the conflict-第21章

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d　which　the　old　parties　we've　been　battering　to　pieces　can　reorganize。''

‘‘That　is；　you'll　tolerate　in　this　market　no　brand　of　honest　politics　but　your　own？''

‘‘If　you　wish　to　put　it　that　way；''　replied　Victor　coolly。

‘‘I　suppose　you'd　rather　see　Kelly　or　House　win？''

‘‘We'll　see　that　House　does　win；''　replied　Victor。　　‘‘When　we　have　shot　your　movement　full　of　holes　and　sunk　it；　House　will　put　up　a　straight　Democratic　ticket；　and　it　will　win。''

‘‘And　House　means　Kellyand　Kelly　means　corruption　rampant。''

‘‘And　corruption　rampant　means　further　and　much　needed　education　in　the　school　of　hard　experience　for　the　voters；''　said　Dorn。　　‘‘And　the　more　education；　the　larger　our　party　and　the　quicker　its　triumph。''

Hull　laughed　angrily。　　‘‘Talk　about　low　self…seeking！　　Talk　about　rotten　practical　politics！''

But　Dorn　held　his　good　humor　of　the　man　who　has　the　power　and　knows　it。　　‘‘Think　it　over；　Davy；''　counseled　he。　　‘‘You'll　see　you've　got　to　come　with　us　or　join　Kelly。　　For　your　own　sake　I'd　like　to　see　you　with　us。　　For　the　party's　sake　you'd　better　be　with　Kelly；　for　you're　not　really　a　workingman；　and　our　fellows　would　be　uneasy　about　you　for　a　long　time。　　You　see；　we've　had　experience　of　rich　young　men　whose　hearts　beat　for　the　wrongs　of　the　working　classand　that　experience　has　not　been　fortunate。''

‘‘Before　you　definitely　decide　to　break　with　the　decent　element　of　the　better　class；　Victor；　I　want　YOU　to　think　it　over；''　said　Davy。　　‘‘WeI；　myselfhave　befriended　you　more　than　once。　　But　for　a　few　of　us　who　still　have　hope　that　demagoguery　will　die　of　itself；　your　paper　would　have　been　suppressed　long　ago。''

Victor　laughed。　　‘‘I　wish　they　would　suppress　it；''　said　he。　　‘‘The　result　would　give　the　‘better　element'　in　this　town　a　very　bad　quarter　of　an　hour；　at　least。''　　He　rose。　　‘‘We've　both　said　all　we've　got　to　say　to　each　other。　　I　see　I've　done　no　good。　　I　feared　it　would　be　so。''　　He　was　looking　into　Hull's　eyesinto　his　very　soul。　　‘‘When　we　meet　again；　you　will　probably　be　my　open　and　bitter　enemy。　　It's　a　pity。　　It　makes　me　sad。　　Good…by；　anddo　think　it　over；　Davy。''

Dorn　moved　rapidly　away。　　Hull　looked　after　him　in　surprise。　　At　first　blush　he　was　astonished　that　Dorn　should　care　so　much　about　him　as　this　curious　interview　and　his　emotion　at　its　end　indicated。　　But　on　reflecting　his　astonishment　disappeared；　and　he　took　the　view　that　Dorn　was　simply　impressed　by　his　personality　and　by　his　abilitywas　perhaps　craftily　trying　to　disarm　him　and　to　destroy　his　political　movement　which　was　threatening　to　destroy　the　Workingmen's　League。　　‘‘A　very　shrewd　chap　is　Dorn；''　thought　Davywhy　do　we　always　generously　concede　at　least　acumen　to　those　we　suspect　of　having　a　good　opinion　of　us？‘‘A　VERY　shrewd　chap。　　It's　unfortunate　he's　cursed　with　that　miserable　envy　of　those　better　born　and　better　off　than　he　is。''

Davy　spent　the　early　evening　at　the　University　Club；　where　he　was　an　important　figure。　　Later　on　he　went　to　a　dance　at　Mrs。　Venable'sand　there　he　was　indeed　a　lion；　as　an　unmarried　man　with　money　cannot　but　be　in　a　company　of　ladiesfor　money　to　a　lady　is　what　soil　and　sun　and　rain　are　to　a　floweris　that　without　which　she　must　cease　to　exist。　　But　still　later；　when　he　was　alone　in　bedperhaps　with　the　supper　he　ate　at　Mrs。　Venable's　not　sitting　as　lightly　as　comfort　requiredthe　things　Victor　Dorn　had　said　came　trailing　drearily　through　his　mind。　　What　kind　of　an　article　would　Dorn　print？　　Those　facts　about　the　campaign　fund　certainly　would　look　badly　in　cold　typeespecially　if　Dorn　had　the　proofs。　　And　Hugo　Galland　　Beyond　question　the　mere　list　of　the　corporations　in　which　Hugo　was　director　or　large　stockholder　would　make　him　absurd　as　a　judge；　sitting　in　that　district。　　And　Hugo　the　son…in…law　of　the　most　offensive　capitalist　in　that　section　of　the　State！　　And　the　deal　with　House；　endorsed　by　Kellyhow　nasty　that　would　look；　IF　Victor　had　the　proofs。　　IF　Victor　had　the　proofs。　　But　had　he？

‘‘I　MUST　have　a　talk　with　Kelly；''　said　Davy；　aloud。

The　words　startled　himnot　his　voice　suddenly　sounding　in　the　profound　stillness　of　his　bedroom；　but　the　words　themselves。　　It　was　his　first　admission　to　himself　of　the　vicious　truth　he　had　known　from　the　outset　and　had　been　pretending　to　himself　that　he　did　not　knowthe　truth　that　his　reform　movement　was　a　fraud　contrived　by　Dick　Kelly　to　further　the　interests　of　the　company　of　financiers　and　the　gang　of　politico…　criminal　thugs　who　owned　the　party　machinery。　　It　is　a　nice　question　whether　a　man　is　ever　allowed　to　go　in　HONEST　self…deception　decisively　far　along　a　wrong　road。　　However　this　may　be；　certain　it　is　that　David　Hull；　reformer；　was　not　so　allowed。　　And　he　was　glad　of　the　darkness　that　hid　him　at　least　physically　from　himself　as　he　strove　to　convince　himself　that；　if　he　was　doing　wrong；　it　was　from　the　highest　motives　and　for　the　noblest　purposes　and　would　result　in　the　public　good　and　not　merely　in　fame　and　office　for　David　Hull。

The　struggle　ended　as　struggles　usually　end　in　the　famous　arena　of　moral　sham　battles　called　conscience；　and　toward　the　middle　of　the　following　morning　Davy；　at　peace　with　himself　and　prepared　to　make　any　sacrifice　of　personal　squeamishness　or　moral　idealism　for　the　sake　of　the　public　good；　sought　out　Dick　Kelly。

Kelly's　original　headquarters　had；　of　course；　been　the　doggery　in　and　through　which　he　had　established　himself　as　a　political　power。　　As　his　power　grew　and　his　relations　with　more　respectable　elements　of　society　extended　he　shifted　to　a　saloon　and　beer　garden　kept　by　a　reputable　German　and　frequented　by　all　kinds　of　peoplea　place　where　his　friends　of　the　avowedly　criminal　class　and　his　newer　friends　of　the　class　that　does　nothing　legally　criminal；　except　in　emergencies；　would　feel　equally　at　ease。　　He　retained　ownership　of　the　doggery；　but　took　his　name　down　and　put　up　that　of　his　barkeeper。　　When　he　won　his　first　big　political　fight　and　took　charge　of　the　public　affairs　of　Remsen　City　and　made　an　arrangement　with　Joe　House　where　under　Remsen　City；　whenever　it　wearied　or　sickened　of　Kelly；　could　take　instead　Kelly　disguised　as　Joe　House　when　he　thus　became　a　full　blown　boss　he　established　a　secondary　headquarters　in　addition　to　that　at　Herrmann's　Garden。　　Every　morning　at　ten　o'clock　he　took　his　stand　in　the　main　corridor　of　the　City　Hall；　really　a　thoroughfare　and　short　cut　for　the　busiest　part　of　town。　　With　a　cigar　in　his　mouth　he　stood　there　for　an　hour　or　so；　holding　court；　making　appointments；　attending　to　all　sorts　of　political　business。

Presently　his　importance　and　his　ideas　of　etiquette　expanded　to　such　an　extent　that　he　had　to　establish　the　Blaine　Club。　　Joe　House's　Tilden　Club　was　established　two　years　later；　in　imitation　of　Kelly。　　If　you　had　very　private　and　important　business　with　Kelly　business　of　the　kind　of　which　the　public　must　get　no　inkling；　you　madepreferably　by　telephonean　appointment　to　meet　him　in　his　real　estate　offices　in　the　Hastings　Buildinga　suite　with　entrances　and　exits　into　three　separated　corridors。　　If　you　wished　to　see　him　about　ordinary　matters　and　were　a　person　who　could　‘‘confer''　with　Kelly　without　its　causing　talk　you　met　him　at　the　Blaine　Club。　　If　you　wished　to　cultivate　him；　to　pay　court　to　him；　you　saw　him　at　Herrmann'sor　in　the　general　rooms　of　the　club。　　If　you　were　a　busy　man　and　had　time　only　to　exchange　greetings　with　himto　‘‘keep　in　touch''you　passed　through　the　City　Hall　now　and　then　at　his　hour。　　Some　bosses　soon　grow　too　proud　for　the　vulgar　democracy　of　such　a　public　stand；　but　Kelly；　partly　through　shrewdness；　partly　through　inclination；　clung　to　the　City　Hall　stand　and　encouraged　the　humblest　citizens　to　seek　him　there　and　tell　him　the　news　or　ask　his　aid　or　his　advice。

It　was　at　the　City　Hall　that　Davy　Hull　sought　him；　and　found　him。

Twice　he　walked　briskly　to　the　boss；　the　third　time　he　went　by　slowly。　　Kelly；　who　saw　everything；　had　known　from　the　first　glance　at　Hull's　grave；　anxious　face；　that　the　young　leader　of　the　‘‘holy　boys''　was　there　to　see　him。　　But　he　ignored　Davy　until　Davy　addressed　him　directly。

‘‘Howdy；　Mr。　Hull！''　said　he；　observing　the　young　man　with　eyes　that　twinkled　cynically。　　‘‘What's　the　good　word？''

‘‘I　want　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you；''　Davy　blurted　out。　　‘‘Where　could　I　see　you？''

‘‘Here　I　am；''　said　Kelly。　　‘‘Talk　away。''

‘‘Couldn't　I　see　you　at　somesome　place　where　we'd　not　be　interrupted？　　I　saw　Victor　Dorn　yesterday；　and　he　said　some　things　that　I　think　you　ought　to　know　about。''

‘‘I　do　know　about　'em；''　replied　Kelly。

‘‘Are　you　sure？　　I　mean　his　threats　toto''

As　Davy　paused　in　an　embarrassed　search　for　a　word　that　would　not　hurt　his　own　but　recently　soothed　conscience；　Kelly　laughed。　　‘‘To　expose　you　holy　boys？''　inquired　he。　　‘‘To　upset　the　nice　moral　campaign　you　and　Joe　House　have　laid　out？　　Yes；　I　know　all　about　Mr。　Victor　Dorn。　　ButJoe　House　is　the　man　you　want　to　see。　　You　boys　are　trying　to　do　me　uptrying　to　break　up　the　party。　　You　can't　expect　ME　to　help　you。　　I've　got　great　respect　for　you　personally；　Mr。　Hull。　　Your　fatherhe　was　a　fine　old　Republican　wheel…horse。　　He　stood　by　the　party　through　thick　and　thinand　the　party　stood　by　him。　　So；　I　respect　his　sonpersonally。　　But　politically　that's　another　matter。　　Politically　I　respect　straight　organization　men　of　either　party；　but　I've　got　no　use　for　amateurs　and　reformers。　　Sogo　to　Joe　House。''　　All　this　in　perfect　good　humor；　and　in　a　tone　of　banter　that　might　have　ruffled　a　man　with　a　keener　sense　of　humor　than　Davy's。

Davy　was　red　to　his　eyes；　not　because　Kelly　was　laughing　at　him；　but　because　he　stood　convicted　of　such　a　stupid　political　blunder　as　coming　direct　to　Kelly　when　obviously　he　should　have　gone　to　Kelly's　secret　partner。　　‘‘Dorn　means　to　attack　us　allRepublicans；　Democrats　and　Citizens'　Alliance；''　stammered　Davy；　trying　to　justify　himself。

Kelly　shifted　his　cigar　and　shrugged　his　shoulders。

‘‘Don't　worry　about　his　attacks　on　meon　US；''　said　he。　　‘‘We're　used　to　being　attacked。　　We　haven't　got　no　reputation　for　superior　virtue　to　lose。''

‘‘But　he　says　he　can　prove　that　our　whole　campaign　is　simply　a　deal　between　you　and　House　and　me　to　fool　the　people　and　elect　a　bad　judge。''

‘‘So　I've　heard；''　said　Kelly。　　‘‘But　what　of　it？　　You　know　it　ain't　so。''

‘‘No；　I　don't；　Mr。　Kelly；''　replied　Hull；　desperately。　　‘‘On　the　contrary；　I　think　it　is　so。　　And　I　may　add　I　think　we　are　justified　in　making　such　a　deal；　when　that's　the　only　way　to　save　the　community　from　Victor　Dorn　and　his　crowd　ofof　anarchists。''

Kelly　looked　at　him　silently　with　amused　eyes。

‘‘House　can't　do　anything；''　pursued　Davy。　　‘‘Maybe　YOU　can。　　So　I　came　straight　to　you。''

‘‘I'm　glad　you're　getting　a　little　political　sense；　my　boy；''　said　Kelly。　　‘‘Perhaps　you're　beginning　to　see　that　a　politician　has　got　to　be　practicalthat　it's　the　organizations　that　keeps　this　city　from　being　the　prey　to　Victor　Dorns。''

‘‘I　see　that；''　said　Davy。　　‘‘I'm　willing　to　admit　that　I've　misjudged　you；　Mr。　Kellythat　the　better　classes　owe　you　a　heavy　debtand　that　you　are　one　of　the　men　we've　got　to　rely　on　chiefly　to　stem　the　tide　of　anarchy　that's　risingthe　attack　on　the　propertied　classesthe　intelligent　classes。''

‘‘I　see　your　eyes　are　being　opened；　my