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 the bed had become
discernible。 Power； I remember thinking； chooses odd houses for itself。
Here was no overbearing； full…blooded ward ruffian brimming with
vitality； but a thin； sallow little man in a cotton night…shirt； with
iron…grey hair and a wiry moustache； he might have been an overworked
clerk behind a dry…goods counter； and yet somehow； now that I had talked
to him； I realized that he never could have been。 Those extraordinary
eyes of his； when they were functioning； marked his individuality as
unique。 It were almost too dramatic to say that he required darkness to
make his effect； but so it seemed。 I should never forget him。 He had in
truth been well named the Spider。
〃Of course we haven't tried to get in touch with them。 We are leaving
them to you；〃 I added。
〃Paret；〃 he said suddenly； 〃I don't care a damn about Grunewaldnever
did。 I'd turn him down for ten cents。 But you can tell Theodore Watling
for me； and Dickinson； that I guess the ‘inducement' can be fixed。〃
I felt a certain relief that the interview had come to an end； that the
moment had arrived for amenities。 To my surprise； Mr。 Jason anticipated
me。
〃I've been interested in you； Mr。 Paret；〃 he observed。 〃Know who you
are； of course； knew you were in Watling's office。 Then some of the boys
spoke about you when you were down at the legislature on that Ribblevale
matter。 Guess you had more to do with that bill than came out in the
newspaperseh？〃
I was taken off my guard。
〃Oh； that's talk；〃 I said。
〃All right； it's talk； then？ But I guess you and I will have some more
talk after a while；after Theodore Watling gets to be United States
Senator。 Give him my regards； andand come in when I can do anything
for you； Mr。 Paret。〃
Thanking him； I groped my way downstairs and let myself out by a side
door Monahan had shown me into an alleyway； thus avoiding the saloon。 As
I walked slowly back to the office； seeking the shade of the awnings； the
figure in the darkened room took on a sinister aspect that troubled
me。。。。
The autumn arrived； the campaign was on with a whoop； and I had my first
taste of 〃stump〃 politics。 The acrid smell of red fire brings it back to
me。 It was a medley of railroad travel； of committees provided with
badgesand cigars； of open carriages slowly drawn between lines of
bewildered citizens； of Lincoln clubs and other clubs marching in serried
ranks； uniformed and helmeted； stalwarts carrying torches and banners。
And then there were the draughty opera…houses with the sylvan scenery
pushed back and plush chairs and sofas pushed forward； with an ominous
table； a pitcher of water on it and a glass； near the footlights。 The
houses were packed with more bewildered citizens。 What a wonderful study
of mob…psychology it would have offered！ Men who had not thought of the
grand old Republican party for two years； and who had not cared much
about it when they had entered the dooms； after an hour or so went mad
with fervour。 The Hon。 Joseph Mecklin； ex…Speaker of the House； with
whom I traveled on occasions； had a speech referring to the martyred
President； ending with an appeal to the revolutionary fathers who
followed Washington with bleeding feet。 The Hon。 Joseph possessed that
most valuable of political gifts； presence； and when with quivering voice
he finished his peroration； citizens wept with him。 What it all had to
do with the tariff was not quite clear。 Yet nobody seemed to miss the
connection。
We were all of us most concerned； of course； about the working…man and
his dinner pail；whom the Democrats had wantonly thrown out of
employment for the sake of a doctrinaire theory。 They had put him in
competition with the serf of Europe。 Such was the subject…matter of my
own modest addresses in this； my maiden campaign。 I had the sense to see
myself in perspective； to recognize that not for me； a dignified and
substantial lawyer of affairs； were the rhetorical flights of the Hon。
Joseph Mecklin。 I spoke with a certain restraint。 Not too dryly； I
hope。 But I sought to curb my sentiments； my indignation； at the manner
in which the working…man had been treated； to appeal to the common sense
rather than to the passions of my audiences。 Here were the statistics！
（drawn； by the way； from the Republican Campaign book）。 Unscrupulous
demagoguesDemocratic； of coursehad sought to twist and evade them。
Let this terrible record of lack of employment and misery be compared
with the prosperity under Republican rule。
〃One of the most effective speakers in this campaign for the restoration
of Prosperity；〃 said the Rossiter Banner； 〃is Mr。 Hugh Paret； of the firm
of Watling； Fowndes and Ripon。 Mr。 Paret's speech at the Opera…House
last evening made a most favourable impression。 Mr。 Paret deals with
facts。 And his thoughtful analysis of the situation into which the
Democratic party has brought this country should convince any sane…minded
voter that the time has come for a change。〃
I began to keep a scrap…book； though I locked it up in the drawer of my
desk。 In it are to be found many clippings of a similarly gratifying
tenor。。。。
Mecklin and I were well contrasted。 In this way； incidentally； I made
many valuable acquaintances among the 〃solid〃 men of the state； the local
capitalists and manufacturers； with whom my manner of dealing with public
questions was in particular favour。 These were practical men； they
rather patronized the Hon。 Joseph； thus estimating； to a nicety； a mans
value； or solidity； or specific gravity； it might better be said； since
our universe was one of checks and balances。 The Hon。 Joseph and his
like； skyrocketing through the air； were somehow necessary in the scheme
of things； but not to be taken too seriously。 Me they did take
seriously； these provincial lords； inviting me to their houses and
opening their hearts。 Thus； when we came to Elkington； Mr。 Mecklin
reposed in the Commercial House； on the noisy main street。 Fortunately
for him； the clanging of trolley cars never interfered with his slumbers。
I slept in a wide chamber in the mansion of Mr。 Ezra Hutchins。 There
were many Hutchinses in Elkington；brothers and cousins and uncles and
great…uncles；and all were connected with the woollen mills。 But there
is always one supreme Hutchins； and Ezra was he： tall； self…contained；
elderly； but well preserved through frugal living； essentially American
and typical of his class； when he entered the lobby of the Commercial
House that afternoon the babel of political discussion was suddenly
hushed； politicians； traveling salesmen and the members of the local
committee made a lane for him； to him； the Hon。 Joseph and I were
introduced。 Mr。 Hutchins knew what he wanted。 He was cordial to Mr。
Mecklin； but he took me。 We entered a most respectable surrey with
tassels； driven by a raw…boned coachman in a black overcoat； drawn by two
sleek horses。
〃How is this thing going； Paret？〃 he asked。
I gave him Mr。 Grunewald's estimated majority。
〃What do you think？〃 he demanded； a shrewd； humorous look in his blue
eyes。
〃Well； I think we'll carry the state。 I haven't had Grunewald's
experience in estimating。〃
Ezra Hutchins smiled appreciatively。
〃What does Watling think？〃
〃He doesn't seem to be worrying much。〃
〃Ever been in Elkington before？〃
I said I hadn't。
〃Well； a drive will do you good。〃
It was about four o'clock on a mild October afternoon。 The little town；
of fifteen thousand inhabitants or so； had
a wonderful setting in the widening valley of the Scopanong； whose
swiftly running waters furnished the power for the mills。 We drove to
these through a gateway over which the words 〃No Admittance〃 were
conspicuously painted； past long brick buildings that bordered the
canals； and in the windows I caught sight of drab figures of men and
women bending over the machines。 Half of the buildings； as Mr。 Hutchins
pointed out； were closed；mute witnesses of tariff…tinkering madness。
Even more eloquent of democratic folly was that part of the town through
which we presently passed； streets lined with rows of dreary houses where
the workers lived。 Children were playing on the sidewalks； but theirs
seemed a listless play； listless； too； were the men and women who sat on
the steps；listless； and somewhat sullen； as they watched us passing。
Ezra Hutchins seemed to read my thought。
〃Since the unions got in here I've had nothing but trouble；〃 he said。
〃I've tried to do my duty by my people； God knows。 But they won't see
which side their bread's buttered on。 They oppose me at every step； they
vote against their own interests。 Some years ago they put up a job on
us； and sent a scatter…brained radical to the legislature。〃
〃Krebs。〃
〃Do you know him？〃
〃Slightly。 He was in my class at Harvard。。。。 Is he still here？〃 I
asked； after a pause。
〃Oh； yes。 But he hasn't gone to the legislature this time； we've seen to
that。 His father was a respectable old German who had a little shop and
made eye…glasses。 The son is an example of too much education。 He's a
notoriety seeker。 Oh； he's clever； in a way。 He's given us a good deal
of trouble； too； in the courts with damage cases。〃。。。
We came to a brighter； more spacious； well…to…do portion of the town；
where the residences faced the river。 In a little while the waters
widened into a lake； which was surrounded by a park； a gift to the city
of the Hutchins family。 Facing it； on one side； was the Hutchins
Library； on the other； across a wide street； where the maples were
turning； were the Hutchinses' residences of various dates of
construction； from that of the younger George； who had lately married a
wife； and built in bright yellow brick； to the old…fashioned mansion of
Ezra himself。 This； he told me； had been good enough for his father； and
was good enough for him。 The picture of it comes back to me； now； with
singular attractiveness。 It was of brick； and I suppose a modification
of the Georgian； the kind of house one still sees in out…of…the way
corners of London； w