"McDonald," said the Congressman, "I understand that charges were filed with you against Barry Wynn. Is that correct?" "Yes, sir; it is." "Well, sir, I'm here to answer in his behalf. I'd like to have a copy of the charges. I'm ready to answer them." "Very sorry," said the other, with a strange smile, "but I can't oblige you." "Why not," asked Carlton, bristling up at once. "Because there are no charges now." "No charges now? What do you mean?" The Sergeant-at-Arms did an amazing thing. He winked at the Congressman. After that he spoke with a significant emphasis. "Hudson beat you by about ten minutes; he's withdrawn the charges, and says I'm to consider them as never having been made." Carlton looked at him blankly. "Well, that beats the old Harry," he said, finally; "how do you account for it." "I should say," said the other, slowly, "that Hudson's action was prompted by the force of public opinion." "The force of public opinion?" echoed the Congressman. "Yes," repeated McDonald, slyly, "the force of public opinion as represented by Mr. Felix Conway." CHAPTER XXI CONWAY MAKES A HIT In less than a week the incident of the missing bill was relegated to the lumber room of forgotten events. As Mr. Carlton had predicted, other and more important things arose to occupy the minds of the national legislators. But Barry Wynn did not forget the disastrous affair quite so readily. It remained in his mind as a warning for the future. It was a red light waving him away from the edge of many a dangerous precipice. But blessings often come in disguise, and eventually this lapse proved to be a good thing for the young page boy. He became more careful, accurate and painstaking. He never again postponed until "after a while" the task that could be done at once. But in the meantime, the incident itself, while forgotten by Congressmen, led to unexpected complications. What had been a single-handed battle between Hudson and Carlton now broadened out until it became a spirited contest between those who favored the reform bills of the Administration and those who opposed them. Like most contentions of this kind, what had been a trivial matter grew to great proportions. The incident of the missing bill might have been likened to a pebble thrown into a placid stream, creating circle after circle until all of the waters were in commotion. For the next few weeks there was a ferment of factional politics. Even those who tried to keep out of the unpleasant muss were drawn into it as the peaceful waters are sometimes sucked into a fierce eddy. Meetings, large and small, were being held every day. There were conferences, caucuses, and secret gatherings of all kinds. One morning Felix Conway sent for Barry Wynn in a great hurry.