"But, unfortunately, Congress also has something to say about choosing it," spoke Haines.
"To be shuah they do," said Gulf City's Mayor, "but—"
"And there was a man here from Altacoola yesterday," again interrupted the secretary, "who said that Gulf City was fit only to be the State refuge for aged and indigent frogs."
"Say, they ain't a man in Altacoola wot can speak th' truth," indignantly shrieked the old Colonel, almost losing control of himself; "because their heads is always a-buzzin' and a-hummin' from th' quinine they have to take to keep th' fever away, sah!"
The Mayor sat directly in front of Haines, at the opposite side of his desk. Regaining his composure, he suddenly leaned forward and half whispered to the secretary:
"Mah young friend, don't let Senator Langdon get switched away from
Gulf City by them cheap skates from Altacoola. Now, if you'll get th'
Senator to vote fo' Gulf City we'll see—I'll see, sah, as an officer
of th' Gulf City Lan' Company—that you get taken ca-ah of."
Haines' eyes opened wide.
"Go on, Colonel; go on with your offer," he said.
"Well, I'll see that a block of stock, sah—a big block—is set aside fo' Senator Langdon an' another fo' you, too. We've made this ah-rangomont else-wheah. We'll outbid Altacoola overall time. They're po' sports an' hate to give up."
"So Altacoola is bidding, too?" excitedly asked Haines.