the titan-第46章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


use　the　business　heart　was　thus　more　directly　reached。　　Cowperwood　was　willing　and　anxious　to　build　this　tunnel；　though　he　was　puzzled　how　to　secure　from　the　city　a　right　of　way　under　Van　Buren　Street；　where　a　bridge　loaded　with　heavy　traffic　now　swung。　　There　were　all　sorts　of　complications。　　In　the　first　place；　the　consent　of　the　War　Department　at　Washington　had　to　be　secured　in　order　to　tunnel　under　the　river　at　all。　　Secondly；　the　excavation；　if　directly　under　the　bridge；　might　prove　an　intolerable　nuisance；　necessitating　the　closing　or　removal　of　the　bridge。　　Owing　to　the　critical；　not　to　say　hostile；　attitude　of　the　newspapers　which；　since　the　La　Salle　and　Washington　tunnel　grants；　were　following　his　every　move　with　a　searchlight；　Cowperwood　decided　not　to　petition　the　city　for　privileges　in　this　case；　but　instead　to　buy　the　property　rights　of　sufficient　land　just　north　of　the　bridge；　where　the　digging　of　the　tunnel　could　proceed　without　interference。

The　piece　of　land　most　suitable　for　this　purpose；　a　lot　150　x　150；　lying　a　little　way　from　the　river…bank；　and　occupied　by　a　seven…story　loft…building；　was　owned　by　the　previously　mentioned　Redmond　Purdy；　a　long；　thin；　angular；　dirty　person；　who　wore　celluloid　collars　and　cuffs　and　spoke　with　a　nasal　intonation。

Cowperwood　had　the　customary　overtures　made　by　seemingly　disinterested　parties　endeavoring　to　secure　the　land　at　a　fair　price。　　But　Purdy；　who　was　as　stingy　as　a　miser　and　as　incisive　as　a　rat…trap；　had　caught　wind　of　the　proposed　tunnel　scheme。　　He　was　all　alive　for　a　fine　profit。　　〃No；　no；　no；〃　he　declared；　over　and　over；　when　approached　by　the　representatives　of　Mr。　Sylvester　Toomey；　Cowperwood's　ubiquitous　land…agent。　　〃I　don't　want　to　sell。　　Go　away。〃

Mr。　Sylvester　Toomey　was　finally　at　his　wit's　end；　and　complained　to　Cowperwood；　who　at　once　sent　for　those　noble　beacons　of　dark　and　stormy　waters；　General　Van　Sickle　and　the　Hon。　Kent　Barrows　McKibben。　　The　General　was　now　becoming　a　little　dolty；　and　Cowperwood　was　thinking　of　pensioning　him；　but　McKibben　was　in　his　primesmug；　handsome；　deadly；　smooth。　　After　talking　it　over　with　Mr。　Toomey　they　returned　to　Cowperwood's　office　with　a　promising　scheme。　　The　Hon。　Nahum　Dickensheets；　one　of　the　judges　of　the　State　Court　of　Appeals；　and　a　man　long　since　attached；　by　methods　which　need　not　here　be　described；　to　Cowperwood's　star；　had　been　persuaded　to　bring　his　extensive　technical　knowledge　to　bear　on　the　emergency。　　At　his　suggestion　the　work　of　digging　the　tunnel　was　at　once　begunfirst　at　the　east　or　Franklin　Street　end；　then；　after　eight　months'　digging；　at　the　west　or　Canal　Street　end。　　A　shaft　was　actually　sunk　some　thirty　feet　back　of　Mr。　Purdy's　buildingbetween　it　and　the　riverwhile　that　gentleman　watched　with　a　quizzical　gleam　in　his　eye　this　defiant　procedure。　　He　was　sure　that　when　it　came　to　the　necessity　of　annexing　his　property　the　North　and　West　Chicago　Street　Railways　would　be　obliged　to　pay　through　the　nose。

〃Well；　I'll　be　cussed；〃　be　frequently　observed　to　himself；　for　he　could　not　see　how　his　exaction　of　a　pound　of　flesh　was　to　be　evaded；　and　yet　he　felt　strangely　restless　at　times。　　Finally；　when　it　became　absolutely　necessary　for　Cowperwood　to　secure　without　further　delay　this　coveted　strip；　he　sent　for　its　occupant；　who　called　in　pleasant　anticipation　of　a　profitable　conversation；　this　should　be　worth　a　small　fortune　to　him。

〃Mr。　Purdy；〃　observed　Cowperwood；　glibly；　〃you　have　a　piece　of　land　on　the　other　side　of　the　river　that　I　need。　　Why　don't　you　sell　it　to　me？　Can't　we　fix　this　up　now　in　some　amicable　way？〃

He　smiled　while　Purdy　cast　shrewd；　wolfish　glances　about　the　place；　wondering　how　much　he　could　really　hope　to　exact。　　The　building；　with　all　its　interior　equipment；　land；　and　all；　was　worth　in　the　neighborhood　of　two　hundred　thousand　dollars。

〃Why　should　I　sell？　The　building　is　a　good　building。　　It's　as　useful　to　me　as　it　would　be　to　you。　　I'm　making　money　out　of　it。〃

〃Quite　true；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　〃but　I　am　willing　to　pay　you　a　fair　price　for　it。　　A　public　utility　is　involved。　　This　tunnel　will　be　a　good　thing　for　the　West　Side　and　any　other　land　you　may　own　over　there。　　With　what　I　will　pay　you　you　can　buy　more　land　in　that　neighborhood　or　elsewhere；　and　make　a　good　thing　out　of　it。　　We　need　to　put　this　tunnel　just　where　it　is；　or　I　wouldn't　trouble　to　argue　with　you。

〃That's　just　it；〃　replied　Purdy；　fixedly。　　〃You've　gone　ahead　and　dug　your　tunnel　without　consulting　me；　and　now　you　expect　me　to　get　out　of　the　way。　　Well；　I　don't　see　that　I'm　called　on　to　get　out　of　there　just　to　please　you。〃

〃But　I'll　pay　you　a　fair　price。〃

〃How　much　will　you　pay　me？〃

〃How　much　do　you　want？〃

Mr。　Purdy　scratched　a　fox…like　ear。　　〃One　million　dollars。〃

〃One　million　dollars！〃　exclaimed　Cowperwood。　　〃Don't　you　think　that's　a　little　steep；　Mr。　Purdy？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Purdy；　sagely。　　〃It's　not　any　more　than　it's　worth。〃

Cowperwood　sighed。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　replied；　meditatively；　〃but　this　is　really　too　much。　　Wouldn't　you　take　three　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　cash　now　and　consider　this　thing　closed？〃

〃One　million；〃　replied　Purdy；　looking　sternly　at　the　ceiling。　〃Very　well；　Mr。　Purdy；〃　replied　Cowperwood。　　〃I'm　very　sorry。　　It's　plain　to　me　that　we　can't　do　business　as　I　had　hoped。　　I'm　willing　to　pay　you　a　reasonable　sum；　but　what　you　ask　is　far　too　muchpreposterous！　Don't　you　think　you'd　better　reconsider？　We　might　move　the　tunnel　even　yet。〃

〃One　million　dollars；〃　said　Purdy。

〃It　can't　be　done；　Mr。　Purdy。　　It　isn't　worth　it。　　Why　won't　you　be　fair？　Call　it　three　hundred　and　twenty…five　thousand　dollars　cash；　and　my　check　to…night。〃

〃I　wouldn't　take　five　or　six　hundred　thousand　dollars　if　you　were　to　offer　it　to　me；　Mr。　Cowperwood；　to…night　or　any　other　time。　　I　know　my　rights。〃

〃Very　well；　then；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　〃that's　all　I　can　say。　　If　you　won't　sell；　you　won't　sell。　　Perhaps　you'll　change　your　mind　later。〃

Mr。　Purdy　went　out；　and　Cowperwood　called　in　his　lawyers　and　his　engineers。　　One　Saturday　afternoon；　a　week　or　two　later；　when　the　building　in　question　had　been　vacated　for　the　day；　a　company　of　three　hundred　laborers；　with　wagons；　picks；　shovels；　and　dynamite　sticks；　arrived。　　By　sundown　of　the　next　day　（which；　being　Sunday；　was　a　legal　holiday；　with　no　courts　open　or　sitting　to　issue　injunctions）　this　comely　structure；　the　private　property　of　Mr。　Redmond　Purdy；　was　completely　razed　and　a　large　excavation　substituted　in　its　stead。　　The　gentleman　of　the　celluloid　cuffs　and　collars；　when　informed　about　nine　o'clock　of　this　same　Sunday　morning　that　his　building　had　been　almost　completely　removed；　was　naturally　greatly　perturbed。　　A　portion　of　the　wall　was　still　standing　when　he　arrived；　hot　and　excited；　and　the　police　were　appealed　to。

But；　strange　to　say；　this　was　of　little　avail；　for　they　were　shown　a　writ　of　injunction　issued　by　the　court　of　highest　jurisdiction；　presided　over　by　the　Hon。　Nahum　Dickensheets；　which　restrained　all　and　sundry　from　interfering。　　（Subsequently　on　demand　of　another　court　this　remarkable　document　was　discovered　to　have　disappeared；　the　contention　was　that　it　had　never　really　existed　or　been　produced　at　all。）

The　demolition　and　digging　proceeded。　　Then　began　a　scurrying　of　lawyers　to　the　door　of　one　friendly　judge　after　another。　　There　were　apoplectic　cheeks；　blazing　eyes；　and　gasps　for　breath　while　the　enormity　of　the　offense　was　being　noised　abroad。　　Law　is　law；　however。　　Procedure　is　procedure；　and　no　writ　of　injunction　was　either　issuable　or　returnable　on　a　legal　holiday；　when　no　courts　were　sitting。　　Nevertheless；　by　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　an　obliging　magistrate　was　found　who　consented　to　issue　an　injunction　staying　this　terrible　crime。　　By　this　time；　however；　the　building　was　gone；　the　excavation　complete。　　It　remained　merely　for　the　West　Chicago　Street　Railway　Company　to　secure　an　injunction　vacating　the　first　injunction；　praying　that　its　rights；　privileges；　liberties；　etc。；　be　not　interfered　with；　and　so　creating　a　contest　which　naturally　threw　the　matter　into　the　State　Court　of　Appeals；　where　it　could　safely　lie。　　For　several　years　there　were　numberless　injunctions；　writs　of　errors；　doubts；　motions　to　reconsider；　threats　to　carry　the　matter　from　the　state　to　the　federal　courts　on　a　matter　of　constitutional　privilege；　and　the　like。　　The　affair　was　finally　settled　out　of　court；　for　Mr。　Purdy　by　this　time　was　a　more　sensible　man。　　In　the　mean　time；　however；　the　newspapers　had　been　given　full　details　of　the　transaction；　and　a　storm　of　words　against　Cowperwood　ensued。

But　more　disturbing　than　the　Redmond　Purdy　incident　was　the　rivalry　of　a　new　Chicago　street…railway　company。　　It　appeared　first　as　an　idea　in　the　brain　of　one　James　Furnivale　Woolsen；　a　determined　young　Westerner　from　California；　and　developed　by　degrees　into　consents　and　petitions　from　fully　two…thirds　of　the　residents　of　various　streets　in　the　extreme　southwest　section　of　the　city　where　it　was　proposed　the　new　line　should　be　located。　　This　same　James　Furnivale　Woolsen；　being　an　ambitious　person；　was　not　to　be　so　easily　put　down。　　Besides　the　consent　and　petitions；　which　Cowperwood　could　not　easily　get　away　from　him；　he　had　a　new　form　of　traction　then　being　tried　out　in　several　minor　citiesa　form　of　electric　propulsion　by　means　of　an　overhead　wire　and　a　traveling　pole；　which　was　said　to　be　very　economical；　and　to　give　a　service　better　than　cables　and　cheaper　even　than　horses。

Cowperwood　had　heard　all　about　this　new　electric　system　some　time　before；　and　had　been　studying　it　for　several　years　with　the　greatest　interest；　since　it　promised　to　revolutionize　the　whole　business　of　street…railroading。　　However；　having　but　so　recently　completed　his　excellent　cable　system；　he　did　not　see　that　it　was　advisable　to　throw　it　away。　　The　trolley　was　as　yet　too　much　of　a　novelty；　certainly　it　was　not　advisable　to　have　it　introduced　into　Chicago　until　he　was　ready　to　introduce　it　himselffirst　on　his　outlying　feeder　lines；　he　thought；　then　perhaps　generally。

But　before　he　could　take　suitable　action　against　Woolsen；　that　engaging　young　upstart；　who　was　possessed　of　a　high…power　imagination　and　a　gift　of　gab；　had　allied　himself　with　such　interested　investors　as　Truman　Leslie　MacDonald；　who　saw　here　a　heaven…sent　opportunity　of　mulcting　Cowperwood；　and　Jordan　Jules；　once　the　president　of　the　North　Chicago　Gas　Company；　who　had　lost　money　through　Cowperwood　in　the　gas　war。　　Two　better　instruments　for　goading　a　man　whom　they　considered　an　enemy　could　not　well　be　imaginedTruman　Leslie　with　his　dark；　waspish；　mistrustful；　jealous　eyes；　and　his　slim；　vital　body；　and　Jordan　Jules；　short；　rotund；　sandy；　a　sickly　crop　of　thin；　oily；　light　hair　growing　down　over　his　coat…collar；　his　forehead　and　crown　glisteningly　bald；　his　eyes　a　seeking；　searching；　revengeful　blue。　　They　in　turn　brought　in　Samuel　Blackman；　once　president　of　the　South　Side　Gas　Company；　Sunderland　Sledd；　of　local　railroad　management　and　stock…investment　fame；　and　Norrie　Simms；　president　of　the　Douglas　Trust　Company；　who；　however；　was　little　more　than　a　fiscal　agent。　　The　general　feeling　was　that　Cowperwood's　defensive　tacticswhich　consisted　in　having　the　city　council　refuse　to　actcould　be　easily