第14章

Yet,onthewhole,Ifeltacertaincomplacencyaboutitall;Iknewthatsufferingwasdisagreeable,Ihadlearnedhowtoavoidit,andImayhavehad,deepwithinme,afeelingthatImightmarryherafterall.

Meanwhilemylifewasfull,andgavepromiseofbecomingevenfuller,moreabsorbingandexcitingintheimmediatefuture.

Oneofthemostfascinatingfigures,tome,ofthatOrderbeingwoven,likeaclothofgold,outofourhithertodrabcivilization,——anOrderintowhichIwasreadyandeagertobeinitiated,——wasthatofAdolfScherer,thegiantGermanimmigrantattheheadoftheBoyneIronWorks.

Hislifewouldeasilylenditselftoriotousromance.Intheoldcountry,inavalleybelowthecastleperchedontherackabove,hehadbegunlifebytendinghisfather"sgeese.Whatacontrastto"Steeltown"

withitssmellsandsickeningsummerheat,totheshantywhereMrs.

Scherertookboardersandbentoverthewash-tub!She,too,wasanimmigrant,butlivedtohearhernativeWagnerfromherownboxatCoventGarden;andhetoexplain,onthedeckofanimperialyacht,tothemanwhomighthavebeenhissovereigncertainprocessesinthemanufactureofsteelhithertountriedonthatsideoftheAtlantic.IncomparisonwithAdolfScherer,citizenofaoncedespiseddemocracy,theminorprinceinwhosedominionshehadoncetendedgeesewasofsmallaccountindeed!

TheAdolfSchererofthatday——thoughitisnotsolongagoastimeflies——wasevenmoresolidandimpressivethanthemanheafterwardsbecame,whenhereachedthedizzierheightsfromwhichhedeliveredtoaneagerpressopinionsonpoliticsandwar,eugenicsandwoman"ssuffrageandothersubjectsthatarethedespairofspecialists.Hadhestucktosteel,hewouldhaveremainedinvulnerable.Buteventhenhewasbeginningtoabandonthefieldofproductionforthatofexploitation:

figurativelyspeaking,hehadtakentosoap,whichwiththeaidofwatermaybeblownintobeautiful,iridescentbubblestocharmtheeye.Muchgoodsoap,apparently,hasgonethatway,nevertoberecovered.

Everybodywhowasanybodybegantoblowbubblesaboutthattime,andthebiggerthebubblethegreateritsattractionforinvestorsofhard-earnedsavings.Outsideofthisloveforfinancialiridescence,letitbecalled,Mr.Schererseemedtocarelittlethenforglitterofanysort.

ShortlyafterhiselevationtothepresidencyoftheBoyneIronWorkshehadbeenelectedamemberoftheBoyneClub,——anhonourofwhich,somethought,heshouldhavebeenmoresensible;butgenerally,whenintown,hepreferredtolunchatalittleGermanrestaurantannexedtoasaloon,whereIusedoftentofindhimliterallytoweringabovethecloth,——forhewasagiantwithshortlegs,——hisnapkintuckedintohisshirtfront,engagedinlivelyconversationwiththeministeringHeinrich.Thechefattheclub,Mr.Schererinsisted,couldproducenothingequaltoHeinrich"ssauer-krautandsausage.MyearliestrelationshipwithMr.

Schererwasthatofanerrandboy,ofbringingtohimforhisapprovalpaperswhichmightnotbeintrustedtoacommonmessenger.HisgruffnessandbrevitydisturbedmemorethanIcaredtoconfess.Iwasprettysurethatheeyedmewiththedispositionoftheself-madetobelievethatcollegeeducationsandgoodtailorsweretheheaviesthandicapswithwhichayoungmancouldbeburdened:andIsuspectedhimofaninimicalattitudetowardtheolderfamiliesofthecity.Certainmenpossessedhisconfidence;andhehadbuilt,asitwere,astockadeaboutthem,sternlykeepingtherestoftheworldoutside.InTheodoreWatlinghehadachildlikefaith.

ThusIstudiedhim,withadeliberationwhichitisthepurposeofthesechapterstoconfess,thoughhelittleknewthathewasbeingmadethesubjectofanalysis.NordidIeverventuretotalkwithhim,butheldstrictlytomyroleoferrandboy,——evenaftertheconvictioncameovermethathewasnolongerindifferenttomypresence.Thedayarrived,aftersomeyears,whenhesuddenlythrusttowardmeabig,hairyhandthatheldthedocumenthewasexamining.

"Whodrewthis,Mr.Paret!"hedemanded.

Mr.Ripon,Itoldhim.

TheBoyneWorkswerebuyingupcoal-mines,andthiswasacontractlookingtothepurchaseofoneinPutmanCounty,provided,afteracertainperiodofworking,theyieldandqualityshouldcomeuptospecifications.Mr.Schererrequestedmetoreadoneofthesections,whichpuzzledhim.Andinexplainingitanideaflashedoverme.

"Doyoumindmymakingasuggestion,Mr.Scherer?"Iventured.

"Whatisit?"heaskedbrusquely.

Ishowedhimhow,bythealterationofafewwords,thedifficultytowhichhehadreferredcouldnotonlybeeliminated,butthatcertainpossiblepenaltiesmightbeevaded,whiletheapparentmeaningofthesectionremainedunchanged.Inotherwords,itgavetheBoyneIronWorksanadvantagethatwasnotcontemplated.Heseizedthepaper,staredatwhatIhadwritteninpencilonthemargin,andthenstaredatme.

Abruptly,hebegantolaugh.

"AskMr.Wadingwhathethinksofit?"

"Iintendedto,providedithadyourapproval,sir,"Ireplied.

"Youhavemyapproval,Mr.Paret,"hedeclared,rathercryptically,andwiththeslightGermanhardeningofthev"sintowhichherelapsedattimes."BringittotheWorksthisafternoon."

Mr.Wadingagreedtothealteration.Helookedatmeamusedly.

"Yes,Ithinkthat"sanimprovement,Hugh,"hesaid.IhadafeelingthatIhadgainedground,andfromthistimeonIthoughtIdetectedachangeinhisattitudetowardme;therecouldbenodoubtaboutthenewattitudeofMr.Scherer,whowouldoftengreetmenowwithasmileandajoke,andsometimeswentsofarastoaskmyopinionsThen,aboutsixmonthslater,camethefamousRibblevalecasethatarousedthemoralindignationofsomanypersons,amongwhomwasPerryBlackwood.

"YouknowaswellasIdo,Hugh,howthisthingisbeingmanipulated,"hedeclaredatTom"soneSundayevening;"therewasnothingthematterwiththeRibblevaleSteelCompany——itwasasrightasrainbeforeLeonardDickinsonandGriersonandSchererandthatcrowdyoutrainwithbegantotalkitdownattheClub.Oh,they"reverycompassionate.I"veheard"em.Dickinson,privately,doesn"tthinkmuchofRibblevalepaper,andPugh"(thepresidentoftheRibblevale)"seemsworriedandlooksbadly.

It"sallveryclever,butI"dhatetotellyouinplainwordswhatI"dcallit."

"Goahead,"Ichallengedhimaudaciously."Youhaven"tanyproofthattheRibblevalewasn"tintrouble."

"IheardMr.Pughtellmyfathertheotherdayitwasad——doutrage.Hecouldn"tcatchupwiththeserumours,andsomeofhisstockholderswereliquidating."

"You,don"tsupposePughwouldwanttoadmithissituation,doyou?"I

asked.

"Pugh"sastraightman,"retortedPerry."That"smorethanIcansayforanyoftheothergang,savingyourpresence.TheunpleasanttruthisthatSchererandtheBoynepeoplewanttheRibblevale,andyououghttoknowitifyoudon"t."Helookedatmeveryhardthroughtheglasseshehadlatelytakentowearing.Tom,whowasloungingbythefire,shiftedhispositionuneasily.Ismiled,andtookanothercigar.

"IbelieveRalphisright,Perry,whenhecallsyouasentimentalist.

Foryouthere"satragedybehindeveryordinarybusinesstransaction.

TheRibblevalepeoplearehavingahardtimetokeeptheirheadsabovewater,andimmediatelyyousmellconspiracy.DickinsonandSchererhavebeentalkingitdown.Howaboutit,Tom?"

ButTom,inthesedebates,wasinclinedtobenoncommittal,althoughitwascleartheytroubledhim.

"Oh,don"taskme,Hughie,"hesaid.

"IsupposeIoughttocultivatethescientificpointofview,andlookwithimpartialinterestatthisindustrialcannibalism,"returnedPerry,sarcastically."Eatorbeeatenthat"swhatenlightenedself-interesthascometo.Afterall,Ralphwouldsay,itisnature,theinsectworldoveragain,thevictimdupedandcrippledbeforeheisdevoured,andthelawyer——howshallIputit?——facilitatingtheprocessesofswallowinganddigesting"

TherewasnousearguingwithPerrywhenhewasinthisvein

SinceIamnotwritingatechnicaltreatise,IneednotgointothedetailsoftheRibblevalesuit.Sinceittosaythattheaffair,afterawhile,cameapparentlytoadeadlock,owingtotheimpossibilityofgettingcertaindefiniteinformationfromtheRibblevalebooks,whichhadbeentakenoutofthestate.Thetreasurer,forreasonsofhisown,remainedoutofthestatealso;theordinarycourseofsummoninghimbeforeamagistrateinanotherstatehadnaturallybeenresortedto,butthedesiredevidencewasnotforthcoming.

"Thetroubleis,"Mr.WadingexplainedtoMr.Scherer,"thatthereisnolawinthevariousstateswithasufficientpenaltyattachedthatwillcompelthewitnesstodivulgefactshewishestoconceal."

ItwasthemiddleofaFebruaryafternoon,andtheywereseatedindeep,leatherchairsinonecornerofthereadingroomoftheBoyneClub.Theyhadtheplacetothemselves.Fowndeswastherealso,onelegtwistedaroundtheotherinfamiliarfashion,aboredlookonhislongandsallowface.Mr.Wadinghadtelephonedtotheofficeformetobringthemsomepapersbearingonthecase.

"Sitdown,Hugh,"hesaidkindly.

"Nowwehavepresentagenuinelegalmind,"saidMr.Scherer,intheplayfulmannerhehadadoptedoflate,whileIgrinnedappreciativelyandtookachair.Mr.WatlingpresentlysuggestedkidnappingtheRibblevaletreasureruntilheshouldpromisetoproducethebooksastheonlywayoutofwhatseemedanimpasse.ButMr.Schererbroughtdownahugefistonhisknee.

"Itellyouitisnojoke,Watling,we"vegottowinthatsuit,"heasserted.

"That"sallverywell,"repliedMr.Watling."Butwe"rearespectablefirm,youknow.Wehaven"thadtoresorttosafe-blowing,asyet."

Mr.Scherershruggedhisshoulders,asmuchastosayitwereamatterofindifferencetohimwhatmethodswereresortedto.Mr.Watling"seyesmetmine;hisglancewasamused,yetIthoughtIreadinitaqueryastotheadvisability,inmypresence,ofgoingtoodeeplyintothequestionofwaysandmeans.Imayhavebeenwrong.Atanyrate,itssuddeneffectwastoemboldenmetogivevoicetoanideathathadbeguntosimmerinmymind,thatexcitedme,andyetIhadfearedtoutterit.

Thislookofmychief"s,andthelightertonetheconversationhadtakendecidedme.

"Whywouldn"titbepossibletodrawupabilltofitthesituation?"I

inquired.

Mr.Wadingstarted.

"Whatdoyoumean?"heaskedquickly.

Allthreelookedatme.Ifeltthebloodcomeintomyface,butitwastoolatetodrawback.

"Well——thelegislatureisinsession.Andsince,asMr.Watlingsays,thereisnosufficientpenaltyinotherstatestocompelthewitnesstoproducetheinformationdesired,whynotdrawupabilland——andhaveitpassed——"Ipausedforbreath——"imposingasufficientpenaltyonhomecorporationsintheeventofsuchevasions.TheRibblevaleSteelCompanyisahomecorporation."

IhadshotmyboltTherefollowedwhatwasformeananxioussilence,whilethethreeofthemcontinuedtostareatme.Mr.Watlingputthetipsofhisfingerstogether,andIbecameawarethathewasnotoffended,thathewasthinkingrapidly.

"ByGeorge,whynot,Fowndes?"hedemanded.

"Well,"saidFowndes,"there"sanelementofriskinsuchaproceedingI

neednotdwellupon."

"Risk!"criedtheseniorpartnervigorously."There"sriskineverything.They"llhowl,ofcourse.Buttheyhowlanyway,andnobodyeverlistenstothem.They"llsayit"sspeciallegislation,andthePilotwillprintsensationaleditorialsforafewdays.Butwhatofit?

Allofthathashappenedbefore.Itellyou,ifwecan"tseethosebooks,we"lllosethesuit.That"sinblackandwhite.And,asamatterofjustice,we"reentitledtoknowwhatwewanttoknow."

"Theremightbetwoopinionsastothat,"observedFowndes,withhissardonicsmile.

Mr.Watlingpaidnoattentiontothisremark.Hewasalreadydeepinthought.Itwascharacteristicofhismindtoleapforward,seizeasuggestionthatoftenappearedchimericaltoamanlikeFowndesandturnitintoanaccomplishedFact."Ibelieveyou"vehitit,Hugh,"hesaid.

"Weneedn"tbotheraboutthepowersofthecourtsinotherstates.We"llputintothisbillanappealtoourcourtforanorderontheclerktocompelthewitnesstocomebeforethecourtandtestify,andwe"llprovideforaspecialcommissionertotakedepositionsinthestatewherethewitnessis.Iftheofficersofahomecorporationwhoareoutsideofthestaterefusetotestify,thepenaltywillbethattherationgoesintothehandsofareceiver."

Fowndeswhistled.

"That"sgoingsome!"hesaid.

"Well,we"vegottogosome.Howaboutit,Scherer?"

EvenMr.Scherer"sbrowneyesweresnapping.

"Wehavegottowinthatsuit,Watling."

Wewereallexcited,evenFowndes,Ithink,thoughheremainedexpressionless.Ourswasthetenseexcitementofprimitivemaninchase:

thequarrywhichhadthreatenedtoeludeuswasagaininview,andnotunlikelytofallintoourhands.Addtothisfeeling,onmypart,thethrillthatitwasIwhohadputthemonthescent.Ihadallthesensationsofanaspiringyoungbravewhoforthefirsttimeisadmittedtothecouncilsofthetribe!

"Itoughttobeapopularbill,too,"Mr.Schemerwassaying,withasmileofironicappreciationatthethoughtofdemagoguesadvocatingit.

"WeshouldhaveoneofLawler"sfriendsintroduceit."

"Oh,weshallhaveitproperlyintroduced,"repliedMr.Wading.

"Itmaycomebackatus,"suggestedFowndespessimistically."TheBoyneIronWorksisahomecorporationtoo,ifIamnotmistaken."

"TheBoyneIronWorkshasthefirmofWading,FowndesandRiponbehindit,"assertedMr.Scherer,withwhatstruckmeasamagnificentfaith.

"Youmustn"tforgetParet,"Mr.Watlingremindedhim,withawinkatme.

Wehadrisen.Mr.Schererlaidahandonmyarm.

"No,no,Idonotforgethim.Hewillnotpermitmetoforgethim."

Aremark,Ithought,thatbetrayedsomeinsightintomycharacterMr.

Watlingcalledforpenandpaperandmadethenandthereadraftoftheproposedbill,fornotimewastobelost.ItwasdarkwhenwelefttheClub,andIrecalltheelationIfeltandstrovetoconcealasI

accompaniedmychiefbacktotheoffice.Thestenographersandclerksweregone;aloneinthelibrarywegotdownthestatutesandsettowork.

toperfectthebillfromtheroughdraft,onwhichMr.Fowndeshadwrittenhissuggestions.IfeltthatacompleteyetsubtlechangehadcomeovermyrelationshipwithMr.Watling.

InthemidstofourlaboursheaskedmetocalluptheattorneyfortheRailroad.Mr.Gorsewasstillathisoffice.

"Hello!Isthatyou,Miller?"Mr.Watlingsaid."ThisisWading.WhencanIseeyouforafewminutesthisevening?Yes,IamleavingforWashingtonatninethirty.Eighto"clock.Allright,I"llbethere."

Itwasalmosteightbeforehegotthedraftfinishedtohissatisfaction,andIhadpickeditoutonthetypewriter.AsIhandedittohim,mychiefhelditamoment,gazingatmewithanoddsmile.

"Youseemtohaveacquiredagooddealofusefulknowledge,hereandthere,Hugh,"heobserved.

"I"vetriedtokeepmyeyesopen,Mr.Watling,"Isaid.

"Well,"hesaid,"thereareagreatmanythingsayoungmanpractisinglawinthesedayshastolearnforhimself.AndifIhadn"tgivenyoucreditforsomecleverness,Ishouldn"thavewantedyouhere.There"sonlyonewaytolookat——atthesematterswehavebeendiscussing,myboy,that"sthecommon-senseway,andifamandoesn"tgetthatpointofviewbyhimself,nobodycanteachittohim.Ineedn"tenlargeuponit"

"No,sir,"Isaid.

Hesmiledagain,butimmediatelybecameserious.

"IfMr.Gorseshouldapproveofthisbill,I"mgoingtosendyoudowntothecapital——to-night.Canyougo?"

Inodded.

"Iwantyoutolookoutforthebillinthelegislature.Ofcoursetherewon"tbemuchtodo,excepttostandby,butyouwillgetabetterideaofwhatgoesondownthere."

Ithankedhim,andtoldhimIwoulddomybest.

"I"msureofthat,"hereplied."Nowit"stimetogotoseeGorse."

ThelegaldepartmentoftheRailroadoccupiedanentireflooroftheCornBankbuilding.Ihadoftenbeenthereonvariouserrands,havingonoccasionsdeliveredsealedenvelopestoMr.Gorsehimself,approachinghimintheordinarywaythroughaseriesofoffices.Butnow,followingMr.Watlingthroughthedimlylightedcorridor,wecametoadooronwhichnonamewaspainted,andwhichwaspresentlyopenedbyastenographer.Therewasintheproceedingatouchofmysterythatrevivedkeenlymyboyishloveforromance;broughtbackthedayswhenI

hadbeen,inturn,CaptainKiddandAliBaba.

Ihaveneverrealizedmorestronglythaninthatmomentthepsychologicalforceofprestige.Littlebylittle,forfiveyears,anestimateoftheextentofMillerGorse"spowerhadbeencominghometome,andhisfeaturesstoodinmymindforhisparticularkindofpower.Hewasatremendousworker,andoftenremainedinhisofficeuntiltenandelevenatnight.Hedismissedthestenographerbythewaveofahandwhichseemedtothrustherbodilyoutoftheroom.

"Hello,Miller,"saidMr.Watling.

"Hello,Theodore,"repliedMr.Gorse.

"ThisisParet,ofmyoffice."

"Iknow,"saidMr.Gorse,andnoddedtowardme.IwasimpressedbythefelicitywithwhichacartoonistofthePilothadoncecaricaturedhimbytheuseofcurvedlines.Thecircleoftheheavyeyebrowsendedatthewidenostrils;themouthwasacrescent,butboweddownwards;theheavyshoulderswererounded.Indeed,theonlystraightlinetobediscernedabouthimwasthatofhishair,blackasbitumen,bangedacrosshisforehead;evenhispolishedporphyryeyeswereconstructedonsomecurvilinearprinciple,andneverseemedtofocus.ItmightbesaidofMr.Gorsethathehadanoverwhelmingimpersonality.Onecouldneverbequitesurethatone"swordsreachedthemark.

InspiteoftheintimacywhichIknewexistedbetweenthem,inmypresenceatleastMr.Gorse"smannerwaslittledifferentwithMr.

Watlingthanitwaswithothermen.Mr.Wadingdidnotseemtomind.Hepulledupachairclosetothedeskandbegan,withoutanypreliminaries,toexplainhiserrand.

"It"sabouttheRibblevaleaffair,"hesaid."Youknowwehaveasuit."

Gorsenodded.

"We"vegottogetatthebooks,Miller,——that"sallthereistoit.I

toldyousotheotherday.Well,we"vefoundoutaway,Ithink."

Hethrusthishandinhispocket,whiletherailroadattorneyremainedimpassive,anddrewoutthedraftofthebill.Mr.Gorsereadit,thenreaditoveragain,andlaiditdowninfrontofhim.

"Well,"hesaid.

"Iwanttoputthatthroughbothhousesandhavethegovernor"ssignaturetoitbytheendoftheweek."

"Itseemsalittleraw,atfirstsight,Theodore,"saidMr.Gorse,withthesuspicionofasmile.

Mychieflaughedalittle.