THE GIANTS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1798, 22 August 1906, Page 4

THE GIANTS

By MRS FREMONT OLDER, Authorof “The Socialist andthe Prince.® CHAPTER XXXIV. “Well, ©ebo,’ you said ,yoihd be re* sponsible, and now you must answer for fo. 5 ’ Torretoce had -entefred anil stood looking at Ann. “Responsible for what, Mi* Too> /rente© ?’> Ann furrow}ed her fcmooth, broad, low brow over his words. “Foa’ establishing the precedent off having a pretty woman in the ‘Universe 5 office. Why, even Jiimany, the office hoy is in love with you.” “Nonsenefe, Mr 'Torrence.” She drew a little caricature of Jimmy while she laughed. “I can tell by the way he looks at you, by the way that every man looks at you, that he’s in love with you.” Ann laid down her pencil and remarked: “Don’t, Mr Torrence- It makes me think that you have suddenly taken leave of your senses.” “I have. lam glad you notice it. That is just what is the matter with me. I’ve taken leave of my senses 1 Worse than that, I’ve taken leave of my self-respect! You said I was a monster, but you didn’t mean it. I know I am. I’m a monster, a traitor, an envious, jealous, weak traitor to myself, my friends, the ‘Universe, 7 the Independent Union -Party, and you’re the cause of it. 'lf it hadn’t been for you I’d ’a’ gone on thinking myself a decent, fine chap, with my share of faults, but not and bad-hearted.” His cigar wan unusually black, a band made especially for him in Havana, and he smdked furiously. “Must you continue your mysterious figure of speech, Mr Torrence? I don’t understand it.” “Well. Fin going to Eh rope to-mor-row ‘Bebo.’ ” Ann sat back in her chair, and the crimson fleeing from her cheeks left them as whit© as her soft, white muslin blouse. “Why, Mr Torrence,” she stammered, her eyes shining like black diamonds on ivory. “It’s the day before the circulation of the petitions throughout the city, and you must hammer at the people to sign thsm. Remember, there must be a hundred and fifty thousand names. The Republicans haven’t yet indorsed the nominees. We are just at the beginning of a political campaign, and so much depends on you. I think you are un pen detraque.” “It’s French, hut I know that it means tliat I am nutty. I ami. I know it, ‘Bebo.’ That’s why I’m such a sneak, such a monster, such a lowdown renegade. I’m going to let everything go to the dogs;at the critical moment-, and it’s all your .fault.” “Oh, you are an impossible, erratic man. Why my fault?” “Because, ‘Bebo,’ yesterday when I was leaving Jack -Ireton, who is one of the bulliest, finest chaps—well, lie almost wept gratitude to me, and said, ‘Tell Ann Dallabie all about the conference.’' Natural enough request', wasn’t it? Bht I caught the look in his eyes, the sentimental calf-love look, and on the snot I wished he was damned.” “Mr Torrence !”

“I did, and you’re the cause of it. A fellow knows just how miuch temptation ho can stand. If you’d come to the office once a week, as I suggested, merely to discuss your work, I ,should always have said to myself, What an awfully, nice girl that “Bebo” is! What an awfully pretty girl that “Bebo” is ! What a clever girl that “.Bebo” is! I could talk all day to (r ßebo.” What a lucky chap he will be who gets her!’ You' would have com© and gone in my life aa an impossibility for a monster, yellow editor like me who has lived so long on sensation tliat he is a nervous wreck, unfit for civilised society to put up with to say nothing about a nioe girl like you—but you would come down to this office, and the worst of it is that you, are the moat valuable man on the staff, for you have the best news sense of any one in America except myself, and you don’t waste your time on, clubs and drink the town dry once a month. In spite of your absurd beauty ;T feel that I can’t get on without yoimas'- an assistant. Now, what a position for a man who is discussing an anti-trust bill with a woman, in the. nwdst-of it to fed like telling lier that he would like to die kissing .her hands. You’re to blaim© for this. I knew you were in love -with Jack Ireton. EVen I never had an illusion on the subject. How could I when you, :it seems to me, have hardly allowed a day to pass without- -endeavouring to help him. I knew all last summer when you didn’t see Mm that you were suffering and worrying about him, and I patted myself -on the back for a nice, decent fellow when .1 allowed you to ask him to be - one-of our .attorneys. I didn’t mind then, if or I didn’t become a coward and :a traitor until yesterday, when I realised that I was perhaps the one) on whom hde eleetion rested. I was glad I saw him successful, in my mind, until we separated l , and I saw that expression as ihe mentioned you—mind yon, J always knew 'lie was in love with youso-how ucould he help that-; but when .1 saw it, T - said, ‘I .won’t help build you up rfar her to admire. 3sse iffiepublican i*arbv will

never indorse you. You’ll simply go down a. defeated,, Independent Union candidate foe distrkifc a®®’ struggle ■atlhmg' filial best yen mayF My intelligence tells me that Fm thoranghly contemptible, so, yon needn’t look at mo. in that; way,, ‘Babo.’" I was just as homfiadae. yarn whan.l got that first good strong.,side-light upon myself*. 1m anything you think me. Idonft drmk, so I’ve resolved te wallow in villainy and treachery. It simply goes, so- against the: grain to? help. Ireton build. .himself uptfor yon that I find myself, in. need of a vacation. in Europe.” “Olf course, Mr Torrence, you must cancel the-passage 1 you’ve; engaged; you. must remain here and do everything you. oan to> help- Jack win,, not only for his pake-butfar that of the ‘Universe.’ The paper- has been, identified too long with all* the In depend©! ItUn ion Piirty represents for yon to> abandon him at this moment. You l would; simply blast yourealf if you don’t keep that promise to Judge Dtiingerfield, and' I should never writer another line for your paper. You. may withdraw your support- from. Japk if you- must, ruin him if' you must, in order to- satisfy your unworthy whim, but' ! shall never enter the office. You know I- have had a Few offers from, your hated rivals, and I shall either go home or accept one of them.” She arose, put oil; her white violet hat and- long black and'white check, radingote, and said, “Eon voyage Mu* Torrence. I hope you feel proud of yourself.” She went to the. door, and lie rapidly approached', her, holding out, his hands, and; said, “Admit that you’re to. blame, ‘Bebo*’ ” “A- womair’malways-to blame. Air Torrence*?’ “Now, premise me one thing, Uebo,’ and that is not- to say a word to-Ireton about this, until Fin gone, that you will give me a- chance to get back my good opinion; of myself: for between now and toonorrovv I’m going to try to down all thin nauseating jealousy, and if I- can buckle down and help a youngster' who- is tearing me into bits and taking everything From me, that will be something, won’t it, ‘Bebo’P” “Yes, that will be something, Mr Torrence.

“I’ll take-your wood of honour, die bo.’ I wouldn't, that, of the ordinary woman, and youfll promise me that no matter what your- relations ever become he’ll never know how near a Scamp I. was?” She gave-her hand cm it, and he said as-.she was leaving, “I’ll try, ‘Bebo,’ to bueklo down to it.” i ' ___ CHAPTER XXXV. Early the following morning with trepidation Ann opened the “Universe” to scan its dreaded contents, for she knew that on that morning’s paper depended Jack’s future. On the first page confronted ller the announcement of the Council in Judge D&nger field’s office, the names-of the candidates on the petition for a new party, and in large, black letters was the statement that the “Universe” —since Torrence’s advent the policy of the “Universe” was always chronicled in a special size of type — would support the ticket. Torrence had made valorous atonement, and Ann felt that this was a direct appeal for her forgiveness. Covering the last page of; the journal was %n editorial in large type, broken with the pictures of the principal- candidate's of tile Independent Uhion Party. She had fought and played with Jack in his child world of California, had seen his senior year at Columbia; now she rejoiced at hie debut in the real world of great, events, and not a little> of her pleasure was that more or less she had assisted to place him where he was ; that a portion of her talent , her endeavour, made for' his career; that she had been his need'. At this moment she knew- that Torrence was fiot going abroad-, that lie would stay and fiing his tempestuous, daring- personality into the campaign, and that all which he and hie- paper could accomplish would; be effected. "When die arrived at the office she •found, him nerveless, tranquil, breathing none of his wonted enthusiasm when he. was on the; threshold of a campaign. A». they shook hands-he said, “Well, I did, it, didn’t I, ‘Bebo’ ?” “An editor can he nice after all, Mr Torrence,” she said.

“Not nice at all. I’m no nicer than I was yesterday. I’m still a villain at heart,’ but my understanding tells me wHat a man of honour should bo, and I shall be ruled by that. T can’t return to> the wild in a night. If you were eliminated from the situation—and you must admit it is your fault, that you’re not—l should' work for him. hke a young Brother,, and never stop- until ha had' every power I could give him; but as you would, not eliminate.'yourself ' I am. going, to keep on with the figjht for. the. reason that I. refuse to. admit, to myself' that I would betray a. friend or. party—and at little, too, perhaps,, because L know, what you, expect of me, bo l l.shall put off my, trip until spring.?’ At a, conference held in the office of' the ‘•Universe” later in the day, the City, of New York, was divided, into districts, and volunteers, were called for among sympathisers with. the. new party to obtain the few thousand names, necessary, ini the', State of New- York before ballots- may. legally be When the- canvassers-, assembled Ireton said: “U we-intend to. persuade the Riepublicaas? toe fuse with, us we- must* have &

hundred thousand names within a week.”

5 Judge Dangerffeld leaned on bus stick, regarded’ Jack with his slow smile. : “I had thought ten thousand names ’would be very effective.” ; “No,. Judge, we must create a waver, ; a panic, a landslide, and we ought to have one hundred and fifty thousand ’names.”

[ “And we’ll print them daily in the ‘Universe,’ suggested Torrence.. “Very good, young gentleman. This is the sort of enthusiasm that makes an impression. I have several young ' lawyera in my office, and I will try to obtain 1 twenty thousand names.”

Rutherford, whose acquaintance was wide, whose udHuence was potent, guaranteed an. equal number, while Flaherty, who lived in a Tammany stronghold, thought he would he fortunate to show one-quarter of the strength. Jack,. to their amazement, chose the East Side, which had for many years voted like so many cattle for Tammany, and lie promised unassisted to procure five thousand names. Dangerfiekl shook his large, sago head and said ; “My young friend, do yon know that in the portion of the-East Side you have chosen your life will be in peril?” “No one has ever made a political speech over there, Jack,” Torrence said. “You’d better not have a fool’s oourage.” “Say, you’ve got your nerve with you all right, kid,” FLaherty said, patting Ireton’a- shoulder, “but if you go over there you’re going to get it right in the neck.” ' “Oh, I’ll take care of myself, Flaherty, and get five thousand signatures right in that part of. the city.” So he left his office, went from door to door in the Bowery, like a beggar soliciting a crumb of bread, meeting with faces that scarcely comprehended the meaning of the word election, the Spanish, Italian, French, Irish, Russian Jews, people who imagined that the policeman on the boat was mayor of New York. Here among three unthinking people lie endeavoured to talk of oivio pride. Occasionally one understood, but mere laughed, and for the most part he encountered rebuff after rebuff. Every voter in New York was approached, but the political machines nlaced every obstacle in the way of canvassing, and the opposition papers ridiculed the undignified candidate for district attorney who went about the streets making a personal canvass. In the brownstone assembly and senatorial districts the candidates readily secured sufficient signatures, for clay after day Torrence in the “Universe” emphasised the danger of the election of Rand to the senate, and the city began to understand. That no one might impugn the authenticity of the names, a list of them was published, daily in the “Universe,” where the opposition bosses and journals read that the most significant families in New York had allied themselves with the lowly reform movement. It needed less than a week for tho city to become convinced that a new party had arisen which was to be potent in the election, for within seven days after signatures were first solicited, fifty thousand names were enrolled. Funds in small sums were sent by the unattached voters, the plain-thinking, plain-living citizens, to aid the party, and an the numbers grew the entire city talked of the canvassers, the originality of their methods, the great need of closing the lioueeo of gambling, of renovating the police department, which was blackmailing vice, and of prosecuting the officials of the present administration who were in the pay of trusts. For all decisive action they must look to the district attorney, and so it was about Ireton that most articles were written and most interest centred. In the jungle of the Tammany tiger, where tho life of none but a native was safe, physical strength, always the lowest form of power, served to distinguish Ireton among people who had no other means of estimating the stuff of which he waa made; this lie discovered when he was canvassing for names. At first he was called “the dude”; then he was, greeted with jibes, but his muscular, heavy shoulders saved him from contumely. He first made headway among the Russian Jews, for he promised them, should lie be elected district attorney, he would drive the courtezans from the dark, unsanitary tenement-houses in which families lived, protect their wives and daughters from, the vice that was making it impossible for them to rear them children respectably. The appeal to the family honour of even these lowest of Jews won their signatures, and this alarmed Tammany. That Ireton dared to enter the miserable tenement houses unprotected at first made them doubt bis inelligenoe rather than fear his influence, but when they learned that everywhere he proselytised the Jews, that he walked unharmed as a. young Christ in localities where men were murdered for their cuff Jinks, the Tammany managers were alarmed, and they commissioned their chief bully, ‘.‘Spider” Murphy., a saloon-keeper, to waylay the candidate ; and, one evening at twilight, he struck him, from behind; in. a. narrow, unsightly street, and instantly a crowd swarmed, about the- two? men.

The heavy brute fell upon; Ireton,, who, surprised, went, bo. the ground with little but when ha realised the, situation,, his skill in wrestling, his; experience-in. football, the unviiiated

strength of his American ancestors came to hie aid- and in a second- the two men were struggling side- by side. By wireless telegraphy it was known thelength of the East Side that the reform candidate for district attorney had been attacked by “the Spider,” and an immense audience of saloon-keepers, pawnbroker!, peddlers, small boys, dirty children, tousled women, filled the street, impartially, judicially waiting tosee which should vanquish. These people could not go to plays or operas, but all their emotion responded to a street fight, or drama. When the bully found; himself being beaten, when lie saw his prey escaping lie began to bite, and Jack grabbed him by the throat, thrust his knees against his stomach, released himself from the grasp of the thug, left the “Spider” panting, motionless, on the ground, and arose to, the possession, of the unchallenged admiration of the Fj-irat Side. The boys brought for their hero a howl of water from a saloon, in which lie bathed his face, then helped Murphy to hie feet. When he shook handfl with him there was a conviction on the East Side that Jack should be President of the United States. He took advantage of his success, and that evening obtained more names than during all the preceding days. He did not try to rid himself of the group of small boys who were at his heels, having unhesitatingly transferred their allegiance from “Spider” Murphy to the man who, had worsted him. These lads noted how lie carried his shoulders, that he wore clean linen, and they even endeavoured •to imitate his stride.

When he reported late that night at the office of the “Universe” his East Side admirers were still loath to desert him. They waited while he had an interview with Torrence, who now turned his attention entirely tot the political situation. When he saw Ireton, one of his eyes swollen, liis ear bleeding, he exclaimed. “For God’s sake, what’s the matter ?”

“Tills has been a great night, Torrence,” he said, throwing down the list of voters he had obtained, “five hundred since dinner. What do you think of that?”

The editor ignored the signatures and said’: “Well, look at yourself. Flaherty was right. You did get it. Have- you any idea how you look ?” “The mirrors in the ©levators told me ■that I was not lovely. You ought to see ‘Spider’ Murphy. I feel sorry for him. He really did get it. Tammany thought ‘Spider’ would ‘end the campaign. I’d go through it again for tire good it has done me over there. It is better than being a football hero, I can tell you. Why, the boys who followed me are down-stairs now waiting to go home with me*”

“Splendid, Jack! Why. I’m beginning to think you are lucky. I’ll go down and give them a supper.” Ho nut on his hat. left word that he would return directly,, and before Jack knew it they, were in the elevator. “Do you know to-day we have one hundred thousand names, and we are not going to stop until we reach one hundred and fifty thousand. It’s the chance of a lifetime that you threshed ‘Spider’ Murphy, and it’s the best thing, that could be done for the new party. What a corking advertisement! After we have that other fifty thousand names the Republicans will get into line.” On descending they found the little group of pale-faced, pinched, halfstarved Elasb Side followers, who were gaping at Newspaper Row as a scene of splendour. The entire half-dozen followed the editor and the candidate to the nearest restaurant, where the boys were silenced by much strange luxury. They ate the first clean, wholesome meal of their lives, and tasted such delicious viands that they thought they had. strayed, into dreamland. The men; tried; to converse with them, but they only looked at one another speechless,. for they ate with; the pitiful rapaoityr of poverty. One little boy sur-

roptitieiisly placed l some cake® in hi® pocket, and a companion seeing this warned, “Stop swiping, Tim!” But Torrence answered; “Tim isn’t swiping. We intend you all to take home 1 all the cakes you can carry:” Their pockets bulged with food, and each carried a sack as they left the restaurant, when Torrence said: “Now little men, get into this carriage and drive home. You must be; pretty tired!. ’ ’ “Say, mister,” the eldest and most daring asked of Jock, “you’re coming back to-morrow, ain’t you?” “Yes, to-morrow and every day for weeks,” Ireton answered* “Gee, ain’t that fine! You’lL lick the‘Spider’ every day, f guess.” As the boys- drove away Torrence said to Jack, “And you think you’re poor.” (To be concluded.)