the vision spendid(美景)-第27章
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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 conciliatory hand on his cousin's shoulder。 〃Of course he
doesn't。 He isn't a fool； James。 But there's a good deal in what Rawson
says。 It was a mistake。 The waverers will find in it their excuse for
deserting。 Of course Big Tim has been at them all night。 We'll go right up
to the House in your machine； Rawson。 We haven't a moment to lose。〃
Rawson nodded。 〃It's dollars to doughnuts the thing is past mending；
but it's up to us to see。 If I can only get at Killen in time I'll choke the story
in his throat。 You wait here at the 'phone； Jeff； and I'll call you up if you're
needed at this end of the line。 Better have a taxi waiting below in case you
need one。 Come along； James。〃
If he did not get to Killen in time it was not Rawson's fault； for he
made his car flash up and down Verden's hills with no regard to the speed
limit。 He swept it along Powers Avenue； dodging in and out among the
traffic of the busy city like a halfback through a broken field after a kick。
With a twist of the wheel he put the machine at the steep hill of Yarnell
Way； climbed the brow of it； and plunged with a flying leap down the long
incline to the State House。
James clung to the swaying side of the car as it raced down。 It was
raining hard； and the drops stung their faces like bird shot。 Two hundred
yards in front appeared a farm wagon； leaped toward them； and
disappeared in the gulf behind。 A dog barking at them from the roadside
was for an instant and then was not。 In their wake they left cursing
teamsters； frightened horses； women and children scurrying for safety； and
in the driver's seat Rawson sat goggle…eyed and rigid； swallowing the
miles that lay in front of him。
The car took the last incline superbly and swung up the asphalt
carriage way to a Yale finish at the marble stairway of the State House。
Rawson was running up the steps almost before the machine had stopped。
Farnum caught him at the elevator and a minute later they entered together
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the assembly room of the House。
One swift glance told Rawson that Killen was not in his seat； and as
his eyes swept the room he noted also the absence of Pitts； Bentley； and
Miller。 Of the doubtful votes only Ashton and Reilly were present。
He flung a question anything of Bentley； Akers？〃
〃Mr。 Bentley！ Why； yes； sir。 He was called to the telephone a few
minutes ago and he left at once。 Mr。 Miller went with him； and Mr。 Pitts。〃
〃Were Ashton and Reilly here then？〃
〃No； sir。 They came in a moment before you did。〃
Rawson drew Farnum to one side and whispered。
〃Killen must have gone right from your room to Big Tim。 They got the
others on the phone。 They must have been on that street car we met a mile
back。 There's just a chance to head 'em off。 I'll chase back in my machine
while you call up Jeff and have him meet the car as it comes in。 Tell him
not to let them out of his sight if he has to hold them with a gun。 You keep
an eye on Reilly and Ashton。 Don't let anyone talk to them or get them on
the phone。 Better take them up to the library。〃
James nodded sulkily。 He did not like Rawson's peremptory manner
any the better because he knew his indiscretion had called it down upon
him。 What he had been unable to forget for the past hour was that if this
break to Frome had happened yesterday it would have been he that gave
the orders and Rawson who jumped to execute them。 Now he had slipped
back to second place。
He caught Jeff on the line and repeated Rawson's orders without
comment of his own； after which he went back from the committee room；
gathered up Reilly and Ashton； and took them on a pretext to the library。
It must have been nearly an hour later that a messenger boy handed
James a note。 It was a hasty scribble from Rawson。
Euchred； by thunder！ Both Jeff and I missed them。 Big Tim butted in
with a car at Grover Street before we could make connections。 Am waiting
at the House for them。 Don't bring A。 & R。 in till time to vote。 FROME
CAN'T WIN IF YOU MAKE THEM BOTH STICK。
James stuck the note in his pocket and flung himself with artificial
animation into the story he was telling。 Once or twice the others suggested
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a return to the House； but he always had just one more good story they
must hear。 Since only routine business was under way there was no
urgency； and when at length they returned to the House chamber the clock
pointed to five minutes to twelve。
Rawson and two or three of the staunchest Hardy men relieved
Farnum of his charge in the cloak room and took care of the two doubtfuls。
The seats of Bentley； Miller； Pitts and Killen were still vacant； and there
was a tense watchfulness in the room that showed rumors were flying of a
break in the deadlock。
Already the state senators were drifting in for the noon joint sessions；
and along with them came presently the missing assemblymen flanked by
O'Brien and Frome adherents。
The President of the Senate called the session to order and announced
that the eleventh general assembly would now proceed to take the sixty…
fourth ballot for the election of a United States Senator。
In an oppressive silence the clerk began to call th
