the titan-第66节

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hat　could　be　done　by　way　of　alienating　them　from　the　present　center　of　power。

After　due　reflection　he　first　sought　out　〃Emerald　Pat〃　Kerrigan；　whom　he　knew　personally　but　with　whom　he　was　by　no　means　intimate　politically；　at　his　〃Emporium　Bar〃　in　Dearborn　Street。　　This　particular　saloon；　a　feature　of　political　Chicago　at　this　time；　was　a　large　affair　containing　among　other　marvelous　saloon　fixtures　a　circular　bar　of　cherry　wood　twelve　feet　in　diameter；　which　glowed　as　a　small　mountain　with　the　customary　plain　and　colored　glasses；　bottles；　labels；　and　mirrors。　　The　floor　was　a　composition　of　small；　shaded　red…and…green　marbles；　the　ceiling　a　daub　of　pinky；　fleshy　nudes　floating　among　diaphanous　clouds；　the　walls　were　alternate　panels　of　cerise　and　brown　set　in　rosewood。　　Mr。　Kerrigan；　when　other　duties　were　not　pressing；　was　usually　to　be　found　standing　chatting　with　several　friends　and　surveying　the　wonders　of　his　bar　trade；　which　was　very　large。　　On　the　day　of　Mr。　Gilgan's　call　he　was　resplendent　in　a　dark…brown　suit　with　a　fine　red　stripe　in　it；　Cordovan　leather　shoes；　a　wine…colored　tie　ornamented　with　the　emerald　of　so　much　renown；　and　a　straw　hat　of　flaring　proportions　and　novel　weave。　　About　his　waist；　in　lieu　of　a　waistcoat；　was　fastened　one　of　the　eccentricities　of　the　day；　a　manufactured　silk　sash。　　He　formed　an　interesting　contrast　with　Mr。　Gilgan；　who　now　came　up　very　moist；　pink；　and　warm；　in　a　fine；　light　tweed　of　creamy；　showy　texture；　straw　hat；　and　yellow　shoes。

〃How　are　you；　Kerrigan？〃　he　observed；　genially；　there　being　no　political　enmity　between　them。　　〃How's　the　first；　and　how's　trade？　I　see　you　haven't　lost　the　emerald　yet？〃

〃No。　　No　danger　of　that。　　Oh；　trade's　all　right。　　And　so's　the　first。　　How's　Mr。　Gilgan？〃　Kerrigan　extended　his　hand　cordially。

〃I　have　a　word　to　say　to　you。　　Have　you　any　time　to　spare？〃

For　answer　Mr。　Kerrigan　led　the　way　into　the　back　room。　　Already　he　had　heard　rumors　of　a　strong　Republican　opposition　at　the　coming　election。

Mr。　Gilgan　sat　down。　　〃It's　about　things　this　fall　I've　come　to　see　you；　of　course；〃　he　began；　smilingly。　　〃You　and　I　are　supposed　to　be　on　opposite　sides　of　the　fence；　and　we　are　as　a　rule；　but　I　am　wondering　whether　we　need　be　this　time　or　not？〃

Mr。　Kerrigan；　shrewd　though　seemingly　simple；　fixed　him　with　an　amiable　eye。　　〃What's　your　scheme？〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　always　open　to　a　good　idea。〃

〃Well；　it's　just　this；〃　began　Mr。　Gilgan；　feeling　his　way。　　〃You　have　a　fine　big　ward　here　that　you　carry　in　your　vest　pocket；　and　so　has　Tiernan；　as　we　all　know；　and　we　all　know；　too；　that　if　it　wasn't　for　what　you　and　him　can　do　there　wouldn't　always　be　a　Democratic　mayor　elected。　　Now；　I　have　an　idea；　from　looking　into　the　thing；　that　neither　you　nor　Tiernan　have　got　as　much　out　of　it　so　far　as　you　might　have。〃

Mr。　Kerrigan　was　too　cautious　to　comment　as　to　that；　though　Mr。　Gilgan　paused　for　a　moment。

〃Now；　I　have　a　plan；　as　I　say；　and　you　can　take　it　or　leave　it；　just　as　you　want；　and　no　hard　feelings　one　way　or　the　other。　　I　think　the　Republicans　are　going　to　win　this　fallMcKenty　or　no　McKentyfirst；　second；　and　third　wards　with　us　or　not；　as　they　choose。　　The　doings　of　the　big　fellow〃he　was　referring　to　McKenty〃with　the　other　fellow　in　North　Clark　Street〃Mr。　Gilgan　preferred　to　be　a　little　enigmatic　at　times〃are　very　much　in　the　wind　just　now。　　You　see　how　the　papers　stand。　　I　happen　to　know　where　there's　any　quantity　of　money　coming　into　the　game　from　big　financial　quarters　who　have　no　use　for　this　railroad　man。　　It's　a　solid　La　Salle　and　Dearborn　Street　line…up；　so　far　as　I　can　see。　　Why；　I　don't　know。　　But　so　it　is。　　Maybe　you　know　better　than　I　do。　　Anyhow；　that's　the　way　it　stands　now。　　Add　to　that　the　fact　that　there　are　eight　naturally　Republican　wards　as　it　is；　and　ten　more　where　there　is　always　a　fighting　chance；　and　you　begin　to　see　what　I'm　driving　at。　　Count　out　these　last　ten；　though；　and　bet　only　on　the　eight　that　are　sure　to　stand。　　That　leaves　twenty…three　wards　that　we　Republicans　always　conceded　to　you　people；　but　if　we　manage　to　carry　thirteen　of　them　along　with　the　eight　I'm　talking　about；　we'll　have　a　majority　in　council；　and〃flick！　he　snapped　his　fingers〃out　you　goyou；　McKenty；　Cowperwood；　and　all　the　rest。　　No　more　franchises；　no　more　street…paving　contracts；　no　more　gas　deals。　　Nothingfor　two　years；　anyhow；　and　maybe　longer。　If　we　win　we'll　take　the　jobs　and　the　fat　deals。〃　He　paused　and　surveyed　Kerrigan　cheerfully　but　defiantly。　　

〃Now；　I've　just　been　all　over　the　city；〃　he　continued；　〃in　every　ward　and　precinct；　so　I　know　something　of　what　I　am　talking　about。　I　have　the　men　and　the　cash　to　put　up　a　fight　all　along　the　line　this　time。　　This　fall　we　winme　and　the　big　fellows　over　there　in　La　Salle　Street；　and　all　the　Republicans　or　Democrats　or　Prohibitionists；　or　whoever　else　comes　in　with　usdo　you　get　me？　We're　going　to　put　up　the　biggest　political　fight　Chicago　has　ever　seen。　　I'm　not　naming　any　names　just　yet；　but　when　the　time　comes　you'll　see。　　Now；　what　I　want　to　ask　of　you　is　this；　and　I'll　not　mince　me　words　nor　beat　around　the　bush。　　Will　you　and　Tiernan　come　in　with　me　and　Edstrom　to　take　over　the　city　and　run　it　during　the　next　two　years？　If　you　will；　we　can　win　hands　down。　　It　will　be　a　case　of　share　and　share　alike　on　everythingpolice；　gas；　water；　highways；　street…railways；　everythingor　we'll　divide　beforehand　and　put　it　down　in　black　and　white。　　I　know　that　you　and　Tiernan　work　together；　or　I　wouldn't　talk　about　this。　　Edstrom　has　the　Swedes　where　he　wants　them；　and　he'll　poll　twenty　thousand　of　them　this　fall。　　There's　Ungerich　with　his　Germans；　one　of　us　might　make　a　deal　with　him　afterward；　give　him　most　any　office　he　wants。　　If　we　win　this　time　we　can　hold　the　city　for　six　or　eight　years　anyhow；　most　likely；　and　after　thatwell；　there's　no　use　lookin'　too　far　in　the　futureAnyhow　we'd　have　a　majority　of　the　council　and　carry　the　mayor　along　with　it。〃

〃If〃　commented　Mr。　Kerrigan；　dryly。

〃If；〃　replied　Mr。　Gilgan；　sententiously。　　〃You're　very　right。　　There's　a　big　'if'　in　there；　I'll　admit。　　But　if　these　two　wardsyours　and　Tiernan'scould　by　any　chance　be　carried　for　the　Republicans　they'd　be　equal　to　any　four　or　five　of　the　others。〃

〃Very　true；〃　replied　Mr。　Kerrigan；　〃if　they　could　be　carried　for　the　Republicans。　　But　they　can't　be。　　What　do　you　want　me　to　do；　anyhow？　Lose　me　seat　in　council　and　be　run　out　of　the　Democratic　party？　What's　your　game？　You　don't　take　me　for　a　plain　damn　fool；　do　you？〃

〃Sorry　the　man　that　ever　took　'Emerald　Pat'　for　that；〃　answered　Gilgan；　with　honeyed　compliment。　　〃I　never　would。　　But　no　one　is　askin'　ye　to　lose　your　seat　in　council　and　be　run　out　of　the　Democratic　party。　　What's　to　hinder　you　from　electin'　yourself　and　droppin'　the　rest　of　the　ticket？〃　He　had　almost　said　〃knifing。〃

Mr。　Kerrigan　smiled。　　In　spite　of　all　his　previous　dissatisfaction　with　the　Chicago　situation　he　had　not　thought　of　Mr。　Gilgan's　talk　as　leading　to　this。　　It　was　an　interesting　idea。　　He　had　〃knifed〃　people　beforehere　and　there　a　particular　candidate　whom　it　was　desirable　to　undo。　　If　the　Democratic　party　was　in　any　danger　of　losing　this　fall；　and　if　Gilgan　was　honest　in　his　desire　to　divide　and　control；　it　might　not　be　such　a　bad　thing。　　Neither　Cowperwood；　McKenty；　nor　Dowling　had　ever　favored　him　in　any　particular　way。　　If　they　lost　through　him；　and　he　could　still　keep　himself　in　power；　they　would　have　to　make　terms　with　him。　　There　was　no　chance　of　their　running　him　out。　　Why　shouldn't　he　knife　the　ticket？　It　was　worth　thinking　over；　to　say　the　least。

〃That's　all　very　fine；〃　he　observed；　dryly；　after　his　meditations　had　run　their　course；　〃but　how　do　I　know　that　you　wouldn't　turn　around　and　'welch'　on　the　agreement　afterward？〃　（Mr。　Gilgan　stirred　irritably　at　the　suggestion。）　〃Dave　Morrissey　came　to　me　four　years　ago　to　help　him　out；　and　a　lot　of　satisfaction　I　got　afterward。〃　Kerrigan　was　referring　to　a　man　whom　he　had　helped　make　county　clerk；　and　who　had　turned　on　him　when　he　asked　for　return　favors　and　his　support　for　the　office　of　commissioner　of　highways。　　Morrissey　had　become　a　prominent　politician。

〃That's　very　easy　to　say；〃　replied　Gilgan；　irritably；　〃but　it's　not　true　of　me。　　Ask　any　man　in　my　district。　　Ask　the　men　who　know　me。　　I'll　put　my　part　of　the　bargain　in　black　and　white　if　you'll　put　yours。　　If　I　don't　make　good；　show　me　up　afterward。　　I'll　take　you　to　the　people　that　are　backing　me。　　I'll　show　you　the　money。　　I've　got　the　goods　this　time。　　What　do　you　stand　to　lose；　anyhow？　They　can't　run　you　out　for　cutting　the　ticket。　　They　can't　prove　it。　　We'll　bring　police　in　here　to　make　it　look　like　a　fair　vote。　I'll　put　up　as　much　money　as　they　will　to　carry　this　district；　and　more。〃

Mr。　Kerrigan　suddenly　saw　a　grand　coup　here。　　He　could　〃draw　down〃　from　the　Democrats；　as　he　would　have　expressed　it；　twenty　to　twenty…five　thousand　dollars　to　do　the　dirty　work　here。　　Gilgan　would　furnish　him　as　much　and　morethe　situation　being　so　critical。　Perhaps　fifteen　or　eighteen　thousand　would　be　necessary　to　poll　the　number　of　votes　required　either　way。　　At　the　last　hour；　before　stuffing　the　boxes；　he　would　learn　how　the　city　was　going。　　If　it　looked　favorable　for　the　Republicans