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occasion heretofore when he had been before the public； in the School
Board fiasco； the officials indicted on his supposed evidence had
triumphantly been vindicated； Guptill was gaining money and notoriety
out of his spleen； Perry Blackwood was acting out of spite。。。。 I
returned to Krebs； declaring that he would be the boss of the city if
that ticket were elected； demanding whether they wished for a boss an
agitator itching for power and recognition。。。。
I was conscious at the moment only of a wild relief and joy in letting
myself go； feelings heightened by the clapping and cheers with which my
characterizations were received。 The fact that the cheers were mingled
with hisses merely served to drive me on。 At length； when I had returned
to Krebs； the hisses were redoubled； angering me the more because of the
evidence they gave of friends of his in my audiences。 Perhaps I had made
some of these friends for him！ A voice shouted out above the uproar：
〃I know about Krebs。 He's a dd sight better man than you。〃 And this
started a struggle in a corner of the hall。。。。 I managed； somehow； when
the commotion had subsided； to regain my poise； and ended by uttering the
conviction that the common sense of the community would repudiate the
Citizens Union and all it stood for。。。。
But that night； as I lay awake listening to the street noises and staring
at the glint from a street lamp on the brass knob of my bedstead； I knew
that I had failed。 I had committed the supreme violation of the self
that leads inevitably to its final dissolution。。。。 Even the exuberant
headlines of the newspapers handed me by the club servant in the morning
brought but little relief。
On the Saturday morning before the Tuesday of election there was a
conference in the directors' room of the Corn National。 The city reeked
with smoke and acrid； stale gas； the electric lights were turned on to
dispel the November gloom。 It was not a cheerful conference； nor a
confident one。 For the first time in a collective experience the men
gathered there were confronted with a situation which they doubted their
ability to control； a situation for which there was no precedent。 They
had to reckon with a new and unsolvable equation in politics and
finance；the independent voter。 There was an element of desperation in
the discussion。 Recriminations passed。 Dickinson implied that Gorse
with all his knowledge of political affairs ought to have foreseen that
something like this was sure to happen； should have managed better the
conventions of both great parties。 The railroad counsel retorted that it
had been as much Dickinson's fault as his。 Grierson expressed a regret
that I had broken out against the reformers； it had reacted； he said；
and this was just enough to sting me to retaliate that things had been
done in the campaign； chiefly through his initiative； that were not only
unwise； but might land some of us in the penitentiary if Krebs were
elected。
〃Well；〃 Grierson exclaimed； 〃whether he's elected or not； I wouldn't give
much now for your chances of getting to the Senate。 We can't afford to
fly in the face of the dear public。〃
A tense silence followed this remark。 In the street below the rumble of
the traffic came to us muffled by the heavy plate…glass windows。 I saw
Tallant glance at Gorse and Dickinson； and I knew the matter had been
decided between themselves； that they had been merely withholding it from
me until after election。 I was besmirched； for the present at least。
〃I think you will do me the justice； gentlemen；〃 I remember saying
slowly； with the excessive and rather ridiculous formality of a man who
is near the end of his tether； 〃that the idea of representing you in the
Senate was yours； not mine。 You begged me to take the appointment
against my wishes and my judgment。 I had no desire to go to Washington
then； I have less to…day。 I have come to the conclusion that my
usefulness to you is at an end。〃
I got to my feet。 I beheld Miller Gorse sitting impassive； with his
encompassing stare； the strongest man of them all。 A change of
firmaments would not move him。 But Dickinson had risen and put his hand
on my shoulder。 It was the first time I had ever seen him white。
〃Hold on； Hugh；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I guess we're all a little cantankerous
today。 This confounded campaign has got on our nerves； and we say things
we don't mean。 You mustn't think we're not grateful for the services
you've rendered us。 We're all in the same boat； and there isn't a man
who's been on our side of this fight who could take a political office at
this time。 We've got to face that fact； and I know you have the sense to
see it； too。 I； for one； won't be satisfied until I see you in the
Senate。 It's where you belong； and you deserve to be there。 You
understand what the public is； how it blows hot and cold； and in a few
years they'll be howling to get us back； if these demagogues win。
〃Sure；〃 chimed in Grierson； who was frightened； 〃that's right； Hugh。 I
didn't mean anything。 Nobody appreciates you more than I do； old man。〃
Tallant； too； added something； and Berringer；I've forgotten what。 I
was tired； too tired to meet their advances halfway。 I said that I had a
speech to get ready for that night； and other affairs to attend to； and
left them grouped together like crestfallen conspiratorsall save Miller
Gorse； whose pervasive gaze seemed to follow me after I had closed the
door。
An elevator took me down to the lobby of the Corn Bank Building。 I
paused for a moment； aimlessly regarding the streams of humanity hurrying
in and out； streaking the white marble floor with the wet filth of the
streets。 Someone spoke my name。 It was Bitter； Judd Jason's 〃legal〃
tool； and I permitted myself to be dragged out of the eddies into a quiet
corner by the cigar stand。
〃Say； I guess we've got Krebs's goat all right； this time；〃 he told me
confidentially； in a voice a little above a whisper； 〃he was busy with
the shirt…waist girls last year； you remember； when they were striking。
Well； one of 'em； one of the strike leaders； has taken to easy street；
she's agreed to send him a letter to…night to come 'round to her room
after his meeting； to say that she's sick and wants to see him。 He'll
go； all right。 We'll have some fun； we'll be ready for him。 Do you get
me？ So long。 The old man's waiting for me。〃
It may seem odd that this piece of information did not produce an
immediately revolting effect。 I knew that similar practices had been
tried on Krebs； but this was the first time I had heard of a definite
plan； and from a man like Bitter。 As I made my way out of the building I
had； indeed； a nauseated feeling； Jason's 〃lawyer〃 was a dirty little
man； smelling of stale cigars； with a blue…black； unshaven face。 In
spite of the shocking nature of his confidence； he had actually not
succeeded in deflecting the current of my thoughts； these were still
running over the scene in the directors' room。 I had listened to him
passively while he had held my buttonhole； and he had detained me but an
instant。
When I reached the street I was wondering whether Gorse an