The rest trailed off in a mutter. He had dropped beside the telephone again, his cigar crushed firmly in the corner of his mouth, his gray mustache bristling aggressively. I tried to trace the family resemblance to Frances, but clashed if I could see a single point. And while I was thinking of this, he got his number.
"Yes, yes," I heard, "I _do_ want to speak to him personally--this is Judge Billings!"--a moment, and then: "Morning, Commissioner--this is Billings.... Fine, thank you!... Oh, no! No bad effects at all--takes more than that to throw a seasoned old diner like my--.... What say?"--a cackling chuckle--"yes, I knew the dinner would loosen _him_ up! Had his promise before we left the table; Soakem heard him--so did Benedict.... Yes--_oh_, yes; he's got it--had it with me, you know, _in case_!... No-o-o, of course not; not a single line or scrap!"--a lower drop of tone--"just in a plain, blank envelope--best way always, you know.... Yes, that gives us a safe margin in the Senate now, not even counting upon what they do in committee--and Soakem'll take care of that end.... Yes, he went back to Albany this morning--he says the bill's safely deader'n Hector _now_.... Er, by the way, Commissioner,"--the judge cleared his throat and his voice sobered: "Little favor I want to ask--h'm! I'm being greatly annoyed by some low vagabond confined at one of the stations.... _Yes_, I really mean it!--Captain Clutchem's precinct, you know--and this ruffian insists to them that he's my son.... No, _indeed_, I'm not joking at all.... All right, you may laugh, but I fail to appreciate the funny side, myself--especially now, you know, when I'm up to my neck in this merger case.... How's that? What do I want _done_? Oh, I wouldn't venture to say as to _that_! I leave that to _you_!... _I_ know.... Yes, I understand all that, but ... wait--wait just a minute! Now you listen--"
The judge concentrated more intensely over the instrument.
"You know what you asked me to do when I saw you last night--and I refused"--another voice drop--"with the mayor, you know? Well--now listen--you make assurance that this scoundrel will not bother me for thirty days and--well, I give you my word that I'll do all I can to bring things the way you want.... Good!... What'll you do with him? Why, what in Sam Hill do _I_ care what you do with him?... Oh, but _say_, Commissioner--yes, I do care, too!"--a laugh here like a jolly fiend--"I _shouldn't_ like for him to be put away off in some nice, damp, dark cell to cool off--he! he! he!--y'understand?"