William MacLeod Raine

“ At the announcement of each vote a little ripple of subdued applause ran over the hall, which the perfunctory fall of the presiding officer’s gavel could not wholly still.
When the clerk read “Blake,” all eyes swung as on a pivot to the man named, for many knew and others felt subtly that the person for whom he was about to vote would be the next senator. ”

“ Day by day certain men have moved among us buying and selling votes like merchandise. Members of this body, with long and honorable public careers behind them, have become infected by the poison which these go-betweens have whispered. We have seen old friends fall by the wayside, and we have known with sadness that in the long years to come the finger of shame will be forever pointed at them. ”

“ You’re not the most universally popular man in town just now, you know. My opinion is that you had better hunt in couples for a time. The feeling is very bitter.”
“Oh, they’ll take it out in cursing me,” returned. Blake jubilantly.
“That’s one of those things you never can tell,” answered Kreagh, and he added, as he shook hands: “It’s been a bully fight, Devvie. I want to take off my hat to you, my boy. We never could have made it without Devereux Blake. You’re the biggest man in the State to-day, even if Miller was elected to the Senate.” ”