the conflict-第58章
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n City was flooded with a special edition of the New Day； given away by Leaguers and their wives and sons and daughtersa monster special edition paid for with the last money in the League's small campaign chest。 This special was a full account of the frauds that had been committed。 No indictment could have been more complete； could have carried within itself more convincing proofs of the truth of its charges。 The New Day declared that the frauds were far more extensive than it was able to prove； but it insisted upon； and took into account； only those frauds that could be proved in a ‘‘court of justice if Remsen City had a court of justice； which the treatment of the League's protectors at the Courthouse yesterday shows that it has not。'' The results of the League's investigations were tabulated。 The New Day showed：
First； that while Harbinger； the League candidate for Mayor； had actually polled 5；280 votes at least； and David Hull had polled less than 3；950； the election had been so manipulated that in the official count 4；827 votes were given to Hull and 3；980 votes to Harbinger。
Second； that in the actual vote Falconer had beaten Hugo Galland by 1；230 at least； that in the official count Galland was declared elected by a majority of 672。
Third； that these results were brought about by wholesale fraudulent voting； one gang of twenty…two repeaters casting upwards of a thousand votes at the various polling places； also by false counting； the number of votes reported exceeding the number cast by between two and three thousand。
As a piece of workmanship the document was an amazing illustration of the genius of Victor Dorn。 Instead of violence against violence； instead of vague accusation； here was a calm； orderly proof of the League's case； of the outrage that had been done the city and its citizens。 Before night fell the day after the election there was no one in Remsen City who did not know the truth。
The three daily newspapers ignored the special。 They continued to congratulate Remsen City upon the ‘‘vindication of the city's fame for sound political sense；'' as if there had been no protest against the official version of the election returns。 Nor did the press of the state or the country contain any reference to the happenings at Remsen City。 But Remsen City knew； and that was the main point sought by Victor Dorn。
A committee of the League with copies of the special edition and transcripts of the proofs in the possession of the League went in search of David Hull and Hugo Galland。 Both were out of town； ‘‘resting in retirement from the fatigue of the campaign。'' The prosecuting attorney of the county was seen； took the documents； said he would look into the matter； bowed the committee outand did as Kelly counted on his doing。 The grand jury heard； but could not see its way clear to returning indictments； no one was upon a grand jury in that county unless he had been passed by Kelly or House。 Judge Freilig and Judge Lansing referred the committee to the grand jury and to the county prosecutor。
When the League had tried the last avenue to official justice and had found the way barred； House meeting Kelly in the Palace Hotel cafe'； said：
‘‘Well； Richard； I guess it's all over。'' Kelly nodded。 ‘‘You've got away with the goods。''
‘‘I'm surprised at Dorn's taking it so quietly；'' said House。 ‘‘I rather expected he'd make trouble。''
Kelly vented a short； grunting laugh。 ‘‘Trouble hell！'' ejaculated he。 ‘‘If he'd 'a' kicked up a fight we'd 'a' had him。
But he was too 'cute for that； damn him。 So next time he wins。''
‘‘Oh； folks ain't got no memoriesespecially for politics；'' said House easily。
‘‘You'll see；'' retorted Kelly。 ‘‘The next mayor of this town'll be a Leaguer； and by a majority that can't be trifled with。 So make hay while the sun shines； Joe。 After this administration there'll be a long stretch of bad weather for haying。''
‘‘I'm trying to get hold of Hull；'' said House； and it was not difficult to read his train of thought。 ‘‘I was a LEETLE afraid he was going to be scared by that document of Dorn'sand was going to do something crazy。''
Again Kelly emitted his queer grunting laugh。 ‘‘I guess he was a LEETLE afraid he would； too； and ran away and hid to get back his nerve。''
‘‘Oh； he's all right。 He's a pushing； level…headed fellow； and won't make no trouble。 Don't you think so？''
‘‘Trouble？ I should say not。 How can heif he takes the job？''
To which obvious logic no assent was necessary。
Davy's abrupt departure was for the exact reason Mr。 Kelly ascribed。 And he had taken Hugo with him because he feared that he would say or do something to keep the scandal from dying the quick death of all scandals。 There was the less difficulty in dissuading him from staying to sun himself in the glories of his new rank and title because his wife had cast him adrift for the time and was stopping at the house of her father； whose death was hourly expected。
Old Hastings had been in a stupor for several weeks。 He astonished everybody； except Dr。 Charlton； by rousing on election night and asking how the battle had gone。
‘‘And he seemed to understand what I told him；'' said Jane。
‘‘Certainly he understood；'' replied Charlton。 ‘‘The only part of him that's in any sort of condition is his mind； because it's the only part of him that's been properly exercised。 Most people die at the top first because they've never in all their lives used their minds when they could possibly avoid it。''
In the week following the election he came out of his stupor again。 He said to the nurse：
‘‘It's about supper time； ain't it？''
‘‘Yes；'' answered she。 ‘‘They're all down at din supper。 Shall I call them？''
‘‘No；'' said he。 ‘‘I want to go down to her room。''
‘‘To Miss Jane's room？'' asked the puzzled nurse。
‘‘To my wife's room；'' said Hastings crossly。
The nurse； a stranger； thought his mind was wandering。 ‘‘Certainly；'' said she soothingly。 ‘‘In a few minutesas soon as you've rested a while。''
‘‘You're a fool！'' mumbled Hastings。 ‘‘Call Jinny。''
The nurse obeyed。 When he repeated his request to Jane； she hesitated。 The tears rolled down his cheeks。 ‘‘I know what I'm about；'' he pleaded。 ‘‘Send for Charlton。 He'll tell you to let me have my way。''
Jane decided that it was best to yield。 The shrunken figure； weighing so little that it was terrifying to lift it； was wrapped warmly； and put in an invalid chair。 With much difficulty the chair was got out into the hall and down the stairs。 Then they wheeled it into the room where he was in the habit of sitting after supper。 When he was opposite the atrocious crayon enlargement of his wife an expression of supreme content settled upon his features。 Said he：
‘‘Go back to your supper； Jinny。 Take the nurse woman with you。 I want to be by myself。''
The nurse glanced stealthily in from time to time during the next hour。 She saw that his eyes were open； were fixed upon the picture。 When Jane came she ventured to enter。 She said：
‘‘Do you mind my sitting with you； father？''
He did not answer。 She went to him； touched him。 He was dead。
As a rule death is not without mitigations； consolations even。 Where it is preceded by a long and troublesome illness； disrupting the routine of the family and keeping everybody from doing the things he or she wishes； it comes as a relief。 In this particular case not only was the death a relief； but also the estate of the dead man provided all the chief mourners with instant and absorbing occupation。 If he had left a will； the acrimony of the heirs would have been caused by dissatisfaction with his way of distributing the property。 Leaving no will； he plunged the three heirsor； rather； the five heirs； for the husband of Martha and the wife of the son were most important factorshe plunged the five heirs into a ferment of furious dispute as to who was to have what。 Martha and her husband and the daughter…in…law were people of exceedingly small mind。 Trifles； therefore； agitated them to the exclusion of larger matters。 The three fell to quarreling violently over the division of silverware； jewelry and furniture。 Jane was so enraged b
