Mrs. Sampson knew little of Orin Stanton, but she did know that Alfred
Irons was on the committee having in charge the commission for the new
statue, and the fact that Mr. Greenfield had an interest, however
indirect, in the same matter, was a hint too valuable not to be acted
upon.
Despite the confidence with which he had spoken to Fenton, the railroad
business was by no means settled. The Staggchase syndicate had rallied
to raise objections to prevent the Railroad Commissioners from
authorizing the other route. A hearing had been granted, and for it
elaborate preparations were being made. The Irons syndicate were
extremely anxious that Greenfield should speak at this hearing, but
there had been so much feeling aroused at Feltonville by his action in
the Senate that he was not inclined to do so; and Mrs. Sampson, who had
already proved so successful in influencing her relative, had been
requested to continue her efforts.
The widow had pondered deeply upon the tactics she should use, and it
is to be noted that she set down the amount of the obligation incurred
by Irons as the greater because she had really become in a way fond of
Greenfield, and she was too clever not to understand the fact, to which
the senator with singular perversity remained obstinately blind, that
he could not but injure his political prestige by the course he was
taking.
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