the vision spendid(美景)-第13节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
being so useful we can't get along without him。 See？ He learns the game。
You don't know the A B C of it。 It's my opinion youse never will。〃
O'Brien's hard cold eye triumphed over him as a principal does over a
delinquent schoolboy。
49
… Page 50…
THE VISION SPLENDID
His vanity stung； the lawyer sprang to his feet。 〃Very well； Mr。 O'Brien。
I'll show you a thing or two about what I can and can't do。〃
For just an instant a notion flitted across Big Tim's mind that he might
be making a mistake。 He was indulging an ugly temper； and he knew it。
This was a luxury he rarely permitted himself。 Now he decided to 〃go the
whole hog；〃 as he phrased it to himself later。 His lips set to an ugly snarl。
〃It's like the nerve of ye to come to me。 Want to begin at the top instid
of at the bottom。 Go to Billie Gray if youse want to have some wan learn
youse the game。 If you're any good he'll find it out。〃
James got himself out of the office with all the dignity of which he was
capable。 Go to Billie Gray； the notorious ballot box stuffer！ Take orders
from the little rascal who had shaved the penitentiary only because of his
pull！ James saw himself doing it。 He was sore in every outraged nerve of
him。 Never before in his life had anybody sat and sneered at him openly
before his eyes。 He would show the big boss that he had been a fool to
treat him so。 And he would show P。 C。 Frome and Ned Merrill that he was
a very valuable man。
How？ Why； by fighting the corporations！ Wasn't that the way that all
the big men got their start nowadays as lawyers？ As soon as they
discovered his value Frome and his friends would be after his services fast
enough。 James was no radical； but he believed Jeff knew what he was
talking about when he predicted an impending political change； one that
would carry power back from the machine bosses to the people。 The
young lawyer decided to ride that wave as far as it would take him。 He
would be a tribune of the people； and they in turn would make of him their
hero。 With the promised backing of the _World_ he would go a long way。
He knew that Jeff would fling him at once into the limelight。 And he
would make good。 He would be the big speaker for the reform movement。
Nobody in the state could sway a crowd as he could。 James had not the
least doubt about that。 It was glory and applause he wanted； not the
drudgery of dirty ward politics。
PART 3
Under Jeff's management the _World_ had at once taken the leadership
50
… Page 51…
THE VISION SPLENDID
in the fight for political reform in the state。 He made it the policy of the
paper to tell the truth as to corruption both in and out of his own party。 Nor
would he allow the business office； as influenced by the advertisers； to
dictate the policy of the paper。 The result was that at the end of the first
year he went to the owner with a report of a deficit of one hundred and
twenty…five thousand dollars for the twelve months just ended。
Captain Chunn only laughed。 〃Keep it up； son。 I've had lots of fun out
of it。 You've given this town one grand good shaking up。 The whole state
is getting its fighting clothes on。 We've got Merrill and Frome scared stiff
about their supreme court judges。 Looks to me as if we were going to lick
them。〃
The political campaign was already in progress。 Hitherto the public
utility corporations of Verden had controlled and practically owned the
machinery of both parties。 The _World_ had revolted； rallied the better
sentiment in the party to which it belonged； and forced the convention to
declare for a reform platform and to nominate a clean ticket composed of
men of character。
Jeff agreed。 〃I think we're going to win。 The people are with us。 The
_World_ is booming。〃 It's the advertising troubles me。 Frome and Merrill
have got at the big stores and they won't come in with any space worth
mentioning。〃
〃Damn the big advertisers；〃 exploded Chunn。 〃I've got two million
cold and I'm going to see this thing out； son。 That's what I told Frome last
week when he had the nerve to have me nominated to the Verden Club。
Wanted to muzzle me。 Be a good fellow and quit agitating。 That was the
idea。 I sent back word I'd stuck by Lee to Appomattox and I reckoned I
was too old a dog to learn the new trick of deserting my flag。〃
〃If you're satisfied I ought to be；〃 Jeff laughed。 〃As for the advertising；
the stores will come back soon。 The managers all want to take space； but
they are afraid of spoiling their credit at the banks while conditions are so
unsettled。〃
〃Oh； well。 We'll stick to our guns。 You fire'em and I'll supply the
ammunition。〃 The little man put his hand on Jeff's shoulder with a chuckle。
〃We're both rebelsboth irreconcilables； son。 I reckon we're going to be
51
… Page 52…
THE VISION SPLENDID
well hated before we get through with this fight。〃
〃Yes。 They're going about making people believe we're cranks and
agitators who are hurting business for our own selfish ends。〃
〃I reckon we can stand it； David。〃 Chunn had no children of his own
and he always called Jeff son or David。 〃By the way； how's that good
looking cousin of yours coming out？ I see you're giving his speeches lots
of space。〃
A light leaped to the eyes of the younger man。 〃He's doing fine。 James
is a born orator。 Wherever he goes he gets a big ovation。〃
Chunn grunted。 〃Humph！ That'll please him。 He's as selfish as the
devil； always looking out for James Farnum。〃
〃He wins the people； Captain。〃
〃You talk every evening yourself； but I don't see reports of any of your
speeches。〃
〃I don't talk like James。 There's not a man in the state to equal him；
young as he is。〃
〃Humph！〃
Captain Chunn grumbled a good deal about the way Jeff was always
pushing his cousin forward and keeping in the background himself。 In his
opinion 〃David〃 was worth a hundred of the other。
52
… Page 53…
THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 7
〃Spirits of old that bore me； And set me； meek of mind； Between great
deeds before me； And deeds as great behind；
Knowing Humanity my star As forth of old I ride； 0 help me wear with
every scar Honor at eventide。〃
THE REBEL DISCOVERS THAT ADHESION IS A PROPERTY OF
MUD； ALSO THAT A SOLDIER MUST SOMETIMES TURN HIS
BACK AND BURN THE BRIDGES BEHIND HIM
PART 1
The fight for the control of the state developed unprecedented
bitterness。 The big financial interests back of the political machines poured
out money like water to elect a ticket that would be friendly to capital。 An
eight…hour…day bill to apply to miners and underground workers had been
passed by the last legislature and a supreme court must be elected to
declare this law unconstitutional。 Moreover； a United States senator was to
be chosen； so that the personnel of the assembly was a matter of great
importance。
Through the subsidized columns of the _Advocate_ and the _Herald_
all the venom of outraged public plunder was emptied on the heads of Jeff
Farnum and Captain Chunn。 They were rebels； blackmailers； and
anarchists。 Jeff's life was held up to public scorn as dissolute and
licentious。 He had been expelled from college and consorted only with
companions of the lowest sort。 A free thinker and an atheist； he wanted to
tear down the pillars which upheld society。 Unless Verden and the state
repudiated him and his gang of trouble breeders the poison of their
opinions would infect the healthy fabric of the community。
There was about Jeff a humility； a sort of careless generosity； that
could take with a laugh a hit at himself。 But in the days that followed he
was often made to wince when good men drew away from him as from a
moral pervert。 Twice he was hissed from the stage when he attemp
