"Well, that's funny," he said, finally. "Nothing funny about it. Why, at the session only last night I voted for a bill that he was interested in." The journalist seemed petrified with astonishment. When he was able to voice his feeling he emitted two startled words: "You did!" "Certainly, I did. It was a proper bill and one that should have been passed. I harbor no resentment against Hudson. He is human, that's all; only he was a little more human than most people. He thought I had done him a wrong and he tried to get even with me. I must admit that I do not particularly admire his methods, but I can assure you that I cherish no resentment whatever against him." Conway whistled--his favorite way of expressing unusual emotion. "What did Hudson say when you voted with him?" Carlton laughed. "He came over and thanked me. He did more than that. He said he was sorry that he had struck below the belt and promised me he would never do it again." Conway looked at his friend with undisguised admiration. "Well," he said, "it's no wonder that you are successful. A man who is as charitable as you are doesn't deserve to have any enemies." The trio laughingly separated, and Carlton hurried into the House, followed by his young friend. He busied himself at his desk for a few minutes and then said: "Barry, that omnibus bill will go through in a few minutes and after it has been signed by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, I want you to take it in to a gentleman sitting at a desk in that room yonder." He pointed to a little doorway leading to an apartment finished in marble. Barry was about to ask who the gentleman was when his attention was distracted by a Congressman calling to him. The greatest commotion prevailed in the House. Everyone seemed to be doing a different thing at the same time. The Speaker pounded his desk; the clerk called the roll; members indulged in short, snappy debates, while the page boys rushed in every direction, tripping over each other's heels and otherwise adding to the general din and confusion. But in spite of the appearance of chaos, the members had settled down to business and were engaged in steadily passing upon bills that yet remained to be considered. Minor legislation, of course, was out of the question. Only three or four of the big bills, like the General Appropriation bill, the Naval programme, the Public Buildings bill, and the Rivers and Harbors bill, were given a place on the calendar. The House had been in session about an hour when the Speaker summoned Barry Wynn to his side. He had a document before him and had just finished appending his signature to it. "Barry," he said, in a kindly tone, "take this bill over to the presiding officer of the Senate and have him place his autograph directly below my own."