the conflict-第45节

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the　next　few　years　are　resulting　in　a　series　of　convulsions。　　You　old…fashioned　fellowsand　the　political　parties　and　the　politiciansare　in　danger　of　being　stranded。　　Leaders　like　Victor　Dornmovements　like　our　Workingmen's　Leaguethey　seem　new　and　radical　to…day。　　By　to…morrow　they'll　be　the　commonplace　thing；　found　everywhereand　administering　the　public　affairs。''

Jane　was　not　surprised　to　see　an　expression　of　at　least　partial　admission　upon　her　father's　face。　　Charlton's　words　were　of　the　kind　that　set　the　imagination　to　work；　that　remind　those　who　hear　of　a　thousand　and　one　familiar　related　facts　bearing　upon　the　same　points。　　‘‘Well；''　said　Hastings；　‘‘I　don't　expect　to　see　any　radical　changes　in　my　time。''

‘‘Then　you'll　not　live　as　long　as　I　think；''　said　Charlton。　　‘‘We　Americans　advance　very　slowly　because　this　is　a　big　country　and　undeveloped；　and　because　we　shift　about　so　much　that　no　one　stays　in　one　place　long　enough　to　build　up　a　citizenship　and　get　an　education　in　politicswhich　is　nothing　more　or　less　than　an　education　in　the　art　of　living。　　But　slow　though　we　are；　we　do　advance。　　You'll　soon　see　the　last　of　Boss　Kelly　and　Boss　Houseand　of　such　gentle；　amiable　frauds　as　our　friend　Davy　Hull。''

Jane　laughed　merrily。　　‘‘Why　do　you　call　him　a　fraud？''　she　asked。

‘‘Because　he　is　a　fraud；''　said　Charlton。　　‘‘He　is　trying　to　confuse　the　issue。　　He　says　the　whole　trouble　is　petty　dishonesty　in　public　life。　　Bosh！　　The　trouble　is　that　the　upper　and　middle　classes　are　milking　the　lower　classboth　with　and　without　the　aid　of　the　various　governments；　local；　state　and　national。　　THAT'S　the　issue。　　And　the　reason　it　is　being　forced　is　because　the　lower　class；　the　working　class；　is　slowly　awakening　to　the　truth。　　When　it　completely　awakens''　Charlton　made　a　large　gesture　and　laughed。

‘‘What　then？''　said　Hastings。

‘‘The　end　of　the　upper　and　the　middle　classes。　　Everybody　will　have　to　work　for　a　living。''

‘‘Who's　going　to　be　elected　this　fall？''　asked　Jane。　　‘‘Your　man？''

‘‘Yes；''　said　Doctor　Charlton。　　‘‘Victor　Dorn　thinks　not。　　But　he　always　takes　the　gloomy　view。　　And　he　doesn't　meet　and　talk　with　the　fellows　on　the　other　side；　as　I　do。''

Hastings　was　looking　out　from　under　the　vizor　of　his　cap　with　a　peculiar　grin。　　It　changed　to　a　look　of　startled　inquiry　as　Charlton　went　on　to　say：

‘‘Yes；　we'll　win。　　But　the　Davy　Hull　gang　will　get　the　offices。''

‘‘Why　do　you　think　that？''　asked　old　Hastings　sharply。

Charlton　eyed　his　patient　with　a　mocking　smile。　　‘‘You　didn't　think　any　one　knew　but　you　and　Kelly　did　you？''　laughed　he。

‘‘Knew　what？''　demanded　Hastings；　with　a　blank　stare。

‘‘No　matter；''　said　Charlton。　　‘‘I　know　what　you　intend　to　do。　　Well；　you'll　get　away　with　the　goods。　　But　you'll　wish　you　hadn't。　　You　old…fashioned　fellows；　as　I've　been　telling　you；　don't　realize　that　times　have　changed。''

‘‘Do　you　mean；　Doctor；　that　the　election　is　to　be　stolen　away　from　you？''　inquired　Jane。

‘‘Was　that　what　I　meant；　Mr。　Hastings？''　said　Charlton。

‘‘The　side　that　loses　always　shouts　thief　at　the　side　that　wins；''　said　the　old　man　indifferently。　　‘‘I　don't　take　any　interest　in　politics。''

‘‘Why　should　you？''　said　the　Doctor　audaciously。　　‘‘You　own　both　sides。　　So；　it's　heads　you　win；　tails　I　lose。''

Hastings　laughed　heartily。　　‘‘Them　political　fellows　are　a　lot　of　blackmailers；''　said　he。

‘‘That's　ungrateful；''　said　Charlton。　　‘‘Still；　I　don't　blame　you　for　liking　the　Davy　Hull　crowd　better。　　From　them　you　can　get　what　you　want　just　the　same；　only　you　don't　have　to　pay　for　it。''

He　rose　and　stretched　his　big　frame；　with　a　disregard　of　conventional　good　manners　so　unconscious　that　it　was　inoffensive。

But　Charlton　had　a　code　of　manners　of　his　own；　and　somehow　it　seemed　to　suit　him　where　the　conventional　code　would　have　made　him　seem　cheap。　　‘‘I　didn't　mean　to　look　after　your　political　welfare；　too；''　said　he。　　‘‘But　I'll　make　no　charge　for　that。''

‘‘Oh；　I　like　to　hear　you　young　fellows　talk；''　said　Martin。　　‘‘You'll　sing　a　different　song　when　you're　as　old　as　I　am　and　have　found　out　what　a　lot　of　damn　fools　the　human　race　is。''

‘‘As　I　told　you　before；''　said　Charlton；　‘‘it's　conditions　that　make　the　human　animal　whatever　it　is。　　It's　in　the　harness　of　conditionsthe　treadmill　of　conditions　the　straight　jacket　of　conditions。　　Change　the　conditions　and　you　change　the　animal。''

When　he　was　swinging　his　big　powerful　form　across　the　lawns　toward　the　fringe　of　woods；　Jane　and　her　father　looking　after　him；　Jane　said：

‘‘He's　wonderfully　clever；　isn't　he？''

‘‘A　dreamera　crank；''　replied　the　old　man。

‘‘But　what　he　says　sounds　reasonable；''　suggested　the　daughter。

‘‘It　SOUNDS　sensible；''　admitted　the　old　man　peevishly。　　‘‘But　it　ain't　what　_I_　was　brought　up　to　call　sensible。　　Don't　you　get　none　of　those　fool　ideas　into　your　head。　　They're　all　very　well　for　men　that　haven't　got　any　property　or　any　responsibilitiesfor　flighty　fellows　like　Charlton　and　that　there　Victor　Dorn。　　But　as　soon　as　anybody　gets　property　and　has　interests　to　look　after；　he　drops　that　kind　of　talk。''

‘‘Do　you　mean　that　property　makes　a　man　too　blind　or　too　cowardly　to　speak　the　truth？''　asked　Jane　with　an　air　of　great　innocence。

The　old　man　either　did　not　hear　or　had　no　answer　ready。　　He　said：

‘‘You　heard　him　say　that　Davy　Hull　was　going　to　win？''

‘‘Why；　he　said　Victor　Dorn　was　going　to　win；''　said　Jane；　still　simple　and　guileless。

Hastings　frowned　impatiently。　　‘‘That　was　just　loose　talk。　　He　admitted　Davy　was　to　be　the　next　mayor。　　If　he　isand　I　expect　Charlton　was　about　rightif　Davy　is　elected；　I　shouldn't　be　surprised　to　see　him　nominated　for　governor　next　year。　　He's　a　sensible；　knowing　fellow。　　He'll　make　a　good　mayor；　and　he'll　be　elected　governor　on　his　record。''

‘‘And　on　what　you　and　the　other　men　who　run　things　will　do　for　him；''　suggested　Jane　slyly。

Her　father　grinned　expressively。　　‘‘I　like　to　see　a　sensible；　ambitious　young　fellow　from　my　town　get　on；''　said　he。　　‘‘And　I'd　like　to　see　my　girl　married　to　a　fellow　of　that　sort；　and　settled。''

‘‘I　think　more　could　be　done　with　a　man　like　Victor　Dorn；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘It　seems　to　me　the　Davy　Hull　sort　of　politics　isis　about　played　out。　　Don't　you　think　so？''

Jane　felt　that　her　remark　was　a　piece　of　wild　audacity。　　But　she　was　desperate。　　To　her　amazement　her　father　did　not　flare　up　but　kept　silent；　wearing　the　look　she　knew　meant　profound　reflection。

After　a　moment　he　said：

‘‘Davy's　a　knowing　boy。　　He　showed　that　the　other　day　when　he　jumped　in　and　made　himself　a　popular　hero。　　He'd　never　'a'　been　able　to　come　anywheres　near　election　but　for　that。　　Dorn'd　'a'　won　by　a　vote　so　big　that　Dick　Kelly　wouldn't　'a'　dared　even　try　to　count　him　out。　。　。　。　　Dorn's　a　better　man　than　Davy。　　But　Dorn's　got　a　foolish　streak　in　him。　　He　believes　the　foolishness　he　talks；　instead　of　simply　talking　it　to　gain　his　end。　　I've　been　looking　him　over　and　thinking　him　over。　　He　won't　do；　Jinny。''

Was　her　father　discussing　the　matter　abstractly；　impersonally；　as　he　seemed？　　Or；　had　he　with　that　uncanny　shrewdness　of　his　somehow　penetrated　to　her　secretor　to　a　suspicion　of　it？　　Jane　was　so　agitated　that　she　sat　silent　and　rigid；　trying　to　look　unconcerned。

‘‘I　had　a　strong　notion　to　try　to　do　something　for　him；''　continued　the　old　man。　　‘‘But　it'd　be　no　use。　　He'd　not　rise　to　a　chance　that　was　offered　him。　　He's　set　on　going　his　own　way。''

Jane　trembleddared。　　‘‘I　believe　_I_　could　do　something　with　him；''　said　sheand　she　was　pleased　with　the　coolness　of　her　voice；　the　complete　absence　of　agitation　or　of　false　note。

‘‘Try　if　you　like；''　said　her　father。　　‘‘But　I'm　sure　you'll　find　I'm　right。　　Be　careful　not　to　commit　yourself　in　any　way。　　But　I　needn't　warn　you。　　You　know　how　to　take　care　of　yourself。　　Still；　maybe　you　don't　realize　how　set　up　he'd　be　over　being　noticed　by　a　girl　in　your　position。　　And　if　you　gave　him　the　notion　that　there　was　a　chance　for　him　to　marry　you；　he'd　be　after　you　hammer　and　tongs。　　The　idea　of　getting　hold　of　so　much　money'd　set　him　crazy。''

‘‘I　doubt　if　he　cares　very　muchor　at　allabout　money；''　said　Jane；　judicially。

Hastings　grinned　satirically。　　‘‘There　ain't　nobody　that　don't　care　about　money；''　said　he；　‘‘any　more　than　there's　anybody　that　don't　care　about　air　to　breathe。　　Put　a　pin　right　there；　Jinny。''

‘‘I　hate　to　think　that；''　she　said；　reluctantly；　‘‘but　I'm　afraidit'sso。''


As　she　was　taking　her　ride　one　morning　she　met　David　Hull　also　on　horseback　and　out　for　his　health。　　He　turned　and　they　rode　together；　for　several　miles；　neither　breaking　the　silence　except　with　an　occasional　remark　about　weather　or　scenery。　　Finally　Davy　said：

‘‘You　seem　to　be　down　about　something；　too？''

‘‘Not　exactly　down；''　replied　Jane。　　‘‘SimplyI've　been　doing　a　lot　of　thinkingand　planningor　attempt　at　planninglately。''

‘‘I；　too；''　said　Davy。

‘‘Naturally。　　How's　politics？''

‘‘Of　course　I　don't　hear　anything　but　that　I'm　going　to　be　elected。　　If　you　want　to　become　convinced　that　the　whole　world　is　on　the　graft；　take　part　in　a　reform　campaign。　　We've　attracted　every　broken…down　political　crook　in　this　region。　　It's　hard　to　say　which　crowd　is　the　more　worthless；　the　college　amateurs　at　pol