those mud…turtles I used to play with as a boy up in Columbia County；
shuts up tight soon as he sees you coming。 Now Theodore Watling ain't
like that； any way of speaking。 We can get up some enthusiasm for a man
of his sort。 He's liberal and big。 He's made his pile； and he don't
begrudge some of it to the fellows who do the work。 Mark my words； when
you see a man who wants a big office cheap； look out for him。〃
This； and much more wisdom I imbibed while assenting to my chief's
greatness。 For Mr。 Varney was right；one could feel enthusiasm for
Theodore Watling； and my growing intimacy with him； the sense that I was
having a part in his career； a share in his success； became for the
moment the passion of my life。 As the campaign progressed I gave more
and more time to it； and made frequent trips of a confidential nature to
the different counties of the state。 The whole of my being was
energized。 The national fever had thoroughly pervaded my bloodthe
national fever to win。 Prosperitywrit largedemanded it； and Theodore
Watling personified； incarnated the cause。 I had neither the time nor
the desire to philosophize on this national fever； which animated all my
associates： animated； I might say； the nation； which was beginning to get
into a fever about games。 If I remember rightly； it was about this time
that golf was introduced； tennis had become a commonplace； professional
baseball was in full swing； Ham Durrett had even organized a local polo
team。。。。 The man who failed to win something tangible in sport or law or
business or politics was counted out。 Such was the spirit of America； in
the closing years of the nineteenth century。
And yet； when one has said this； one has failed to express the national
Geist in all its subtlety。 In brief； the great American sport was not so
much to win the game as to beat it； the evasion of rules challenged our
ingenuity； and having won； we set about devising methods whereby it would
be less and less possible for us winners to lose in the future。 No
better illustration of this tendency could be given than the development
which had recently taken place in the field of our city politics；
hitherto the battle…ground of Irish politicians who had fought one
another for supremacy。 Individualism had been rampant； competition the
custom； you bought an alderman； or a boss who owned four or five
aldermen； and then you never could be sure you were to get what you
wanted； or that the aldermen and the bosses would 〃stay bought。〃 But now
a genius had appeared； an American genius who had arisen swiftly and
almost silently； who appealed to the imagination； and whose name was
often mentioned in a whisper；the Hon。 Judd Jason； sometimes known as
the Spider； who organized the City Hall and capitalized it； an ultimate
and logical effectif one had considered itof the Manchester school of
economics。 Enlightened self…interest； stripped of sentiment； ends on
Judd Jasons。 He ran the city even as Mr。 Sherrill ran his department
store； you paid your price。 It was very convenient。 Being a genius； Mr。
Jason did not wholly break with tradition； but retained those elements of
the old muddled system that had their value； chartering steamboats for
outings on the river； giving colossal picnics in Lowry Park。 The poor
and the wanderer and the criminal （of the male sex at least） were cared
for。 But he was not loved； as the rough…and…tumble Irishmen had been
loved； he did not make himself common； he was surrounded by an aura of
mystery which I confess had not failed of effect on me。 Once； and only
once during my legal apprenticeship； he had been pointed out to me on the
street； where he rarely ventured。 His appearance was not impressive。。。。
Mr。 Jason could not； of course； prevent Mr。 Watling's election； even did
he so desire； but he did command the allegiance of several city
candidatesboth democratic and republicanfor the state legislature；
who had as yet failed to announce their preferences for United States
Senator。 It was important that Mr。 Watling's vote should be large； as
indicative of a public reaction and repudiation of Democratic national
folly。 This matter among others was the subject of discussion one July
morning when the Republican State Chairman was in the city； Mr。 Grunewald
expressed anxiety over Mr。 Jason's continued silence。 It was expedient
that somebody should 〃see〃 the boss。
〃Why not Paret？〃 suggested Leonard Dickinson。 Mr。 Watling was not
present at this conference。 〃Paret seems to be running Watling's
campaign； anyway。〃
It was settled that I should be the emissary。 With lively sensations of
curiosity and excitement； tempered by a certain anxiety as to my ability
to match wits with the Spider； I made my way to his 〃lair〃 over Monahan's
saloon； situated in a district that was anything but respectable。 The
saloon； on the ground floor； had two apartments； the bar…room proper
where Mike Monahan； chamberlain of the establishment； was wont to stand；
red faced and smiling； to greet the courtiers； big and little； the party
workers； the district leaders； the hangers…on ready to be hired； the city
officials； the police judges；yes； and the dignified members of state
courts whose elections depended on Mr。 Jason's favour： even Judge Bering；
whose acquaintance I had made the day I had come； as a law student； to
Mr。 Watling's office； unbent from time to time sufficiently to call there
for a small glass of rye and water； and to relate； with his owl…like
gravity； an anecdote to the 〃boys。〃 The saloon represented Democracy； so
dear to the American public。 Here all were welcome； even the light…
fingered gentlemen who enjoyed the privilege of police protection； and
who sometimes； through fortuitous circumstances； were hauled before the
very magistrates with whom they had rubbed elbows on the polished rail。
Behind the bar…room； and separated from it by swinging doors only the
elite ventured to thrust apart； was an audience chamber whither Mr。 Jason
occasionally descended。 Anecdote and political reminiscence gave place
here to matters of high policy。
I had several times come to the saloon in the days of my apprenticeship
in search of some judge or official； and once I had run down here the
city auditor himself。 Mike Monahan； whose affair it was to know
everyone； recognized me。 It was part of his business； also； to
understand that I was now a member of the firm of Watling； Fowndes and
Ripon。
〃Good morning to you； Mr。 Paret；〃 he said suavely。 We held a colloquy in
undertones over the bar； eyed by the two or three customers who were
present。 Mr。 Monahan disappeared； but presently returned to whisper：
〃Sure； he'll see you；〃 to lead the way through the swinging doors and up
a dark stairway。 I came suddenly on a room in the greatest disorder； its
tables and chairs piled high with newspapers and letters； its windows
streaked with soot。 From an open door on its farther side issued a
voice。
〃Is that you； Mr。 Paret？ Come in here。〃
It was little less than a command。
〃Heard of you； Mr。 Paret。 Glad to know you。 Sit down； won't you？〃
The inner room was almost dark。 I made out a bed in the corner； and
propped up in the bed a man； but for the moment I was most aware of a
pair of eyes that flared up when the man spoke； and died down again when
he became silent。 They reminded me of those insects which in my
childhood days we called 〃lightning bugs。〃 Mr。 Jason gave me a hand like
a woman's。 I expressed my pleasure at meeting him； and took a chair
beside the bed。
〃I believe you're a partner of Theodore Watling's now aren't you？ Smart
man； Watling。〃
〃He'll make a good senator；〃 I replied； accepting the opening。
〃You think he'll get electeddo you？〃 Mr。 Jason inquired。
I laughed。
〃Well； there isn't much doubt about that； I imagine。〃
〃Don't knowdon't know。 Seen some dead…sure things go wrong in my
time。〃
〃What's going to defeat him？〃 I asked pleasantly。
〃I don't say anything；〃 Mr。 Jason replied。 〃But I've known funny things
to happennever does to be dead sure。〃
〃Oh； well； we're as sure as it's humanly possible to be；〃 I declared。
The eyes continued to fascinate me； they had a peculiar； disquieting
effect。 Now they died down； and it was as if the man's very presence had
gone out； as though I had been left alone； and I found it exceedingly
difficult； under the circumstances； to continue to address him。 Suddenly
he flared up again。
〃Watling send you over here？〃 he demanded。
〃No。 As a matter of fact； he's out of town。 Some of Mr。 Watling's
friends； Mr。 Grunewald and Mr。 Dickinson； Mr。 Gorse and others； suggested
that I see you； Mr。 Jason。〃
There came a grunt from the bed。
〃Mr。 Watling has always valued your friendship and support；〃 I said。
〃What makes him think he ain't going to get it？〃
〃He hasn't a doubt of it；〃 I went on diplomatically。 〃But we feltand I
felt personally； that we ought to be in touch with you； to work along
with you； to keep informed how things are going in the city。〃
〃What things？〃
〃Wellthere are one or two representatives； friends of yours； who
haven't come out for Mr。 Watling。 We aren't worrying； we know you'll do
the right thing； but we feel that it would have a good deal of influence
in some other parts of the state if they declared themselves。 And then
you know as well as I do that this isn't a year when any of us can afford
to recognize too closely party lines； the Democratic administration has
brought on a panic； the business men in that party are down on it； and it
ought to be rebuked。 And we feel； too； that some of the city's Democrats
ought to be loyal to Mr。 Watling；not that we expect them to vote for
him in caucus； but when it comes to the joint ballot〃
〃Who？〃 demanded Mr。 Jason。
〃Senator Dowse and Jim Maher； for instance；〃 I suggested。
〃Jim voted for Bill 709 all rightdidn't he？〃 said Mr。 Jason abruptly。
〃That's just it；〃 I put in boldly。 〃We'd like to induce him to come in
with us this time。 But we feel thatthe inducement would better come
through you。〃
I thought Mr。 Jason smiled。 By this time I had grown accustomed to the
darkness； the face and figure of the man in