favorite in Newspaper Row, and was often lounging in the offices there,
dropping bits of private, official information, which were immediately,
caught up and telegraphed all over the country. But it need to surprise
even the Colonel when he read it, it was embellished to that degree that
he hardly recognized it, and the hint was not lost on him. He began to
exaggerate his heretofore simple conversation to suit the newspaper
demand.
People used to wonder in the winters of 187- and 187-, where the
“Specials” got that remarkable information with which they every morning
surprised the country, revealing the most secret intentions of the
President and his cabinet, the private thoughts of political leaders,
the hidden meaning of every movement. This information was furnished by
Col. Sellers.
When he was asked, afterwards, about the stolen copy of the Alabama
Treaty which got into the “New York Tribune,” he only looked mysterious,
and said that neither he nor Senator Dilworthy knew anything about it.
But those whom he was in the habit of meeting occasionally felt almost
certain that he did know.
It must not be supposed that the Colonel in his general patriotic labors
neglected his own affairs. The Columbus River Navigation Scheme absorbed
only a part of his time, so he was enabled to throw quite a strong
reserve force of energy into the Tennessee Land plan, a vast enterprise
commensurate with his abilities, and in the prosecution of which he was
greatly aided by Mr. Henry Brierly, who was buzzing about the capitol and
the hotels day and night, and making capital for it in some mysterious
way.
“We must create, a public opinion,” said Senator Dilworthy. “My only
interest in it is a public one, and if the country wants the institution,
Congress will have to yield.”
It may have been after a conversation between the Colonel and Senator
Dilworthy that the following special despatch was sent to a New York
newspaper:
“We understand that a philanthropic plan is on foot in relation to
the colored race that wi1l, if successful, revolutionize the whole
character of southern industry. An experimental institution is in
contemplation in Tennessee which will do for that state what the
Industrial School at Zurich did for Switzerland. We learn that
approaches have been made to the heirs of the late Hon. Silas
Hawkins of Missouri, in reference to a lease of a portion of their
valuable property in East Tennessee. Senator Dilworthy, it is
understood, is inflexibly opposed to any arrangement that will not
give the government absolute control. Private interests must give
way to the public good. It is to be hoped that Col. Sellers, who
represents the heirs, will be led to see the matter in this light.”
When Washington Hawkins read this despatch, he went to the Colonel in
some anxiety. He was for a lease, he didn’t want to surrender anything.
What did he think the government would offer? Two millions?
“May be three, may be four,” said the Colonel, “it’s worth more than the
bank of England.”
“If they will not lease,” said Washington, “let ’em make it two millions
for an undivided half. I’m not going to throw it away, not the whole of
it.”
Harry told the Colonel that they must drive the thing through, he
couldn’t be dallying round Washington when Spring opened. Phil wanted
him, Phil had a great thing on hand up in Pennsylvania.
“What is that?” inquired the Colonel, always ready to interest himself in
anything large.
“A mountain of coal; that’s all. He’s going to run a tunnel into it in
the Spring.”
“Does he want any capital?”, asked the Colonel, in the tone of a man who
is given to calculating carefully before he makes an investment.
“No. Old man Bolton’s behind him. He has capital, but I judged that he
wanted my experience in starting.”
“If he wants me, tell him I’ll come, after Congress adjourns. I should
like to give him a little lift. He lacks enterprise–now, about that
Columbus River. He doesn’t see his chances. But he’s a good fellow, and
you can tell him that Sellers won’t go back on him.”
“By the way,” asked Harry, “who is that rather handsome party that’s