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wall； and he saw a kneeling figure pitch forward on its face；
with a useless bandage tied across its sightless eyes。
Senator Stanton brought him back with a sharp shake of the
shoulder。 He had also turned his back on the others； and was
leaning forward with his elbows on his knees。 He spoke rapidly；
and in a voice only slightly raised above a whisper。
〃I am more than sorry； Arkwright；〃 he said earnestly。 〃You
mustn't blame me altogether。 I have had a hard time of it this
afternoon。 I wanted to go。 I really wanted to go。 The thing
appealed to me； it touched me； it seemed as if I owed it to
myself to do it。 But they were too many for me；〃 he added with a
backward toss of his head toward the men around his table。
〃If the papers had not told on me I could have got well away；〃 he
went on in an eager tone； 〃but as soon as they read of it； they
came here straight from their offices。 You know who they are；
don't you？〃 he asked； and even in his earnestness there was an
added touch of importance in his tone as he spoke the name of his
party's leader； of men who stood prominently in Wall Street and
who were at the head of great trusts。
〃You see how it is；〃 he said with a shrug of his shoulders。
〃They have enormous interests at stake。 They said I would drag
them into war； that I would disturb values； that the business
interests of the country would suffer。 I'm under obligations to
most of them； they have advised me in financial matters； and they
threatenedthey threatened to make it unpleasant for me。〃 His
voice hardened and he drew in his breath quickly； and laughed。
〃You wouldn't understand if I were to tell you。 It's rather
involved。 And after all； they may be right； agitation may be bad
for the country。 And your party leader after all is your party
leader； isn't he； and if he says 'no' what are you to do？
My sympathies are just as keen for these poor women and children
as ever； but as these men say； 'charity begins at home；' and we
mustn't do anything to bring on war prices again； or to send
stocks tumbling about our heads； must we？〃 He leaned back in his
chair again and sighed。 〃Sympathy is an expensive luxury； I
find；〃 he added。
Arkwright rose stiffly and pushed Stanton away from him with his
hand。 He moved like a man coming out of a dream。
〃Don't talk to me like that；〃 he said in a low voice。 The noise
about the table ended on the instant； but Arkwright did not
notice that it had ceased。 〃You know I don't understand that；〃
he went on； 〃what does it matter to me！〃 He put his hand up to
the side of his face and held it there； looking down at Stanton。
He had the dull； heavy look in his eyes of a man who has just
come through an operation under some heavy drug。 〃'Wall Street；'
'trusts；' 'party leaders；'〃 he repeated； 〃what are they to me？
The words don't reach me； they have lost their meaning； it is a
language I have forgotten； thank God！〃 he added。 He turned
and moved his eyes around the table； scanning the faces of the
men before him。
〃Yes； you are twelve to one；〃 he said at last； still speaking
dully and in a low voice； as though he were talking to himself。
〃You have won a noble victory； gentlemen。 I congratulate you。
But I do not blame you； we are all selfish and self…seeking。 I
thought I was working only for Cuba； but I was working for
myself； just as you are。 I wanted to feel that it was I who had
helped to bring relief to that plague…spot； that it was through
my efforts the help had come。 Yes； if he had done as I asked； I
suppose I would have taken the credit。〃
He swayed slightly； and to steady himself caught at the back of
his chair。 But at the same moment his eyes glowed fiercely and
he held himself erect again。 He pointed with his finger at the
circle of great men who sat looking up at him in curious silence。
〃You are like a ring of gamblers around a gaming table；〃 he cried
wildly； 〃who see nothing but the green cloth and the wheel and
the piles of money before them； who forget in watching the
money rise and fall； that outside the sun is shining； that human
beings are sick and suffering； that men are giving their lives
for an idea； for a sentiment； for a flag。 You are the money…
changers in the temple of this great republic and the day will
come； I pray to God； when you will be scourged and driven out
with whips。 Do you think you can form combines and deals that
will cheat you into heaven？ Can your 'trusts' save your souls
is 'Wall Street' the strait and narrow road to salvation？〃
The men about the table leaned back and stared at Arkwright in as
great amazement as though he had violently attempted an assault
upon their pockets； or had suddenly gone mad in their presence。
Some of them frowned； and others appeared not to have heard； and
others smiled grimly and waited for him to continue as though
they were spectators at a play。
The political leader broke the silence with a low aside to
Stanton。 〃Does the gentleman belong to the Salvation Army？〃 he
asked。
Arkwright whirled about and turned upon him fiercely。
〃Old gods give way to new gods；〃 he cried。 〃Here is your
brother。 I am speaking for him。 Do you ever think of him？ How
dare you sneer at me？〃 he cried。 〃You can crack your whip over
that man's head and turn him from what in his heart and
conscience he knows is right； you can crack your whip over the
men who call themselves free…born American citizens and who have
made you their bosssneer at them if you like； but you have no
collar on my neck。 If you are a leader； why don't you lead your
people to what is good and noble？ Why do you stop this man in
the work God sent him here to do？ You would make a party hack of
him； a political prostitute； something lower than the woman who
walks the streets。 She sells her bodythis man is selling his
soul。〃
He turned； trembling and quivering； and shook his finger above
the upturned face of the senator。
〃What have you done with your talents； Stanton？〃 he cried。 〃What
have you done with your talents？〃
The man in the overcoat struck the table before him with his
fist so that the glasses rang。
〃By God；〃 he laughed； 〃I call him a better speaker than Stanton！
Livingstone's right； he IS better than Stantonbut he lacks
Stanton's knack of making himself popular；〃 he added。 He looked
around the table inviting approbation with a smile； but no one
noticed him； nor spoke to break the silence。
Arkwright heard the words dully and felt that he was being
mocked。 He covered his face with his hands and stood breathing
brokenly； his body was still trembling with an excitement he
could not master。
Stanton rose from his chair and shook him by the shoulder。 〃Are
you mad； Arkwright？〃 he cried。 〃You have no right to insult my
guests or me。 Be calmcontrol yourself。〃
〃What does it matter what I say？〃 Arkwright went on desperately。
〃I am mad。 Yes； that is it； I am mad。 They have won and I have
lost； and it drove me beside myself。 I counted on you。 I knew
that no one else could let my people go。 But I'll not
trouble you again。 I wish you good…night； sir； and good…bye。 If
I have been unjust； you must for