With a keen sense of the dramatic, the Congressman let his next words drawl out with full effect.
"I've got Senator Langdon interested—financially interested," he said.
His two hearers exchanged a significant glance.
"How?" asked Peabody, sharply.
Norton smiled shrewdly.
"Well, I just let his son invest $50,000 of the Senator's money in
Altacoola land. That ought to help some."
Stevens stared in amazement at his Congressman, his eyes threatening to bulge out of his head.
"What!" he gasped. "You got Langdon's money in Altacoola, through his son?"
"I sure have, Senator," chuckled Norton. "He's in to the extent of fifty thousand, and I've promised that the fifty shall make a hundred by spring."
"It'll make three hundred thousand at least," snapped Peabody. "Norton, you've done a good day's work. By the way, a New York client of mine has a little business that I cannot attend to handily. Doesn't involve much work, and a young, hustling lawyer like you ought to take charge of it easily. The fee, I should say, would be about $10,000. Have you the time to undertake it?"