Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1911 — THE MAN HIGHER UP [ARTICLE]

THE MAN HIGHER UP

By HENRY RUSSELL MILLER

CHAPTER XVI. THE FORCE. 808 whirled sharply. As he faced her the blood rushed to his cheek and his eyes glinted in angry surprise. In an instant, however, he answered with perfect composure: “Twice, I believe. I hardly expected to meet you here, Mrs. Gilbert." “Three times, I’m sure,” she said pleasantly. “It's very stupid, but really all I can think of is that trite old saying that the world Is very small. Mr. McAdoo." Bob’s sense of humor came to his aid as he looked at the woman to cast whom and her influence out of his life he had come to find a weapon. He laughed. “I should say the world’s size depends upon whether you are trying to find or avoid a person.” Her face lighted up mirthfully. “Come, Mr. McAdoo. We are under the white flag here. I appeal to the governor. Cousin, to my rescue, for the sake of your household’s peace. Mr McAdoo and I always quarrel.” “Then I solemnly declare a truce," laughed the governor. "But I doubt her need of my protection. I fancy this young lady is quite capable of caring for herself, eh, Mr. McAdoo?" “Quite!" “That’s very generous,’? she smiled. “It speaks well for a successful truce. 1 hope?" And she held out her hand with pretended hesitation. His hesitation was genuine: but. yielding to the necessity, lie took her Slender white-band into his big strong one—the hand, as it flashed across her mind, that had <>n e snatched her a hideous death, i’eruaps her -‘mil? became more kindly than she intended, for he dropped her hand as though it had been a hot coal.

"And now." Mrs. Dunmeade said promptly, "peace having been established all around, let us go in to dinner." She took Bob’s arm and led the way into the dining room. At dinner Bob sat opposite Eleanor, to his considerable discomfort at first. Perhaps Mrs. Dunmeade saw this, for she guided the talk to subjects which allowed him to be'the audience. And after awhile his discomfort was forgotten in his interest in the conversation and in his covert study of Elea nor, especially in his study of Eleanor. He watched her critically that he might learn, if possible, the secret of her influence pver Paul. His Study forced him. to admit very grudgingly that any man might find it hard to resist her charm. * “Any man or Paul’s temperament, that is," be corrected himself hastily. And be began to doubt the success of his mission to the capital in its ultimate purpose. Finally Mrs. Dunmeade turned to Bob. “Tell us. how is your campaign progressing?"

“'There is considerable opposition." “If your friends' good wishes count for anything.” she said kindly, “you in. We're all anxious to see you elected.”" “One good indication.” Murchell added, “is the viciousness of the newspaper attacks. They overstep ail bounds. That courthouse story, for instance—l personally know that you had nothing to do with it.” “No; I had nothing to do with it.” “Surely there must be some way to Stop such stories." said Eieanor. “What business is it of yours?” Bob wanted to say roughly. Instead he said grimly: “Yes. Bribe the owners.” “Who are the owners of the paper that published the courthouse story?” I she asked? hot seeing or hot* understanding the danger signals dashed across to her by Mrs. iHiumeade. Bob was tempted To tell her the' truth, to shahid ano hurt her beforeher friends, would have been an incense of sweet savor to his hostility. But he caught Mrs. Dunmeade's pleading look. "The opposition," he said carelessly. He was repaid by a grateful look front his hostess. 7 - “How do you arouse a people, Mr. Eleanor inquired quizzically. “Denounce the other side.” he said shortly. “Then in politics one depends for- . success on the faults of the other side rather than on one's own virtues?’ - “Precisely." “No, no,” the governor protested kindly. “Mr. McAdoo isn't just to himself. The truth is while he has been at the head of the Steel City organization”— “Is that a polite name for boss?’ Eleanor interrupted. „ ’ , “I’m afraid it is,” the governor returned pleasantly. “I was going to say that under Mr. McAdoo's leadership the district attorney’s office In your county has been most efficiently and honestly conducted and the present city administration is the cleanest, most economical the city has ever known.” ' “Why are you so sure of being

elected?” Eleanor asked. “Because 1 play the letter game." Suddenly Murchell. who bad taken little part in the conversation, iean.d forward and leveled an accusing tin ger at Bob. jT; •That’s not true." be said sternly. “Il's false to the people of your city and to yourself. You're the shrewdest and boldest politician in this state. But your knowledge of the game alone would never make you mayor of your city, nor wiil it be due to the fact that you are a boss with an ironclad machine at your back. You're more than a boss. You have made yourself the leader of the people in their fight against the railroad-steel trust. Therefore you will win. Not the master politician or the boss of a machine will be elected, but Robert McAdoo, leader of the people. The responsibility will be yours, but it will not be your victory, but the victory of the cause you represent, the victory of the force.”

“The force?” Bob and Eleanor ex-* - claimed together. Murchell’s hand dropped to the table. His lean, haggard face showed a red spot in each cheek. “Yes,- the great social force in whose grip we all are; the fores that makes the man, the social unit, find his happiness, bls welfare, in the happiness and welfare of his brethren, of society; the force that has given* John Dunmeade strength to struggle, libeled and misunderstood, against those who defy this principle of the universe. The force that has placed In you—forgive my bluntness—the crassest egoist. I have ever known, the spirit to defy and fight the same enemy of your brethren. The force that makes you and John Dunmeade. by grace of a common enemy, necessary to each other, and makes you both necessary to the people of this state. The force that will give you the victory." The old politician stopped, his black eyes gleaming fiercely at Bob through the shaggy eyebrows. Of what was going on within him Bob's masklike expression gave no hint as he met Murchell’s gaze impassively. He shifted his glance to the others and found that be. not Murchell. was the target for their eyes Upon Dunmeiide’s gentle face was written the exaltation of the martyr who sees into the beyond and behold-: bis triumph; upon his wife’s countenance, both triumph and understanding Eleanor was looking at him with an expression Bob could not •understand, though he knew that for once it was not hostile. He turned again to Murchell. an ugly glitter in his eyes.

“Do you add the force that led you. the first of the school of corporation politicians, to create the very conditions we are fighting?” Murchell did not flinch. I have been of those who abused power, and therefore I have been the greatest criminal of my day. I add the force that will lead you two to repair the damage I have done.” Bob’s mouth twisted into his sardonic grin. “It's a hopeless theory. Mr. Mun hell. You make us all blind aui tomatons. You take away from me—the crassest egoist you have ever ; known—my individuality, my -reason for existence, my seif, and you give me in exchange a species of sublimated socialism." “Yes," Murchell said quietly, “the socialism of Christ when he commanded ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself.”' ".Your force is as inexorable as God!” “The force is God." Murchell ap- | swered quietly. ’ "Yes,” Mrs. Dunmeade said gently. "for God is love.” Bob turned to her, and the sneer faded from his mouth. “What does the force give us in exchange for our selfishness? What have I, reduced to an automaton, to make'life and action worth while?" "The happiness of seeing your fellows happier." she replied, "and love.” He broke into a rasping, mirthless laugh. "Pardon me.” he said, recov-

ering himself. “I'm not laughing at you or your force, but at a joke I had forgotten. 1 was introduced to your force two months ago." “ “No, my friend." Murchell' said, “at your birth.'’ * When the men w re alone Bob pro eeeded to explain his visit. “Now that we have reached a verd: t convicting me of conspiring to uplift humanity.” be l»egan. “let’s get down to business if you're ready to bear me.” “We are re idy." “The other day.” Bob Went on. “1 bad an interview with Henry Sanger. Jr. Th? interview was at his request. He is backing LJariand. Hari nd doesn’t know it. but there's no doubt about it. Sanger was very frank. He informed me that he and his ‘fellow investors’ intend to break with you openly and •finally and to select the next governor, legislature and senator. He came to propose that I join with them. He held out big inducements He offered

to. contribute to my campaign fund; also to place the next governorship under my control and to put me at the head of the new state organization, subject tq certain limitations, of course. , ■ “I told him that I proposed to line up with you.” Bob paused, looking at th< others inquiringly. . “1 suppose you didn’t leave your campaign merely to tell us this,” Murchell said. r “No. As 1 told Sanger, I choose to join you people. But, of course, my doing so depends upon certain conditions. I must name the next candidate for governor,” Bob said coolly. “That,” Murchell said decidedly, “we can't consent to unless your candidate meets with our approval. - Have you some: one in particular in mind?’ “Yes; Remington.” “Paul Remington?’ Dunmeade ex-

cburned. “I had suspected”— He paused. “His ambition must fly high," Murchell said, looking at Bob in surprise. “No. He knows nothing of the object of this visit. I don’t suppose he has even thought of himself in connection with the next governorship.” “Nor am I prepared for the suggestion.” Murchell said thoughtfully. “Can he be elected?" “He stands as good a chance as any one we could pick. He’s the most popular man in the Steel City. He has a clean personal record. He's well and favorably known over the state. He,has spoken in every county. He’s a good campaigner, and his youth is in his favor.” “Then can we trust him?” Murchell demanded, looking at Bob keenly. “Yes,” Bob answered firmly, almost too firmly, Murchell thought. “Well,” Murchell said slowly; “you may be right; btjt, frankly, while I like and admire Remington, I haven’t absolute confidence In him. He’s brilliant and enthusiastic, but he lacks stability of character, and I doubt if he really has a high conception of political responsibility. The next governor will have need of these qualities, as the present governor has had need of them.” He laid his hand kindly on Dunmeade’s arm. “If we choose him I’ll be back of him,” Bob said, meeting Murchell’s glance steadily. “And—l know him better than you do—if I think there ever is or can be the least doubt as to his good faith or nerve I will withdraw my request." The governor reached his hand across the table to Bob. “Your word is good enough for me.” For an hour they discussed the matter in detail. Bob remaining very firm in his demand. At last Murchell’s consent was won. “Then it’s settled,” he said. “Let us hope we never regret it.” “You will never regret it. Mr. Murchell,” Bob replied earnestly. “If I should change my mind about Remington I’ll support whomever you choose.” “Do you really believe there is any chance of yonr changing your mind?" “I hope not.” Bob answered quickly. “In the meantime, gentlemen, be so kind as to keep this quiet for the present. I prefer that Remington shouldn’t hear of it at,once.” “You have, no objections to my wife knowing. I hope,” said Dunmeade. “I have no-secrets from her. you know." “No. But please see to it that Mrs. Gilbert knows nothing about it—especially Mrs. Gilbert,” Bob added emphatically. - (To be continued.)