the cost-第29节

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dred　and　eighty…six…some　of　'em　can　be　bought；　most　of　'em　are　waiting　to　see　which　way　the　cat　jumps；　so　as　to　jump　with　her。〃

〃Then　we've　got　five　hundred　and　twelve；　and　it　takes　five　hundred　and　ninety…seven　to　elect；〃　said　Merriweather；　the　instant　the　last　word　was　out　of　Larkin's　mouth。　　Merriweather　was　a　mite　of　a　man；　could　hardly　have　weighed　more　than　a　hundred　pounds；　had　a　bulging　forehead；　was　bald　and　gray　at　the　temples；　eyes　brown　as　walnut　juice　and　quick　and　keen　as　a　rat…terrier's。　　His　expression　was　the　gambler'scalm；　watchful；　indifferent；　pallid；　as　from　years　of　nights　under　the　gas…light　in　close；　hot　rooms；　with　the　cards　sliding　from　the　faro　box　hour　after　hour。

〃Eighty…five　shortthat's　right；〃　assented　Larkin。　　Then；　with　a　look　at　Culver：　　〃And　some　of　'em'll　come　mighty　high。〃

〃Where　are　you　going　to　do　business　with　them？〃　inquired　Merriweather。　　〃Here？〃

〃Right　here　in　this　room；　where　I've　done　it　many's　the　time　before；〃　replied　Larkin。　　〃To…morrow　night　Conkey　Sedgwick　and　my　boy　Tom'll　begin　steerin'　'em　in　one　at　a　time　about　eight　o'clock。〃

〃Then　I'll　turn　the　money　over　to　you　at　seven　to…morrow　night；〃　said　Culver。　　〃I've　got　it　in　a　safe　place。〃

〃Not　one　of　the　banks；　I　hope；〃　said　Merriweather。

〃We　noted　your　suggestions　on　that　point；　and　on　all　the　others；〃　Culver　answered　with　gracious　condescension。　　〃That's　why　I　brought　cash　in　small　denominations　and　didn't　go　near　anybody　with　it。〃

Larkin　rose。　　〃I've　got　to　get　to　work。　　See　you　here　to…morrow　night　at　seven；　Mr。　Culverseven　sharp。　　I　guess　it'll　be　Judge　Graney　on　the　third　ballot。　　On　the　first　ballot　the　organization'll　vote　solid　for　Graney；　and　my　fellows'll　vote　for　John　Frankfort。　　On　the　second　ballot　half　my　Frankfort　crowd'll　switch　over　to　Graney。　　On　the　third　I'll　put　the　rest　of　'em　over；　and　that'll　be　enough　to　electprobably　the　Scarborough　crowd'll　see　it's　no　use　and　let　us　make　it　unanimous。　　The　losers　are　always　hot　for　harmony。〃

〃That　sounds　well；〃　said　Merriweatherhis　was　a　voice　that　left　his　hearers　doubtful　whether　he　meant　what　his　words　said　or　the　reverse。

Culver　looked　with　secret　admiration　from　one　man　to　the　other；　and　continued　to　think　of　them　and　to　admire；　after　they　had　gone。　　He　felt　important；　sitting　in　and　by　proxy　directing　the　councils　of　these　powerful　men；　these　holders　and　manipulators　of　the　secret　strings　whereto　were　attached　puppet　peoples　and　puppet　politicians。　　Seven　years　behind　the　scenes　with　Dumont's　most　private　affairs　had　given　him　a　thoroughgoing　contempt　for　the　mass　of　mankind。　　Did　he　not　sit　beside　the　master；　at　the　innermost　wheels；　deep　at　the　very　heart　of　the　intricate　mechanism？　　Did　not　that　position　make　him　a　sort　of　master；　at　any　rate　far　superior　to　the　princeliest　puppet？

At　five　the　next　afternoonthe　afternoon　of　the　day　before　the　conventionhe　was　at　the　Eyrie；　and　sent　a　servant　to　say　to　Mrs。　Dumont　that　he　would　like　to　see　her。　　She　came　down　to　him　in　the　library。

〃I'm　only　troubling　you　for　a　moment；〃　he　said。

〃I'll　relieve　you　of　my　package。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Pauline。　　〃I　haven't　thought　of　it　since　day　before　yesterday。　　I'll　bring　it　down　to　you。〃

She　left　him　in　the　library　and　went　up　the　stairsshe　had　been　reading　everything　that　was　published　about　the　coming　convention；　and　the　evident　surprise　of　all　the　politicians　at　the　strength　Scarborough　was　mustering　for　ex…Governor　Bowen　had　put　her　in　high　good　humor。　　She　cautioned　herself　that　he　could　not　carry　the　convention；　but　his　showing　was　a　moral　victoryand　what　a　superb　personal　triumph！　　With　everything　against　himmoney　and　the　machine　and　the　skilful　confusing　of　the　issues　by　his　crafty　opponentshe　had　rallied　about　him　almost　all　that　was　really　intelligent　in　his　party；　and　he　had　demonstrated　that　he　had　on　his　side　a　mass　of　the　voters　large　out　of　all　proportion　to　the　number　of　delegates　he　had　wrested　away　from　the　machinenearly　three　hundred；　when　everybody　had　supposed　the　machine　would　retain　all　but　a　handful。

Money！　　Her　lips　curled　scornfullyout　here；　in　her　own　home；　among　these　simple　people；　the　brutal　power　of　money　was　master　just　as　in　New　York；　among　a　people　crazed　by　the　passion　for　luxury　and　display。

She　was　kneeling　before　the　safe；　was　working　the　combination；　paper　in　hand。　　The　knob　clicked　as　the　rings　fell　into　place；　she　turned　the　bolt　and　swung　the　door　open。　　She　reached　into　the　safe。　　Suddenly　she　drew　her　hand　back　and　sat　up　on　the　floor；　looking　at　the　package。　　〃Why；　it's　for　use　in　the　convention！〃　she　exclaimed。

She　did　not　move　for　several　minutes；　when　she　did；　it　was　to　examine　the　time　lock；　to　reset　it；　to　close　the　door　and　bolt　it　and　throw　the　lock　off　the　combination。　　Then　she　rose　and　slowly　descended　to　the　library。　　As　she　reappeared；　empty…handed；　Culver　started　violently　and　scrutinized　her　face。　　Its　expression　put　him　in　a　panic。　　〃Mrs。　Dumont！〃　he　exclaimed　wildly。

〃Has　it　been　stolen？〃

She　shook　her　head。　　〃No；〃　she　said。　　〃It's　there。〃

Trembling　from　weakness　in　the　reaction；　he　leaned　against　the　table；　wiping　his　sweating　brow　with　sweating　hands。

〃But；〃　she　went　on；　〃it　must　stay　there。〃

He　looked　open…mouthed　at　her。

〃You　have　brought　the　money　out　here　for　use　in　the　convention；〃　she　went　on　with　perfect　calmness。　　〃You　have　tried　to　make　me　a　partner　in　that　vile　business。　　AndI　refuse　to　play　the　part　assigned　me。　　I　shall　keep　the　money　until　the　convention　is　over。〃

He　looked　round　like　a　terror…stricken　drowning　man；　about　to　sink　for　the　last　time。

〃I'm　ruined！　　I'm　ruined！〃　he　almost　screamed。

〃No；〃　she　said；　still　calm。　　〃You　will　not　be　ruined；　though　you　deserve　to　be。　　But　I　understand　why　you　have　become　callous　to　the　commonplace　decencies　of　life；　and　I　shall　see　to　it　that　no　harm　comes　to　you。〃

〃Mr。　Dumont　willDESTROY　me！　　You　don't　realize；　Mrs。　Dumont。　　Vast　property　interests　are　at　stake　on　the　result　of　this　conventionthat's　our　cause。　　And　you　are　imperiling　it！〃

〃Imperiling　a　cause　that　needs　lies　and　bribes　to　save　it？〃　she　said　ironically。　　〃Please　calm　yourself；　Mr。　Culver。　　You　certainly　can't　be　blamed　for　putting　your　money　in　a　safe　place。　　I　take　the　responsibility　for　the　rest。　　And　when　you　tell　Mr。　Dumont　exactly　what　happened；　you　will　not　be　blamed　or　injured　in　any　way。〃

〃I　shall　telegraph　him　at　once；〃　he　warned　her。

〃Certainly；〃　said　Pauline。　　〃He　might　blame　you　severely　for　failing　to　do　that。〃

He　paused　in　his　pacing　up　and　down　the　room。　　He　flung　his　arms　toward　her；　his　eyes　blazing。

〃I　WILL　have　it！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Do　you　hear　me；　I　WILL！　　I'll　bring　men　from　down…town　and　have　the　safe　blown　open。　　The　money　is　not　yoursit　is〃

She　advanced　to　the　bell。

〃Another　word；　Mr。　Culver；　and　I'll　have　the　servants　show　you　the　door。　　Yours　is　a　strange　courageto　dare　to　speak　thus　to　me　when　your　head　should　be　hanging　in　shame　for　trying　to　make　such　base　use　of　me　and　my　courtesy　and　friendliness。〃

His　arms　dropped；　and　he　lowered　his　head。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said　humbly。　　〃I'm　not　myself。　　I　think　I'm　going　insane。　　PITY　me！〃

Pauline　looked　at　him　sadly。　　〃I　wish　I　had　the　right　to。　　ButI　SYMPATHIZE；　and　I'm　sorryso　sorryto　have　to　do　this。〃　　A　pause；　then〃Good　afternoon；　Mr。　Culver。〃　　And　she　moved　toward　the　door。　　At　the　threshold　she　turned。　　〃I　must　say　one　thing　furtherTHE　CONVENTION　MUST　NOT　BE　PUT　OFF。　　If　it　is　adjourned　to…morrow　without　making　nominations；　I　shall　understand　that　you　are　getting　the　money　elsewhere。　　AndI　shall　be　compelled　to　put　such　facts　as　I　know　in　the　possession　ofof　those　you　came　to　injure。〃　　And　she　was　gone。

Culver　went　to　Merriweather's　office　and　sent　out　for　him　and　Larkin。　　When　they　arrived　he　shut　the　doors　and　told　them　what　had　happenedand　in　his　manner　there　was　not　left　a　trace　of　the　New　Yorker　and　ambassador　condescending　to　westerners　and　underlings。　　Larkin　cursed；　Merriweather　gave　no　outward　sign。　　Presently　Merriweather　said：　　〃Larkin；　you　must　adjourn　the　convention　over　to…morrow。　　Culver　can　go　to　Chicago　and　get　back　with　the　money　by　to…morrow　night。〃

〃No　use；〃　groaned　Culver。　　And　he　told　them　the　last　part　of　his　talk　with　Mrs。　Dumont。

〃She　thought　of　that！〃　said　Merriweather；　and　he　looked　the　impartial　admiration　of　the　connoisseur　of　cleverness。

〃But　she'd　never　carry　out　her　threatnever　in　the　world！〃　persisted　Larkin。

〃If　you　had　seen　her　when　she　said　it；　and　if　you'd　known　her　as　long　as　I　have；　you　wouldn't　say　that；〃　replied　Culver。　　〃We　must　try　to　get　the　money　here；　right　awayat　the　banks。〃

〃All　shut；〃　said　Merriweather　〃I　wonder　how　much　cash　there　is　at　the　Woolens　and　the　Oil　and　Steel　offices？　　We　must　get　together　as　much　as　we　canquietly。〃　　And　he　rapidly　outlined　a　program　that　put　all　three　at　work　within　fifteen　minutes。　　They　met　again　at　seven。　　Culver　had　twenty…six　hundred　dollars；　Larkin　thirty…one　hundred；　Merriweather；　who　had　kept　for　himself　the　most　difficult　task；　had　only　twelve　hundred。

〃Sixty…nine　hundred；〃　said　Merriweather；　eying　the　heap；　of　paper　in　packages　and　silver　in　bags。

〃Better　than　nothing；〃　suggested　Culver；　with　a　pitiful　atte