the titan-第55章
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Alexander Rambaud； who was an admirer and follower of Cowperwood's； wondered whether the papers were lying； whether it really could be true that Cowperwood had a serious political compact with McKenty which would allow him to walk rough…shod over public opinion。 Rambaud considered Cowperwood's proposition so sane and reasonable that he could not understand why there should be serious opposition； or why Cowperwood and McKenty should have to resort to such methods。
However； the streets requisite for the loop were granted。 The tunnel was leased for nine hundred and ninety…nine years at the nominal sum of five thousand dollars per year。 It was understood that the old bridges over State； Dearborn； and Clark streets should be put in repair or removed； but there was 〃a joker〃 inserted elsewhere which nullified this。 Instantly there were stormy outbursts in the Chronicle； Inquirer； and Globe； but Cowperwood； when he read them； merely smiled。 〃Let them grumble；〃 he said to himself。 〃I put a very reasonable proposition before them。 Why should they complain？ I'm doing more now than the Chicago City Railway。 It's jealousy； that's all。 If Schryhart or Merrill had asked for it； there would have been no complaint。 McKenty called at the offices of the Chicago Trust Company to congratulate Cowperwood。 〃The boys did as I thought they would；〃 he said。 〃I had to be there； though； for I heard some one say that about ten of them intended to ditch us at the last moment。〃
〃Good work； good work！〃 replied Cowperwood； cheerfully。 〃This row will all blow over。 It would be the same whenever we asked。 The air will clear up。 We'll give them such a fine service that they'll forget all about this； and be glad they gave us the tunnel。〃
Just the same； the morning after the enabling ordinances had passed； there was much derogatory comment in influential quarters。 Mr。 Norman Schryhart； who； through his publisher； had been fulminating defensively against Cowperwood； stared solemnly at Mr。 Ricketts when they met。
〃Well；〃 said the magnate； who imagined he foresaw a threatened attack on his Chicago City Street Railway preserves； 〃I see our friend Mr。 Cowperwood has managed to get his own way with the council。 I am morally certain he uses money to get what he is after as freely as a fireman uses water。 He's as slippery as an eel。 I should be glad if we could establish that there is a community of interest between him and these politicians around City Hall； or between him and Mr。 McKenty。 I believe he has set out to dominate this city politically as well as financially； and he'll need constant watching。 If public opinion can be aroused against him he may be dislodged in the course of time。 Chicago may get too uncomfortable for him。 I know Mr。 McKenty personally； but he is not the kind of man I care to do business with。〃
Mr。 Schryhart's method of negotiating at City Hall was through certain reputable but somewhat slow…going lawyers who were in the employ of the South Side company。 They had never been able to reach Mr。 McKenty at all。 Ricketts echoed a hearty approval。 〃You're very right；〃 he said； with owlish smugness； adjusting a waistcoat button that had come loose； and smoothing his cuffs。 〃He's a prince of politicians。 We'll have to look sharp if we ever trap him〃 Mr。 Ricketts would have been glad to sell out to Mr。 Cowperwood； if he had not been so heavily obligated to Mr。 Schryhart。 He had no especial affection for Cowperwood； but he recognized in him a coming man。
Young MacDonald； talking to Clifford Du Bois in the office of the Inquirer； and reflecting how little his private telephone message had availed him； was in a waspish； ironic frame of mind。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃it seems our friend Cowperwood hasn't taken our advice。 He may make his mark； but the Inquirer isn't through with him by a long shot。 He'll be wanting other things from the city in the future。〃
Clifford Du Bois regarded his acid young superior with a curious eye。 He knew nothing of MacDonald's private telephone message to Cowperwood； but he knew how he himself would have dealt with the crafty financier had he been in MacDonald's position。
〃Yes； Cowperwood is shrewd；〃 was his comment。 〃Pritchard； our political man； says the ways of the City Hall are greased straight up to the mayor and McKenty； and that Cowperwood can have anything he wants at any time。 Tom Dowling eats out of his hand； and you know what that means。 Old General Van Sickle is working for him in some way。 Did you ever see that old buzzard flying around if there wasn't something dead in the woods？〃
〃He's a slick one；〃 remarked MacDonald。 〃But as for Cowperwood； he can't get away with this sort of thing very long。 He's going too fast。 He wants too much。〃
Mr。 Du Bois smiled quite secretly。 It amused him to see how Cowperwood had brushed MacDonald and his objections asidedispensed for the time being with the services of the Inquirer。 Du Bois confidently believed that if the old General had been at home he would have supported the financier。
Within eight months after seizing the La Salle Street tunnel and gobbling four of the principal down…town streets for his loop； Cowperwood turned his eyes toward the completion of the second part of the programmethat of taking over the Washington Street tunnel and the Chicago West Division Company； which was still drifting along under its old horse…car regime。 It was the story of the North Side company all over again。 Stockholders of a certain typethe averageare extremely nervous； sensitive； fearsome。 They are like that peculiar bivalve； the clam； which at the slightest sense of untoward pressure withdraws into its shell and ceases all activity。 The city tax department began by instituting proceedings against the West Division company； compelling them to disgorge various unpaid street…car taxes which had hitherto been conveniently neglected。 The city highway department was constantly jumping on them for neglect of street repairs。 The city water department； by some hocus…pocus； made it its business to discover that they had been stealing water。 On the other hand were the smiling representatives of Cowperwood； Kaifrath； Addison； Videra； and others； approaching one director or stockholder after another with glistening accounts of what a splendid day would set in for the Chicago West Division Company if only it would lease fifty…one per cent。 of its holdingsfifty…one per cent。 of twelve hundred and fifty shares； par value two hundred dollarsfor the fascinating sum of six hundred dollars per share； and thirty per cent。 interest on all stock not assumed。
Who could resist？ Starve and beat a dog on the one hand； wheedle； pet； and hold meat in front of it on the other； and it can soon be brought to perform。 Cowperwood knew this。 His emissaries for good and evil were tireless。 In the endand it was not long in comingthe directors and chief stockholders of the Chicago West Division Company succumbed； and then； ho！ the sudden leasing by the Chicago West Division Company of all its propertyto the North Chicago Street Railway Company； lessee in turn of the Chicago City Passenger Railway； a line which Cowperwood had organized to take over the Washington Street tunnel。 How had he accomplished it？ The question was on the tip of every financial tongue。 Who were the men or the organization providing the enormous sums necessary to pay six hundred dollars per share for six hundred and fifty shares of the twelve hundred and fifty belonging to the old West Division company； and thirty per cent。 per year on all the remainder？ Where was the money coming from to cable all these lines？ It was simple enough if they had only thought。 Cowperwood was merely capitalizing the future。
Before the newspapers or the public could suitably protest； crowds of men were at work day and night in the business heart of the city； their flaring torches and resounding hammers making a fitful bedlamic world of that region； they were laying the first great cable loop and repairing the La Salle Street tunnel。 It was the same on the North and West Sides； where concrete conduits were being laid； new grip and trailer cars built； new car…barns erected； and large； shini
