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.”

“It can’t be done, Lawler!  There is no provision in the law under which we can force the railroad company to provide cars.”

Lawler laughed mirthlessly and got to his feet, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at the governor.  For a time there was silence in the big room, during which the governor changed color several times, and drooped his eyes under Lawler’s grimly humorous gaze.  Then Lawler spoke: 

“All right, Haughton,” he said; “I’ll carry your message back to my friends at Willets.  I’ll also carry it to Lafe Renwick, of the News, here in the capital.  We’ll make it all plain enough, so that your position won’t be misunderstood.  The railroad company is not even a resident corporation, and yet you, as governor, refuse to act in the interests of the state cattle owners, against it—­merely to force it to play fair.  This will all make interesting conversation—­and more interesting reading.  My visit here has proved very interesting, and instructive.  Good-day, sir.”