第74章

``Of course I don't hear anything but that I'm going to be elected.If you want to become convinced that the whole world is on the graft, take part in a reform campaign.We've attracted every broken-down political crook in this region.It's hard to say which crowd is the more worthless, the college amateurs at politics or these rotten old in-goods who can't get employment with either Kelly or House and, so, have joined us.By Jove, I'd rather be in with the out and out grafters --the regulars that make no bones of being in politics for the spoils.There's slimy hypocrisy over our crowd that revolts me.Not a particle of sincerity or conviction.Nothing but high moral guff.''

``Oh, but YOU'RE sincere, Davy,'' said Jane with twinkling eyes.

``Am I?'' said Davy angrily.``I'm not so damn sure of it.''

Hastily, ``I don't mean that.Of course, I'm sincere--as sincere as a man can be and get anywhere in this world.You've got to humbug the people, because they haven't sense enough to want the truth.''

``I guess, Davy,'' said Jane shrewdly, ``if you told them the whole truth about yourself and your party they'd have sense enough--to vote for Victor Dorn.''

``He's a demagogue,'' said Davy with an angry jerk at his rein.

``He knows the people aren't fit to rule.''

``Who is?'' said Jane.``I've yet to see any human creature who could run anything without making more or less of a mess of it.

And--well, personally, I'd prefer incompetent honest servants to competent ones who were liars or thieves.''

``Sometimes I think,'' said Davy, ``that the only thing to do is to burn the world up and start another one.''

``You don't talk like a man who expected to be elected,'' said Jane.

``Oh--I'm worrying about myself--not about the election,'' said Hull, lapsing into sullen silence.And certainly he had no reason to worry about the election.He had the Citizen's Alliance and the Democratic nominations.And, as a further aid to him, Dick Kelly had given the Republican nomination to Alfred Sawyer, about the most unpopular manufacturer in that region.

Sawyer, a shrewd money maker, was an ass in other ways, was strongly seized of the itch for public office.Kelly, seeking the man who would be the weakest, combined business with good politics; he forced Sawyer to pay fifty thousand dollars into the ``campaign fund'' in a lump sum, and was counting confidently upon ``milking'' him for another fifty thousand in installments during the campaign.Thus, in the natural order of things, Davy could safely assume that he would be the next mayor of Remsen City by a gratifyingly large majority.The last vote of the Workingmen's League had been made fifteen hundred.Though it should quadruple its strength at the coming election --which was most improbable--it would still be a badly beaten second.

Politically, Davy was at ease.

Jane waited ten minutes, then asked abruptly:

``What's become of Selma Gordon?''

``Did you see this week's New Day?''

``Is it out? I've seen no one, and haven't been down town.''

``There was a lot of stuff in it against me.Most of it demagoguing, of course, but more or less hysterical campaigning.

The only nasty article about me--a downright personal attack on my sincerity-- was signed `S.G.' ''

``Oh--to be sure,'' said Jane, with smiling insincerity.``I had almost forgotten what you told me.Well, it's easy enough to bribe her to silence.Go offer yourself to her.''

A long silence, then Davy said: ``I don't believe she'd accept me.''

``Try it,'' said Jane.

Again a long pause.David said sullenly: ``I did.''

Selma Gordon had refused David Hull! Half a dozen explanations of this astounding occurrence rapidly suggested themselves.Jane rejected each in turn at a glance.``You're sure she understood you?''

``I made myself as clear as I did when I proposed to you,''

replied Davy with a lack of tact which a woman of Jane's kind would never forget or forgive.

Jane winced, ignored.Said she: ``You must have insisted on some conditions she hesitated to accept.''

``On her own terms,'' said Davy.

Jane gave up trying to get the real reason from him, sought it in Selma's own words and actions.She inquired: ``What did she say? What reason did she give?''

``That she owed it to the cause of her class not to marry a man of my class,'' answered Hull, believing that he was giving the exact and the only reason she assigned or had.

Jane gave a faint smile of disdain.``Women don't act from a sense of duty,'' she said.

``She's not the ordinary woman,'' said Hull.``You must remember she wasn't brought up as you and I were--hasn't our ideas of life.The things that appeal to us most strongly don't touch her.She knows nothing about them.'' He added, ``And that's her great charm for me.''

Jane nodded sympathetically.Her own case exactly.After a brief hesitation she suggested:

``Perhaps Selma's in love with--some one else.'' The pause before the vague ``some one else'' was almost unnoticeable.

``With Victor Dorn, you mean?'' said Davy.``I asked her about that.No, she's not in love with him.''

``As if she'd tell you!''

Davy looked at her a little scornfully.``Don't insinuate,'' he said.``You know she would.There's nothing of the ordinary tricky, evasive, faking woman about her.And although she's got plenty of excuse for being conceited, she isn't a bit so.She isn't always thinking about herself, like the girls of our class.''

``I don't in the least wonder at your being in love with her, Davy,'' said Jane sweetly.``Didn't I tell you I admired your taste--and your courage?''

``You're sneering at me,'' said Davy.``All the same, it did take courage--for I'm a snob at bottom--like you--like all of us who've been brought up so foolishly --so rottenly.But I'm proud that I had the courage.I've had a better opinion of myself ever since.And if you have any unspoiled womanhood in you, you agree with me.''

``I do agree with you,'' said Jane softly.She reached out and laid her hand on his arm for an instant.``That's honest, Davy.''