下载辰思小说免费APP
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.
