Vedder--who was well known to Bill by
reputation--and finally asked him squarely whether he would meet
him. I think my enthusiasm quite carried him away.
"Sure, I will," said Bill Hahn heartily.
"When and where?" I asked, "and will any of the other men join
you?"
Bill was all enthusiasm at once, for that was the essence of his
temperament, but he said that he must first refer it to the
committee. I waited, in a tense state of impatience, for what
seemed to me a very long time; but finally the door opened and
Bill Hahn came out bringing R--- D-- himself with him. We all sat
down together, and R--- D--- began to ask questions (he was
evidently suspicious as to who and what I was); but I think,
after I talked with them for some time that I made them see the
possibilities and the importance of such a meeting. I was greatly
impressed with R--- D---, the calmness and steadiness of the man,
his evident shrewdness. "A real general," I said to myself. "I
should like to know him better."
After a long talk they returned to the other room, closing the
door behind them, and I waited again, still more impatiently.
It seems rather absurd now, but at that moment I felt firmly
convinced that I was on the way to the permanent settlement of a
struggle which had occupied the best brains of Kilburn for many
weeks.
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