l, for the assistant clerkship of the Ways and Means";
while another wanted his son, Mr. John Smith, for page.

He told them that he had nothing to say about those things. "I am
counted with the Democrats, anyhow; I haven't any influence."

They patted him on the shoulder, and winked slyly. "Oh, we know all
about that! But every word helps, you know."

Going out at the close of the session, he met Cargill.

"Well, legislator, how goes it?"

"Oh, I don't know; smoothly, I guess. I've kept pretty quiet."

"That's right. The Republicans have everything in their hands this
session."

"Hello, Cargill!" called a smooth, jovial voice.

"Ah, Barney! Talcott, this is an excellent opportunity. This is Barney,
the great railway lobbyist. Barney, here is a new victim for
you--Talcott, of Rock."

"Glad to see you, Mr. Talcott."

Bradley shook hands with moderate enthusiasm, looking into Barney's
face with great interest. The lobbyist was large and portly and
smiling. His moustache drooped over his mouth, and his chin had a
jolly-looking hollow in it. His hazel eyes, once frank and honest, were
a little clouded with drink.

"Cargill is an infernal old cynic," he exclaimed, "and he is
corporation mad. Don't size us up according to his estimate."

It did not seem possible that this man could be the great tool of the
railway interest, and yet that was his reputation.

Cargill moralized on the members, as they walked on: "Barney's on his
rounds getting hold of the new members. He scents a corruptible man as
the buzzard does carrion. Every session young fellows like you come
down here with high and beautiful ideas of office, and start in to
reform everything, and end by becoming meat for Barney and his like.
There is something destructive in the atmosphere of politics."

Bradley listened to Cargill incredulously. These things could not be
true. These groups of jovial, candid-looking men could not be the moral
wrecks they were represented. He had expected to see men who looked
villainous in some way, with bloated faces--disreputable, beery
fellows. He had not risen to the understanding that the successful
villain is always plausible.

When he left the Capitol and went down the steps with Cargill, he felt
that he had fairly entered upon the work of his term.

"Now, young man," said Cargill, as they parted, "let me advise you. The
fight of this session is going to be the people against the
corporations. There are two posi