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"I expect you'll be asking favors for some time," Castle said, "and not getting them. I told you we'd lick you and we have. I told you we'd smash you and drive you out of the state. We'll do that just as surely ..." "Maybe so," said Scattergood, phlegmatically. "Maybe so. Nobody kin tell.... Howdy, Siggins! Lookin' mighty jubilant about somethin'. Glad to see it.... And Mr.
It really simplified the situation to Lafe and to Crane, for it removed from circulation forty doubtful votes and left the real battle to be fought between the regulars. Wherefore Messrs. Siggins and Crane departed from the village in satisfied mood.
Probably, however, there was no single individual in the commonwealth who could exert as much influence as he. If there was a single man to compare with him it was Lafe Siggins, from the northern part of the state. All men admitted that a partnership between Scattergood and Lafe would be unbeatable. "Got a bill I want introduced, Amri," said Scattergood. "Let's see her, Scattergood."
Scattergood saw the trend of affairs early and gave them his earnest consideration. That his ancient ill wishers, Messrs. Crane & Keith, were identified with the new and rising power may not have been the least of the considerations which determined him to dip in his spoon on the side of Siggins and the old order. But there was one obstacle.
"It would hurt.... Of course it mustn't pass. Get after it and don't let any grass grow. Kill it in committee. That's the safest way.... Have Lafe Siggins look after it." Hammond bustled out, and Castle turned to his brother-in-law. "I underestimated this Scattergood some," he said.
"Hain't got no need for privacy. Folks is welcome to listen to all I got to say." Mr. Siggins frowned, but, being a politician and partially estimating the quality of his man, he did not protest. "You beat us clever," said he. "Calculated to," said Scattergood. "In politics for good?" "Calculate to be." "What you aim to do?" "Kind of look after the politics in Coldriver."
Hammond, general counsel for the G. & B. and expert handler of legislatures, was forced to write President Castle that he faced a condition new in his broad experience. "The chances," he said, "are more than even that this bill passes. Men we have been able to depend on are refractory. Siggins is doing his best, but so far he has been able to account for only forty-five per cent of the votes.
"Lafe's in right where he kin git the most the quickest." "Run out and git him to step up here," said Scattergood. In half an hour Lafe Siggins, tall, bony, long, and solemn of face, stepped into the room, and closed the door after him cautiously. "Howdy, Scattergood!" he said. "Howdy, Lafe!... Want your backin' for a pop'lar measure. I've up and invented a new way of taxin' a railroad."
Siggins & Co. and to hold it thereafter for their own benefit and behoof. They were, therefore, laying their plans to win the legislature by winning the town meetings of the fall, and to win they had decided to make their fight upon the total prohibition of liquor in the state.
Scattergood had allowed himself to be eliminated from calculation in the state, leaving Siggins as sole, undisputed, victorious boss. It had been a clever scheme that Scattergood had outlined to Lafe so clever that Lafe hadn't seen the great good that lay in it for himself until days later. He shrugged his shoulders. It was just another case of a man unfamiliar with the game overplaying his hand.