the cost-第23章

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y　head　all　day；〃　he　said　to　himself　with　drowsy　delight。


Four　days　of　this；　and　on　the　fifth　came　the　outside　world　in　the　form　of　Burdick；　chairman　of　the　county　committee　of　his　party　in　the　county　in　which　his　farm　lay。　　They　sat　on　the　fence　under　the　big　maple；　out　of　earshot　of　the　others。

〃Larkin's　come　out　for　John　Frankfort　for　the　nomination　for　governor；〃　said　Burdick。

Scarborough　smiled。　　〃Even　Larkin　couldn't　get　it　for　Frankforthe's　too　notorious。〃

〃He　don't　want　to　get　it　for　him；〃　replied　Burdick。　　〃His　real　man's　Judge　Graney。〃

Scarborough　stopped　fanning　himself　with　his　wide…brimmed　straw。　　Judge　Graney　was　the　most　adroit　and　dangerous　of　John　Dumont's　tools。　　He　had　given　invaluable　aid　from　the　bench　at　several　of　the　National　Woolens　Company's　most　critical　moments。　　Yet　he　had　retained　and　increased　his　popularity　and　his　reputation　by　deciding　against　his　secret　master　with　a　brave　show　of　virtue　when　he　knew　the　higher　courts　must　reverse　him。　　For　several　years　Scarborough　had　been　looking　forward　to　the　inevitable　open　conflict　between　the　forces　of　honesty　in　his　party　and　the　forces　of　the　machine　as　ruled　by　the　half…dozen　big　corporations　who　also　ruled　the　machine　of　the　opposition　party。　　He　had　known　that　the　contest　must　come；　and　that　he　must　take　part　in　it；　and　he　had　been　getting　ready。　　But　he　had　not　wished　to　give　battle　until　he　was　strong　enough　to　give　a　battle　which；　even　if　he　lost　it；　would　not　strengthen　the　hold　of　the　corruptionists。

After　he　rejected　Larkin's　dazzling　offers；　conditioned　upon　his　aloofness　rather　than　frank　subservience；　he　had　thought　the　whole　situation　over；　and；　as　he　hinted　to　Pauline；　had　realized　how　apparently　hopeless　a　fight　against　the　machine　would　be　just　then；　with　the　people　prosperous　and　therefore　quiescent。　　And　he　had　decided　to　stand　aside　for　the　time。　　He　now　saw　that　reluctance　to　attack　Dumont　had　been　at　least　a　factor　in　this　decision；　and　he　also　saw　that　he　could　not　delay；　as　he　had　hoped。　　There　was　no　escapeeither　he　must　let　his　work　of　years　be　undermined　and　destroyed　or　he　must　give　battle　with　all　his　strength　and　skill。　　He　remembered　what　Pauline　had　said：　　〃You　can't　lose！〃

〃No；　one　can't　lose　in　this　sort　of　fight；〃　he　thought。　　〃Either　WE　win　or　there'll　be　no　victory。〃　　He　sprang　from　the　fence　to　the　ground。　　〃Let's　go　to　the　house；〃　he　said　to　Burdick。

〃What　you　going　to　do？〃　asked　Burdick；　as　they　walked　toward　the　gate；　where　his　horse　and　buggy　were　hitched。

〃Fight；　of　course；〃　said　Scarborough。　　〃Fight　Larkin　and　his　gang　in　the　open。　　I'll　get　ex…Governor　Bowen　to　let　us　use　his　name　and　canvass　the　state　for　him。〃

Burdick　shook　his　head　sadly。

〃It　ain't　politics；〃　he　said。　　〃You'll　split　the　party；　then　the　party'll　turn　and　split　you。〃　　And　later；　as　they　were　separating；　Scarborough　to　drive　to　Saint　X；　Burdick　to　go　back　to　Marshaltown；　he　said：　　〃I'll　help　all　I　can　in　a　quiet　way。　　ButI　hope　you've　got　your　cyclone　cellar　dug。〃

Scarborough　laughed。　　〃I　haven't　been　digging　a　cyclone　cellar。　　I've　been　trying　to　manufacture　a　cyclone。〃

There　were　thirty…three　clear　days　before　the　meeting　of　the　convention。　　He　wasted　not　an　hour　of　them　on　the　manufacturing　towns；　he　went　to　the　countryto　the　farmers　and　the　villagers；　the　men　who　lived　each　man　in　his　own　house；　on　his　own　soil　from　which　he　earned　his　own　living。　　Up　and　down　and　across　the　state　he　went；　speaking；　organizing；　planning；　inspiringhe　and　the　coterie　of　young　men　who　looked　up　to　him　as　their　leader　and　followed　him　in　this　desperate　assault　as　courageously　as　if　victory　were　assured。

Not　long　before　the　convention　he　paused　at　ex…Judge　Bowen's　country　place　and　spent　two　hours　with　him　in　his　great；　quiet；　cool　library。

〃Isn't　it　inspiring；〃　Scarborough　said；　〃to　see　so　many　young　men　in　arms　for　a　principle？〃

The　old　man　slowly　shook　his　magnificent　white　head　and　smiled　at　the　young　man。　　〃Principles　without　leaders　go　begging；〃　he　replied。　　〃Men　rally　to　the　standard　only　when　the　right　voice　calls。　　The　right　voice　at　the　right　time。〃　　He　laid　his　hand　on　Scarborough's　shoulder　with　affection　and　pride。　　〃If　the　moment　should　come　for　you　to　think　of　it；　do　not　forget　that　the　leader　is　the　principle；　and　that　in　this　fight　the　leader　is　not　Ibut　you。〃



XIX。

PAULINE　GOES　INTO　POLITICS。

Larkin　decided　that　the　state　convention　should　be　held　at　Saint　X　because　his　machine　was　most　perfect　there。　　The　National　Woolens　Company；　the　Consolidated　Pipe　and　Wire　Company　and　the　Indiana　Oil　and　Gas　Corporationthe　three　principal　political　corporations　in　the　statehad　their　main　plants　there　and　were　in　complete　political　control。　　While　Larkin　had　no　fear　of　the　Scarborough　movement；　regarding　it　as　a　sentimental　outburst　in　the　rank　and　file　of　the　party　that　would　die　away　when　its　fomenter　had　been　〃read　out　of　the　party〃　at　the　convention　by　the　regular　organization；　still　he　had　been　in　the　game　too　long　to　take　unnecessary　chances。　　He　felt　that　it　would　be　wise　to　have　the　delegates　assemble　where　all　the　surroundings　would　be　favorable　and　where　his　ablest　and　confidential　men　could　do　their　work　in　peace　and　quiet。

The　convention　was　to；　meet　on　the　last　Thursday　in　September。　　On　the　preceding　Monday　morning；　CulverDumont's　small；　thin；　stealthy　private　secretaryarrived　at　Saint　X　and；　after　making　an　appointment　with　Merriweather　for　half…past　twelve；　went　out　to　the　Eyrie　to　go　through　a　lot　of　accumulated　domestic　business　with　Mrs。　Dumont。　　When　she　in　a　most　formal　and　unencouraging　manner　invited　him　to　stop　there；　he　eagerly　accepted。　　〃Thank　you　so　much；〃　he　said　effusively。　　〃To　be　perfectly　frank；　I've　been　tempted　to　invite　myself。　　I　have　some　valuables　with　me　that　I　don't　feel　at　all　easy　about。　　If　I　should　be　robbed；　it　would　be　a　very　serious　matter。　　Would　it　be　asking　too　much　of　you　to　ask　you　to　put　a　package　in　your　jewel　safe？〃

〃I'll　be　glad　to　do　it　for　you；〃　replied　Pauline。　　〃There's　plenty　of　roomthe　safe's　almost　empty　and　it's　ridiculously　large。〃

〃My　package　isn't　small；〃　said　Culver。　　〃And　on　my　mind　it　weighs　tons。〃　　He　reached　into　his　large　bagat　sight　of　it　Pauline　had　wondered　why　he　had　brought　such　a　bag　up　from　the　hotel　when　his　papers　for　her　inspection　were　so　few。　　He　lifted　out　an　oblong；　bulky　package。

〃If　you'll　just　touch　that　button；〃　said　she；　〃James　will　come　and　show　you　how　to　get　to　the　safe。〃

Culver　hesitated　nervously。　　Finally　he　said：　　〃I'm　making　a　nuisance　of　myself；　Mrs。　Dumont；　but　would　you　mind　going　to　the　safe　with　me？　　I'd　much　rather　none　of　the　servants　knew　about　this。〃

Pauline　smiled　and　bade　him　follow　her。　　They　went　to　her　private　sitting…room　and　she　showed　him　the　safe；　in　a　small　closet　built　into　the　lower　part　of　the　book…case。　　〃You　have　the　combination？〃　asked　Culver；　as　he　put　the　package　away。

〃I　see　that　you　don't　lock　this　door　often。〃

〃How　fortunate　you　spoke　of　it！〃　said　she。

〃The　combination　is　on　a　bit　of　paper　in　one　of　the　little　drawers。〃

Culver　found　it　in　the　first　drawer　he　opened；　and　handed　it　to　her　without　looking　at　it。

〃You　mustn't　let　me　know　it；〃　said　he。　　〃I'll　just　fix　the　time　lock　so　that　it　won't　interfere。〃　　And　when　he　had　done　so；　he　closed　the　safe。　　As　he　left；　he　said；　〃I　shall　only　bother　you　to　let　me　sleep　in　the　house。　　I'll　be　very　busy　all　day　each　day　I'm　here。〃　　When　she　thought　he　had　gone　he　returned　to　add：　　〃Perhaps　I'd　better　explain　to　you　that　there's　forty…five　thousand　dollars　in　cash　in　the　package。　　That's　why　I　was　so　anxious　for　no　one　to　know。〃

〃I'll　say　nothing　about　it；〃　Pauline　assured　him。

Larkin　came　down　from　Indianapolis　the　next　day　and　registered　at　the　Palace　Hotel。　　As　soon　as　he　could　escape　from　the　politicians　and　newspaper　correspondents　in　the　hotel　office；　he　went　by　a　devious　route　to　a　room　on　the　floor　below　his　own　and；　knocking；　was　admitted　to　Culver　and　Merriweather。　　He　nodded　to　Dumont's　political　agent；　then　said　to　Culver：　　〃You've　got　the　dough？〃

〃Yes；〃　Culver　answered；　in　his　best　imitation　of　the　tone　of　the　man　of　large　affairs。　　〃In　twenties；　fifties　and　hundreds。〃

〃I　hope；　mighty　few　hundreds；〃　said　Larkin。　　〃The　boys　are　kind　o'　shy　about　changing　hundred…dollar　bills。　　It　seems　to　attract　attention　to　them。〃　　He　had　large；　dreamy；　almost　sentimental；　brown　eyes　that　absurdly　misrepresented　his　character；　or；　at　least；　his　dominant　characteristics。　　His　long；　slightly　bent　nose　and　sharp　chin　and　thin；　tight　mouth　were　more　truthful。

〃How　do　things　look；　Joe？〃　asked　Merriweather。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Dumont　asked　me　to　telegraph　him　after　I'd　talked　with　you；〃　said　Culver。　　〃Has　Scarborough　made　much　headway？〃

〃I　must　say；　he's　raised　a　darn　sight　more　hell　than　I　thought　he　would；〃　Larkin　answered。

〃The　people　seem　to　be　in　a　nasty　mood　about　corruption。　　Darn　their　fool　souls；　as　if　they　wouldn't　be　in　the　rottenest　kind　of　a　fix；　with　no　property　and　no　jobs；　if　we　didn't　keep　the　ignorant　vote　under　control　and　head　off　such　firebrands　as　this　fellow　Scarborough。〃

〃Got　any　figgers？〃　demanded　Merriweather；　who　had　listened　to　this　tirade　with　an　expression　suggesting　cynicism。　　He　thought；　and　he　knew　Joe　Larkin　thought；　politics　a　mere　game　of　chanceyou　won　or　you　didn't　win；　and　principles　and　oratory　and　likes　and　dislikes　and　resentments　were　so　much　〃hot　air。〃　　If　the　〃oil　can〃　had　been　with　Scarborough；　Merriweather　would　have　served　him　as　cheerfully　and　as　loyally　aswell；　as　would　Joe　Larkin　in　those　circumstances。

Larkin　wrenched　a　big　bunch　of　letters　and　papers　from　the　sagged　inside　pocket　of　his　slouchy　sack　coat；　after　some　fumbling　and　sorting；　he　paused　upon　the　back　of　a　dirty　envelope。

〃Here's　how　the　convention　stands；　to　a　man；〃　he　said。　　〃Sure；　two　hundred　and　sixty…seven…by　‘sure'　I　mean　the　fellows　we　own　outright。　　Safe；　two　hundred　and　forty…five…by　‘safe'　I　mean　those　that'll　stand　by　the　organization；　thick　and　thin。　　Insurgents；　two　hundred　and　ninety…fivethose　are　the　chaps　that've　gone　clean　crazy　with　Scarborough。　　Doubtful；　three　hundred　and　eighty…six…some　of　'em　can　be　bought；　most　of　'em　are　waiting　to　see　which　way　the　cat　jumps；　so　as　to　jump　with　her。〃

〃Then　we've　got　five　hundred　and　twelve；　and　it　takes　five　hundred　and　ninety…seven　to　elect；〃　said　Merriweather；　the　instant　the　last　word　was　out　of　Larkin's　mouth。　　Merriweather　was　a　mite　of　a　man；　could　hardly　have　weighed　more　than　a　hundred　pounds；　had　a　bulging　forehead；　was　bald　and　gray　at　the　temples；　eyes　brown　as　walnut　juice　and　quick　and　keen　as　a　rat…terrier's。　　His　expression　was　the　gambler'scalm；　watchful；　indifferent；　pallid；　as　from　years　of　nights　under　the　gas…light　in　close；　hot　rooms；　with　the　cards　sliding　from　the　faro　box　hour　after　hour。

〃Eighty…five　shortthat's　right；〃　assented　Larkin。　　Then；　with　a　look　at　Culver：　　〃And　some　of　'em'll　come　mighty　high。〃

〃Where　are　you　going　to　do　business　with　them？〃　inquired　Merriweather。　　〃Here？〃

〃Right　here　in　this　room；　where　I've　done　it　many's　the　time　before；〃　replied　Larkin。　　〃To…morrow　night　Conkey　Sedgwick　and　my　boy　Tom'll　begin　steerin'　'em　in　one　at　a　time　about　eight　o'clock。〃

〃Then　I'll　t