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looking up from his soup。 〃Their heart is in the right place。
I can't see why in the mischief you ever got mixed up with
that reform gang； Archie。 You've got nothing to reform
out here。 The situation has always been as simple as two
and two in Colorado； mostly a matter of a friendly under…
standing。〃
〃Well；〃Archie spoke tolerantly；〃some of the
young fellows seemed to have red…hot convictions； and I
thought it was better to let them try their ideas out。〃
Ottenburg shrugged his shoulders。 〃A few dull young
men who haven't ability enough to play the old game the
old way； so they want to put on a new game which doesn't
take so much brains and gives away more advertising
that's what your anti…saloon league and vice commission
amounts to。 They provide notoriety for the fellows who
can't distinguish themselves at running a business or prac…
ticing law or developing an industry。 Here you have a
mediocre lawyer with no brains and no practice； trying to
get a look…in on something。 He comes up with the novel
proposition that the prostitute has a hard time of it； puts
his picture in the paper； and the first thing you know； he's
a celebrity。 He gets the rake…off and she's just where she
was before。 How could you fall for a mouse…trap like
Pink Alden； Archie？〃
Dr。 Archie laughed as he began to carve。 〃Pink seems
to get under your skin。 He's not worth talking about。
He's gone his limit。 People won't read about his blame…
less life any more。 I knew those interviews he gave out
would cook him。 They were a last resort。 I could have
stopped him； but by that time I'd come to the conclusion
that I'd let the reformers down。 I'm not against a general
shaking…up； but the trouble with Pinky's crowd is they
never get beyond a general writing…up。 We gave them a
chance to do something； and they just kept on writing
about each other and what temptations they had over…
come。〃
While Archie and his friend were busy with Colorado
politics； the impeccable Japanese attended swiftly and
intelligently to his duties； and the dinner； as Ottenburg at
last remarked； was worthy of more profitable conversation。
〃So it is；〃 the doctor admitted。 〃Well； we'll go up…
stairs for our coffee and cut this out。 Bring up some cognac
and arak； Tai；〃 he added as he rose from the table。
They stopped to examine a moose's head on the stair…
way； and when they reached the library the pine logs in
the fireplace had been lighted； and the coffee was bubbling
before the hearth。 Tai placed two chairs before the fire
and brought a tray of cigarettes。
〃Bring the cigars in my lower desk drawer； boy；〃 the
doctor directed。 〃Too much light in here； isn't there；
Fred？ Light the lamp there on my desk； Tai。〃 He turned
off the electric glare and settled himself deep into the chair
opposite Ottenburg's。
〃To go back to our conversation； doctor；〃 Fred began
while he waited for the first steam to blow off his coffee；
〃why don't you make up your mind to go to Washington？
There'd be no fight made against you。 I needn't say the
United Breweries would back you。 There'd be some KUDOS
coming to us； too； backing a reform candidate。〃
Dr。 Archie measured his length in his chair and thrust
his large boots toward the crackling pitch…pine。 He drank
his coffee and lit a big black cigar while his guest looked
over the assortment of cigarettes on the tray。 〃You say
why don't I；〃 the doctor spoke with the deliberation of a
man in the position of having several courses to choose
from； 〃but； on the other hand； why should I？〃 He puffed
away and seemed； through his half…closed eyes； to look
down several long roads with the intention of luxuriously
rejecting all of them and remaining where he was。 〃I'm
sick of politics。 I'm disillusioned about serving my crowd；
and I don't particularly want to serve yours。 Nothing in it
that I particularly want； and a man's not effective in poli…
tics unless he wants something for himself； and wants it
hard。 I can reach my ends by straighter roads。 There are
plenty of things to keep me busy。 We haven't begun to
develop our resources in this State； we haven't had a look
in on them yet。 That's the only thing that isn't fake
making men and machines go； and actually turning out a
product。〃
The doctor poured himself some white cordial and looked
over the little glass into the fire with an expression which
led Ottenburg to believe that he was getting at something
in his own mind。 Fred lit a cigarette and let his friend
grope for his idea。
〃My boys； here；〃 Archie went on； 〃have got me rather
interested in Japan。 Think I'll go out there in the spring；
and come back the other way； through Siberia。 I've always
wanted to go to Russia。〃 His eyes still hunted for some…
thing in his big fireplace。 With a slow turn of his head he
brought them back to his guest and fixed them upon him。
〃Just now； I'm thinking of running on to New York for
a few weeks；〃 he ended abruptly。
Ottenburg lifted his chin。 〃Ah！〃 he exclaimed； as if he
began to see Archie's drift。 〃Shall you see Thea？〃
〃Yes。〃 The doctor replenished his cordial glass。 〃In
fact； I suspect I am going exactly TO see her。 I'm getting
stale on things here； Fred。 Best people in the world and
always doing things for me。 I'm fond of them； too； but
I've been with them too much。 I'm getting ill…tempered；
and the first thing I know I'll be hurting people's feelings。
I snapped Mrs。 Dandridge up over the telephone this
afternoon when she asked me to go out to Colorado Springs
on Sunday to meet some English people who are staying
at the Antlers。 Very nice of her to want me； and I was as
sour as if she'd been trying to work me for something。
I've got to get out for a while； to save my reputation。〃
To this explanation Ottenburg had not paid much atten…
tion。 He seemed to be looking at a fixed point： the yellow
glass eyes of a fine wildcat over one of the bookcases。
〃You've never heard her at all； have you？〃 he asked
reflectively。 〃Curious； when this is her second season in
New York。〃
〃I was going on last March。 Had everything arranged。
And then old Cap Harris thought he could drive his car
and me through a lamp…post a