Page:Despotism and democracy; a study in Washington society and politics (IA despotismdemocra00seawiala).pdf/289

 million of dollars. Our attorneys are in Chicago, but meanwhile we want a man to go down to Texas once in a while and see how things are coming on, and attend to some matters of detail which I will state later on. The whole matter will hardly be settled under a year. We propose to pay a fee of ten thousand dollars and a small commission. I should say there was something like twenty thousand dollars in it for the right man. Several, of course, have been suggested, but you know, Mr. Crane, I am like John Adams was about New England men—there never was an office existing or created during John Adams's time that he hadn't a constituent ready for it. So, when the necessity for a man for this work became evident, I suggested I had a constituent, likewise a colleague, in the lower House, who could manage the job if he would, and mentioned your name."

Twenty thousand dollars! It seemed to Crane an enormous sum. Then he heard Senator Bicknell's voice continuing:

"It would oblige you to take a trip to Texas during the Christmas recess, and you would have to spend two or three months down there next sum