The friends grew impatient, now; the telegrams did not come fast enough:  even the lightning could not keep up with their anxieties.  They walked the floor talking disjointedly and listening for the door-bell.  Telegram after telegram came.  Still no result.  By and by there was one which contained a single line: 

“Court now coming in after brief recess to hear verdict.  Jury ready.”

“Oh, I wish they would finish!” said Washington.  “This suspense is killing me by inches!”

Then came another telegram: 

“Another hitch somewhere.  Jury want a little more time and further instructions.”

“Well, well, well, this is trying,” said the Colonel.  And after a pause, “No dispatch from Dilworthy for two hours, now.  Even a dispatch from him would be better than nothing, just to vary this thing.”

They waited twenty minutes.  It seemed twenty hours.

“Come!” said Washington.  “I can’t wait for the telegraph boy to come all the way up here.  Let’s go down to Newspaper Row—­meet him on the way.”

While they were passing along the Avenue, they saw someone putting up a great display-sheet on the bulletin board of a newspaper office, and an eager crowd of men was collecting abort the place.  Washington and the Colonel ran to the spot and read this: 

“Tremendous Sensation!  Startling news from Saint’s Rest!  On first ballot for U. S. Senator, when voting was about to begin, Mr. Noble rose in his place and drew forth a package, walked forward and laid it on the Speaker’s desk, saying, ’This contains $7,000 in bank bills and was given me by Senator Dilworthy in his bed-chamber at midnight last night to buy —­my vote for him—­I wish the Speaker to count the money and retain it to pay the expense of prosecuting this infamous traitor for bribery.  The whole legislature was stricken speechless with dismay and astonishment.  Noble further said that there were fifty members present with money in their pockets, placed there by Dilworthy to buy their votes.  Amidst unparalleled excitement the ballot was now taken, and J. W. Smith elected U. S. Senator; Dilworthy receiving not one vote!  Noble promises damaging exposures concerning Dilworthy and certain measures of his now pending in Congress.

“Good heavens and earth!” exclaimed the Colonel.

“To the Capitol!” said Washington.  “Fly!”

And they did fly.  Long before they got there the newsboys were running ahead of them with Extras, hot from the press, announcing the astounding news.

Arrived in the gallery of the Senate, the friends saw a curious spectacle very Senator held an Extra in his hand and looked as interested as if it contained news of the destruction of the earth.  Not a single member was paying the least attention to the business of the hour.

The Secretary, in a loud voice, was just beginning to read the title of a bill: 

“House-Bill—­No. 4,231,—­An-Act-to-Found-and-Incorporate-the Knobs-Industrial-University!—­Read-first-and-second-time-considered-in-committee-of-the-whole-ordered-engrossed and-passed-to-third-reading-and-final passage!”