human
Well! What do you see that looks likely for--What's the matter? Are you sick to-day?
gpt
No, I am quite well, thank you. I find very little in the news, though. You notice that a digest of the railroad bill is given out?
human
Yes. You don't look a bit well, old fellow. You must take a holiday after the legislature goes. Yes, I'm going to take the hide off that bill. Or better yet--you. Don't you feel like shooting off some big guns at it?
gpt
Certainly, if you want me to. There is the farmers' convention, too. And by the way, I'd like to leave as soon as you can fill my place.
human
Yes. I'd--like to leave. I thought I ought to tell you this morning, so that you can at once make your plans as to my successor.
gpt
But my dear fellow! I can't let you _leave me!_ You've no idea how I value your assistance, how I've come to lean and depend upon you at every point. I never dreamed you were thinking of this. What's the matter? What have you got on your mind?
human
I think, said Queed, unhappily,
gpt
Why, confound you--it's the money! said West, with a sudden relieved laugh.
human
Why didn't you tell me, old fellow? You're worth five times what they're paying you--five times as much as I am for that matter--and I can make the directors see it. Trust me to make them raise you to my salary at the next meeting.
gpt
Thank you--but no, my salary is quite satisfactory.
human
Of course, he said in a troubled voice,
gpt
Well, he said, obviously embarrassed,
human
I find that I am out of sympathy with the policy of the paper.
gpt
Oh-h-ho! said West, slowly and dubiously.
human
Do you mean my article on the reformatory?
gpt
Yes--I do.
human
Why, my dear fellow!
gpt
Let's take it this way, old fellow. Suppose that my standpoint in that article was diametrically wrong. I am sure I could convince you that it was not, but admit, for argument's sake, that it was. Do you feel that the appearance in the paper of an article with which you don't agree makes it necessary for you, in honor, to resign?
human
No, certainly not--
gpt
Is it that you don't like my turning down one of your articles and printing one of my own instead? I didn't know you objected to that, old fellow. You see--while your judgment is probably a hanged sight better than mine, after all I am the man who is held responsible, and I am paid a salary to see that my opinions become the opinions of the _Post_.
human
It is entirely right that your opinions--
gpt
Then wherein have I offended? Be frank with me, like a good fellow, I beg you!
human
I look at it this way, he said, in a slow, controlled voice.
gpt
The _Post_ has said again and again that _this_ legislature must establish a reformatory. That was the burden of a long series of editorials, running back over a year, which, as I thought, had your entire approval. Now, at the critical moment, when it was only necessary to say once more what had been said a hundred times before, the _Post_ suddenly turns about and, in effect, authorizes this legislature not to establish the reformatory. The House killed the bill just now. Bangor quoted from the _Post_ editorial. There can be no doubt, of course, that it turned a number of votes--enough to have safely carried the bill.
human
But if we find out that this legislature is so drained by inescapable expenses that it simply cannot provide the money? Suppose the State had been swept by a plague? Suppose there was a war and a million of unexpected expenses had suddenly dropped on us from the clouds? Wouldn't you agree that circumstances altered cases, and that, under such circumstances, everything that was not indispensable to the State's existence would have to go over?
gpt
Can't you really see that these circumstances are not in the least like those? Did you do me the courtesy to read what I wrote about this so-called 'economy argument' last night?
human
Certainly, said West, surprised by the other's tone.
gpt
But clever as it was, it was not based, in my opinion, on a clear understanding of the facts as they actually exist. You and I stay so close inside of four walls here that we are apt to get out of touch with practical conditions. Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to get new facts, from a confidential and highly authoritative source. In the light of these--I wish I could explain them more fully to you, but I was pledged to secrecy--I am obliged to tell you that what you had written seemed to me altogether out of focus, unfair, and extreme.
human
Did you get these facts, as you call them, from Plonny Neal?
gpt
As to that, I am at liberty to say nothing.
human
I would give four hundred and fifty dollars, he said slowly--
gpt
I am awfully sorry, said West, with a touch of dignity,
human
I know Plonny Neal even better than you do, continued Queed,