第17章

"We"llhavetoattendtohim,rightoff,"hesaid.

Iwassurprisedtofindmyselfresentingtheimputation,anddeeply.

"I"mafraidhe"soneofthosewhocan"tbe`attendedto,""Ianswered.

"Youmeanthathe"sintheemployoftheRibblevalepeople?"theColonelinquired.

"Idon"tmeananythingofthekind,"Iretorted,withmoreheat,perhaps,thanIrealized.TheColonellookedatmequeerly.

"That"sallright,Mr.Paret.OfcourseIdon"twanttoquestionyourjudgment,sir.Andyousayhe"safriendofyours."

"IsaidIknewhimatcollege."

"Butyouwillpardonme,"theColonelwenton,"whenItellyouthatI"vehadsomeexperiencewiththatbreed,andIhaveyettoseeoneof"emyoucouldn"tcometotermswithinsomeway——insomeway,"headded,significantly.IdidnotpausetoreflectthattheColonel"sattitude,fromhispointofview(yes,andfrommine,——hadInotadoptedit?)wasthelogicalone.Inthatphilosophyeverymanhadhisprice,orhisweakness.Yet,suchistheinconsistencyofhumannature,Iwasnowunabletocontemplatethisattitudewithcalmness.

"Mr.Krebsisalawyer.HasheacceptedapassfromtheRailroad?"I

demanded,knowingthecustomofthatcorporationofconferringthisdelicatefavouronthepromisingyoungtalentinmyprofession.

"Ireckonhe"sneverhadthechance,"saidMr.Varney.

"Well,hashetakenapassasamemberofthelegislature?"

"No,——Irememberlookingthatupwhenhefirstcamedown.Sentthatback,ifIrecallthemattercorrectly."ColonelVarneywenttoadeskinthecorneroftheroom,unlockedit,drewforthablackbook,andrunninghisfingersthroughthepagesstoppedattheletterK."Yes,sentbackhislegislativepass,butI"veknown"emtodothatwhentheywereholdingoutforsomethingmore.Theremustbesomebodywhocangetclosetohim."

TheColonelruminatedawhile.Thenhestrodetothedoorandcalledouttothegroupofmenwhowerealwayslounginginthehall.

"TellAlfYoungIwanttoseehim,Fred."

Iwaited,bynomeansfreefromuneasinessandanxiety,fromacertainlackofself-respectthatwasunfamiliar.Mr.Young,theColonelexplained,wasalegallightinGalesburg,nearElkington,——theRailroadlawyerthere.AndwhenatlastMr.Youngappearedheprovedtobeanoilygentlemanofaboutforty,incliningtostoutness,withoneofthose"blue,"shavenfaces.

"Wantme,Colonel?"heinquiredblithely,whenthedoorhadclosedbehindhim;andaddedobsequiously,whenintroducedtome,"Gladtomeetyou,Mr.Paret.MyregardstoMr.Watling,whenyougoback.

"Alf,"demandedtheColonel,"whatdoyouknowofthisfellowKrebs?"

Mr.Younglaughed.Krebswas"nutty,"hedeclared——thatwasalltherewastoit.

"Won"the——listentoreason?"

"It"sbeentried,Colonel.Say,hewouldn"tknowahundred-dollarbillifyoushowedhimone."

"Whatdoeshewant?"

"Oh,something,——that"ssure,theyallwantsomething."Mr.Youngshruggedhisshoulderexpressively,andbyaskillfulmanipulationofhislipsshiftedhiscigarfromonesideofhismouthtotheotherwithoutraisinghishands."Butitain"tmoney.Iguesshe"sgotanotionthatlateronthelabourunions"llsendhimtotheUnitedStatesSenatesomeday.He"snoslouch,either,whenitcomestolaw.Icantellyouthat."

"No——noflawinhis——record?"ColonelVarney"sagateeyessoughtthoseofMr.Young,meaningly.

"That"sbeentried,too,"declaredtheGalesburgattorney."Say,youcanbelieveitornot,butwe"veneverduganythingupsofar.He"sbeentooslickforus,Iguess."

"Well,"exclaimedtheColonel,atlength,"lethimsquealandbed——d!

Hecan"tdoanymorethanmakeanoise.OnlyIhopedwe"dbeabletogreasethisthingalongandslideitthroughtheSenatethisafternoon,beforetheygotwindofit."

"He"llsqueal,allright,untilyousmotherhim,"Mr.Youngobserved.

"We"llsmotherhimsomeday!"repliedtheColonel,savagely.

Mr.Younglaughed.

ButasImademywaytowardtheStateHouseIwasconsciousofafeelingofrelief.IhadnosoonergainedafrontseatinthegalleryoftheHouseofRepresentativeswhenthemembersrose,theSenatemarchedgravelyin,theSpeakerstoppedjestingwiththeChaplain,andovertheChaplain"sfacecamesuddenlyanagonizedexpression.FoldinghishandsacrosshisstomachhebegantocallonGodwithterrificfervour,inanintenseandresoundingvoice.Iwasstrucksuddenlybytheironyofitall.WhyhavealegislaturewhenColonelPaulVarneywassoefficient!

Thelegislaturewasameresoptodemocraticprejudice,toprayoveritheightenedthetravesty.SupposetherewereaGodafterall?notnecessarilythemagnifiedmonarchtowhomthesepseudo-democratsprayed,butanIntelligentForcethatmakesforrighteousness.HowdidHe,orIt,liketobetrifledwithinthisway?And,ifHeexisted,wouldnotHisdisgustbeimmeasurableasHecontemplatedthatunctuousfigureinthe"PrinceAlbert"coat,whopretendedtorepresentHim?

AstheroutinebusinessbeganIsearchedforKrebs,tofindhimpresentlyatadeskbesideawindowintherearofthehallmakingnotesonapaper;therewas,confessedly,littlesatisfactioninthethoughtthatthemanwhosegauntfeaturesIcontemplatedwasmerelyoneofthoseimpracticalidealistswhobeatthemselvestopiecesagainsttheforcesthatswaytheworldandmustforeverswayit.IshouldbecompelledtoadmitthatherepresentedsomethinguniqueinthatassemblyifhehadthecouragetogetupandopposeHouseBill709.Iwatchedhimnarrowly;thesuggestionintrudeditself——perhapshehadbeen"seen,"astheColonelexpressedit.Irepudiatedit.Igrewimpatient,feverish;themonotonousreadingoftheclerkwasinterruptednowandthenbythesharptonesoftheSpeakerassigninghisvariousmeasurestothisorthatcommittee,"unlessobjectionisoffered,"whilethemembersmovedaboutandmurmuredamongthemselves;Krebshadstoppedmakingnotes;hewaslookingoutofthewindow.Atlast,withoutanychangeofemphasisinhisdroningvoice,theclerkannouncedtherecommendationoftheCommitteeonJudiciarythatHouseBill709oughttopass.

Downinfrontamanhadrisenfromhisseat——thefelicitousMr.

Truesdale.Glancingaroundathisfellow-membershethenbegantoexplainintheimpressivebutconversationaltoneofonewhosecounselsareinthehabitofbeinglistenedto,thatthiswasmerelyalittlemeasuretoremedyaflawinthestatutes.Mr.Truesdalebelievedincorporationswhencorporationsweregood,andthisbillwascalculatedtomakethemgood,toputanendtojuggleryandconcealment.Ourgreatstate,hesaid,shouldbeintheforefrontofsuchwiselegislation,whichmadeforjusticeandaproperpublicity;butthebillinquestionwasofgreaterinteresttolawyersthantolaymen,acommitteecomposedlargelyoflawyershadrecommendeditunanimously,andhewassurethatnooppositionwoulddevelopintheHouse.Inordernottotakeuptheirtimeheasked:therefore,thatitbeimmediatelyputonitssecondandthirdreadingandallowedtopass.

Hesatdown,andIlookedatKrebs.Couldhe,couldanyman,anylawyer,havethepresumptiontoquestionsuchanobviouslydesirablemeasure,toarraigntheunitedjudgmentofthecommittee"slegaltalent?SuchwasthenoteMr.Truesdalesoadmirablystruck.Asthoughfascinated,I

continuedtogazeatKrebs.Ihatedhim,Idesiredtoseehimhumiliated,andyetamazinglyIfoundmyselfwishingwithalmostequalvehemencethathewouldbetruetohimself.Hewasrising,——slowly,timidly,Ithought,hishandclutchinghisdesklid,hisvoicesoundingwhollyinadequateasheaddressedtheSpeaker.TheSpeakerhesitated,histonepalpablysupercilious.

"Thegentlemanfrom——fromElkington,Mr.Krebs."

Therewasacraningofnecks,astaring,atittering.IburnedwithvicariousshameasKrebsstoodthereawkwardly,hishandstillholdingthedesk.Therewerecriesof"louder"whenhebegan;somepickeduptheirnewspapers,whileothersstartedconversations.TheSpeakerrappedwithhisgavel,andIfailedtoheartheopeningwords.Krebspaused,andbeganagain.Hisspeechdidnot,atfirst,floweasily.

"Mr.Speaker,Irisetoprotestagainstthisbill,whichinmyopinionisnotsoinnocentasthegentlemanfromSt.Helen"swouldhavetheHousebelieve.Itisonapar,indeed,withotherlegislationthatinpastyearshasbeenengineeredthroughthislegislatureundertheguiseofbeneficentlaw.No,notonapar.Itisthemostarrogant,themostmonstrousexampleofspeciallegislationofthemall.AndwhileIdonotexpecttobeabletodelayitspassagemuchlongerthanthetimeIshallbeonmyfeet——"

"Thenwhynotsitdown?"cameavoice,justaudible.

Asheturnedswiftlytowardtheoffenderhisprofilehadaneagle-likeeffectthatstartledme,seeminglyrealizinganewqualityintheman.

Itwasasthoughhehadneededjustthestimulusofthatinterruptiontoelectrifyandtransformhim.Hisawkwardnessdisappeared;andifhewasalittlebombastic,alittle"young,"hespokewiththefireofconviction.

"Because,"hecried,"becauseIshouldlosemyself-respectforlifeifI

sathereandpermittedthepoliticalorganizationofarailroad,themembersofwhicharehereundertheguiseofservantsofthepeople,tocowmeintosilence.AndifitbetreasontomentionthenameofthatRailroadinconnectionwithitspoliticaltyranny,thenmakethemostofit."Heletgoofthedesk,andtappedthecopyofthebill."Whatarethefacts?TheBoyneIronWorks,underthepresidencyofAdolfScherer,hasbeenengagedinlitigationwiththeRibblevaleSteelCompanyforsomeyears:andthisbillisintendedtoputintothehandsoftheattorneysforMr.Scherercertaininformationthatwillenablehimtogetpossessionoftheproperty.Gentlemen,thatiswhat`legalpractice"hasdescendedtointhehandsofrespectablelawyers.ThisdeviceoriginatedwiththeresourcefulMr.TheodoreWatling,andifithadnothadtheapprovalofMr.MillerGorse,itwouldneverhavegotanyfartherthanthejudiciarycommittee.ItwasconfidedtotheskillfulcareofColonelPaulVarneytobesteeredthroughthislegislature,ashundredsofothermeasureshavebeensteeredthrough,——withoutunnecessarynoise.ItmaybeaskedwhytheRailroadshouldbotheritselfbylendingitspoliticalorganizationtoprivatecorporations?Iwilltellyou.BecausecorporationsliketheBoynecorporationareapartofanetworkofinterests,thesecorporationsaidtheRailroadtomaintainitsmonopoly,andinreturnreceiverebates."

Krebshadraisedhisvoiceasthemurmursbecamelouder.Atthispointasharp-facedlawyerfromBelfastgottohisfeetandobjectedthatthegentlemanfromElkingtonwaswastingthetimeoftheHouse,indulginginhearsay.Hisremarkswerenotgermane,etc.TheSpeakerrappedagain,withafineshowofimpartiality,andcautionedthememberfromElkington.

"Verywell,"repliedKrebs."IhavesaidwhatIwantedtosayonthatscore,andIknowittobethetruth.AndifthisHousedoesnotfinditgermane,thedayiscomingwhenitsconstituentswill."

Whereuponheenteredintoadiscussionofthebill,dissectingitwithmorecalmness,withanabilitythatmusthavecommanded,evenfromsomehostileminds,anunwillingrespect.Thepenalty,hesaid,wasoutrageous,hithertounheardofinlaw,——puttingacorporationinthehandsofareceiver,atthemercyofthosewhocovetedit,becauseoneofitsofficersrefused,orwasunable,totestify.HemightbeinChina,inTimbuctoowhenthesummonswasdeliveredathislastorusualplaceofabode.Herewasanenormity,anexerciseoftyrannicalpowerexceedingallbounds,atravestyonpopulargovernmentHeendedbypointingoutthesignificanceofthefactthatthecommitteehadgivennohearings;bydeclaringthatifthebillbecamealaw,itwouldinevitablyreactupontheheadsofthosewhowereresponsibleforit.

Hesatdown,andtherewasaflutterofapplausefromthescatteredaudienceinthegallery.

"ByGod,that"stheonlymaninthewholeplace!"

Iwasaware,forthefirsttime,ofaneighbouratmyside,——asolid,red-facedman,evidentlyafarmer.Histrousersweretuckedintohisboots,andhisgnarledandpowerfulhands,ingrainedwithdirt,clutchedthearmsoftheseatasheleanedforward.

"Didn"thejustnaturallylambaste"em?"hecriedexcitedly."They"lldownhim,Iguess,——butsay,he"sright.Amanwouldlosehisself-

respectifhedidn"tletouthismindatthemhossthieves,wouldn"the?

What"sthatfellow"sname?"

Itoldhim.

"Krebs,"herepeated."Iwanttorememberthat.DurnedifIdon"tshakehandswithhim."

Hisexcitementastonishedme.Wouldthepublicfeellikethat,iftheyonlyknew?TheSpeaker"sgavelhadcomedownlikeapistolshot.

One"war-hoss"——asmyneighbourcalledthem——afteranotherproceededtocrushthememberfromElkington.Itwas,indeed,veryskillfullydone,andyetitwasaprocessfromwhichIdidnotderive,somehow,muchpleasure.ColonelVarney"sarmyhadbeenmagnificentlytrainedtomeetjustthiskindofsituation:someemployedridicule,othersdeclared,inimpassionedtones,thatthegoodnameoftheirstatehadbeenwantonlyassailed,andpointedferventlytoportraitsonthewallsofpatriotsofthepast,——sentimentsthatdrewapplausefromtheficklegallery.Onegentlemanobservedthattheobsessionofa"railroadmachine"wasasuresymptomofacertainkindofinsanity,ofwhichthefirstspeakerhadgivenmanyotherevidences.Thefarmeratmysideremainedstaunch.

"Theycan"tfoolme,"hesaidangrily,"Iknow"em.Doyouseethatfellowgettin"uptotalknow?Well,Icouldtellyouafewthingsabouthim,allright.HecomesfromGlasgow,andhisname"sLetchworth.He"sdonemoreharminhislifethanallthecriminalshe"skeptoutofprison,——belongstooneoftheoldfamiliesdownthere,too."

Ihad,indeed,remarkedLetchworth"sface,whichseemedtomepeculiarlyevil,itslividityenhancedbyashockofgreyhair.Hismethodwaswitheringsarcasm,andhewasclearlyunabletocontrolhisanimus

NochampionappearedtosupportKrebs,whosatpaleandtensewhilethisdenunciationofhimwasgoingon.Finallyhegotthefloor.Hisvoicetrembledalittle,whetherwithpassion,excitement,ornervousnessitwasimpossibletosay.Buthecontentedhimselfwithabriefdefiance.

Ifthebillpassed,hedeclared,themenwhovotedforit,themenwhowerebehindit,wouldultimatelybedrivenfrompoliticallifebyanindignantpublic.Hehadahigheropinionofthevotersofthestatethanthosewhoaccusedhimofslanderingit,thanthosewhosatsilentandhadnotliftedtheirvoicesagainstthiscrime.

Whenthebillwasputtoavotehedemandedarollcall.

TenmembersbesideshimselfwererecordedagainstHouseBillNo.709!

InspiteofthisoverwhelmingtriumphmyfeelingswerenotwhollythoseofsatisfactionwhenIreturnedtothehotelandlistenedtotheexultationsanddenunciationsofsuchpoliticiansasLetchworth,Young,andColonelVarney.PerhapsanimagesuggestingHermannKrebsassomesplendidanimalatbay,draggeddownbythehounds,istoostrong:hehadbeeningloriouslycrushed,anddefeat,evenforthesakeofconviction,wasnotaninspiringspectacleAsthechasesweptonoverhisprostratefigureIrapidlyregainedpoiseandasenseofproportion;a"masteroflife"couldnotpermithimselftobetossedaboutbysentimentality;andgraduallyIgrewashamedofmybadquarterofanhourinthegalleryoftheHouse,andoftheeffectofit——whichlingeredawhile——asofaweaknesssuddenlyrevealed,whichmustatallcostsbeovercome.IbegantoseesomethingdramaticandsensationalinKrebs"sperformance

TheRibblevaleSteelCompanywastherealquarry,afterall.Andsuchhadbeentheexpedition,theskillandsecrecy,withwhichouraffairwasconducted,thatbeforetheRibblevalelawyerscouldarrive,alarmedandbreathless,thebillhadpassedtheHouse,andtheironlyrealchanceofhaltingithadbeenlost.FortheRailroadcontrolledtheHouse,notbyowningtheindividualscomposingit,butthroughtheleaderswhodominatedit,——menlikeLetchworthandTruesdale.These,andColonelVarney,hadseentoitthatmenwhohadanyparliamentaryabilityhadbeenattendedto;allsaveKrebs,whohadprovedasurprise.Therewereindeedcertainmemberswho,althoughtheyhadrailroadpassesintheirpockets(whichwereregardedasjustperquisites,——theRailroadbeingsorich!),wouldhaveopposedthebilliftheyhadfeltsufficientlysureofthemselvestocopewithsuchveteransasLetchworth.ManyofthesehadallowedthemselvestobewonoverorcowedbytheoratorywhichhadcrushedKrebs.

NordidtheRibblevalepeople——beitrecorded——scrupletofightfirewithfire.Theirexistence,ofcourse,wasatstake,andtherewasnopublictoappealto.Apartofthelegalarmythatrushedtotheaidofouradversariesspenttheafternoonandmostofthenightorganizingallthosewhocouldbeinducedbyonemeansoranothertoreversetheirsentiments,andinsearchingforthefewwhohadgrievancesagainsttheexistingpower.Thefollowingmorningamotionwasintroducedtoreconsider;andinthedebatethatfollowed,Krebs,stilldefiant,tookanactivepart.Buttheresolutionrequiredatwo-thirdsvote,andwaslost.

WhenthebattlewasshiftedtotheSenateitwasasgoodaslost.TheJudiciaryCommitteeoftheaugustbodydidindeedcondescendtogivehearings,atwhichtheRibblevalelawyersexhaustedtheirenergyandingenuitywithoutresultwithonlytwodissentingvotesthebillwascalmlypassed.InvainwastheGovernorbesieged,entreated,threatened,——itwassaid;Mr.Truleasehadinformedprotesters——soColonelVarneygleefullyreported——thathehad"becomefullyconvincedoftheinherentjusticeofthemeasure."OnSaturdaymorninghesignedit,anditbecamealaw

ColonelVarney,asheaccompaniedmetothetrain,didnotconcealhisjubilation.

"PerhapsIoughtnottosayit,Mr.Paret,butitcouldn"thavebeendoneneater.That"stheartintheselittleaffairs,toget"emrunnin"fast,togetmomentumon"embeforetheotherpartywakesup,andthenhecan"tstop"em."Asheshookhandsinfarewellheadded,withmoregravity:

"We"llseeeachotheroften,sir,Iguess.MyverybestregardstoMr.

Watling."

Needlesstosay,IhadnotconfidedtohimthepartIhadplayedinoriginatingHouseBillNo.709,nowalawofthestate.Butasthetrainrolledonthroughthesunnywinterlandscapeasenseofwell-being,ofimportanceandpowerbegantostealthroughme.Iwasvictoriouslybearinghomemyfirstscalp,——onewhichwasbynomeanstobedespisedItwasnotuntilwereachedRossiter,aboutfiveo"clock,thatIwasabletogettheeveningnewspapers.SuchwastheperfectionoftheorganizationofwhichImightnowcallmyselfanintegralpartthatthe"best"publicationscontainedonlythebarestmention,——andthatinthelegislativenews,——ofthesigningofthebill.IreadwithcomplacencyandevenwithamusementtheflaringheadlinesIhadanticipatedinMr.Lawler"s"Pilot."

"TheGovernorSignsIt!"

"Speciallegislation,forcedthroughbytheRailroadLobby,whichwilldrivehonestcorporationsfromthisstate."

"RibblevaleSteelCompanytheVictim."

Itwascommontalkinthecapital,thearticlewentontosay,thatTheodoreWatlinghimselfhaddrawnupthemeasurePerusingtheeditorialpagemyeyefellonthename,Krebs.Onememberofthelegislatureabovealldeservedthegratitudeofthepeopleofthestate,——

thememberfromElkington."Anunknownman,electedinspiteoftheoppositionofthemachine,hehaddaredtoraisehisvoiceagainstthisiniquity,"etc.,etc.

Wehadwon.Thatwastheessentialthing.Andmylegalexperiencehadtaughtmethatvictorycounts;defeatissoonforgotten.Eventhediscontented,half-bakedandheterogeneouselementfromwhichthePilotgotitscirculationhadshortmemories.

XI.

Thenextmorning,whichwasSunday,IwenttoMr.Watling"shousein,FillmoreStreet——anewresidenceatthattime,beingadmiredasthederniercriinarchitecture.Ithadamediaevallook,queerdormersinasteeproofofredtiles,leadedwindowsburieddeepinwallsofroughstone.EmergingfromtherecessedvestibuleonalevelwiththestreetweretheWatlingtwins,aglowwithhealth,dressedinidenticalcostumesofblue.Theyhadmadetheirbowtosocietythatwinter.

"Why,here"sHugh!"saidFrances."Doesn"thelookpleasedwithhimself?"

"He"scometotakeustochurch,"saidJanet.

"Oh,he"smuchtooimportant,"saidFrances."He"smadeakillingofsomesort,——haven"tyou,Hugh?"

Irangthebellandstoodwatchingthemastheydeparted,reflectingthatIwasthirty-twoyearsofageandunmarried.Mr.Watling,surroundedwithnewspapersandseatedbeforehislibraryfire,glancedupatmewithawelcomingsmile:howhadIbornethelegislativebaptismoffire?

Such,Iknew,wasitsimplication.

"Everythingwentthroughaccordingtoschedule,eh?Well,Icongratulateyou,Hugh,"hesaid.

"Oh,Ididn"thavemuchtodowithit,"Ianswered,smilingbackathim.

"Ikeptoutofsight."

"That"sanartinitself."

"Ihadanopportunity,atcloserange,tostudythemethodsofourlawmakers."

"They"renotparticularlyedifying,"Mr.Watlingreplied."Buttheyseem,unfortunately,tobenecessary."

Suchhadbeenmyownthought.

"WhoisthismanKrebs?"heinquiredsuddenly."Andwhydidn"tVarneygetholdofhimandmakehimlistentoreason?"

"I"mafraiditwouldn"thavebeenanyuse,"Ireplied."HewasinmyclassatHarvard.Iknewhim——slightly.Heworkedhiswaythrough,andhadaprettyhardtimeofit.Iimagineitaffectedhisideas."

"Whatishe,aSocialist?"

"Somethingofthesort."InTheodoreWatling"svigorous,sanity-exhalingpresenceKrebs"sactappearedfantastic,ridiculous."Hehasqueernotionsaboutanewkindofdemocracywhichhesaysiscoming.Ithinkheisthekindofmanwhowouldbewillingtodieforit."

"What,inthesedays!"Mr.Watlinglookedatmeincredulously."Ifthat"sso,wemustkeepaneyeonhim,asincerefanaticisagooddealmoredangerousthanareformerwhowantssomething.Therearesuchmen,"

headded,"buttheyarerare.HowwastheGovernor,Trulease?"heaskedsuddenly."Tractable?"

"Behavedlikealamb,althoughheinsistedupongoingthroughwithhislittlehumbug,"Isaid.

Mr.Watlinglaughed."Theyalwaysdo,"heobserved,"andwastealotofvaluabletime.You"llfindsomelightcigarsinthecorner,Hugh."