the cost-第33章
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Money！ Her lips curled scornfullyout here； in her own home； among these simple people； the brutal power of money was master just as in New York； among a people crazed by the passion for luxury and display。
She was kneeling before the safe； was working the combination； paper in hand。 The knob clicked as the rings fell into place； she turned the bolt and swung the door open。 She reached into the safe。 Suddenly she drew her hand back and sat up on the floor； looking at the package。 〃Why； it's for use in the convention！〃 she exclaimed。
She did not move for several minutes； when she did； it was to examine the time lock； to reset it； to close the door and bolt it and throw the lock off the combination。 Then she rose and slowly descended to the library。 As she reappeared； empty…handed； Culver started violently and scrutinized her face。 Its expression put him in a panic。 〃Mrs。 Dumont！〃 he exclaimed wildly。
〃Has it been stolen？〃
She shook her head。 〃No；〃 she said。 〃It's there。〃
Trembling from weakness in the reaction； he leaned against the table； wiping his sweating brow with sweating hands。
〃But；〃 she went on； 〃it must stay there。〃
He looked open…mouthed at her。
〃You have brought the money out here for use in the convention；〃 she went on with perfect calmness。 〃You have tried to make me a partner in that vile business。 AndI refuse to play the part assigned me。 I shall keep the money until the convention is over。〃
He looked round like a terror…stricken drowning man； about to sink for the last time。
〃I'm ruined！ I'm ruined！〃 he almost screamed。
〃No；〃 she said； still calm。 〃You will not be ruined； though you deserve to be。 But I understand why you have become callous to the commonplace decencies of life； and I shall see to it that no harm comes to you。〃
〃Mr。 Dumont willDESTROY me！ You don't realize； Mrs。 Dumont。 Vast property interests are at stake on the result of this conventionthat's our cause。 And you are imperiling it！〃
〃Imperiling a cause that needs lies and bribes to save it？〃 she said ironically。 〃Please calm yourself； Mr。 Culver。 You certainly can't be blamed for putting your money in a safe place。 I take the responsibility for the rest。 And when you tell Mr。 Dumont exactly what happened； you will not be blamed or injured in any way。〃
〃I shall telegraph him at once；〃 he warned her。
〃Certainly；〃 said Pauline。 〃He might blame you severely for failing to do that。〃
He paused in his pacing up and down the room。 He flung his arms toward her； his eyes blazing。
〃I WILL have it！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Do you hear me； I WILL！ I'll bring men from down…town and have the safe blown open。 The money is not yoursit is〃
She advanced to the bell。
〃Another word； Mr。 Culver； and I'll have the servants show you the door。 Yours is a strange courageto dare to speak thus to me when your head should be hanging in shame for trying to make such base use of me and my courtesy and friendliness。〃
His arms dropped； and he lowered his head。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said humbly。 〃I'm not myself。 I think I'm going insane。 PITY me！〃
Pauline looked at him sadly。 〃I wish I had the right to。 ButI SYMPATHIZE； and I'm sorryso sorryto have to do this。〃 A pause； then〃Good afternoon； Mr。 Culver。〃 And she moved toward the door。 At the threshold she turned。 〃I must say one thing furtherTHE CONVENTION MUST NOT BE PUT OFF。 If it is adjourned to…morrow without making nominations； I shall understand that you are getting the money elsewhere。 AndI shall be compelled to put such facts as I know in the possession ofof those you came to injure。〃 And she was gone。
Culver went to Merriweather's office and sent out for him and Larkin。 When they arrived he shut the doors and told them what had happenedand in his manner there was not left a trace of the New Yorker and ambassador condescending to westerners and underlings。 Larkin cursed； Merriweather gave no outward sign。 Presently Merriweather said： 〃Larkin； you must adjourn the convention over to…morrow。 Culver can go to Chicago and get back with the money by to…morrow night。〃
〃No use；〃 groaned Culver。 And he told them the last part of his talk with Mrs。 Dumont。
〃She thought of that！〃 said Merriweather； and he looked the impartial admiration of the connoisseur of cleverness。
〃But she'd never carry out her threatnever in the world！〃 persisted Larkin。
〃If you had seen her when she said it； and if you'd known her as long as I have； you wouldn't say that；〃 replied Culver。 〃We must try to get the money here； right awayat the banks。〃
〃All shut；〃 said Merriweather 〃I wonder how much cash there is at the Woolens and the Oil and Steel offices？ We must get together as much as we canquietly。〃 And he rapidly outlined a program that put all three at work within fifteen minutes。 They met again at seven。 Culver had twenty…six hundred dollars； Larkin thirty…one hundred； Merriweather； who had kept for himself the most difficult task； had only twelve hundred。
〃Sixty…nine hundred；〃 said Merriweather； eying the heap； of paper in packages and silver in bags。
〃Better than nothing；〃 suggested Culver； with a pitiful attempt to be hopeful。
Merriweather shrugged his shoulders。 〃Let's get some supper；〃 he said to Culver。 Then to Larkin： 〃Well； Joe； you'll have to try promises。 Will you keep this cash or shall I？〃
〃You might as well keep it；〃 replied Larkin； with a string of oaths。 〃It'd be ruination to pay one without paying all。 Perhaps you can use some of it between ballots to…morrow。〃 Then； sharply to Culver： 〃You've telegraphed Mr。 Dumont？〃
〃Of course；〃 said Culver。 〃And it took some time as I had to put the whole story into cipher。〃
As Culver and Merriweather were seated； with the dinner before them which Culver did not touch； and which Merriweather ate placidly； Culver asked him whether there was 〃any hope at all。〃
〃There's always hope；〃 replied Merriweather。 〃Promises； especially from Joe Larkin； will go a long way； though they don't rouse the white hot enthusiasm that cold cash in the pocket does。 We'll pull through all right。〃 He ate for a while in silence。 Then： 〃This Mrs。 Dumont must be an uncommon woman。〃 A few more mouthfuls and with his small； icy； mirthless laugh； he added： 〃I've got one something like her at home。 I keep her there。〃
Culver decided to spend the night at the hotel。 He hung round the hotel office until two in the morning； expecting and dreading Dumont's reply to his telegram。 But nothing came either for him or for Merriweather。 〃 Queer we don't get word of some sort； isn't it？〃 said he to Merriweather the next morning； as the latter was leaving for the convention。
Merriweather made no reply beyond a smile so faint that Culver barely saw it。
〃She was right； after all；〃 thought Culver； less despondent。 〃I'll get the money just before I leave and take it back。 And I'll not open this subject with Dumont。 Maybe he'll never speak of it to me。〃
And Dumont never did。
XX。
A MAN IN HIS MIGHT。
Olivia came to attend the convention as Fred was a delegate from Marion County。 Pauline and Gladys accepted her invitation and shared her boxthe convention was held in the Saint X Grand Opera House； the second largest auditorium in the state。 Pauline； in the most retired corner； could not see the Marion County delegation into which Scarborough went by substitution。 But she had had a glimpse of him as she came inhe was sitting beside Fred Pierson and was gazing straight ahead； as if lost in thought。 He looked tired and worn； but not cast down。
〃You should have been here； Polly； when Scarborough came in；〃 said Olivia； who was just in front of her。 〃They almost tore the roof off。 He's got the audience with him； even if the delegates aren't。 A good many of the delegates applauded； too；〃 she addedbut in a significantly depressed tone。
〃Why isn't he a candidate； Mrs。 Pierson？〃 asked Gladys。
〃They wanted him to be； of course；〃 replied Olivia； 〃and I think it was a mistake that he didn't consent。 But he wouldn't hear of it。 He said it simply wouldn't do for him to make the fight to carry the convention for himself。 He said that； even if he were nominated；
