blueeyeshadastormylook.
\"Hello,Jim,\"saidtheColonel.\"Iwasjustwonderingwhereyouwere.\"
\"Sure,youmusthavebeen!\"repliedthegentlemansarcastically.
ButtheColonel\'sgenialitywasunruffled.
\"Mr.Maker,\"hesaid,\"yououghttoknowMr.Paret.Mr.MakeristherepresentativefromWardFiveofyourcity,andwecanalwayscountonhimtodotherightthing,evenifheisaDemocrat.Howaboutit,Jim?\"
Mr.Makerrelightedthestumpofhiscigar.
\"Takeafreshone,Jim,\"saidtheColonel,openingabureaudrawer.
Mr.Makertooktwo.
\"Say,Colonel,\"hedemanded,\"what\'sthisbillthatwentintothejudiciarythismorning?\"
\"Whatbill?\"askedtheColonel,blandly.
\"SoyouthinkIain\'ton?\"Mr.Makerinquired.
TheColonellaughed.
\"Wherehaveyoubeen,Jim?\"
\"I\'vebeenuptothecity,seem\'mywife——that\'swhereI\'vebeen.\"
TheColonelsmiled,asataharmlessfiction.
\"Well,ifyouweren\'there,Idon\'tseewhatrightyou\'vegottocomplain.IneverleavemygoodDemocraticfriendsontheoutside,doI?\"
\"That\'sallright,\"repliedMr.Maker,doggedly,\"I\'mon,I\'mherenow,andthatbillintheJudiciarydoesn\'tpasswithoutme.IguessIcanstopit,too.Howaboutathousandapieceforfiveofusboys?\"
\"You\'reprettygoodatajoke,Jim,\"remarkedtheColonel,strokinghisgoatee.
\"Maybeyou\'relookingforalittlepublicityinthisheregame,\"retortedMr.Maker,darkly.\"Say,Colonel,ain\'twealwaystreatedtheRailroadonthelevel?\"
\"Jim,\"askedtheColonel,gently,\"didn\'tIalwaystakecareofyou?\"
HehadlaidhishandontheshoulderofMr.Maker,whoappearedslightlymollified,andglancedatamassivesilverwatch.
\"Well,I\'llbedroppinginabouteighto\'clock,\"washissignificantreply,ashetookhisleave.
\"Iguesswe\'llhavetogreasethewheelsalittle,\"theColonelremarkedtome,andgazedattheceiling
ThetelegramaproposoftheWardFiveleaderwasbynomeanstheonlyciphermessageIsentbackduringmystay.Ihadnotneededtobetoldthatthematterinhandwouldcostmoney,butMr.Watling\'spartinginstructiontomehadbeentotaketheColonel\'sadviceastospecificsums,andobtainconfirmationfromFowndes.NorwasitanysurprisetometofindDemocratsonintimatetermswithsuchastoutRepublicanastheColonel.SomestatesmanissaidtohavedeclaredthatheknewneitherEasternersnorWesterners,NorthernersnorSoutherners,butonlyAmericans;soColonelVarneyrecognizedneitherDemocratsnorRepublicans;inourlegislaturepartydivisionsweresunkinagreaterloyaltytotheRailroad.
AttheColonel\'ssuggestionIhadlaidinaliberalsupplyofcigarsandwhiskey.Thesceneinhisroomthateveningsuggestedasessionofasublimatedgrandlodgeofsomesecretorder,suchwerethemysteriouscomingsandgoings,knocksandsuspenses.Oneafteranotherthe\"important\"mendulyappearedandwereintroduced,theColonelsupplyingthelighttouch.
\"Why,cussmeifitisn\'tBilly!Mr.Paret,IwantyoutoshakehandswithMr.Donovan,thefloorleaderofthe\'opposition,\'sir.
Mr.Donovanhashadthehabitofcominguphereforafriendlychateversincehefirstcamedowntothelegislature.Howlongisit,Billy?\"
\"Iguessit\'snighontofifteenyears,Colonel.\"
\"Fifteenyears!\"echoedtheColonel,\"andhe\'ssogoodaDemocratithasn\'tchangedhispoliticsaparticle.\"
Mr.Donovangrinnedinappreciationofthisthrust,helpedhimselfliberallyfromthebottleonthemantel,andtookaseatonthebed.Wehada\"friendlychat.\"
ThusImadetheacquaintancealsooftheHon.JosephMecklin,SpeakeroftheHouse,whounbentinthemostflatteringwayonlearningmyidentity.
\"Mr.Paret\'shereonthatlittlematter,representingWatling,FowndesandRipon,\"theColonelexplained.AnditappearedthatMr.Mecklinknewallaboutthe\"littlematter,\"andthatthementionofthefirmofWatling,FowndesandRiponhadamagicaleffectintheseparts.ThePresidentoftheSenate,theHon.LafeGiddings,wentsofarastosaythathehopedbeforelongtoseeMr.WatlinginWashington.BynomeanstheleastamongourcallerswastheHon.FitchTruesdale,editoroftheSt.Helen\'sMessenger,whoseeditorialswereofthetriteeffectivenessthatistakenwidelyforwisdom,andwereassiduouslycopiedeveryweekbyotherstatepapersandlabeled\"Mr.Truesdale\'sCommonSense.\"Atcountlessfiresidesinourstatehewasknownasthespokesmanoftheplainman,whowasblissfullyignorantofthefactthatMr.TruesdalewasownedbodyandcarcassbyMr.CyrusRidden,theprincipalmanufacturerofSt.Helen\'sandadirectorinseveralsubsidiarylinesoftheRailroad.
Inthelegislature,theHon.Fitch\'sfunctionwasthatofthemoderatecounsellorandbellwetherfornewmembers,hencenothingcouldhavebeenmorefittingthanthechoiceofthatgentlemanforthehonourofmoving,onthemorrow,thatBillNo.709oughttopass.
Mr.Truesdalereluctantlyconsentedtoacceptasmall\"loan\"thatwouldhelptopaythemortgageonhisnewpress
Whenthelastofthegatheringhaddeparted,aboutoneo\'clockinthemorning,Ihadaddedconsiderablytomyexperience,gainedaprettyaccurateideaofwhowaswhointhelegislatureandpoliticsofthestate,andestablishedrelationships——astheColonelremindedme——likelytoprovevaluableinthefuture.Itseemedonlygracioustocongratulatehimonhismanagementoftheaffair,——sofar.Heappearedpleased,andsqueezedmyhand.
\"Well,sir,itdidrequirealittledelicacyoftouch.AndifIdosayitmyself,ithasn\'tbeenbotched,\"headmitted.\"Thereain\'tanoutsider,asfarasIcanlearn,whohascaughtontotheniggerinthewood-pile.That\'sthegreatthing,tokeep\'emignorantaslongaspossible.Youunderstand.Theyyellbloodymurderwhentheydofindout,butgenerallyit\'stoolate,ifabill\'sbeenhandledright.\"
Ifoundmyselfspeculatingastowhothe\"outsiders\"mightbe.NoRibblevaleattorneyswereonthespotasyet,——ofthatIwassatisfied.
Intheabsenceofthese,whoweretheopposition?ItseemedtomeasthoughIhadinterviewedthatdayeverymaninthelegislature.
Iwasverytired.ButwhenIgotintobed,itwasimpossibletosleep.
Myeyessmartedfromthetobaccosmoke;andtheeventsoftheday,indisorderlymanner,keptrunningthroughmyhead.Thetideofmyexhilarationhadebbed,andIfoundmyselfstrugglingagainstarevulsioncaused,apparently,bythecontemplationofColonelVarneyandhisassociates;theinstruments,inbrief,bywhichourtriumphoverouropponentswastobeeffected.Andthatsameideawhich,whenlaunchedamidstthesurroundingsoftheBoyneClub,hadseemedsobrilliant,nowtookonanaspectoftawdriness.Anotherthoughtintrudeditself,——thatofMr.Pugh,thepresidentoftheRibblevaleCompany.Myfatherhadknownhim,andsomeyearsbeforeIhadtraveledhalfwayacrossthestateinhiscompany;hiskindlinesshadimpressedme.Hehadspentalargepartofhisbusinesslife,Iknew,inbuildinguptheRibblevale,andnowitwastobewrestedfromhim;hewastobesetaside,perhapsforcedtostartalloveragainwhenoldagewascomingon!InvainIaccusedmyselfofsentimentality,andsummonedallmyargumentstoprovethatincommerceefficiencymustbetheonlytest.TheimageofMr.Pughwouldnotdown.
Igotupandturnedonthelight,andtookrefugeinanovelIhadinmybag.PresentlyIgrewcalmer.Ihadchosen.Ihadsucceeded.AndnowthatIhadmyfingeratlastonthenerveofpower,itwasnotimetoweaken.
Itwashalf-pastsixwhenIawokeandwenttothewindow,relievedtofindthatthesunhadscatteredmymorbidfancieswiththedarkness;andIspeculated,asIdressed,whetherthethingcalledconsciencewerenot,afterall,amatterofnerves.Iwentdownstairsthroughthetobacco-staleatmosphereofthelobbyintothefreshairandsparklysunlightofthemildFebruarymorning,andleavingthebusinessdistrictIreachedtheresidenceportionofthelittletown.
Thefrontstepsofsomeofthecomfortablehouseswerebeingsweptbyindustriousservantgirls,andoutofthechimneystwisted,fantastically,richbluesmoke;thebarebranchesofthetreesweresilver-greyagainstthesky;gainingatlastanold-fashioned,woodenbridge,Istoodforawhilegazingattheriver,overtheshallowsofwhichthespendthrifthandofnaturehadflungashowerofdiamonds.AndIreflectedthattheworldwasforthestrong,forhimwhodaredreachouthishandandtakewhatitoffered.Itwasnotmoneywecoveted,weAmericans,butpower,theself-expressionconferredbypower.AsingleexperiencesuchasIhadhadthenightbeforewouldsincetoconvinceanysanemanthatdemocracywasafailure,thattheworld-oldprincipleofaristocracywouldassertitself,thattheattemptofourancestorstocurtailpoliticalpowerhadmerelyresultedinthegrowthofanotherandgreatereconomicpowerthatbadefairtobelimitless.AsIwalkedslowlybackintotownIfeltareluctancetoreturntothenoisyhotel,andfindingmyselfinfrontofalittlerestaurantonasidestreet,I
enteredit.Therewasbutoneothercustomerintheplace,andhewasseatedonthefarsideofthecounter,withanewspaperinfrontofhim;
andwhileIwasorderingmybreakfastIwasvaguelyawarethatthenewspaperhaddropped,andthathewaslookingatme.IntheslightintervalthatelapsedbeforemybraincouldregisterhisidentityI
experiencedadistinctshockofresentment;asenseofthereintrusionofanantagonisticvalueatamomentwhenitwasmostunwelcome
Themanhadrisenandwascomingaroundthecounter.HewasHermannKrebs.
\"Paret!\"Iheardhimsay.
\"Youhere?\"Iexclaimed.
Hedidnotseemtonoticethelackofcordialityinmytone.HeappearedsogenuinelygladtoseemeagainthatIinstantlybecameratherashamedofmyillnature.
\"Yes,I\'mhere——inthelegislature,\"heinformedme.
\"ASolon!\"
\"Exactly.\"Hesmiled.\"Andyou?\"heinquired.
\"Oh,I\'monlyaspectator.Downhereforadayortwo.\"
Hewasstilllanky,hisclothesgavenoevidenceofanincreasedprosperity,buthiscomplexionwasgood,hisskinhadcleared.Iwasmorethaneverbakedbyaresolutegoodhumour,asimplicitythatwasnotinnocence,awhimsicaltouchseeminglyindicativeofastateofmindthatrefusedtotaketooseriouslycertainthingsonwhichIsetstore.Whatrighthadhetobecontentedwithlife?
\"Well,Itooamonlyaspectatorhere,\"helaughed.\"I\'mneitherfish,fleshnorfowl,norgoodredherring.\"
\"Youweregoingintothelaw,weren\'tyou?\"Iasked.\"IrememberyousaidsomethingaboutitthatdaywemetatBeverlyFarms.\"
\"Yes,Imanagedit,afterall.ThenIwentbackhometoElkingtontotrytomakealiving.\"
\"ButsomehowIhaveneverthoughtofyouasbeinglikelytodeveloppoliticalaspirations,Krebs,\"Isaid.
\"Ishouldsaynot!heexclaimed.
\"Yethereyouare,launcheduponapoliticalcareer!Howdidithappen?\"
\"Oh,I\'mnotworryingaboutthecareer,\"heassuredme.\"Igotherebyaccident,andI\'mafraiditwon\'thappenagaininahurry.Yousee,thehandsinthosebigmillswehaveinElkingtonsprangasurpriseonthemachine,andthefirstthingIknewIwasnominatedforthelegislature.
Acommitteecametomyboarding-houseandtoldme,andtherewasthedeucetopay,rightoff.TheRailroadpoliticiansturnedinandworkedfortheDemocraticcandidate,ofcourse,andtheHutchinses,whoownthemills,triedthroughemissariestointimidatetheiroperatives.\"
\"Andthen?\"Iasked.
\"Well,——I\'mhere,\"hesaid.
\"Wouldn\'tyoubeaccomplishingmore,\"Iinquired,\"ifyouhadn\'tantagonizedtheHutchinses?\"
\"Itdependsuponwhatyoumeanbyaccomplishment,\"heanswered,somildlythatIfeltmoreruedthanever.
\"Well,fromwhatyousay,Isupposeyou\'regoinginforreform,thattheseworkmenupatElkingtonarenotsatisfiedwiththeirconditionsandimagineyoucanhelptobetterthem.Now,providedtheconditionsarenotasgoodastheymightbe,howareyougoingtoimprovethemifyoufindyourselfisolatedhere,asyousay?\"
\"Inotherwords,IshouldcooperatewithColonelVarneyandotherdisinterestedphilanthropists,\"hesupplied,andIrealizedthatIwaslosingmytemper.
\"Well,whatcanyoudo?\"Iinquireddefiantly.
\"Icanfindoutwhat\'sgoingon,\"hesaid.\"Ihavealreadylearnedsomething,bytheway.\"
\"Andthen?\"Iasked,wonderingwhethertheimplicationwerepersonal.
\"ThenIcanhelp——disseminatetheknowledge.Imaybewrong,butIhaveanideathatwhenthepeopleofthiscountrylearnhowtheirlegislaturesareconductedtheywillwanttochangethings.\"
\"That\'sright!\"echoedthewaiter,whohadcomeupwithmygriddle-cakes.
\"Andyou\'rethemantotell\'em,Mr.Krebs.\"
\"Itwillneedseveralthousandofustodothat,I\'mafraid,\"saidKrebs,returninghissmile.
Mydistasteforthesituationbecamemoreacute,butIfeltthatIwasthrownonthedefensive.Icouldnotretreat,now.
\"Ithinkyouarewrong,\"Ideclared,whenthewaiterhaddepartedtoattendtoanothercustomer.\"Thepeoplethegreatmajorityofthem,atleastareindifferent,theydon\'twanttobebotheredwithpolitics.
Therewillalwaysbelabouragitation,ofcourse,——themorewagesthosefellowsget,themoretheywant.Wepaythehighestwagesintheworldto-day,andthestandardoflivingishigherinthiscountrythananywhereelse.They\'druinourprosperity,ifwe\'dlet\'em.\"
\"Howaboutthethousandsoffamilieswhodon\'tearnenoughtolivedecentlyevenintimesofprosperity?\"inquiredKrebs.
\"It\'shard,I\'lladmit,buttheinefficientandtheshiftlessareboundtosuffer,nomatterwhatformofgovernmentyouadopt.\"
\"Youtalkaboutstandardsofliving,——Icouldshowyousomeexamplesofstandardstomakeyourheartsick,\"hesaid.\"Whatyoudon\'trealize,perhaps,isthatlowstandardshelptoincreasetheinefficientofwhomyoucomplain.\"
Hesmiledrathersadly.\"Theprosperityyouareadvocating,\"headded,afteramoment,\"isamerefiction,itisgorgingthefewattheexpenseofthemany.Andwhatisbeingdoneinthiscountryistostoreupanexplosivegasthatsomedaywillblowyoursuperstructuretoatomsifyoudon\'twakeupintime.\"
\"Isn\'tthataratherone-sidedview,too?\"Isuggested.
\"I\'venodoubtitmayappearso,buttaketheproceedingsinthislegislature.I\'venodoubtyouknowsomethingaboutthem,andthatyouwouldmaintaintheyarejustifiedonaccountoftheindifferenceofthepublic,andofotherreasons,butIcanciteaninstancethatissimplylegalizedthieving.\"ForthefirsttimeanoteofindignationcreptintoKrebs\'svoice.\"LastnightIdiscoveredbyamereaccident,intalkingtoamanwhocameinonalatetrain,thatabillintroducedyesterday,whichisbeingrushedthroughtheJudiciaryCommitteeoftheHouse——anapparentlyinnocentlittlebill——willenable,ifitbecomesalaw,theBoyneIronWorks,ofyourcity,totakepossessionoftheRibblevaleSteelCompany,lock,stock,andbarrel.AndIamtolditwasconceivedbyalawyerwhoclaimstobearespectablememberofhisprofession,andwhohasextraordinaryability,TheodoreWatling.\"
Krebsputhishandinhispocketanddrewoutapaper.\"Here\'sacopyofit,——HouseBill709.\"Hisexpressionsuddenlychanged.\"PerhapsMr.
Watlingisafriendofyours.\"
\"I\'mwithhisfirm,\"Ireplied
Krebs\'sfingersclosedoverthepaper,crumplingit.
\"Oh,then,youknowaboutthis,\"hesaid.HewasputtingthepaperbackintohispocketwhenItookitfromhim.Butmyadroitness,socarefullyschooled,seemedmomentarilytohavedesertedme.WhatshouldIsay?Itwasnecessarytodecidequickly.
\"Don\'tyoutakerathera——prejudicedviewofthis,Krebs?\"Isaid.\"Uponmyword,Ican\'tseewhyyoushouldacceptarumourrunningaroundthelobbiesthatMr.Watlingdraftedthisbillforaparticularpurpose.\"
Hewassilent.Buthiseyesdidnotleavemyface.
\"Whyshouldanysensibleman,amemberofthelegislature,takestockinthatkindofgossip?\"Iinsisted.\"Whynotjudgethisbillbyitsface,withoutheedingacockandbullstoryastohowitmayhaveoriginated?
Itisagoodbill,orabadbill?Let\'sseewhatitsays.\"
Ireadit.
\"SofarasIcansee,itislegislationwhichweoughttohavehadlongago,andtendstocompelapublicityincorporationaffairsthatismuchneeded,toputastoptopracticeswhicheverydecentcitizendeplores.\"
Hedrewthepaperoutofmyhand.
\"Youneedn\'tgoon,Paret,\"hetoldme.\"It\'snouse.\"
\"Well,I\'msorrywedon\'tagree,\"Isaid,andgotup.Ilefthimtwistingthepaperinhisfingers.
Besidetheclerk\'sdeskinthePottsHouse,relatingoneofhisanecdotes,IspiedColonelVarney,andmanagedpresentlytodrawhimupstairstohisroom.\"What\'sthematter?\"heasked.
\"DoyouknowamannamedKrebsintheHouse?\"Isaid.
\"FromElkington?Why,that\'sthemantheHutchinsesletslipthrough,——
theHutchinses,whoownthemillsoverthere.Theagitatorsputupajobonthem.\"TheColonelwasnolongerthegenialandsocialpurveyorofanecdotes.Hehadbecometense,alert,suspicious.\"What\'sheupto?\"
\"He\'sfoundoutaboutthisbill,\"Ireplied.
\"How?\"
\"Idon\'tknow.Butsomeonetoldhimthatitoriginatedinouroffice,andthatweweregoingtouseitinoursuitagainsttheRibblevale.\"
IrelatedthecircumstancesofmyrunningacrossKrebs,speakingofhavingknownhimatHarvard.ColonelVarneyutteredanoath,andstrodeacrosstothewindow,wherehestoodlookingdownintothestreetfrombetweenthelacecurtains.
