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VILLAINIES
PART 1
When James reached his office next morning he found Killen waiting
for him。 One glance at the weak defiant face told him that the legislator
was again in revolt。 The lawyer felt a surge of disgust sweep over him。 All
through the session he had cajoled and argued the weak…kneed back into
line。 Why didn't Hardy do his own dirty work instead of leaving it to him
to soil his hands with these cheap grafters？〃
No longer ago than yesterday it had been a keen pleasure to feel
himself so important a factor in the struggle； to know that his power and
his personality were of increasing value to his side。
But to…daysomehow the salt had gone out of it。 The value of the issue
had dwindled； his enthusiasm gone stale。 After all； what did it matter who
was elected？ Why should not the corporate wealth that was developing the
country see that men were chosen to office who would safeguard vested
interests？ It was all very well for Jeff to talk about democracy and the
rights of the people。 But Jeff was an impracticable idealist。 He； James；
stood for success。 Within the past twenty…four hours there had been
something of a shift of standards for him。
His visit to The Brakes had done that for him。 He craved luxury just as
he did power； and the house on the hill had said the final word of both to
him in the personalities of Joe Powers and his daughter。 It had come home
to him that the only way to satisfy his ambition was by making money and
a lot of it。 This morning； with the sharpness of his hunger rendering him
irritable； he was in no mood to conciliate disaffectants to the cause of
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which he was himself beginning to weary。
〃Well？〃 he demanded sharply of Killen。
〃I've been looking for your cousin； but I can't find him。 He was to have
met me here later。〃
〃Then I presume he'll be here when he said he would。〃 The eyes of the
lawyer were cold and hard as jade。
〃You can tell him it won't be necessary for me to see him。 I've made
other arrangements；〃 Killen said uneasily。 〃You mean that you repudiate
your agreement with him。 Is that it？〃 Farnum's voice was like a whiplash。
〃I've decided to support Frome。 Fact is〃
〃Oh； damn the facts！ You made an agreement。 You're going to sell out。
That's all there is to it。〃
The young man's face was dark with furious disgust。
Killen flared up。 〃You better be careful how you talk to me； Mr。
Farnum。 I might want to know what Big Tim was doing in your office
yesterday。 I might want to know what business took you up to The Brakes
by a mighty roundabout way。〃
James strode forward in a rage。 〃Get out of here before I throw you out；
you little spying blackguard。〃
〃You bet I'll get out；〃 screamed the mill man。 〃Get clear out and have
nothing more to do with your outfit。 But I want to tell you that folks will
talk a lot when they know how you and Big Tim fixed up a deal〃 Killen；
backing toward the door as he spoke； broke off to hasten his exit before
the lawyer's threatening advance。
James slammed the door shut on him and paced up and down in an
impotent fury of passion。 〃The dirty little blackleg！ He'd like to bracket me
in the same class as himself。 He'd like to imply that IBy Heaven； if he
opens his lying mouth to a hint of such a thing I'll horsewhip the little
cad。〃
But running uneasily through his mind was an undercurrent of disgust…
…with himself； with Jeff； with the whole situation。 Why had he ever let
himself get mixed up with such an outfit？ Government by the people！ The
thing was idiotic； mere demagogic cant。 Power was to the strong。 He had
always known it。 But yesterday that old giant at The Brakes had
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hammered it home to him。 He did not like to admit even to himself that his
folly had betrayed Hardy's cause； but at bottom he knew he should not
have gone to The Brakes until after the election and that he ought never to
have let Killen out of the office without an explanation。 Yesterday he
would have won back the man somehow by an appeal to his loyalty and
his self…interest。
He must send word at once to Jeff and let him try to remedy the
mischief。
His cousin； coming into the office with Rawson just as James took
down the receiver of the telephone； noticed at once the disturbance of the
latter。
James told his story。 It was clear to him that he must anticipate Killen's
disclosure of his visit to The Brakes and so draw the sting from it as far as
possible。 But his natural reluctance to shoulder blame made him begin
with Killen's defection。
〃I told you to let me deal with the little traitor；〃 Rawson exploded。
〃He was quite satisfied when I left him yesterday。 They must have got
at him again；〃 Jeff suggested。 〃I left O'Brien with him。 But I was dead sure
of him。〃
James cleared his throat and began casually。 〃I expect the little beggar
got suspicious when he saw Big Tim coming to my office。〃
〃To your office？〃 Rawson cut in sharply。
The lawyer flushed； but his eyes met and quelled the incipient doubt in
those of the politician。 〃Yes； he came to feel the ground。 Of course I told
him flatly where I stood。 But Killen must have thought something was
doing he wasn't in on。 It seems he followed me to The Brakes yesterday
afternoon when I called on Mrs。 Van Tyle。〃
〃Followed you to The Brakes。 Good Lord！〃 groaned Rawson。 〃What in
Mexico were you doing there？〃
〃Thought I mentioned that I was calling on Mrs。 Van…Tyle；〃 returned
James stiffly。
〃Wasn't that call a little injudicious under the circumstances； James？〃
contributed Jeff with his whimsical smile。
〃I suppose I may call wherever I please。〃
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〃It was a piece of dashed foolishness； that's what it was。 You say
Killen saw you。 The thing will fly like dust in the wind。 It will be buzzed
all over the House by this time and every man that wants to sell out will
find a reason right there；〃 stormed Rawson。
〃Are you implying that I sold out？〃 demanded James icily。
Jeff put a