Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1911 — THE MAN HIGHER UP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE MAN HIGHER UP

By HENRY RUSSELL MILLER Copyright, 1910. by Bobbs Merrill Co.

CHAPTER XL THE LADT OF DREAMS. THE convention had been adjourned. Robert McAdoo was the Republican nominee for mayor. And Paul Remington had met the lady of his dreams. Sanger had brought him to her and performed the introduction. Afterward he had left, pleading a business engagement. Eleanor for a few minutes watched the crowd as it slowly passed out from the theater. Then she turned to Paul. “I shall not congratulate you." she said gravely. "I paid you a better compliment while you were speaking. Are you ready to say. ‘Now let me die?’ ” “No,” he answered with equal gravity. “I am ready to say. ’Now let me live.’ I have met you at last.” She, raised her hand protestingly. “Please don’t spoil my impression of you. You were wonderful. 1 have heard of orators swaying audiences to their will, but I never before realized what it means. My brother tells me you saved Mr. McAdoo from defeat.” Paul took a keen pleasure in his honesty as be resisted temptation and answered lightly: “Oh. not' The result would have been the same without my speech. It was such an absurdly impossible trick, that of bribing Hemenway off and buying up his delegates. Its success depended upon their catching Bob napping. They didn’t know the old fellow. All I did was to furnish a reason for an action already determined upon.” “Ah!” she said regretfully. “Then it was all planned beforehand?” “Every step!” “Even to your speech?”

He nodded smilingly. “You know, Mrs. Gilbert, there never was a speech worth giving that wasn’t prepared beforehand. Every word of that speech was written out and memorized verbatim." “Then all those burning words were a sham, all that display of splendid passion a theatrical trick to save a man not worthy”— “No, no!” he broke in eagerly. “All I said was true —true as life and death. And Bob—you don’t know him. He i 3 magnificent, worthy of”— “Spare me,” she impatiently interrupted. “I heard that once before—in your speech. lam frankly disappointed. I believed you a genuine master spirit, compelling us to see the truth. Now, I see you are only a clever actor, tricking us into ignoring the truth.” She drew a deep breath. “Please don’t go yet,” he begged. “I have something to say to you. Do you believe in pre-existences?" “Decidedly not. I’m fairly healthy. And, besides, the present existence demands all my attention.” “What would you say if 1 were to tell you that although I have just met you and have seen you but twice before so far as 1 can remember 1 seem to have known you always?” She shrugged her shoulders again, a fashion she had. “I’m sorry—you will forgive me. Mr. Remington?—l’m not deeply impressed—and a bit incredulous.”

“I didn’t expect you to be impressed.” he answered quietly, “and I’m not proposing—yet. But. Mrs. Gilbert”—his head went up, eyes flashing—“l’m not a sentimental fooL I am to be taken seriously.” “Why don’t you go on the stage?” she fleered. Paul looked at ber uncertainly for a moment; then his gravity was cast aside as a cloak. He made some inconsequent answer and promptly led the talk into other and lighter channels, whither she followed him carelessly. She was not quite free from the spell he had woven about her during his speech. Something in the man broke down her habit of cold indifference to men. and put her on her mettle. She strove to meet his occasional witty sallies in kind, sometimes with a success that delighted them both. Once, when their badinage assumed a more personal tone, she protested. “We’re talking as though we were old friends.” she said. “Of course.” he responded calmly. **we are. That was written long ago.” “You have many friends?” she queried furiously.

“I have been lucky in the matter of friends.” “And do you give them all the same romantic appreciation and return you professed for Mr. McAdoo. or was that part of„the play acting too? I can’t see what you find in common with one who, my brother tells me, is typical of the very worst in our politics.” . “I forgot you are of the enemy,” he laughed and added more soberly: “Your brother is wrong. There may have been regrettable things in Bob’s earlier career But in the six years I have known him I have seen little of the dirty politician. His victories have been won chiefly by bis courage and resourcefulness and the fact that men. whether they like him or not, in ■tinctively trust him and follow him If be has resorted to questionable tactics it has been only to meet similar

methods of the opposition. And his victories have been very much to the advantage of this city.” “And to the advantage or his loyal friend. I suppose." she suggested Id qulringly. “You are no doubt—l’m verv ignorant of politics—some one very important, a high officer, cob.

gressman. at least?" “Oh, uo. I’m only a senator of the common or garden variety, a very unimportant member of our state legislature.” “While he bas become boss,” she added. “It seems”—

“Don’t. Mrs. Gilbert, I beg of you." he interrupted gravely. “It would be disloyal for me to listen to such suggestions even from you. The least I can do is to trust him. I could fill a higher position, and I often chafe over my slow ciimb. If I were to insist he would help me to the best in his power to give. But his judgment and his heart are to be trusted. You shall know him, and then you will understand why I trust him so absolutely.” “Thank you, no!” she said indifferently. “I approve of your loyalty, of course. But I saw your friend this afternoon, and, frankly, I don’t think I should like him. I don’t care to meet’’—

She stopped suddenly, and both looked up startled, feeling another’s presence. It was Bob who had come into the box, unnoticed by them. To both Paul and Eleanor it was as though a cloud had passed across the face of the sun.

There was an awkward pause while Bob. standing motionless in the rear of the box, looked steadily at Eleanor with coldiy hostile eyes. And Eleanor, startled, but not disconcerted, returned his with a glance into which she strove to put amusement Paul sought to take into his hands what threatened to be a situation. “It’s fate. Mrs. Gilbert,” be said, with a laugh which he tried to render easy. “Let me present our next mayor. Mrs. Gilbert, Bob. has just avowed her alliance with the enemy. We must convert her.” f~-

“Why?” Bob answered crudely, without changing his regard. And somehow, as he said It, Bob’s monosyllable carried a sting far sharper than its crude surface irony. It put her strangely on the defensive, and theretofore, with men, Mrs. Eleanor Gilbert had always been mistress of the situation. She tried to answer with indifference.

“You have so many enemies that one more or less cannot disturb you.” “I have many." “And the habit of beating them, I believe?”

“I believe so.” he answered steadily.

“But Bob doesn’t make war on women,” Paul interrupted with nervous eagerness.

“Too small game. I suppose.” she said with the mocking upward inflection that had so often put men to flight

“It has never been necessary.” Bob responded, unmoved by her sarcasm. And Eleanor, beaten, gave up the battle of eyes. Yet there was defiance in her laugh as she said: “Mr. McAdoo would be as merciless to a woman as to any other enemy, I fancy. But I must go.” This time Paul did not protest The two men followed her silently out of the theater to the street. As she was about to step into the automobile she gathered her courage for a last effort

“It has been a very interesting afternoon. I thank you—both.” She gave Bob a fleeting, mocking look and turned to Paul. “Come and see me. Mr. Remington. We will discuss politics. Good afternoon, Mr. McAdoo.” And she was rapidly whirled away. Paul drew a deep breath. “I don’t see why yo,u and she don’t hit it off better. She’s wonderful.” “She's the devil.”' Bob growled. Paul did not answer this outburst. “Let’s have a drink,” he suggested. “I'm limp as a rag. You’ve got to break over this time, old man.” Safe in the seclusion of the hooded automobile, Eleanor Gilbert was repeating half in amusement, half in resentment:

“What a man! My dear, you caught it that time. And you deserved it. What a man!” She did not refer to Paul. CHAPTER XII. DISCONTENT. IN the tallest of the city’s skyscrapers, in the highest story of said building, were, as the letters on the ground glass door announced, the law offices of Paul Remington. The term “law offices” was perhaps a misnomer, tor upon Paul had fallen the distrust which the business public often feeis lor the political lawyer, and the bulk of his practice consisted principally in caring for the legal end of Bob’s business ventures and in helping their political friends out of police court scrapes.

Only the presence of Miss Myrtle Jones, stenographer, reminded you that this was a legal center. On this particular morning some two weeks after the convention Miss Jones was early at her post Bob entered with a curt greeting. He was accompanied by Haggin, who wore a sheepish grin. “Well,” he said, “they sure did put the bug on us last night” “So I’ve been told,” Bob remarked dryly. “Sit down.” .Haggin sht down on the window sill —it was more comfortable than Bob’s chairs—and crossed his hands over his capacious paunch. “Maiassey’s out there,” be said.

“Yes.” And Bob’s teeth came together with an audible click. “He’s been waiting there for some time. That’s why l sent for you. Tom, bow much is he worth in the Seventh?”

“Well, he’s worth a good deal. All that Democrat bunch follow him like sheep. Ad’ the Seventh is a Democrat ward.”

“Then you think he’s really important?"

“Gn-huh!" Haggin agreed. •‘Biggest man in the ward. Paul’s the only man that ever could touch him. An’ even Paul can’t knock sense into a Democrat when he gets set But say, you ain’t”-

“I’m going to knock a little sense into one Democrat.” He touched a button, and Miss Jones opened the door.

“Miss Jones, will you ask Malassey to step in? And. Miss Jones, if Mr. Remington should come in. please hold him until I can see him. I rely on you.” Malassey was a type of the professional “mixer.” a big, red faced fellow with a bluff, boisterous manner that passed for good fellowship among the undiscerning. One eye was set slightly lower than its fellow. Bob greeted him with a curt nod gnd lolled back in his chair. Haggin grimly ignored the entrance of the uewcomer. Malassey seated himself awkwardly od the edge of a chair. “I’m mighty sorry about the convention. Mr. McAdoo.” he began eagerly.

Bob chuckled, “I see. I really think he’d better hunt another job. Tom.” Malassey sprang to his feet, pale and trembling. “Before God, Mr. McAdoo.” he began with nervous vehemence, “1 didn’t”-

Bob came sharply upright in his chair.

“Before God. Malassey." he said harshly, “you did. You were to go into the Democratic nominating committee and help get me their indorsement. But you didn’t” “It’s a lie, whoever says it” Malassey cried. “I voted for you. and the record’ll prove it" “Yes. you voted for me when the committee was safely against me. You took a flier in doable dealing. Malassey. It has netted you a thousand dollars, and that’s all. The mayor expects your resignation as once. Good morning, Malassey.” An hour later Paul came in and threw himself wearily on one of Bob’s uncomfortable chairs.

“Well.” he said moodily, “you lost that trick.”

“I’m not infallible,” Bob returned calmly. “And they played this hand better than the last one.”

Paul nodded. “Yes. But why, in heaven’s name, did they pick out Har land? He’s a good man and independent They can’t control him.” “Yes, he’s all that And he’ll make a good run. which is more to the point He’s the only man in the city who stands a chance against ns.” “But where do they come in between you two?" Bob shrugged his shoulders. “Any port in a storm They prefer to take their chances with him rather than with me.”

Paul sprang to his feet and began to pace the floor nervously. “They’ll use him to break you. and then they’ll break him. They are relentless—and patient It’s an invincible combina-* tion. Good God. Bob. what an enemy you are lighting! You’re a big man. but you’re a pygmy beside them. You’ve won out so far, but that is because they haven’t really taken you seriously. But noitv you’ve taught them what you are. and they are determined to crush yoq.” He sat down again dejectedly. “Do you know, I’ve a terrible presentiment that we’re going to lose this time.” “Do you mean that you don’t care to help me out in this fight?” Paul strode to Bob’s side and placed his hand affectionately on the latter’s shoulder.

“Of course not. old man. I’m with you in this scrimmage and in every 8 other you ever go into, but while we are working out our plans here in the state can’t I have the chance to work out mine in a separate field where I can act for myself and in my own way? Bob. if you’re elected—and of course you will be in spite of my presentiment—why can’t I take Gerwig’s place on the ticket this fall and go to congress V" Bob shook bis bead. “Why not?” Panl demanded petulantly. “In the first place. I have promised Gerwig. In the second”— “Yon can get Gerwig to step aside.”

“I can.” Bob said quietly, “but It’s a rule of mine to keep my word In such cases. In the second place, it will mean six years wasted. Here: have a cigar. Now sit down and we'll discuss this thing rationally." Paul lighted his cigar auu aai down, puffing nervously.

“You go to congress—what happens? You’ll find yourself shunted off to one side, a bushel basket clapped over your head, bound, muzzled. 1 can imaging no sadder fate for you than to be muzzled.”

Paul laughed. “We can agree on that anyhow. Go on.” “It’s worse even than that. Even the machine congressman has no real power. He must take his orders just as our legislator must take orders from the state boss. There aren’t. a half dozen men in both houses who hold even a shadow of power, and they have that only as agents for those back of them: If you’re content with being a figurehead, with having only the appearance of influence, go ahead to congress and nonentity. But you must pay the price.’’ He paused, smoking meditatively.

“Go on." Paul exclaimed impatiently. "The price”— “The only thing In the world worth having—real power.” “Real power—l?” Paul laughed almost bitterly. “What power have I? How do people think of me? What have I been? One of your many underlings. your puppet”- - “Stop!” Bob was so near to anger that Paul was startled. “That’s enough of this old woman’s chatter. You’ve been listening to bad counsel. You’d be a miserable weakling if you didn’t possess influence after the chances you have had. The trouble with you is that things have come so easily you don’t realize their value. What power have you? You’ve been in the legislature four years, aud you’re the only legislator in a generation who has made himself a force to be reckoned with. If you want to know what power you have go over to the other side and beat me!”

The petulant discontent on Paul’s face gave way to amazed, incredulous delight and pride. “You mean?” he gasped “I mean.” Bob answered quietly, “that without the support you would draw from me I probably couldn’t win.”

“That means.” Paul, exclaimed, “that you. Bob McAdoo. are in my hands, to make or to break." “That’s true.”

Paul sprang to his feet with a passionate gesture. “But, after all. 1 have power only because you have given it to me. Therefore it is yours. We will use it together. Bob You’ve been a finer friend than 1 realized But I realize it now, and 1 shan’t forget."

“All right.” Bob said shifting uncomfortably under this demonstration. “Then you give up this congress foolishness?”

“Of course. You’re right, as usuaL Six years ago 1 couldn’t have given it up. Then the appearance of importance was enough. But that is ended. The superficial sensationalist is dead and buried forever 1 hope. Now I want to be a real man, an original force."

Bob turned from him to look out of the window. “If I hadn’t thought it w as in you 1 shouldn’t have taken you up,’’ he said gruffly. Then he wheeled sharply on Paul. “But is what you say true? Is the sensationalist put away forever?” Paul flushed painfully. “Ah! You have sounded me truly—as truly as a man can who is himself genuine and clear as crystal. But this time it is true. I tell you it must be true. I have a reason you don’t know ” “Oh. yes.” Bob answered. “I know your reason. If you’re not careful that woman will marry you." “If only she could be persuaded to do it. How did you guess?” “A blind man can read it You have all the symptoms of a man sickening-

ly. asininely in love. But don’t do it Paul. You say you want to be a real man. Be a whole man too. Don’t do it” Paul laughed tolerantly “Not ac cept supreme happiness? Why not?” “Why not?” Bob exclaimed strongly. “Why not your life in two? Why not waste your strength on several objectives instead of concentrating it on one? Why not become a slave to the whims and needs of a wife and family?” “Then.” cried Paul. “I am the most abject of slaves.” “You are. and to a woman who”— “Bob! Stopl”

And Bob. wondering, paused. For in the man before bim be saw. not Paul— Paul, the tempestuous, the dramatic, the somewhat florid—but a stranger, a momentarily inflexible, forceful man who spoke quietly without rhetorical flourish and commandingly. “Bob.” the stranger said simply, “you and 1 have never quarreled, and I owe you too much to quarrel with you now. But even you must say nothing harsh about Mrs. Gilbert 1 know what she is, a woman who has suffered. There isn’t a thing in her history to shame her. And a man finds it hard to talk of such things to another, but I love her, and if she will have me I shall marry her. Please realize that Tm in earnest in this. 1 think we’d better not discuss it any more.” He quietly left the office. “She shan’t have you.” Bob muttered savagely. (To be continued.)

SHE STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND BOTH LOOKED UP STARTLED.

“THEN I AM THU MOST ABJECT OF SLAVES."