Perry Haughton was a big, florid man with sleek, smooth manners, a bland smile and an engaging eye, which held a deep gleam of insincerity. The governor posed as a genial, generous, broad-minded public official--and it had been upon that reputation that he had been nominated and elected--but the geniality had been adopted for political reasons. The real man was an arrogant autocrat, lusting for power and wealth. He disliked Lawler--feared him. Also, since the convention he had felt vindictive toward Lawler, for Lawler had offended him by his tenacious championship of Falkner. He had almost lost the nomination through Lawler's efforts. "Been in town long?" he queried. "Just long enough to have a talk with Hatfield." The governor smiled wanly. "Hatfield has been having his troubles, Lawler. An unprecedented situation has developed in the state. The railroad company seems to be unable to supply cars for cattle shipments. We have investigated, and so far we have been unable to discover whether the shortage is intentional or accidental. Whatever the cause, it is a bad situation--very bad. We've got to take some action!" "Whatever action you take ought to be immediate, Governor," said Lawler. "The round-up is over and cattle must move. That is why I am here--to ask you what can be done." "I have taken the matter up with the attorney-general, Lawler. The law is vague and indefinite. We can't proceed under it. However, we are going to pass new laws at the next session of the legislature." "That will be in January," said Lawler. "Half the cattle in the state will starve before that time." The governor flushed. "That's the best we can do, Lawler." "Why not call a special session, Governor?" Haughton laughed. "Do you keep yourself informed, Lawler?" he said, a suspicion of mockery in his voice. "If you do, you will remember that the legislature has just adjourned, after acting upon some important matters." "This matter is important enough to demand another session immediately!" declared Lawler. The governor cleared his throat and gazed steadily at Lawler, his eyes gleaming with a vindictive light that he tried to make judicial. "As a matter of fact, Lawler, this question of shipping cattle is not as important as you might think--to the state at large, that is. If you take all the packing out of the case you will find at the bottom that it is merely a disagreement between cattle owners and cattle buyers. It seems to me that it is not a matter for state interference. As I understand, the cattle buyers have offered a certain price. The owners ask another; and the owners want the state to force the buyers to pay their price. I can't see that the state has any business to meddle with the affair at all. The state can't become a clearing-house for the cattle industry!" "We are not asking the state to act in that capacity, Haughton. We want the state to force the railroad company to provide cars."