you, who can have no scientific knowledge of the many complex
problems.... However," he said, a ray of brightness lightening his
displeasure, "your State is notoriously backward in this field. Your
department, I fancy, can hardly be more than rudimentary."
"It will be much, much more than that in another year or two. Why, we're
only four years old!"
"So this is why you are interested in having editorials written about
reformatories. It is a reformatory for women that you wish to
establish?"
"How did you know?"
"I merely argue from the fact that your State is so often held up to
reproach for lack of one. What is the plan?"
"We are asking," said the Assistant Secretary, "for a hundred thousand
dollars--sixty thousand to buy the land and build, forty thousand for
equipment and two years' support. Modest enough, is it not? Of course we
shall not get a penny from the present legislature. Legislatures love to
say no; it dearly flatters their little vanity. We are giving them the
chance to say no now. Then when they meet again, two years from now, we
trust that they will be ready to give us what we ask--part of it, at any
rate. We can make a start with seventy-five thousand dollars."
Queed was moved to magnanimity. "Look here. You have been civil to me--I
will write that article for you Myself."
While Sharlee had become aware that the little Doctor was interested,
really interested, in talking social science with her, she thought he
must be crazy to offer such a contribution of his time. A guilty pink
stole into her cheek. A reformatory article by Mr. Queed would doubtless
be scientifically pluperfect, but nobody would read it. Colonel Cowles,
on the other hand, had never even heard of Willoughby and Smathers; but
when he wrote an article people read it, and the humblest understood
exactly what he was driving at.
"Why--it's very nice of you to offer to help us, but I couldn't think of
imposing on your time--"
"Naturally not," said he, decisively; "but it happens that we have
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