the titan-第34章
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You will be able to pay up old scores even better than I will。〃
He smiled winningly。
〃Yes；〃 she replied； reproachfully but tenderly at that； a little sorrowfully； 〃a lot of good money does me。 It was your love I wanted。〃
〃But you have that；〃 he insisted。 〃I've told you that over and over。 I never ceased to care for you really。 You know I didn't。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 she replied； even as he gathered her close in his arms。 〃I know how you care。〃 But that did not prevent her from responding to him warmly； for back of all her fuming protest was heartache； the wish to have his love intact； to restore that pristine affection which she had once assumed would endure forever。
Chapter XXIII
The Power of the Press
The morning papers； in spite of the efforts of Cowperwood and his friends to keep this transfer secret； shortly thereafter were full of rumors of a change in 〃North Chicago。〃 Frank Algernon Cowperwood； hitherto unmentioned in connection with Chicago street…railways； was pointed to as the probable successor to Onias C。 Skinner； and Edwin L。 Kaffrath； one of the old directors； as future vice…president。 The men back of the deal were referred to as 〃in all likelihood Eastern capitalists。〃 Cowperwood； as he sat in Aileen's room examining the various morning papers； saw that before the day was over he would be sought out for an expression of opinion and further details。 He proposed to ask the newspaper men to wait a few days until he could talk to the publishers of the papers themselveswin their confidenceand then announce a general policy； it would be something that would please the city； and the residents of the North Side in particular。 At the same time he did not care to promise anything which he could not easily and profitably perform。 He wanted fame and reputation； but he wanted money even more； he intended to get both。
To one who had been working thus long in the minor realms of finance； as Cowperwood considered that he had so far been doing； this sudden upward step into the more conspicuous regions of high finance and control was an all…inspiring thing。 So long had he been stirring about in a lesser region； paving the way by hours and hours of private thought and conference and scheming； that now when he actually had achieved his end he could scarcely believe for the time being that it was true。 Chicago was such a splendid city。 It was growing so fast。 Its opportunities were so wonderful。 These men who had thus foolishly parted with an indefinite lease of their holdings had not really considered what they were doing。 This matter of Chicago street…railways； once he had them well in hand； could be made to yield such splendid profits！ He could incorporate and overcapitalize。 Many subsidiary lines； which McKenty would secure for him for a song； would be worth millions in the future； and they should be his entirely； he would not be indebted to the directors of the old North Chicago company for any interest on those。 By degrees； year by year； as the city grew； the lines which were still controlled by this old company； but were practically his； would become a mere item； a central core； in the so very much larger system of new lines which he would build up about it。 Then the West Side； and even the South Side sections but why dream？ He might readily become the sole master of street…railway traffic in Chicago！ He might readily become the most princely financial figure in the cityand one of the few great financial magnates of the nation。
In any public enterprise of any kind； as he knew； where the suffrages of the people or the privileges in their possessions are desired； the newspapers must always be considered。 As Cowperwood even now was casting hungry eyes in the direction of the two tunnelsone to be held in view of an eventual assumption of the Chicago West Division Company； the other to be given to the North Chicago Street Railway； which he had now organized； it was necessary to make friends with the various publishers。 How to go about it？
Recently； because of the influx of a heavy native and foreign…born population （thousands and thousands of men of all sorts and conditions looking for the work which the growth of the city seemed to promise）； and because of the dissemination of stirring ideas through radical individuals of foreign groups concerning anarchism； socialism； communism； and the like； the civic idea in Chicago had become most acute。 This very May； in which Cowperwood had been going about attempting to adjust matters in his favor； there had been a tremendous national flare…up； when in a great public place on the West Side known as the Haymarket； at one of a number of labor meetings； dubbed anarchistic because of the principles of some of the speakers； a bomb had been hurled by some excited fanatic； which had exploded and maimed or killed a number of policemen； injuring slightly several others。 This had brought to the fore； once and for all； as by a flash of lightning； the whole problem of mass against class； and had given it such an airing as in view of the cheerful； optimistic； almost inconsequential American mind had not previously been possible。 It changed； quite as an eruption might； the whole face of the commercial landscape。 Man thought thereafter somewhat more accurately of national and civic things。 What was anarchism？ What socialism？ What rights had the rank and file； anyhow； in economic and governmental development？ Such were interesting questions； and following the bombwhich acted as a great stone cast in the waterthese ripple…rings of thought were still widening and emanating until they took in such supposedly remote and impregnable quarters as editorial offices； banks and financial institutions generally； and the haunts of political dignitaries and their jobs。
In the face of this； however； Cowperwood was not disturbed。 He did not believe in either the strength of the masses or their ultimate rights； though he sympathized with the condition of individuals； and did believe that men like himself were sent into the world to better perfect its mechanism and habitable order。 Often now； in these preliminary days； he looked at the large companies of men with their horses gathered in and about the several carbarns of the company； and wondered at their state。 So many of them were so dull。 They were rather like animals； patient； inartistic； hopeless。 He thought of their shabby homes； their long hours； their poor pay； and then concluded that if anything at all could be done for them it would be pay them decent living wages； which he proposed to donothing more。 They could not be expected to understand his dreams or his visions； or to share in the magnificence and social dominance which he craved。 He finally decided that it would be as well for him to personally visit the various newspaper publishers and talk the situation over with them。 Addison； when consulted as to this project； was somewhat dubious。 He had small faith in the newspapers。
He had seen them play petty politics； follow up enmities and personal grudges； and even sell out； in certain cases； for pathetically small rewards。
〃I tell you how it is； Frank；〃 remarked Addison； on one occasion。 〃You will have to do all this business on cotton heels； practically。 You know that old gas crowd are still down on you； in spite of the fact that you are one of their largest stockholders。 Schryhart isn't at all friendly； and he practically owns the Chronicle。 Ricketts will just about say what he wants him to say。 Hyssop； of the Mail and the Transcript； is an independent man； but he's a Presbyterian and a cold； self…righteous moralist。 Braxton's paper； the Globe； practically belongs to Merrill； but Braxton's a nice fellow； at that。 Old General MacDonald； of the Inquirer； is old General MacDonald。 It's all according to how he feels when he gets up in the morning。 If he should chance to like your looks he might support you forever and forever until you crossed his conscience in some way。 He's a fine old walrus。 I like him。 Neither Schryhart nor Merrill nor any one else can get anything out of him unless he wants to give it。 He may not live so many years； however； and I don't trust that son of his。 Haguenin； of the Press； is all right and friendly to you； as I understand。 Other things being equal； I think he'd naturally support you in anything he thought was fair and reasonable。 Well； there you have them。 Get them all on your side if you can。 Don't ask for the LaSalle Street tunnel right away。 Let it come as an afterthought a great public need。 The main thing will be to avoid having the other companies stirring up a real fight against you。 Depend on it； Schryhart will be thinking pretty hard about this whole business from now on。 As for Merrillwell； if you can show him where he can get something out of it for his store； I guess he'll be for you。
It is one of the splendid yet sinister fascinations of life that there is no tracing to their ultimate sources all the winds of influence that play upon a given barqueall the breaths of chance that fill or desert our bellied or our sagging sails。 We plan and plan； but who by taking thought can add a cubit to his stature？ Who can overcome or even assist the Providence that shapes our ends； rough hew them as we may。 Cowperwood was now entering upon a great public career； and the various editors and public personalities of the city were watching him with interest。 Augustus M。 Haguenin； a free agent with his organ； the Press； and yet not free； either； because he was harnessed to the necessity of making his paper pay； was most interested。 Lacking the commanding magnetism of a man like MacDonald； he was nevertheless an honest man； well…intentioned； thoughtful； careful。 Haguenin； ever since the outcome of Cowperwood's gas transaction； had been intensely interested in the latter's career。 It seemed to him that Cowperwood was probably destined to become a significant figure。 Raw； glittering force； however； compounded of the cruel Machiavellianism of nature； if it be but Machiavellian； seems to exercise a profound attraction for the conventionally rooted。 Your cautious citizen of average means； looking out through the eye of his dull world of seeming fact； is often the first to forgive or condone the grim butcheries of theory by which the strong rise。 Haguenin； observing Cowperwood； conceived of him as a man perhaps as much sinned against as sinning； a man who would be faithful to friends； one who could be relied upon in hours of great stress。 As it happened； the Haguenins were neighbors of the Cowperwoods； and since those days when the latter had attempted unsuccessfully to enter Chicago society this family had been as acceptable as any of those who had remained friendly。
And so； when Cowperwood arrived one day at the office of the Press in a blowing snow…stormit was just before the Christmas holidays Haguenin was glad to see him。 〃It's certainly real winter weather we're having now； isn't it？〃 he observed； cheerfully。 〃How goes the North Chicago Street Railway business？〃 For months he； with the other publishers； had been aware that the whole North Side was to be made over by fine cable…tracks； power…houses； and handsome cars； and there already was talk tha
