第15章

"It\'snothalfsorawassomethingsImightmention,thatwentthroughlikegreasedlightning,"hereplied."Whatcantheydo?Ibelieveitwillholdwater.Tallant\'s,andmostoftheothernewspapersinthestate,won\'tprintalineaboutit,andonlySocialistsandPopulistsreadthePilot.They\'redisgruntledanyway.Thepointis,there\'snootherwayoutforus.Justthinkamoment,bearinginmindwhatI\'vetoldyouaboutthecase,andyou\'llseeit."

Mr.Gorsetookupthepaperagain,andreadthedraftover.

"YouknowaswellasIdo,Miller,howdangerousitistoleavethisRibblevalebusinessatlooseends.TheCarlislesteelpeopleandtheLakeShoreroadareaftertheRibblevaleCompany,andwecan\'taffordtorunanyriskoftheirgettingit.It\'slogicallyapartoftheBoyneinterests,asScherersays,andDickinsonisreadywiththemoneyforthereorganization.IftheCarlislepeopleandtheLakeShoregetit,theproductwillbeshippedoutbytheLandG,andtheRailroadwilllose.

WhatwouldBarboursay?"

Mr.Barbour,asIhaveperhapsmentioned,wasthepresidentoftheRailroad,andhadhisresidenceintheothergreatcityofthestate.Hewasthen,Iknew,intheWest.

"We\'vegottoactnow,"insistedMr.Watling."That\'sopenandshut.Ifyouhaveanyotherplan,Iwishyou\'dtrotitout.Ifnot,IwantalettertoPaulVarneyandthegovernor.I\'mgoingtosendParetdownwiththemonthenighttrain."

Itwascleartomethen,inthediscussionfollowing,thatMr.Watling\'sgiftofpersuasion,thoughgreat,wasnotthedeterminingfactorinMr.

Gorse\'sdecision.He,too,possessedboldness,thoughhepreferredcaution.Nordidthefriendshipbetweenthetwoenterintothetransaction.Iwasimpressedmorestronglythaneverwiththefactthatalawsuitwasseldomamereprivateaffairbetweentwopersonsorcorporations,butinvolvedachainofrelationshipsandninetimesoutoftenthatchainleduptotheRailroad,whichnearlyalwayswasvitallyinterestedintheselegalcontests.HalfanhourofmasterlypresentationofthesituationwasnecessarybeforeMr.Gorsebecameconvincedthattheintroductionofthebillwastheonlywayoutforallconcerned.

"Well,Iguessyou\'reright,Theodore,"hesaidatlength.Whereuponheseizedhispenandwroteofftwonoteswithgreatrapidity.TheseheshowedtoMr.Watling,whonoddedandreturnedthem.Theywerefoldedandsealed,andhandedtome.OnewasaddressedtoColonelPaulVarney,andtheothertotheHon.W.W.Trulease,governorofthestate.

"Youcantrustthisyoungman?"demandedMr.Gorse.

"Ithinkso,"repliedMr.Watling,smilingatme."Thebillwashisownidea."

Therailroadattorneywheeledaboutinhischairandlookedatme;lookedaroundme,wouldbetterexpressit,withhisindefinite,encompassingyetinclusiveglance.Ihadrivetedhisattention.Andfromhenceforth,I

knew,Ishouldenterintohiscalculations.Hehadmadeformeacompartmentinhismind.

"Hisownidea!"herepeated.

"Imerelysuggestedit,"Iwasputtingin,whenhecutmeshort.

"Aren\'tyouthesonofMatthewParet?"

"Yes,"Isaid.

Hegavemeaqueerglance,thesignificanceofwhichIleftuntranslated.

Myexcitementwastoogreattoanalyzewhathemeantbythismentionofmyfather

Whenwereachedthesidewalkmychiefgavemeafewpartinginstructions.

"Ineedscarcelysay,Hugh,"headded,"thatyourpresenceinthecapitalshouldnotbeadvertisedasconnectedwiththis——legislation.Theywillprobablyattributeittousintheend,butifyou\'rereasonablycareful,they\'llneverbeabletoproveit.Andthere\'snouseinputtingourcardsonthetableatthebeginning."

"Noindeed,sir!"Iagreed.

Hetookmyhandandpressedit.

"Goodluck,"hesaid."Iknowyou\'llgetalongallright."

AFARCOUNTRY

ByWinstonChurchillBOOK2.

X.

Thiswasnotmyfirstvisittothestatecapital.Indeed,someofthatreconditeknowledge,inwhichItookapride,hadbeengainedontheoccasionsofmypreviousvisits.Risinganddressingearly,Ibeheldoutofthecarwindowthebroad,shallowriverglintinginthemorningsunlight,thedomeofthestatehouseagainsttheblueofthesky.EvenatthatearlyhourgroupsofthegentlemenwhomadeourlawswerescatteredaboutthelobbyofthePottsHouse,standingorseatedwithineasyreachofthegailycolouredcuspidorsthatprotectedthemarblefloor:heavy-jawedworkersfromthecitiesmingledwithmoon-facedbutastutecountrymenwhomanipulatedvotesamongstfarmsandvillages;fatorcadaverous,Irish,GermanorAmerican,allboreincommonacertainindefinablestamp.Havingeatenmybreakfastinalargedining-roomthatresoundedwiththeclatterofdishes,IdirectedmystepstotheapartmentoccupiedfromyeartoyearbyColonelPaulBarney,generalissimooftheRailroadonthelegislativebattlefield,——apositionthatdemandedacertainuniquenessofgenius.

"Howdoyoudo,sir,"hesaid,inaguardedbutcourteoustoneasheopenedthedoor.Ienteredtoconfrontagroupofthreeorfourfigures,silentandratherhostile,seatedinahazeoftobaccosmokearoundamarble-toppedtable.OnitreposedaBible,attachedtoachain.

"Youprobablydon\'trememberme,Colonel,"Isaid."MynameisPared,andI\'massociatedwiththefirmofWatling,Fowndes,andRipon."

Hisairofmarginality,——heightenedbyagreymoustacheandgoateealaNapoleonThird,——vanishedinstantly;hebecamehospitable,ingratiating.

"Why——whycertainly,youweredownheahwithMr.Fowndestwoyearsago."

TheColonelspokewithaslightSouthernaccent."Tobesure,sir.I\'vehadthehonourofmeetingyourfather.Mr.Norris,ofNorthHaven,meetMr.Paret——oneofourrisinglawyers"Ishookhandswiththemallandsatdown.Openinghislongcoat,ColonelVarneyrevealedtworowsofcigars,suggestingcartridgesinabelt.Theseheproceededtohandoutashetalked."I\'mgladtoseeyouhere,Mr.Paret.Youmuststayawhile,andbecomeacquaintedwiththemenwho——ahem——areshapingthedestiniesofagreatstate.Itwouldgivemepleasuretoescortyouabout."

Ithankedhim.Ihadlearnedenoughtorealizehowimportantaretheamenitiesinpoliticsandbusiness.TheColoneldidmostoftheconversing;hecouldnothavefilledwithefficiencyandeasetheimportantpostthatwashishaditnotbeenfortheendlessfundofhumorousanecdotesathisdisposal.Onebyonethevisitorsleft,eachassuringmeofhispersonalregard:theColonelclosedthedoor,softly,turningthekeyinthelock;therewasaslylookinhisblackeyesashetookachairinproximitytomine.

"Well,Mr.Paret,"heaskedsoftly,"what\'sup?"

WithoutfurtheradoIhandedhimMr.Gorse\'sletter,andanotherMr.

Watlinghadgivenmeforhim,whichcontainedacopyofthebill.Hereadthese,laidthemonthetable,glancingatmeagain,strokinghisgoateethewhile.Hechuckled.

"Bygum!"heexclaimed."ItakeoffmyhattoTheodoreWatling,alwaysdid."Hebecamecontemplative."Itcanbedone,Mr.Paret,butit\'sgoingtotakesomecarefuldriving,sir,somereachingoutandflicking\'emwhentheyr\'arandbuck.PaulVarney\'sneverbeenstumpedyet.Justassoonasthisisintroducedwe\'llhaveGatesandArmstrongdownhere——

they\'retheRibblevaleattorneys,aren\'tthey?Ithoughtso,——andthebestlegaltalenttheycanhire.Andthey\'llroundupallthedisgruntledfellows,youknow,——thatain\'tfriendlytotheRailroad.

We\'vegottodoitquick,Mr.Paret.GorsegaveyoualettertotheGovernor,didn\'the?"

"Yes,"Isaid.

"Well,comealong.I\'llpassthewordaroundamongtheboys,justtolet\'emknowwhattoexpect."Hiseyesglitteredagain."I\'vebeenfollowingthisRibblevalebusiness,"headded,"andIunderstandLeonardDickinson\'sallreadytoreorganizethatcompany,whenthetimecomes.

Heoughttoletmeinforalittle,onthegroundfloor."

IdidnotventuretomakeanypromisesforMr.Dickinson.

"Ireckonit\'sjustaswellifyouweretomeetmeattheGovernor\'soffice,"theColoneladdedreflectively,andthehintwasnotlostonme.

"It\'sbetternottolet\'emfindoutanysoonerthantheyhavetowherethisthingcomesfrom,——youunderstand."Helookedathiswatch."Howwouldnineo\'clockdo?I\'llbethere,withTrulease,whenyoucome,——byaccident,youunderstand.Ofcoursehe\'llbereasonable,butwhentheygettobegovernorstheyhavelittlenotions,youknow,andyou\'vegottoindulge\'em,flatter\'emalittle.Itdoesn\'thurt,forwhentheygettheirbacksupitonlymakesmoretrouble."

Heputonasoft,blackfelthat,anddepartednoiselessly

Atnineo\'clockIarrivedattheStateHouseandwasusheredintoagreatsquareroomoverlookingthepark.TheGovernorwasseatedatadeskunderanelaboratechandelier,andsureenough,ColonelVarneywastherebesidehim;makingbarelyperceptiblesignals.

"Itisapleasuretomakeyouracquaintance,Mr.Paret,"saidMr.

Trulease."Yournameisafamiliaroneinyourcity,sir.AndIgatherfromyourcardthatyouareassociatedwithmygoodfriend,TheodoreWatling."

Iacknowledgedit.Iwasnotalittleimpressedbytheperfectblendofcordiality,democraticsimplicityandimpressivenessMr.Truleasehadachieved.Forhehadmanaged,inthecourseofalongpoliticalcareer,tocombineinexactproportionstheseelementswhich,inthepublicmind,shouldupthepersonalityofachiefexecutive.MomentarilyheovercamethefeelingofsuperioritywithwhichIhadenteredhispresence;

neutralizedthesenseIhadofbeingassociatednowwiththehigherpowerswhichhadputhimwherehewas.ForIknewallabouthis"record."

"You\'reacquaintedwithColonelVarney?"heinquired.

"Yes,Governor,I\'vemettheColonel,"Isaid.

"Well,Isupposeyourfirmisgettingitsshareofbusinessthesedays,"

Mr.Truleaseobserved.Iacknowledgeditwas,andafterdiscussingforafewmomentstheremarkablegrowthofmynativecitytheGovernortappedonhisdeskandinquiredwhathecoulddoforme.IproducedtheletterfromtheattorneyfortheRailroad.TheGovernorreaditgravely.

"Ah,"hesaid,"fromMr.Gorse."Acopyoftheproposedbillwasenclosed,andtheGovernorreadthatalso,hemmedandhawedalittle,turnedandhandedittoColonelVarney,whowassittingwithadetachedair,smokingcontemplatively,avacantexpressiononhisface."Whatdoyouthinkofthis,Colonel?"

WhereupontheColoneltorehimselfawayfromhisreflections.

"What\'sthat,Governor?"

"Mr.Gorsehascalledmyattentiontowhatseemstohimaflawinourstatutes,aninabilitytoobtaintestimonyfromcorporationswhosebooksareelsewhere,andwhomaythusevade,hesays,toacertainextent,thesovereignwillofourstate."

TheColoneltookthepaperwithanadmirableairofsurprise,adjustedhisglasses,andbecameabsorbedinreading,clearinghisthroatonceortwiceandemittinganexclamation.

"Well,ifyouaskme,Governor,"hesaid,atlength,"allIcansayisthatIamastonishedsomebodydidn\'tthinkofthissimpleremedybeforenow.Manytimes,sir,haveIseenjusticedefeatedbecausewehadnosuchlegislationasthis."

Hehandeditback.TheGovernorstudieditoncemore,andcoughed.

"Doesthepenalty,"heinquired,"seemtoyoualittlesevere?"

"No,sir,"repliedtheColonel,emphatically."PerhapsitisbecauseI

amanxious,asacitizen,toseeanevilabated.Ihavehadanintimateknowledgeoflegislation,sir,formorethantwentyyearsinthisstate,andinallthattimeIdonotremembertohaveseenabillmoreconciselydrawn,orbettercalculatedtoaccomplishtheendsofjustice.Indeed,I

oftenwonderedwhythisverypenaltywasnotimposed.Foreignmagistratesarenotoriouslyindifferentastoaffairsinanotherstatethantheirown.RatherthangointothehandsofareceiverIventuretosaythathereafter,ifthisbillismadealaw,thenecessarytestimonywillbeforthcoming."

TheGovernorreadthebillthroughagain.

"Ifitisintroduced,Colonel,"hesaid,"thelegislatureandthepeopleofthestateoughttohaveitmadecleartothemthatitsaimistoremedyaninjustice.Amisunderstandingonthispointwouldbeunfortunate."

"Mostunfortunate,Governor."

"Andofcourse,"addedtheGovernor,nowaddressingme,"itwouldbeimproperformetoindicatewhatcourseIshallpursueinregardtoitifitshouldcometomeformysignature.YetImaygosofarastosaythatthedefectitseekstoremedyseemstomearealone.Comeinandseeme,Mr.Paret,whenyouareintown,andgivemycordialregardstoMr.Watling."

SogravelyhadthefarcebeencarriedonthatIalmostlaughed,despitethefactthatthematterinquestionwasaseriousoneforme.TheGovernorheldouthishand,andIacceptedmydismissal.

IhadnotgonefiftystepsinthecorridorbeforeIheardtheColonel\'svoiceinmyear.

"Wehadtogivehimalittleropetogothroughwithhisact,"hewhisperedconfidentially."Buthe\'llsignitallright.Andnow,ifyou\'llexcuseme,Mr.Paret,I\'lllayafewmines.Seeyouatthehotel,sir."

Thusheindicated,delicately,thatitwouldbebetterformetokeepoutofsight.OnmywaytothePottsHousethebizarreelementsinthesituationstruckmeagainwithconsiderableforce.Itseemedsoridiculous,sopueriletohavetogothroughwiththispoliticalfarceinorderthatanaturaleconomicevolutionmightbeachieved.Withoutdoubtthedevelopmentofcertainindustrieshadreachedastagewheretheunitsincompetitionhadbecometoosmall,whenagreaterconcentrationofcapitalwasnecessary.Curiouslyenough,inthismentalargumentofjustification,IleftoutallconsiderationofthesizeoftheprobableprofitstoMr.Schererandhisfriends.Profitsandbrainswenttogether.And,sincetheAlmightydidnotlimitthelatter,whyshouldmanattempttolimittheformer?Wewereplayingforhighbutjustifiablestakes;andIresentedthecomedywhichanhypocriticalinsistenceontheformsofdemocracycompelledustogothrough.Itseemedunworthyofmenwhocontrolledthedestiniesofstateandnation.

Thepointofview,however,wasconsoling.AsthedayworeonIsatintheColonel\'sroom,admiringtheskillwithwhichheconductedthecampaign:agreencountrylawyerhadbeengottointroducethebill,ithadbeenexpeditedtotheCommitteeontheJudiciary,whichwouldhaveanexecutivesessionimmediatelyafterdinner.Ihadventuredtoinquireaboutthehearings.

"Therewon\'tbeanyhearings,sir,"theColonelassuredme."Weownthatcommitteefromtoptobottom."

Indeed,byfouro\'clockintheafternoonthemessagecamethatthecommitteehadagreedtorecommendthebill.

Shortlyafterthatthefirstflurryoccurred.Therecameaknockatthedoor,followedbytheentranceofastockyIrishAmericanofaboutfortyyearsofage,whoseblackhairwasplasteredoverhisforehead.Hissea-