the conflict-第26章

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ily　for　such　a　shameful　neglect　of　duty。''

‘‘Let　him　go；　Jane；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘There　will　be　a　doctor　waiting。　　And　he　is　only　stunned。　　Come；　boys　lift　him　up。''

They　laid　him　on　a　bench　top；　softened　with　the　coats　of　his　followers。　　At　the　carriage；　standing　in　Farwell　Street；　they　laid　him　across　the　two　seats。　　Selma　got　in　with　him。　　Tom　Colman　climbed　to　the　box　beside　the　coachman。　　Jane　and　Miss　Clearwater；　their　escorts　and　about　a　score　of　the　Leaguers　followed　on　foot。　　As　the　little　procession　turned　into　Warner　Street　it　was　stopped　by　a　policeman。

‘‘Can't　go　down　this　way；''　he　said。

‘‘It's　Mr。　Dorn。　　We're　taking　him　home。　　He　was　hurt；''　explained　Colman。

‘‘Fire　lines。　　Street's　closed；''　said　the　policeman　gruffly。

Selma　thrust　her　head　out。　　‘‘We　must　get　him　home''

‘‘House　across　the　street　burningand　probably　his　house；　too；''　cut　in　the　policeman。　　‘‘He's　been　raising　hellhe　has。　　But　it's　coming　home　to　him　at　last。　　Take　him　to　the　hospital。''

‘‘Jane；''　cried　Selma；　‘‘make　this　man　pass　us！''

Jane　faced　the　policeman；　explained　who　she　was。　　He　became　humbly　civil　at　once。　　‘‘I've　just　told　her；　ma'am；''　said　he；　‘‘that　his　house　is　burning。　　The　mob's　gutting　the　New　Day　office　and　setting　fire　to　everything。''

‘‘My　house　is　in　the　next　street；''　said　Colman。　　‘‘Drive　there。　　Some　of　you　people　get　Dr。　Charlton　and　everything。　　Get　busy。　　Whip　up；　driver。　　Here；　give　me　the　lines！''

Thus；　within　five　minutes；　Victor　was　lying　upon　a　couch　in　the　parlor　of　Colman's　cottage；　and　within　ten　minutes　Dr。　Charlton　was　beside　him　and　was　at　work。　　Selma　and　Jane　and　Mrs。　Colman　were　in　the　room。　　The　othersa　steadily　increasing　crowdwere　on　the　steps　outside；　in　the　front　yard；　were　filling　the　narrow　street。　　Colman　had　organized　fifty　Leaguers　into　a　guard；　to　be　ready　for　any　emergencies。　　Over　the　tops　of　the　low　houses　could　be　seen　the　vast　cloud　of　smoke　from　the　fire；　the　air　was　heavy　with　the　odors　of　burning　wood；　faintly　came　sounds　of　engines；　of　jubilant　drunken　shouts。

‘‘A　fracture　of　the　skull　and　of　the　jaw…bone。　　Not　necessarily　serious；''　was　Dr。　Charlton's　verdict。

The　young　man；　unconscious；　ghastly　pale；　with　his　thick　hair　mussed　about　his　brow　and　on　the　right　side　clotted　with　blood；　lay　breathing　heavily。　　Ellen　Clearwater　came　in　and　Mrs。　Colman　whispered　to　her　the　doctor's　cheering　statement。　　She　went　to　Jane　and　said　in　an　undertone：

‘‘We　can　go　now；　Jane。　　Come　on。''

Jane　seemed　not　to　hear。　　She　was　regarding　the　face　of　the　young　man　on　the　couch。

Ellen　touched　her　arm。　　‘‘We're　intruding　on　these　people；''　she　whispered。　　‘‘Let's　go。　　We've　done　all　we　can。''

Selma　did　not　hear；　but　she　saw　and　understood。

‘‘Yesyou'd　better　go；　Jane；''　she　said。　　‘‘Mrs。　Colman　and　I　will　do　everything　that's　necessary。''

Jane　did　not　heed。　　She　advanced　a　step　nearer　the　couch。　　‘‘You　are　sure；　doctor？''　she　said；　and　her　voice　sounded　unnatural。

‘‘Yes；　miss''　　He　glanced　at　her　face。　　‘‘Yes；　Miss　Hastings。

He'll　be　out　in　less　than　ten　days；　as　good　as　ever。　　It's　a　very　simple　affair。''

Jane　glanced　round。　　‘‘Is　there　a　telephone？　　I　wish　to　send　for　Dr。　Alban。''

‘‘I'd　be　glad　to　see　him；''　said　Dr。　Charlton。　　‘‘But　I　assure　you　it's　unnecessary。''

‘‘We　don't　want　Dr。　Alban；''　said　Selma　curtly。　　‘‘Go　home；　Jane；　and　let　us　alone。''

‘‘I　shall　go　bring　Dr。　Alban；''　said　Jane。

Selma　took　her　by　the　arm　and　compelled　her　into　the　hall；　and　closed　the　door　into　the　room　where　Victor　lay。　　‘‘You　must　go　home；　Jane；''　she　said　quietly。　　‘‘We　know　what　to　do　with　our　leader。　　And　we　could　not　allow　Dr。　Alban　here。''

‘‘Victor　must　have　the　best；''　said　Jane。

She　and　Selma　looked　at　each　other；　and　Selma　understood。

‘‘He　HAS　　the　best；''　said　she；　gentle　with　an　effort。

‘‘Dr。　Alban　is　the　best；''　said　Jane。

‘‘The　most　fashionable；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘Not　the　best。''　　With　restraint；　‘‘Go　home。　　Let　us　alone。　　This　is　no　place　for　youfor　Martin　Hastings'　daughter。''

Jane；　looking　and　acting　like　one　in　a　trance；　tried　　to　push　past　her　and　reenter　the　room。　　Selma　stood　firm。　　She　said：　　‘‘If　you　do　not　go　I　shall　have　these　men　take　you　to　your　carriage。　　You　do　not　know　what　you　are　doing。''

Jane　looked　at　her。　　‘‘I　love　him；''　she　said。

‘‘So　do　we；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘And　he　belongs　to　US。　　You　must　go。　　Come！''　　She　seized　her　by　the　arm；　and　beckoning　one　of　the　waiting　Leaguers　to　her　assistance　she　pushed　her　quietly　but　relentlessly　along　the　hall；　out　of　the　house；　out　of　the　yard　and　into　the　carriage。　　Then　she　closed　the　door；　while　Jane　sank　back　against　the　cushions。

‘‘Yes；　he　belongs　to　you；''　said　Jane；　‘‘but　I　love　him。　　Oh；　Selma！''

Selma　suddenly　burst　into　tears。　　‘‘Go；　Jane；　dear。　　You　MUST　go；''　she　cried。

‘‘At　least　I'll　wait　here　untiluntil　they　are　sure；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘You　can't　refuse　me　that；　Selma。''

‘‘But　they　are　sure；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘You　must　go　with　your　friends。　　Here　they　come。''

When　Ellen　Clearwater　and　Joe　Wetherbethe　second　son　of　the　chief　owner　of　the　First　National　reached　the　curb；　Selma　said　to　Wetherbe：

‘‘Please　stand　aside。　　I've　something　to　say　to　this　lady。''

When　Wetherbe　had　withdrawn；　she　said：　　‘‘Miss　Hastings　isnot　quite　herself。　　You　had　better　take　her　home　alone。''

Jane　leaned　from　the　open　carriage　window。　　‘‘Ellen；''　said　she；　‘‘I　am　going　to　stay　here　until　Victor　recovers　consciousness；　and　I　am　SURE。''

‘‘He　has　just　come　around；''　said　Ellen。　　‘‘He　is　certain　to　get　well。　　His　mind　is　clear。''

‘‘I　must　see　for　myself；''　cried　Jane。

Selma　was　preventing　her　leaving　the　carriage　when　Ellen　quietly　interfered　with　a　significant　look　for　Selma。　　‘‘Jane；''　she　said；　‘‘you　can't　go　in。　　The　doctor　has　just　put　every　one　out　but　his　assistant　and　a　nurse　that　has　come。''

Jane　hesitated；　drew　back　into　the　corner　of　the　carriage。　　‘‘Tell　Mr。　Wetherbe　to　go　his　own　way；''　said　Ellen　aside　to　Selma；　and　she　got　in　beside　Jane。

‘‘To　Mr。　Hastings'；''　said　Selma　to　the　driver。　　The　carriage　drove　away。

She　gave　Ellen's　message　to　Wetherbe　and　returned　to　the　house。　　Victor　was　still　unconscious；　he　did　not　come　to　himself　until　toward　daylight。　　And　then　it　was　clear　to　them　all　that　Dr。　Charlton's　encouraging　diagnosis　was　correct。

Public　opinion　in　Remsen　City　was　publicly　articulate　by　means　of　three　daily　newspapersthe　Pioneer；　the　Star；　and　the　Free　Press。　　The　Star　and　the　Free　Press　were　owned　by　the　same　group　of　capitalists　who　controlled　the　gas　company　and　the　water　works。　　The　Pioneer　was　owned　by　the　traction　interests。　　Both　groups　of　capitalists　were　jointly　interested　in　the　railways；　the　banks　and　in　the　principal　factories。　　The　Pioneer　was　Republican；　was　regarded　as　the　organ　of　Dick　Kelly。　　The　Star　was　Democratic；　spoke　less　cordially　of　Kelly　and　always　called　for　House；　Mr。　House；　or　Joseph　House；　Esquire。　　The　Free　Press　posed　as　independent　with　Democratic　leanings。　　It　indulged　in　admirable　essays　against　corruption；　gang　rule　and　bossism。　　But　it　was　never　specific　and　during　campaigns　was　meek　and　mild。　　For　nearly　a　dozen　years　there　had　not　been　a　word　of　truth　upon　any　subject　important　to　the　people　of　Remsen　City　in　the　columns　of　any　of　the　three。　　During　wars　between　rival　groups　of　capitalists　a　half…truth　was　now　and　then　timidly　uttered；　but　never　a　word　of　‘‘loose　talk；''　of　‘‘anarchy；''　of　anything　but　the　entirely　‘‘safe；　sane　and　conservative。''

Thus；　any　one　who　might　have　witnessed　the　scenes　in　Market　Square　on　Thursday　evening　would　have　been　not　a　little　astonished　to　read　the　accounts　presented　the　next　day　by　the　three　newspapers。　　According　to　all　three　the　Workingmen's　League；　long　a　menace　to　the　public　peace；　had　at　last　brought　upon　Remsen　City　the　shame　of　a　riot　in　which　two　men；　a　woman　and　four　children　had　lost　their　lives　and　more　than　a　hundred；　‘‘including　the　notorious　Victor　Dorn；''　had　been　injured。　　And　after　the　riot　the　part　of　the　mob　that　was　hostile　to　‘‘the　Dorn　gang''　had　swept　down　upon　the　office　of　the　New　Day；　had　wrecked　it；　and　had　set　fire　to　the　building；　with　the　result　that　five　houses　were　burned　before　the　flames　could　be　put　out。　　The　Free　Press　published；　as　a　mere　rumor；　that　the　　immediate　cause　of　the　outbreak　had　been　an　impending　‘‘scurrilous　attack''　in　the　New　Day　upon　one　of　the　political　gangs　of　the　slums　and　its　leader。　　The　Associated　Press；　sending　forth　an　account　of　the　riot　to　the　entire　country；　represented　it　as　a　fight　between　rival　gangs　of　workmen　precipitated　by　the　insults　and　menaces　of　a　‘‘socialistic　party　led　by　a　young　operator　named　Dorn。''　　Dorn's　faction　had　aroused　in　the　mass　of　the　workingmen　a　fear　that　this　spread　of　‘‘socialistic　and　anarchistic　ideas''　would　cause　a　general　shut　down　of　factories　and　a　flight　of　the　capital　that　was　‘‘giving　employment　to　labor。''

A　version　of　the　causes　and　the　events；　somewhat　nearer　the　truth；　was　talked　about　Remsen　City。　　But　all　the　respectable　classes　were　well　content　with　what　their　newspapers　printed。　　And；　while　some　broad…　minded　respectabilities　spoke　of　the　affair　as　an　outrage；　none　of　them　was　disposed　to　think　that　any　real　wrong　had　been　done。　　Victor　Dorn　and　his　crowd　of　revolutionists　had　got；　after　all；　only　their　deserts。

After　forty…eight　hours　of　careful　study　of　public　opinion；　Dick　Kelly　decided　that　Remsen　City　was　taking　the　dose　as　he　had　anticipated。　　He　felt　emboldened　to　proceed　to　his　final　move　in　the　campaign　against　‘‘anarchy''　in　his　beloved　city。　　On　the　second　morning　after　the　riot；　all　three　newspapers　published　double…　headed　editorials　calling　upon　the　authorities　to　safeguard　the　community　against　another　such　degrading　and　dangerous　upheaval。　　‘‘It　is　time　that　the　distinction　　between　liberty　and　license　be　sharply　drawn。''　　After　editorials　in　this　vein　had　been　repeated　for　several　days；　after　sundry　bodies　of　eminently　respectable　citizensthe　Merchants'　Association；　the　Taxpayers'　League；　the　Chamber　of　Commercehad　passed　indignant　and　appealing　resolutions；　after　two　priests；　a　clergyman　and　four　preachers　had　sermonized　against　‘‘the　leniency　of　constituted　authority　with　criminal　anarchy；''　Mr。　Kelly　had　the　City　Attorney　go　before　Judge　Lansing　and　ask　for　an　injunction。

Judge　Lansing　promptly　granted　the　injunction。　　The　New　Day　was　enjoined　from　appearing。　　The　Workingmen's　League　was　enjoined　from　holding　meetings。

Then　the　County　Prosecutor；　also　a　henchman　of　Kelly's；　secured　from　the　Grand　Jurycomposed　of　farmers；　merchants　and　owners　of　factoriesindictments　against　Thomas　Colman　and　Victor　Dorn　for　inciting　a　riot。

Meanwhile　Victor　Dorn　was　rapidly　recovering。　　With　rare　restraint　young　Dr。　Charlton　did　not　fuss　and　fret　and　meddle；　did　not　hamper　nature　with　his　blundering　efforts　to　assist；　did　not　stuff　‘‘nourishment''　into　his　patient　to　decay　and　to　produce　poisonous　blood。　　He　let　the　young　man's　superb　vitality　work　the　inevitable　and　speedy　cure。　　Thus；　wounds　and　shocks；　that　have　often　been　mistreated　by　doctors　into　mortal；　passed　so　quickly　that　only　Selma　Gordon　and　the　doctor　himself　realized　how　grave　Victor's　case　had　been。　　The　day　he　was　indictedjust　a　week　from　the　riothe　was　s