the conflict-第35节

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ith　him　at　heart。　　But　they　are　afraid　of　him。　　They　don't　trust　each　other。　　Workingmen　despise　the　workingman　as　an　ignorant　fool。''

‘‘So　he　is；''　said　Hastings。

‘‘So　he　is；''　agreed　Davy。　　‘‘But　Victor　Dorn　has　about　got　the　workingmen　in　this　town　persuaded　that　they'd　fare　better　with　Dorn　and　the　League　as　their　leaders　than　with　Kelly　and　House　as　their　leaders。　　And　if　Kelly　goes　on　to　persecute　Victor　Dorn；　the　workingmen　will　be　frightened　for　their　rights　to　free　speech　and　free　assembly。　　And　they'll　unite。　　I　appeal　to　you；　Janeisn't　that　common　sense？''

‘‘I　don't　know　anything　about　politics；''　said　Jane；　looking　bored。　　‘‘You　must　go　in　and　lie　down　before　dinner；　father。　　You　look　tired。''

Hastings　got　ready　to　rise。

‘‘Just　a　minute；　Mr。　Hastings；''　pleaded　Hull。　　‘‘This　must　be　settled　nowat　once。　　I　must　be　in　a　position　not　only　to　denounce　this　thing；　but　also　to　stop　it。　　Not　to…morrow；　but　to…day　。　。　。　so　that　the　morning　papers　will　have　the　news。''

Jane's　thoughts　were　flyingbut　in　circles。　　Everybody　habitually　judges　everybody　else　as　both　more　and　less　acute　than　he　really　is。　　Jane　had　great　respect　for　Davy　as　a　man　of　college　education。　　But　because　he　had　no　sense　of　humor　and　because　he　abounded　in　lengthy　platitudes　she　had　thought　poorly　indeed　of　his　abilities。　　She　had　been　realizing　her　mistake　in　these　last　few　minutes。　　The　man　who　had　made　that　analysis　of　politicsan　analysis　which　suddenly　enlighted　her　as　to　what　political　power　meant　and　how　it　was　wielded　everywhere　on　earth　as　well　as　in　Remsen　Citythe　man　was　no　mere　dreamer　and　theorist。　　He　had　seen　the　point　no　less　clearly　than　had　Victor　Dorn。　　But　what　concerned　her；　what　set　her　to　fluttering；　was　that　he　was　about　to　checkmate　Victor　Dorn。　　What　should　she　say　and　do　to　help　Victor？

She　must　get　her　father　away。　　She　took　him　gently　by　the　arm；　kissed　the　top　of　his　head。　　‘‘Come　on；　father；''　she　cried。　　‘‘I'll　let　Davy　work　his　excitement　off　on　me。　　You　must　take　care　of　your　health。''

But　Hastings　resisted。　　‘‘Wait　a　minute；　Jenny；''　said　he。　　‘‘I　must　think。''

‘‘You　can　think　lying　down；''　insisted　his　daughter　Davy　was　about　to　interpose　again；　but　she　frowned　him　into　silence。

‘‘There's　something　in　what　Davy　says；''　persisted　her　father。　　‘‘If　that　there　Victor　Dorn　should　carry　the　election；　there'd　be　no　living　in　the　same　town　with　him。　　It'd　put　him　away　up　out　of　reach。''

Jane　abruptly　released　her　father's　arm。　　She　had　not　thought　of　thatof　how　much　more　difficult　Victor　would　be　if　he　won　now。　　She　wanted　him　to　win　ultimatelyyes；　she　was　sure　she　did。　　Butnow？　　Wouldn't　that　put　him　beyond　her　reachbeyond　need　of　her？

She　said：　　‘‘Please　come；　father！''　　But　it　was　perfunctory　loyalty　to　Victor。　　Her　father　settled　back；　Davy　Hull　began　afresh；　pressing　home　his　point；　making　his　contention　so　clear　that　even　Martin　Hastings'　prejudice　could　not　blind　him　to　the　truth。　　And　Jane　sat　on　the　arm　of　a　big　veranda　chair　and　listened　and　made　no　further　effort　to　interfere。

‘‘I　don't　agree　with　you；　Hull；''　said　the　old　man　at　last。　　‘‘Victor　Dorn's　run　up　agin　the　law　at　last；　and　he　ought　to　get　the　consequences　good　and　hard。　　But''

‘‘Mr。　Hastings；''　interrupted　Davy　eagerlytoo　fond　of　talking　to　realize　that　the　old　man　was　agreeing　with　him；　‘‘Your　daughter　saw''

‘‘Fiddle…fiddle；''　cried　the　old　man。　　‘‘Don't　bring　sentimental　women　into　this；　Davy。　　As　I　was　saying；　Victor　ought　to　be　punished　for　the　way　he's　been　stirring　up　idle；　lazy；　ignorant　people　against　the　men　that　runs　the　community　and　gives　'em　jobs　and　food　for　their　children。　　But　maybe　it　ain't　wise　to　give　him　his　desertsjust　now。　　Anyhow；　while　you've　been　talking　away　like　a　sewing　machine　I've　been　thinking。　　I　don't　see　as　how　it　can　do　any　serious　HARM　to　stop　them　there　indictments。''

‘‘That's　it；　Mr。　Hastings；''　cried　Hull。　　‘‘Even　if　I　do　exaggerate；　as　you　seem　to　think；　still　where's　the　harm　in　doing　it？''

‘‘It　looks　as　if　the　respectable　people　were　afraid　of　the　lower　classes；''　said　Hastings　doubtfully。　　‘‘And　that's　always　bad。''

‘‘But　it　won't　look　that　way；''　replied　Davy；　‘‘if　my　plan　is　followed。''

‘‘And　what　might　be　your　plan？''　inquired　Hastings。

‘‘I'm　to　be　the　reform　candidate　for　Mayor。　　Your　son…in…law；　Hugo；　is　to　be　the　reform　candidate　for　judge。　　The　way　to　handle　this　is　for　me　to　come　out　in　a　strong　statement　denouncing　the　indictments；　and　the　injunction　against　the　League　and　the　New　Day；　too。　　And　I'll　announce　that　Hugo　Galland　is　trying　to　join　in　the　fight　against　them　and　that　he　is　indignant　and　as　determined　as　I　am。　　Then　early　to…morrow　morning　we　can　go　before　Judge　Lansing　and　can　present　arguments；　and　he　will　denounce　the　other　side　for　misleading　him　as　to　the　facts；　and　will　quash　the　indictments　and　vacate　the　injunctions。''

Hastings　nodded　reflectively。　　‘‘Pretty　good；''　said　he　with　a　sly　grin。　　‘‘And　Davy　Hull　and　my　son…in…　law　will　be　popular　heroes。''

Davy　reddened。　　‘‘Of　course。　　I　want　to　get　all　the　advantage　I　can　for　our　party；''　said　he。　　‘‘I　don't　represent　myself。　　I　represent　the　party。''

Martin　grinned　more　broadly。　　He　who　had　been　representing　‘‘honest　taxpayers''　and　‘‘innocent　owners''　of　corrupt　stock　and　bonds　all　his　life　understood　perfectly。　　‘‘It's　hardly　human　to　be　as　unselfish　as　you　and　I　are；　Davy；''　said　he。　　‘‘Well；　I'll　go　in　and　do　a　little　telephoning。　　You　go　ahead　and　draw　up　your　statement　and　get　it　to　the　papersand　see　Hugo。''　　He　rose；　stood　leaning　on　his　cane；　all　bent　and　shrivelled　and　dry。　　‘‘I　reckon　Judge　Lansing'll　be　expecting　you　to…morrow　morning。''　　He　turned　to　enter　the　house；　halted；　crooked　his　head　round　for　a　piercing　look　at　young　Hull。　　‘‘Don't　go　talking　round　among　your　friends　about　what　you're　going　to　do；''　said　he　sharply。　　‘‘Don't　let　NOBODY　know　until　it's　done。''

‘‘Certainly；　sir；''　said　Davy。

‘‘I　could　see　you　hurrying　down　to　that　there　University　Club　to　sit　there　and　tell　it　all　to　those　smarties　that　are　always　blowing　about　what　they're　going　to　do。　　You'll　be　right　smart　of　a　man　some　day；　Davy；　if　you'll　learn　to　keep　your　mouth　shut。''

Davy　looked　abashed。　　He　did　not　know　which　of　his　many　indiscretions　of　self…glorifying　talkativeness　Mr。　Hastings　had　immediately　in　mind。　　But　he　could　recall　several；　any　one　of　which　was　justification　for　the　rather　savage　rebukethe　more　humiliating　that　Jane　was　listening。　　He　glanced　covertly　at　her。

Perhaps　she　had　not　heard；　she　was　gazing　into　the　distance　with　a　strange　expression　upon　her　beautiful　face；　an　expression　that　fastened　his　attention；　absorbed　though　he　was　in　his　project　for　his　own　ambitions。　　As　her　father　disappeared；　he　said：

‘‘What　are　you　thinking　about；　Jane？''

Jane　startled　guiltily。　　‘‘I？　　OhI　don't　knowa　lot　of　things。''

‘‘Your　look　suggested　that　you　were　having　aa　severe　attack　of　conscience；''　said　he；　laughingly。　　He　was　in　soaring　good　humor　now；　for　he　saw　his　way　clear　to　election。

‘‘I　was；''　said　Jane；　suddenly　stern。　　A　pause；　then　she　laughedrather　hollowly。　　‘‘Davy；　I　guess　I'm　almost　as　big　a　fraud　as　you　are。　　What　fakirs　we　human　beings　are？always　posing　as　doing　for　others　and　always　doing　for　our　selfish　selves。''

Davy's　face　took　on　its　finest　expression。　　‘‘Do　you　think　it's　altogether　selfishness　for　me　to　fight　for　Victor　Dorn　and　give　him　a　chance　to　get　out　his　paper　againwhen　he　has　warned　me　that　he　is　going　to　print　things　that　may　defeat　me？''

‘‘You　know　he'll　not　print　them　now；''　retorted　Jane。

‘‘Indeed　I　don't。　　He's　not　so　forbearing。''

‘‘You　know　he'll　not　print　them　now；''　repeated　Jane。　　‘‘He'd　not　be　so　foolish。　　Every　one　would　forget　to　ask　whether　what　he　said　about　you　was　true　or　false。　　They'd　think　only　of　how　ungenerous　and　ungrateful　he　was。　　He　wouldn't　be　either。　　But　he'd　seem　to　beand　that　comes　to　the　same　thing。''　　She　glanced　mockingly　at　Hull。　　‘‘Isn't　that　your　calculation？''

‘‘You　are　too　cynical　for　a　woman；　Jane；''　said　Davy。　　‘‘It's　not　attractive。''

‘‘To　your　vanity？''　retorted　Jane。　　‘‘I　should　think　not。''

‘‘Wellgood…by；''　said　Davy；　taking　his　hat　from　the　rail。　　‘‘I've　got　a　hard　evening's　work　before　me。　　No　time　for　dinner。''

‘‘Another　terrible　sacrifice　for　public　duty；''　mocked　Jane。

‘‘You　must　be　frightfully　out　of　humor　with　yourself；　to　be　girding　at　me　so　savagely；''　said　Davy。

‘‘Good…by；　Mr。　Mayor。''

‘‘I　shall　bein　six　weeks。''

Jane's　face　grew　sombre。　　‘‘YesI　suppose　so；''　said　she。　　‘‘The　people　would　rather　have　one　of　us　than　one　of　their　own　kind。　　They　do　look　up　to　us；　don't　they？　　It's　ridiculous　of　them；　but　they　do。　　The　idea　of　choosing　you；　when　they　might　have　Victor　Dorn。''

‘‘He　isn't　running　for　Mayor；''　objected　Hull。　　‘‘The　League's　candidate　is　Harbinger；　the　builder。''

‘‘No；　it's　Victor　Dorn；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘The　best　man　in　a　partythe　strongest　manis　always　the　candidate　for　all　the　offices。　　I　don't　know　much　about　politics；　but　I've　learned　that　much。　。　。　。　　It's　Victor　Dorn　againstDick　Kellyor　Kelly　and　father。''

Hull　reddened。　　She　had　cut　into　quick。　　‘‘You　will　see　who　is　Mayor　when　I'm　elected；''　said　he　with　all　his　dignity。