of lading that might not easily be
explained. Incidentally, Barclay learned that an attempt had been
made, through proper channels, to buy Smith, and he was nonplussed to
learn that Smith was not purchasable. Then to end the whole matter,
Barclay wrote to Senator Myton, directing him to have Smith removed
immediately. But Myton's reply, which was forwarded to Barclay at
Sycamore Ridg