a stocky member from Oxford; "it's sheer
waste of money for the State to pay a Legislature. They might as well
run things from the New York office--you know that."

"We might as well wear so many Northeastern uniforms with brass
buttons," a sinewy hill farmer from Lee put in. He had a lean face that
did not move a muscle, but a humorous gray eye that twinkled.

In the meantime Mr. Redbrook looked on with an expression of approval
which was (to Austen) distinctly pleasant, but more or less mystifying.

"I guess you ain't disappointed 'em much," he declared, when the round
was ended; "most of 'em knew me well enough to understand that cattle
and live stock in general, includin' humans, is about as I represent 'em
to be."

"We have some confidence in your judgment, Brother Redbrook," answered
Mr. Terry of Lee, "and now we've looked over the goods, it ain't set
back any, I callate."

This observation, which seemed to meet with a general assent, was to
Austen more mystifying than ever. He laughed.

"Gentlemen," he said, "I feel as though some expression of thanks were
due you for this kind and most unexpected reception." Here a sudden
seriousness came into his eyes which served, somehow, only to enhance
his charm of manner, and a certain determined ring into his voice. "You
have all referred to a condition of affairs," he added, "about which
I have thought a great deal, and which I deplore as deeply as you
do. There is no doubt that the Northeastern Railroads have seized
the government of this State for three main reasons: to throttle
competition; to control our railroad commission in order that we may
not get the service and safety to which we are entitled,--so increasing
dividends; and to make and maintain laws which enable them to bribe with
passes, to pay less taxes than they should, and to manipulate political
machinery."

"That's right," said Mr. Jarley of Wye, with a decided emphasis.

"That's the kind of talk I like to hear," exclaimed Mr. Terry.

"And nobody's had the gumption to fight 'em," said Mr. Widgeon.

"It looks," said Austen, "as though it must come to a fight in the end.
I do not think they will listen to reason. I mean," he added, with a
flash of humour, "that they will listen to it, but not act upon it.
Gentlemen, I regret to have to say, for obvious reasons, something which
you all know, that my father is at the head of the Northeastern machine,
which is the Republican party organization."