th an
intense earnestness which gave the impression of alarm; "after what
you've told me to-night I'll see to it myself that you get in. It may be
that I've got some of the sample pages here, if I haven't left them at
home," said Mr. Grady, fumbling in an ample inside pocket, and drawing
forth a bundle. "Sure, here they are. Ain't that luck for you? Listen!
'Asa P. Gray was born on the third of August, eighteen forty-seven, the
seventh son of a farmer. See, there's a space in the end they left
to fill up when he's elicted governor! Here's another. The Honourable
Hilary Vane comes from one of the oldest Puritan families in the State,
the Vanes of Camden Street--' Here's another. 'The Honourable Brush
Bascom of Putnam County is the son of poor but honourable parents--'
Look at the picture of him. Ain't that a handsome steel-engravin' of the
gentleman?"

Mr. Crewe gazed contemplatively at the proof, but was too busy with
his own thoughts to reflect that there was evidently not much poor or
honourable about Mr. Bascom now.

"Who's publishing this?" he asked.

"Fogarty and Company; sure they're the best publishers in the State, as
you know, Mr. Crewe. They have the State printing. Wasn't it fortunate
I had the proofs with me? Tim Fogarty slipped them into me pocket when
I was leavin' Newcastle. 'The book is goin' to press the day after
eliction,' says he, 'John,' says he, 'you know I always rely on your
judgment, and if you happen to think of anybody between now and then
who ought to go in, you'll notify me,' says he. When I read the bills
to-night, and saw the scope of your work, it came over me in a flash
that Humphrey Crewe was the man they left out. You'll get a good man to
write your life, and what you done for the town and State, and all them
societies and bills, won't you? 'Twould be a thousand pities not to have
it right."

"How much does it cost?" Mr. Crewe inquired.

"Sure I forgot to ask Tim Fogarty. Mebbe he has it here. I signed one
myself, but I couldn't afford the steelengravin'. Yes, he slipped one
in. Two hundred dollars for a two-page biography, and, three hundred for
the steelengravin'. Five hundred dollars. I didn't know it was so cheap
as that," exclaimed the senator, "and everybody in the State havin' to
own one in self-protection. You don't happen to have a pen about you?"

Mr. Crewe waved the senator towards his own desk, and Mr. Grady filled
out the blank.

"It's lucky we are that I didn't d