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 THE RING AND THE MAN
 
 THEIR CONVERSATION WAS INAUDIBLE TO 
 THOSE IN THE HALL. 
 
 (Page 72)
 
 WITH SOME INCIDENTAL RELATION 
 TO THE WOMAN 
 
 BY 
 
 CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY 
 
 AUTHOR OF " RICHARD THE BRAZEN," " THE ADVENTURES OF LADY 
 SUSAN," " THE SOUTHERNERS," ETC. 
 
 Illustrated by 
 GEORGE GIBBS 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 MOFFAT, YARD AND COMPANY 
 1909
 
 Copyright, 1909, by 
 MOFFAT, YARD AND COMPANY 
 
 All Rights Reserved 
 Published, February, 1909
 
 TO MY FRIEND 
 NOAH H. SWAYNE 
 
 IN GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 OF MANY KINDNESSES 
 
 2228437
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PROLOGUE 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I THE STORM WITHIN i 
 
 II THE STORM WITHOUT 16 
 
 BOOK I 
 THE AWAKENED AMBITION 
 
 I THE LONELINESS OK MR. GORMLY 29 
 
 II THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 41 
 
 III SOCIETY BURSTS UPON MR. GORMLY 59 
 
 IV Miss HALDANE Is CHARMED AND CHARMING.... 74 
 V MR. HALDANE Is GREATLY PLEASED 91 
 
 VI GORMLY ANNOUNCES His CANDIDACY 117 
 
 BOOK II 
 THE BATTLE FOR FREEDOM 
 
 VII THE OUTS WOULD FAIN TAKE A HAND 137 
 
 VIII A QUIET MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 157 
 
 IX THE PLANS OF THE RING 176 
 
 X THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE Is HEARD 193 
 
 XI Miss HALDANE LISTENS TO A DECLARATION 219 
 
 BOOK III 
 
 THE CRUCIAL MOMENTS 
 XII MRS. HALDANE Is SURPRISED 239 
 
 XIII THE DESPERATE POSITION OF HALDANE 254 
 
 XIV GORMLY RESISTS His GREATEST TEMPTATION 268 
 
 XV THE LAST COUNCIL OF WAR 284 
 
 XVI THE CHIEF OF POLICE VISITS MR. GORMLY 297 
 
 BOOK IV 
 THE VICTORY 
 
 XVII COLONEL BILL HAMILTON PLAYS His LONE HAND 329 
 
 vii
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 *s 
 
 FACING PAGE 
 
 Their conversation was inaudible to those in the hall 
 
 Frontispiece 
 
 "You are going on a longer journey than you 
 
 planned!" he panted 10 
 
 Gormly deliberately laid all his cards on the table 114 
 
 44 We can find out all about him ever since he was 
 
 a baby." 174 
 
 44 And this is why you made me that offer of mar- 
 riage ? " 276 
 
 And then at last he understood 364
 
 PROLOGUE 
 A QUARTER OF A CENTURY BEFORE
 
 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE STORM WITHIN 
 
 / I V HE storm was one of the worst that had ever 
 burst from the mountains and swept across 
 the plains. The wind came in wild gusts of tre- 
 mendous speed. Even in the lulls, which were 
 only comparatively such, it blew perhaps twenty 
 miles an hour. The fierce blasts were laden with 
 fine snow, frozen spindrift from a white ocean 
 of cold! Needles of ice sharper than their pro- 
 totypes of steel cut the bare flesh of those whom 
 evil fortune kept abroad on such a night, bring- 
 ing the blood to the freezing skin. The onslaught 
 of the screaming tempest drove the hapless cattle 
 mad with pain and terror. The thick snow com- 
 pelled them to huddle together at last, and shelter- 
 less to suffer, freeze, and die in the pitiless hur- 
 ricane. 
 
 Just where the foothills lose themselves in the 
 prairie lay huddled a little town or camp, trailing 
 back through scattered cabins to the mining enter- 
 prises in one direction, straggling out on the prairie 
 through widely separated farm shacks in the other.
 
 2 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Every door and window was shut and barricaded 
 against the searching storm. The night was far 
 spent. Except from the principal saloon of the 
 place, where some reckless spirits still held high, 
 defiant revel, no feeble glimmer of light endeavor- 
 ing to pierce the white opacity of the driving snow 
 was visible from any quarter save one. 
 
 In one of the poorest and most miserable 
 shanties on the outskirts of the town a woman 
 waited alone. A common kerosene lamp stood on 
 a table before the window, set there as if in signal. 
 Its sickly yellow radiance could not be detected 
 a score of paces off. It furnished, however, suf- 
 ficient illumination to disclose the mean and 
 wretched character of the furnishings of the 
 room. 
 
 The house, a mere shack which shook and 
 quivered under the tremendous assaults of the 
 storm, and might have been blown down if it had 
 not been buttressed and protected by heaps of 
 snow yet threatening to overwhelm it, contained 
 but one room. In the corner farthest from the 
 door stood a tumbled, frowzy bed. A rickety 
 chest of drawers, a kitchen table, a rusty cook 
 stove, a few uncertain chairs of the plainest and 
 cheapest quality, were all the rest of the furniture. 
 A few clothes hung from pegs driven in the 
 boarded wall. A saddle in one corner, a pickax 
 and shovel, a heavy quirt, and a rifle hanging from 
 pegs beneath a shelf sufficiently pointed out the 
 avocations of the owner. That he was not sue-
 
 THE STORM WITHIN 3 
 
 cessful in their practice, or, being successful, that 
 he was wasteful of the returns, was indicated by 
 the appearance of abject poverty everywhere pre- 
 sented; no less exhibited by the woman herself than 
 by the belongings of the hovel. 
 
 Yet she was a woman who, whatever her outward 
 circumstances, showed no poverty of spirit. She 
 raged up and down the room as a prisoned tiger 
 paces the narrow confines of his cage. There was 
 no human eye to note her angry passions, and she 
 took no care to retain them in fear of any other; 
 she gave them full vent. She talked to herself in 
 low, tense whispers. As she walked, she lifted her 
 hands as if in appeal to that Heaven she dis- 
 dained, and then clenched them fiercely in defiance 
 of an apparent indifference at which she raged. 
 Color came and went in her face. Her bosom 
 heaved tempestuously to match the rise and fall of 
 the beating storm. Sometimes she paused in her 
 tireless pacing and stopped by the window, to rest 
 her head beneath her hand on the sash and peer 
 eagerly, passionately, out into the falling snow. 
 She could see nothing, and after having stared 
 with increased disappointment and further mut- 
 tering of angry words, she would resume her rest- 
 less backward and forward march. 
 
 Had there been any spectator when she assumed 
 that picturesque position at the window, where the 
 light, however it failed to illuminate the snow, 
 threw her own face and person in high relief, the 
 observer would have been surprised at the coarse
 
 4 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 and yet not unattractive beauty of her face and fig- 
 ure. She was full lipped and deep bosomed, tall, 
 lithe, strong. Her cheeks were full of color, her 
 hair black and coarsely crisp and curly. Her 
 hands, which she clasped and unclasped nervously, 
 were large and reddened by toil, but they were 
 shapely nevertheless. But there was neither refine- 
 ment nor goodness in her face. There were great 
 possibilities of evil which experience could have de- 
 tected. Hers had been a hard life, and it had 
 made her a hard woman. She was perhaps twenty- 
 five years old; but looked older. Save for a cer- 
 tain maturity of figure, it was easy to believe that 
 under calmer, sweeter conditions she might have 
 appeared younger than she was. 
 
 For hours the woman had waited in that hut 
 alone. It had been storming badly when she 
 began her vigil, and the violence of the tempest 
 had increased until she feared that no human soul 
 could brave it. That she very much wanted some 
 one to attempt it, that she very keenly, ardently, 
 longed for that, was quite evident. 
 
 Great is the power of love. Even its counter- 
 feit that which passes for it in the eyes of the 
 ignorant and inexperienced may stir men and 
 women to mighty deeds. Perhaps equally as 
 great is that fine and chivalric enthusiasm of youth, 
 that quixotic spirit of self sacrifice in the heart of 
 every honorable and honest boy touched with the 
 love of higher things, which needs no old tale of 
 chivalry to fire its ardor. This woman waited
 
 THE STORM WITHIN 5 
 
 the arrival of one who fancied himself a modern 
 Perseus about to release another bound and help- 
 less Andromeda from a devouring monster. 
 
 Whether the man who fatuously filled that 
 role or the boy, rather, for he had not reached 
 man's years or estate would arrive before her 
 husband, was the problem that filled the woman's 
 mind. In view of the blizzard raging, she might 
 have wondered whether, in case either of them 
 sought the house, they could find it or reach it 
 alive. If she had stopped to consider that phase 
 of the possibilities, she would have been pro- 
 foundly glad had both ventured and had both wan- 
 dered on in the night until beaten down and mas- 
 tered by the spirit of the storm, so that the 
 searchers, after its violence had abated, might find 
 them frozen to death as many another poor fellow 
 was found frozen thereafter. For while the 
 woman loathed and hated her drunken brute of 
 a husband, yet she had no affection for the foolish 
 young tenderfoot who had wandered out West to 
 spend a summer holiday and had lingered on 
 through the winter, fascinated by her exuberant 
 attractiveness, and flattered by her bold and artful 
 pursuit of him. 
 
 She had thought to amuse herself in her dreary, 
 wretched, sordid life by his fresh, frank, open ad- 
 miration. The woman's drunken husband had 
 cared little at first; but lately, under the jibes, 
 sneers, and innuendos of his companions, he had 
 become fiercely jealous. Then in maudlin fury he
 
 6 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 had forbidden the boy the house, and had sworn 
 that he would kill him on sight. 
 
 The woman thereupon swiftly made up her mind 
 to break the thraldom of her matrimonial bond, 
 and in the young stranger's company or by his 
 agency to leave the country. She neither desired 
 nor intended to be tied to a boy a half-dozen years 
 younger than she. She had no sympathy with his 
 fine, chivalric and entirely disinterested ideas. 
 That he regarded her as something holy amused 
 her. She could not see things from his viewpoint 
 but she could profit by his unselfish devotion, which 
 was as limitless as his heart was young; and she 
 meant to do it. She was made of commoner clay 
 than he. 
 
 Once in civilization it would be easy to break 
 away from him, she knew. Thereafter she had 
 no fear but with her beauty, her wit, and her 
 courage with her utter unscrupulousness she could 
 make her way in that East which she had never 
 seen she had been born in the mountains but 
 of which he had painted for her even out of his 
 youthful inexperience such strange and alluring 
 pictures. And this was the night on which they 
 had agreed to take their departure. 
 
 Since her husband's wild outbreak of jealousy, 
 she had seen the boy only once. In that surrep- 
 titious interview they had concocted their plans. 
 Her husband spent the greater part of the nights, 
 whenever he had any money, in gambling and 
 drinking at the saloon. By a lucky chance a short
 
 THE STORM WITHIN 7 
 
 time before in an all night trial with Fortune he 
 had won something over a thousand dollars. The 
 bulk of it in hard cash still reposed in the chest 
 of drawers. That, with what the boy could con- 
 tribute, would provide for the expenses of the 
 journey. She had got it out and tied it up in a 
 little canvas bag. It lay on the table near the 
 lamp. 
 
 Fifteen miles south the Union Pacific railroad 
 ran across the continent. It had been her plan 
 to ride thither and take the first train eastward, 
 losing themselves in Chicago, and thence by what- 
 soever route pleased them making their way to 
 New York. Whether her husband would pursue 
 her or not, she could not tell. He would be with- 
 out the money, since she meant to take all with 
 her. It would probably be sometime before he 
 could get more. He had few resources; his mines 
 were worthless. No one trusted him; all men 
 hated him. Such sympathy as there was in the 
 camp would be hers. He would hardly be able to 
 follow her very soon. But if he did, that was a 
 risk she must take. 
 
 Engrossed in the present, the boy thought noth- 
 ing at all about the future. The woman's pre- 
 dicament bulked so large to his immature imagina- 
 tion that there was nothing else on the horizon. 
 There was no other horizon than she, in fact. 
 And his one desire was to get her away to free her. 
 If she had been his sister he could have done no 
 more, no less a singular young Galahad he!
 
 8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 And now this storm bade fair to render the 
 whole plan impossible. Misunderstanding his 
 temper she feared that the boy would be frightened 
 by the blizzard, and she cursed Fortune, which 
 had put what she thought to be so frail an instru- 
 ment of deliverance in her hand. Yet there was 
 more in the boy than she imagined; for when she 
 had about made up her mind finally that he would 
 not come, the door was thrown open and he stag- 
 gered into the room. 
 
 The wild shrieking of the wind and the thick 
 carpet of snow outside had made his approach 
 noiseless. She was startled, therefore, by his sud- 
 den entrance. The room was instantly filled with 
 wind and snow whirling through the open doorway. 
 The lamp flickered wildly. The woman screamed 
 slightly and stepped toward the snow covered, ice 
 incrusted figure. 
 
 The young man forced the door shut, turned 
 and faced her. He tore off his fur cap and threw 
 it on the floor. He stretched out his icy gaunt- 
 leted hands toward her. To reach the cabin he 
 had been compelled to face the blizzard. His 
 face was white yet bleeding. The contrast of the 
 blood with the white of the snow clinging thickly 
 to his heavy buffalo overcoat was startling. The 
 woman shrank back from him. 
 
 " Is this my welcome? " he said in a voice manly 
 enough in spite of his youthful aspect. 
 
 "* You're so wet and so cold," said the woman.
 
 THE STORM WITHIN 9 
 
 But as she spoke she stepped nearer to him ab- 
 sorbed in her own desires and indifferent to him 
 and everything else. 
 
 "Is everything ready?" she asked. "The 
 horses?" 
 
 " They're outside," returned the boy. " But 
 you didn't think of venturing in this blizzard? 
 Why, it's like hell itself, or would be if hell was 
 cold!" 
 
 " I'd risk anything," said the woman fiercely, 
 " to get away from him ! You won't fail me 
 now?" 
 
 " But, good God, girl! " answered the boy with 
 that assumption of superior age which so satisfied 
 his pride, " we'll die in this blizzard." 
 
 " No," persisted the woman. " See, the storm 
 comes straight from the north. Our way is due 
 south; we've only to keep it at our backs." 
 
 " All right," said the boy cheerily. He turned 
 and stared out of the window. " You've no idea 
 how terrible it is, though." 
 
 " I don't care." 
 
 " Get ready, then." 
 
 "I'm ready," she replied. "See!" She 
 lifted the skirt of her dress and showed him a 
 pair of horseman's boots with a pair of her hus- 
 band's trousers tucked tightly in them. "It's a 
 good thing he has a small foot," she sneered. 
 
 " Curse him ! " said the boy. " I'd like to set- 
 tle with him before we go."
 
 io THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " You'll settle with him enough," said the 
 woman cynically, " when you take me away from 
 him." 
 
 She turned and took down from one of the pegs 
 a heavy fur overcoat. The boy assisted her to 
 put it on. From a holster hanging on the wall she 
 drew a small silver mounted thirty-two calibered 
 revolver. She slipped this into the pocket of her 
 coat, drew on a pair of buckskin gloves, covered 
 her head with a closely knitted comforter which 
 she tied under her chin, picked up the bag of 
 money from the table, and faced him. 
 
 " I'm ready," she said again. 
 
 " Let us start, then," cried the boy, stepping 
 forward. 
 
 On the instant a whirl of wind disclosed to them 
 that the door had suddenly opened. They 
 turned to face a drunken, infuriated, leering fig- 
 ure. He had on a short, thick fur jacket, which 
 left his hips completely uncovered. A heavy re- 
 volver had dangled in his holster. He dragged it 
 out as he spoke and trained it on the boy. 
 
 " You're going for a longer journey than you 
 planned! " he panted thickly, as he strove to steady 
 the weapon and cover the other. 
 
 The boy was fumbling at the fastenings of his 
 coat. His own revolver was not get-at-able in- 
 stantly, as it should have been and would have 
 been had he been native to the West. 
 
 "Fumble at 'em, you fool ! " cried the man. 
 " Before you get 'em open, I'll shoot you dead. I
 
 THE STORM WITHIN n 
 
 don't do it now, cause I want you to taste death 
 and hell as long as possible before you go into 'em. 
 You thought you'd make a fool out of me, did 
 you, and you too, you " 
 
 He flung a frightful, mordant word at his wife 
 which stung not less because it was in large 
 measure undeserved, at least so far as the boy was 
 concerned. 
 
 " I'll settle with you when I get through with 
 him. Your time's almost up ! " he continued, as 
 the boy at last succeeded in reaching his weapon. 
 
 He was game, that boy, although his face under 
 its blood was whiter than it had been when he 
 entered the cabin, while the other man's, similarly 
 snow wounded, was red with rage; and, though 
 he was covered and even a drunken man could 
 scarcely miss at such range, he nevertheless drew 
 his own weapon. But before he could raise it 
 there was a sudden movement back of him. The 
 man in the doorway turned sharply. 
 
 " What ! " he cried to his wife. " You would, 
 you " 
 
 At that instant the boy was conscious of a sud- 
 den flash of light and a sharp detonation. The 
 room was filled with noise, a little cloud of smoke 
 blew down on him. Standing with his own pistol 
 butt clasped tight in his hand, he saw the man in 
 the doorway reel. The arm that held his weapon 
 dropped to his side. With a convulsive movement 
 he pulled the trigger. The bullet buried itself in 
 the floor, while the man sank down on his knees,
 
 12 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 swayed a moment, a frightful look in his eyes, and 
 then pitched forward on his face and lay still. 
 
 " Good God ! " whispered the boy turning to 
 his companion, "you've shot him! " 
 
 He stared at the woman, who still clasped the 
 little silver mounted weapon she had used with 
 such terrible effect. 
 
 " It was his life, or your life, or mine," was 
 the answer. " I did it for you," she said quickly, 
 seeing a look of horror and repulsion spreading 
 over the face of her companion. 
 
 " Yes yes ! I know," he replied ; " but " 
 
 " Come we must get out of here immediately." 
 
 ** Of course, of course," whispered the boy nerv- 
 ously, " we can't stay here now." 
 
 " Drag him into the room and shut the door! " 
 
 The lad hesitated. 
 
 " Are you afraid? " sneered the woman, making 
 as if to do so herself. 
 
 " Certainly not," was the answer; but the boy 
 nevertheless was afraid afraid of death, with 
 more fear than he had ever felt for any one living. 
 
 He had not lived long enough where life was 
 the cheapest of commodities to make him indif- 
 ferent to the ghastly heap on the floor. The 
 peaceful spirit of more civilized regions had not 
 yet been eradicated from his being. Yet some- 
 thing had to be done and at once. 
 
 Forcing himself to the task at last, he stooped 
 down, seized the man by the shoulders, turned 
 him over on his face, and dragged him farther into
 
 THE STORM WITHIN 13 
 
 the. room. Then he shut the door. The two 
 stared a moment at the prostrate figure. 
 
 " He's not dead yet," said the boy slowly. 
 
 " No ; but he soon will be." The woman 
 stooped over and unbuttoned the man's coat and 
 waistcoat. "There!" she said pointing to a 
 ghastly hole. " I struck him fair in the breast. 
 Would to God it'd been in his black heart! " she 
 added. " Don't you see that we must go now and 
 quick?" 
 
 " I see," said the young man. He straightened 
 himself up, clenched his hand, summoning his cour- 
 age. " It had to be, I suppose, and as you say it 
 was for me; but I wish you hadn't done it." 
 
 " Past wishing for now," said the woman coolly. 
 " Come, we can't delay any longer." 
 
 44 I'll take the blame on myself if we're caught." 
 said the boy. " It was my fault and you saved 
 my life." 
 
 ' That's noble of you," returned the woman in- 
 differently; "but we won't be caught." 
 
 : ' Well, then, I'll save your reputation before I 
 go," continued the other quixotically. 
 
 There were a few tattered books on the shelf. 
 He took one down, tore out the flyleaf, drew a 
 pencil from his pocket, scribbled on it a few words, 
 signed it, held it to the woman to read, laid the 
 leaf down on the body of the dying man, and then 
 turned to the door. He opened it, and the woman 
 followed him out into the night. 
 
 The room was very still. Within its walls a
 
 14 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 tempest fiercer and more cruel than that which 
 stormed without had raged. All was quiet and 
 silent now. The lamplight, as before, fell un- 
 heeded on the whirling snow outside. Inside it 
 illumined the ghastly, pain contorted counte- 
 nance of the man lying on the floor. The blood 
 welled out from the wound, rolled slowly across 
 his breast, soaked his garments, and lay in a lit- 
 tle dark pool beneath him. Except for the long, 
 slow, faint, and fainter breathing of the man, there 
 was not a sound within the hovel. 
 
 Death hovered over him the long night through. 
 The morning found him still alive, yet barely 
 breathing. He was trembling on the eternal verge 
 later in the day when men seeking him burst into 
 the room. They found the letter of confession 
 still lying where it had been placed. They re- 
 vived the man sufficiently by stimulants to enable 
 him to speak a pregnant word or two before his 
 lips closed forever. 
 
 The confession, the bullet that had killed him, 
 the empty revolver, and the man's last words, 
 solemnly attested by those present, were care- 
 fully preserved by the leader of them all. They 
 might be useful some day; who knew? For the 
 rest it was evident what had happened. The boy 
 and the woman were gone from the camp. No 
 search was made for them; none was possible. 
 The blizzard had spent itself by that time; but 
 the prairie was covered deep with drifted snow. 
 A period of intense cold supervened. It was
 
 THE STORM WITHIN 15 
 
 hardly within human possibility that the two fu- 
 gitives could have got safely away. They must 
 be buried somewhere to the southward in the 
 vast drifts. Spring might reveal their fate, it 
 might remain forever a secret. So far as the 
 denizens of the country were concerned, the 
 tragedy one of the numberless ones of the 
 frontier was over. In a day or two it was for- 
 gotten.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 THE STORM WITHOUT 
 
 / "|~ A HE woman's first thought when she stepped 
 * outside the door was that at all hazards 
 they must go back. The wind almost swept her 
 away; only the steadying grasp of the boy, better 
 prepared than she for the attack of the storm, 
 enabled her to keep her feet. Yet the presence 
 of that ghastly thing on the floor which was af- 
 fecting even her iron nerve, prevented their return. 
 Whatever happened they must go on ! The door 
 of that shelter was closed to them forever by the 
 dead or dying tenant. She realized, however, 
 that their chances of escaping freezing to death 
 in this mad endeavor were so small as to be prac- 
 tically none. Well, fate had forced her into this 
 position. She would follow the path she had 
 chosen, whatever might be at the end of the way. 
 Speech was well nigh impossible. The boy 
 staggered on past the window, and she followed 
 until the lee of the house was reached. Between 
 a great drift and the wall, in a little open space, 
 the horses were tied. The boy was a natural 
 horseman. He had picked out the best two 
 broncos in the camp. If any animals could take 
 them to safety, these could. Not yet chilled by 
 
 16
 
 THE STORM WITHOUT 17 
 
 the fierce cold, they untied the shivering, re- 
 luctant, terrified horses from the wooden pins 
 driven into the chinks between the log walls of 
 the house to which they had been hitched, mounted 
 them, and threading their way round the drift 
 started southward on their awful ride. They 
 left death behind them and lo! death loomed 
 before and on either hand. 
 
 Except where the storm was broken by houses, 
 drifts had not yet formed. The wind was too 
 terrific; it swept the level prairie clean. But away 
 from the shelter of the house they got the full 
 force of it. Although they were thickly clad in 
 wool and fur, the pressure of the storm drove 
 their garments against their bodies, and soon filled 
 them with icy cold. There was no help for it, 
 no relief from it. They had to bear it. They 
 could only bend their backs to it and keep on, trust- 
 ing to the endurance of their horses. Fortunately 
 the wind was at their backs. There was no fear 
 that they would lose their way, or that the horses 
 would go astray so long as it blew steadily from 
 the north. No horse, left to itself, would ever 
 have attempted to face that storm. So long as the 
 storm held, if the horses had to go at all, they 
 would go south before it. So for untold periods 
 they plodded on. 
 
 The woman judged that it had been about one 
 in the morning when they had started. The 
 Overland Limited ran through the station at three. 
 No horses that lived could have made that fif-
 
 i8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 teen miles in two hours under those conditions. 
 It was more than probable, however, that the 
 Limited would be greatly delayed by the storm, 
 and if they kept going steadily they would be 
 likely to catch it. At any rate, when they reached 
 the station, they would find food, fire and shelter. 
 
 She was experienced enough to know that as the 
 storm blew itself out and the wind gradually fell, 
 the drifts would pile up beind them as well as be- 
 fore them, and the cold would come; so that they 
 would be safe from pursuit for a day or two 
 certainly. She hoped to reach the station before 
 the wind died away. If their horses did not give 
 out, if they were not turned adrift on foot in the 
 storm and snow and left to plod on until they fell, 
 and slept, and froze, and died, they would perhaps 
 get away. 
 
 More experienced than the boy, all these possi- 
 bilities were present to her. She did not pray, 
 she could ask nothing of God; but she went warily 
 and carefully, helping her horse where she could. 
 
 As for her companion, he did not give these 
 matters very much consideration. He kept going 
 toward the south to the railroad station because 
 that was the only thing to be done. He was even 
 miserably satisfied because he was taking the 
 woman away from a life of such sordid wretched- 
 ness that it had awakened his pity. It seemed to 
 him that he was doing a fine and noble thing and 
 he was. That the world would put any other 
 construction upon his action never occurred to
 
 THE STORM WITHOUT 19 
 
 him. But if it had he would not have cared. He 
 felt like a knight errant of old sometimes when 
 he could forget the dead man. 
 
 The two horses kept close together for com- 
 panionship. Indeed, the woman took care that 
 this should be. Her body touched his from time 
 to time as they rode. He could see her by turn- 
 ing his head slightly to one side. 
 
 Another, however, rode with him, if not with 
 her. Before his eyes was ever present that gory, 
 grizzly spectacle of a human form, the red blood 
 welling from its breast, redder still from the white 
 snow with which he was surrounded. That awful 
 figure beckoned him on. He was younger, finer, 
 better, than she. He was more fool than knave; 
 she was all knave. Her thoughts went forward 
 to what was before her; but his went backward to 
 what was behind. 
 
 They rode in silence. The noise of the tempest 
 made conversation practically impossible. It was 
 wiser, even his inexperience recognized, to save 
 breath for the struggle that lay before them, 
 and so in that darkness they plodded on and 
 on Red Care leading the Horseman through 
 the white snow! 
 
 After a long time it seemed to them that the 
 fierceness of the storm was somewhat abated. The 
 wind was certainly falling; but the drifts were 
 steadily rising, and their progress was more dif- 
 ficult every moment for that cause. Their very 
 souls were numb with the awful cold. Still they
 
 20 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 went forward, slower now, and more slowly ever. 
 
 How far they had come, what time it was, 
 where they were, neither he nor she could tell. It 
 seemed to them both that they had been hours on 
 the way. The woman was sure that they must 
 have compassed the greater part of the journey, 
 when her horse suddenly stumbled and fell. She 
 was larger and heavier than the boy, and hers had 
 been the weaker steed. Her bronco's matchless 
 endurance had at last been exhausted by the ter- 
 rible struggle of their journey. He lay dying 
 where he fell, and nothing she could do could 
 get him up again. He was down and out, done 
 for. The boy had stopped of course, when her 
 horse had fallen. He had dismounted and helped 
 her to rise. He had assisted her vain efforts to 
 get her own played out horse on its feet. The 
 two now stood staring at each other in dismay. 
 
 " You must take my horse," said the boy at 
 last. 
 
 The woman nodded. With his assistance she 
 climbed slowly and painfully into the saddle, took 
 the reins from the boy, and started on. Her com- 
 panion caught hold of the stirrup leather and 
 staggered forward by her side. The going was 
 now infinitely harder for the remaining horse. 
 The woman immediately realized that with this 
 almost dead weight plunging through the deep 
 drifts and dragging heavily at the stirrup leather, 
 the remaining bronco would soon be exhausted. 
 
 The cold had grown more intense. She was
 
 THE STORM WITHOUT 21 
 
 almost paralyzed and dumb with it; and what must 
 be the condition of the man reeling and stagger- 
 ing by her side, sustained only by his convulsive 
 grasp on the stirrup leather, she could well imag- 
 ine. She had meant to play fair with him but it 
 could not be. And so for a long time the trio 
 plodded on in this way, the woman nerving herself 
 to a frightful action as best she could. She hes- 
 itated to do it. She was reluctant 
 
 But no horse that ever lived could stand such 
 a strain. She knew that it would be a matter of 
 minutes now when the animal she rode on would 
 also fall, and lie when he had fallen like his dead 
 brother back on the trail, and then she and the 
 boy would inevitably perish. 
 
 She looked down at him as he reeled and 
 plunged by her side. She could not see the boy's 
 face. His head was bent over. He too was 
 almost at the limit of his endurance. He was 
 covered with ice and snow, a ghostly sort of 
 wraith lurching on at her feet! 
 
 Well, it was his life or hers! The decision 
 was forced upon her. And perhaps after all it 
 was just as well to get rid of them both and have 
 done with it. The hand that had pulled the trig- 
 ger was willing to do what was to be done again. 
 This time it needed no weapon. Her horse was 
 going very slowly. She reached over, and before 
 the boy realized what was happening she caught 
 his hand, tore his fingers from the saddle strap, 
 and thrust him violently backward. Unprepared,
 
 22 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 unsuspecting, half-dazed, he could offer no ade- 
 quate resistance. He was a slender lad, not yet 
 having reached his full growth for all his nine- 
 teen years. He reeled and fell supine in a deep 
 and overwhelming drift. She struck the horse 
 heavily with the whip that hung from the saddle 
 bow, and the animal plunged forward wildly. To 
 put as much distance as possible between herself 
 and the boy, she urged him on. She knew that 
 she was safe unless he should try to shoot her; for 
 he was too weak and too exhausted to catch her. 
 A few more steps would put her out of sight too, 
 though there were already indications of breaking 
 day to her left; so she mercilessly urged forward 
 the gasping, exhausted horse. 
 
 The boy's senses were quickened into instant 
 action by her conduct. After the first moment of 
 surprise, he knew at once that she was deliberately 
 abandoning him to die in the snow. A hot rush 
 of blood, in spite of the cold, swept over him. 
 He thrust his hand within his coat and dragged 
 out a weapon. He raised it and trained it on 
 the woman's back, and for the moment his hand 
 did not tremble. Then there rose before him 
 that other gory figure. Though he had lived 
 some months on the wild frontier and had seen 
 more than one man killed there, he had never 
 been connected with murder before, even as an ac- 
 cessory after the fact, and the horror of it was still 
 upon him. He lowered the pistol, though he 
 could easily have shot her dead. As he did so
 
 THE STORM WITHOUT 23 
 
 the figures of horse and woman disappeared from 
 his vision in the snow, thicker now and falling 
 more steadily and softly. He thrust the pistol 
 back into its holster, fastened his coat again, and 
 by a superhuman effort rose to his feet. 
 
 Such treachery on the part of a woman would 
 have killed some men; not so this boy. In that 
 moment he became a man. He saw some little 
 justification for the drunken husband too as he 
 realized the character of the woman he had so 
 unselfishly sought to succor. He saw himself a 
 fool; he determined that he would not also see 
 himself a coward. Clenching his fists and sum- 
 moning his strength, he followed southward afoot 
 in the woman's wake. 
 
 What his idea was, whether to pursue her, to 
 overtake her, to reproach her, maybe to kill her; 
 or whether it was simply the heroic resolve that he 
 would not be beaten down, that if he died, he 
 would die not supinely but exerting his manhood 
 to the last limit of its power, he did not know, 
 he could not tell. Probably it was a combination 
 of both motives. At any rate, with leaden feet 
 and aching muscles, with bursting heart and throb- 
 bing temples, with freezing body and dead soul, 
 he plodded on and on. 
 
 Nor was he alone. As before, the red figure 
 was with him. This time it seemed to be by his 
 side. He had a strange sort of sympathy for 
 that dead man now. Perhaps there had been 
 reasons for his drunken, abandoned course.
 
 24 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Alone or not, with desperate determination he 
 staggered on. 
 
 It was such a feat of endurance and persistent 
 courage as humanity under normal conditions was 
 not capable of. He walked if that be the 
 word for his progress with his head down and 
 his body bent lower and lower. He took long 
 rests between the steps. By and by he fell for- 
 ward on his face. The sensation of delicious rest 
 and drowsiness that swept over him wooed him to 
 lie still and die; but there were still sparks and 
 remnants of manhood and courage in him. He 
 shook off his desire to sleep at last and strove 
 frantically to rise. Finding that he could not, 
 he crawled forward on his hands and knees, slowly 
 working himself over the snow covered ground, 
 round the drifts like a great animal. 
 
 There was no use. Humanity could not stand 
 the strain any longer. One more movement he 
 made, and just as he was about to sink down for- 
 ever he heard a long, deep hollow, mournful 
 sound. He stopped, interested, dimly wondering 
 what it could be. 
 
 Whatever it was, it meant life of some kind. 
 It came from directly in front of him. It nerved 
 him to further effort. Summoning the last vestige 
 of his strength, he advanced a little farther. The 
 faint notes of a bell came to his ear. There was 
 life, and there was rescue! He could not give 
 up now! He writhed forward convulsively, his
 
 THE STORM WITHOUT 25 
 
 head swaying from side to side, more animal like 
 than ever. 
 
 Lights appeared in the dull, dead, leaden gray 
 of the breaking winter dawn. He heard that bell 
 again, the grinding of steel on steel, the noise of 
 a whistle, the deep sobbing breath of escaping 
 steam. 
 
 He knew what it was now. It was a loco- 
 motive. 
 
 He lifted his head and saw lights faintly. He 
 divined that it was the station, the train, the Over- 
 land Limited ! She would get on it and go away ! 
 What mattered it? 
 
 And what of himself? There was help; there 
 was life ! He actually rose to his feet and 
 wavered on. By happy chance the contour of 
 the ground had caused the space between him and 
 the lights to be swept comparatively bare of snow. 
 It was not now difficult walking, yet he staggered 
 like a drunken man. 
 
 Ah ! the lights were moving before his eyes, 
 they danced and flickered. The train was going! 
 He broke into a reeling run, hoarse whispers on 
 his frozen lips. Too late I 
 
 He stumbled and fell across the car tracks, 
 dimly conscious of the lights, of the departing 
 train. He had just sense enough and strength 
 enough to cry out as he did so. Some one on the 
 station platform heard his voice. Men came 
 toward him; he was lifted up and carried into a
 
 26 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 warm room. Something burning yet deliciously 
 reviving was poured down his throat. 
 
 " The woman ! " he gasped out, looking up in 
 the faces of the station agent and his helper bend- 
 ing over him. 
 
 " She took the Limited not five minutes ago." 
 said the man staring at him curiously. " The 
 train was two hours and a half late or she'd never 
 have got it." 
 
 " She's gone then ? " gasped the boy. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Thank God she got away ! " he murmered as 
 he lapsed into complete unconsciousness. 
 
 There was good stuff in the boy. He was glad 
 the woman had escaped in spite of all. He did 
 not want another human being's life on his hands. 
 The red figure alone in the cabin was enough. 
 The remembrance of him would be with the boy 
 when the woman herself was forgotten.
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE LONELINESS OF MR. GORMLY 
 
 / ~T" V O his great surprise, George Gormly some- 
 -* times found himself feeling lonely, and the 
 oftener so as he grew older. Every man who 
 has a natural liking for women, and what true 
 man has not? yet who has no intimate friend- 
 ships with or relations to the other sex, is likely 
 to find himself in that state of mind sooner or 
 later. The exceptions to this rule are certain con- 
 firmed bachelors, whom age and experience, to- 
 gether with a certain habit of independent self 
 reliance, not always the sole property of the male 
 sex, have rendered immune to the depression of 
 solitariness. Gormly was sufficiently aged ; he was 
 fourty-four although he looked much younger. 
 He was sufficiently experienced; he had dealt with 
 women for a straight quarter of a century although 
 he had neither loved nor married one. He was 
 sufficiently self reliant; he had built up by his own 
 unaided efforts the greatest retail merchandise 
 business of his day and generation. He was suf- 
 ficiently independent for he had done it 
 alone to have been above the ordinary feeling 
 of loneliness. Nevertheless, he was tempermen- 
 
 29
 
 30 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 tally lonesome, and at this particular moment des- 
 perately so. 
 
 He had drifted into New York some twenty- 
 five years before, utterly unheralded, unnoticed. 
 He had a little money in his pocket; youth, 
 strength, good looks to accompany it; a certain 
 keen commercial ability latent in his being; and a 
 wealth of bitter cynicism in his heart, bad from 
 the social viewpoint in one so young (he was only 
 nineteen), but not entirely useless in the business 
 career he had marked out for himself. He had 
 begun by filling a small clerkship in a little dry- 
 goods store. He kept at it until he owned the 
 store, and after that a larger store on a better 
 street. He had developed a genius for trade, and 
 an executive ability in accord, until the original 
 little shop had expanded into a fifteen-story 
 building covering a block on the principal thorough- 
 fare of New York City, and its owner had become 
 a power in finance, a merchant prince. Such 
 was George Gormly. 
 
 He was, too, a scrupulously honest man. He 
 sold good goods, without deceit. Things were as 
 he represented them. He established principles of 
 accommodation in his dealings that were unique 
 when they were first instituted in New York. He 
 made no dishonest dollars. His money was good 
 everywhere because it was untainted. His word 
 was his bond. Even that portion of the business 
 and speculative world which openly mocks at integ- 
 rity, in its heart respected him. He prospered ex-
 
 THE LONELINESS OF MR. GORMLY 31 
 
 ceedingly, one expansion following another. His 
 methods were legitimate beyond dispute. Eschew- 
 ing speculation of any kind and devoting himself 
 strictly to his business, he found himself in middle 
 life the head, the foot, the sole owner, of the 
 greatest enterprise of the kind that the world had 
 ever seen. 
 
 This had not been achieved lightly. He had 
 brought it about because, with absolute single- 
 ness of heart, he had put every ounce of strength 
 and time and talent, which in him amounted to 
 genius, at the service of his affairs. Time, talent, 
 and genius do not always produce such results; 
 Fortune still must be considered in the game. 
 Opportunity had favored Gormly. He had suc- 
 ceeded in everything beyond his own or anyone's 
 wildest dreams. No one had dreamed any 
 dreams for him, each one must do that for 
 himself, but the speech is figurative and con- 
 veys the meaning. 
 
 He was a modest, quiet man, not given to 
 blowing his own horn except in so far as the 
 advertising of his goods might be so considered 
 and minding his own concerns until the world sud- 
 denly woke up to the fact that it harbored a colos- 
 sus of trade on its surface, and New York realized 
 that his name was George Gormly. 
 
 Keeping out of the hurry and flurry of Wall 
 Street; living modestly in his uptown apartment; 
 a member only of The Bachelors, a very quiet, sub- 
 dued, uninfluential, but extremely comfortable
 
 32 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 club, in which even the thought of woman was 
 tabooed, it was said; owning neither yachts, nor 
 horses, nor racing machines; keeping sedulously 
 out of the papers, save by way of business, 
 it was years before his fortune became the marvel 
 of the sensational press and the subject of en- 
 vious and amazed comment. Indeed, he might 
 have gone on indefinitely in his mercantile opera- 
 tions without attracting special attention to him- 
 self personally, had it not been for one fact. 
 That momentous happening was his meeting with 
 Miss Haldane. 
 
 It had come about in a commonplace way 
 enough. Miss Haldane, deeply interested in so- 
 cial settlement work and being brought in con- 
 tact thereby with some of the poorer employees 
 of the great Gormly establishment, had con- 
 cluded to call on the proprietor thereof to see if 
 she could not induce him to make some adequate 
 contribution to the work she. had so much at 
 heart. Like every other business man in New 
 York, Gormly was overwhelmed by charitable de- 
 mands. His business was one thing; his charity 
 another. He employed a special secretary to look 
 after the eleemosynary end of his affairs. Upon 
 this astute young man usually devolved the busi- 
 ness of seeing, hearing, refusing, or granting all 
 such requests, whether proffered by letter or in 
 person. 
 
 There were two reasons why the secretary felt 
 himself unequal to deal with Miss Haldane and
 
 THE LONELINESS OF MR. GORMLY 33 
 
 her demands. The first reason was Miss Hal- 
 dane herself. She was a member of the oldest 
 and most exclusive circle in New York society. 
 Her family was one of the richest and most es- 
 teemed in that hive of multi-millionaires, would- 
 be-sos, also-rans, and other people. The second 
 was the magnitude of Miss Haldane's demand. 
 She wanted something like a million dollars. This 
 amount appalled the secretary. It amazed 
 Gormly too, when requests and requester or 
 should I say requestress? were both promptly 
 referred to him. 
 
 Miss Haldane was wise in her generation. As 
 she lived among, so also she dealt in, millions. 
 She realized that a man like Gormly, indeed most 
 men if they had the power, would much rather 
 give a million than a dime to an undertaking that 
 appealed to them. Still, Gormly, having devoted 
 his attention so exclusively to his business hereto- 
 fore, was rather staggered by the magnitude of 
 the amount. He would have been more staggered 
 by it, had he been less so by Miss Haldane herself. 
 
 A man whose chief business it is to adorn 
 womankind is likely to take notice of the attire 
 of such members of the sex as he may meet. To 
 say that Gormly could not have told what Miss 
 Haldane had on at any time during the interview 
 or after she left is to convince the hearer that 
 there must have been adequate cause for his 
 oblivion. The truth was trite though the say- 
 ing that Miss Haldane was a woman who
 
 34 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 adorned her clothes rather than the reverse. All 
 you got from her was an impression, an impres- 
 sion the more strong because of absence of detail. 
 She was a woman, and must have worn a woman's 
 frock of course; but what it was or how it was 
 made were purely immaterial details. 
 
 Miss Haldane had beauty. Thousands of peo- 
 ple women, that is, and some few men have 
 that. She had more; she had presence and per- 
 sonality. Hundreds of men, and some few 
 women, have these. 
 
 Those who have all three in either sex are rare 
 and come to view infrequently. Whether it was 
 Miss Haldane's undoubted beauty, or Miss Hal- 
 dane's exquisite breeding and manner, or Miss 
 Haldane's force of character and determination, 
 that most impressed him, or whether his instant 
 subjugation was due to the influence of all three, 
 Gormly could not tell. 
 
 He was given to self analysis, as lonely people 
 usually are. By analyzing himself he learned to 
 analyze others. Introspection and observation 
 had been great factors in his success. Here again 
 his experience was at fault; for Miss Haldane 
 defied analysis, as the breath of summer com- 
 pounded of a thousand balmy scents cannot be re- 
 solved into its elements, save by the hard scientist 
 who is insensible to its fragrance. Gormly was 
 a scientist in his business; but he abandoned his 
 habit in the presence of Miss Haldane. Before 
 her he became a poet, without of course doing
 
 THE LONELINESS OF MR. GORMLY 35 
 
 anything so foolish as breaking out into verse, 
 and poets never analyze. 
 
 He actually gave her two hundred thousand 
 dollars to start that great institution for young 
 working women which was the pride of her heart, 
 and he promised her that as the work developed, 
 as he had no doubt it would develop on the foun- 
 dations she was planning, he would follow up the 
 first gift by others even larger. He told her that 
 he was willing to devote a million or perhaps more 
 to the enterprise, if it proved worth while, espe- 
 cially as so many of his own employees would be 
 benefited by it. 
 
 Miss Haldane did not intend to live in the social 
 settlement herself. She might perhaps have en- 
 joyed such a life; but her social duties at the other 
 end of society were of so exacting a character, 
 and her family were so opposed to her undertaking 
 such work, that she contented herself with further- 
 ing from afar the efforts of certain of her college 
 mates in that direction. 
 
 One thing possibly that induced Gormly to 
 promise this great sum of money, which he could 
 very well spare, was the knowledge imparted to 
 him by Miss Haldane that she herself, through her 
 father and friends, would give a like amount. 
 
 Gormly had exacted a pledge from the young 
 woman that she would not betray him as a bene- 
 factor in her institution. With a fine appreciation 
 of the beauty of the anonymous in charity, she 
 promised not to let the right hand know what
 
 36 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 the left had done. This association with Miss 
 Haldane in a secret, which seemed to bind them 
 together in a peculiarly close and intimate way, 
 was a delight to Gormly; though not until he had 
 examined the situation carefully in cooler mo- 
 ments did he realize what its possibilities were. 
 He had actually made out the check to her for the 
 amount in question and turned it over without 
 hesitation after an interview lasting less than half 
 an hour, in which Miss Haldane had set forth her 
 plans, her hopes, and her ambitions with all her 
 charm of manner. He was not certain that he 
 could have refused her the store if she had de- 
 manded it I 
 
 When Miss Haldane left his business office, 
 check in hand, she felt that she had indeed ac- 
 complished much ; done " a good day's work," 
 she would have phrased it if she had ever 
 descended to the vernacular. She was quite satis- 
 fied with herself. 
 
 Gormly was equally satisfied with himself. 
 Then and there he determined to marry Miss Hal- 
 dane. It takes the cool headed, prudent man of 
 business to make the most extraordinary plunges 
 into wild endeavors at times. The very audacity, 
 not to say impudence, of his design fascinated him. 
 
 His determination introduced him to a train of 
 thought and precipitated him into a series of ac- 
 tions entirely different from the steady, if brilliant, 
 operations of his business career. He felt as a 
 man with the Wall Street germ in his blood might
 
 THE LONELINESS OF MR. GORMLY 37 
 
 feel who was suddenly, after a quarter of a cen- 
 tury of restraint, launched on the sea of specula- 
 tion. What Gormly determined was usually 
 brought about sooner or later. In this instance, 
 however, there was no assurance of success. 
 Matrimony is theoretically regarded as a contract 
 between two equals into which neither enters upon 
 constraint. That was Gormly's view of it. He 
 could buy and sell merchandise. He would not 
 buy or sell a woman. The old chivalry toward a 
 woman was there still untainted by years of trade. 
 Miss Haldane would have to be a party to any al- 
 liance. Whether or not her views could be 
 brought to correspond with his as to the de- 
 sirability and propriety of such a union, was a 
 question no one could solve. 
 
 Nor had George Gormly any particular knowl- 
 edge to enable him to play the game he had en- 
 tered upon with such impetuous indiscretion. He 
 could hand out a million dollars or so on occasion 
 without feeling it; but cynical though he had be- 
 come about womankind in general, Gormly 
 instinctively realized that such means would 
 be entirely inadequate to do more than arrest 
 temporary attention and excite a passing interest 
 in such a woman as Miss Haldane. Indeed, too 
 freely resorted to, such a practice would inevitably 
 disgust her. 
 
 He had enjoyed no experience whatsoever in 
 social matters. He had no entree in society, 
 certainly not that in which Miss Haldane moved.
 
 38 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Of course that money could buy entrance any- 
 where except into heaven, and there are even 
 those who say that admission there may be 
 achieved by a golden key ! he knew, and he be- 
 lieved that if he set about it he could get into the 
 most exclusive New York society eventually if his 
 funds did not give out before he arrived. But he 
 had no desire to win Miss Haldane that way. If 
 it had to be, of course he would do it; but he would 
 leave no other means untried first. 
 
 Meanwhile he must keep in touch with her. 
 At intervals, therefore, he won himself a sight 
 of her and maintained a speaking acquaintance by 
 further remittances toward her project; which had 
 already started with a tremendous flourish of 
 trumpets and great interest on the part of the 
 public. 
 
 Miss Haldane, for all her other qualities, was 
 human and a woman. There was something 
 rather alluring in a secret even to her. She en- 
 joyed being the means of disbursing for good ends 
 millions that remained anonymous to the general 
 public. She was quite willing to call at Gormly's 
 business office on occasion for the purpose of re- 
 lieving him of further donations. Naturally she 
 confided more and more of her plans and some- 
 times her difficulties to the same astute man. She 
 found Gormly remarkably intelligent on such mat- 
 ters and able to give her the very best possible 
 advice. Sometimes she even came to him of her 
 own motion to receive something else than signed
 
 THE LONELINESS OF MR. GORMLY 39 
 
 bits of paper good at the bank, and to discuss vex- 
 ing questions and problems that arose from time 
 to time. She grew to respect him and then to 
 like him. Fortune as usual favored him. 
 
 Miss Haldane had even suggested that Gormly 
 come to her upper Fifth Avenue residence to con- 
 sider certain important matters connected with the 
 magnificent new settlement house and its work; 
 but he had had the wit to refuse such an invitation, 
 though he longed to accept it, because, as he 
 pointed out, that might identify him publicly with 
 the movement and would be fatal to his desire to 
 be unknown and because, as he was very careful 
 not to point out, that might disturb the growing 
 intimacy between them. 
 
 Miss Haldane was twenty-two. Naturally she 
 regarded a man of forty-four as a possible father, 
 and she had no hesitation in approaching Gormly 
 with much more familiarity than she would have 
 dreamed of allowing herself had he been younger. 
 And yet Gormly himself was a young looking man 
 for forty-four. He was still as tall and slender, 
 not to say spare, as he had been when a boy. He 
 was smooth shaven, and the flecks of gray in his 
 blond hair were scarcely noticeable. His face, 
 clean cut, rather hard and firm, still looked suffi- 
 ciently youthful. If Miss Haldane had ever given 
 thought to his age, she would have supposed him 
 ten years younger than he was; that is, on ap- 
 pearance. When she thought of his business, she 
 would have considered him sixty. Ever since she
 
 4 o 
 
 could remember, she had dealt at the great shop, 
 and Gormly himself unconsciously took on to her 
 the aspect of ancient history. 
 
 So the little affair ran on; Gormly consciously 
 becoming more and more deeply involved, Miss 
 Haldane unconsciously interweaving herself in the 
 same tangled web. Therefore Gormly was lonely, 
 not with the general loneliness of the unattached 
 male sex, but with a particular loneliness that 
 spelled " Eleanor Haldane."
 
 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 
 
 THE relationship of Miss Haldane and Gormly 
 was all very well so far as it went, but it did 
 not go far enough for the man's purpose at least; 
 and Gormly was shrewd enough to see that things 
 might run on without any definite results in this 
 way forever, or so long as Miss Haldane was in- 
 terested in her work and so long as he was able 
 to contribute money and advice to its furtherance. 
 Something else had to be thought of if he was to 
 bring about his cherished desire. 
 
 Since the beginning of the acquaintance Gormly 
 had kept track of Miss Haldane through a clip- 
 ping bureau 1 instance of his practical common- 
 sense which may amuse the romantic reader. He 
 had neither the time nor the inclination to search 
 the journals in which were chronicled the doings 
 of social New York in which the Haldane 
 name was prominent; so he instructed his private 
 secretary, Chaloner, upon whose discretion he 
 could rely, to have sent to him at his private ad- 
 dress all clippings relating to Miss Haldane. 
 These Chaloner, much marveling in spite of his cir- 
 cumspection, carefully tabulated, arranged, pasted 
 in a scrapbook, and submitted to his employer daily. 
 
 41
 
 42 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Gormly, therefore, knew the life of the object 
 of his attention as well as it could be known from 
 its outward and visible presentation before the 
 public. Indeed, there was little that was con- 
 cealable under such circumstances, the higher you 
 rise the less privacy you have, obscurity being the 
 prerogative, or the penalty, of the humble, so 
 that he was entirely aware of Miss Haldane's 
 goings and comings, who her friends were, what 
 houses she visited, what diversions she affected, 
 who paid her attention, and so on. 
 
 Miss Haldane was a marked woman, not only 
 because of her wealth and station, but because of 
 her known interest in settlement and philanthropic 
 work, which he himself so furthered. And for 
 these reasons she got unusual space. She had 
 been pictured a number of times in the papers, not 
 from her desires, but because it was a sort of 
 tyranny the public had exacted to which every- 
 body more or less has to submit. In his own 
 private room, much to the astonishment of Somes 
 his English! valet Gormly did allow himself 
 some luxuries, it may be seen, he had col- 
 lected all the photographs of Miss Haldane that 
 he could obtain by bribery and corruption or other 
 means. They were exquisitely framed Gormly 
 was a man of great natural taste, else he would 
 not have succeeded in his business and placed 
 in conspicuous positions. Wherever his glance 
 fell, there was she. 
 
 Meanwhile the man did not neglect his business,
 
 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 43 
 
 nothing would ever make him do that, but 
 he divided his time between it and the young 
 woman which was a great concession to her in- 
 fluence. One reason why he had become such an 
 assiduous student of the clippings was because he 
 wanted to know whether Miss Haldane was, or 
 was likely to be, engaged to be married. His 
 apprehensions on that score were soon set at rest. 
 It was Miss Haldane's second season. She had 
 created an instant furor when she had been 
 launched in society the year before. The usual 
 contingent of impecunious foreigners had 
 promptly laid their coronets at her feet; but it 
 was quite evident that none of them had found 
 favor in her eyes, and that she was still free. 
 A new batch of the nobility and gentry of the 
 Old World was even now laying siege to this 
 daughter of the New. Count That, Baron This, 
 Duke So-and-So, were very much in evidence; but 
 nothing appeared to be coming of it. The field 
 was still open to any comer. He would enter it, 
 he decided; but how? 
 
 First of all, something must be done to bring 
 Gormly himself into the public eye in some other 
 capacity, some higher capacity, some more attract- 
 ive capacity, than that of a mere retailer of rib- 
 bons so to speak; the public eye for Gormly be- 
 ing Miss Haldane's liquid orbs. And Gormly 
 knew that the way to private consideration is more 
 often than not through public interest. He had 
 to do something to justify himself, therefore; to
 
 44 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 make himself known in some enviable way; to 
 fix her attention upon him; to cause her to think 
 of him with admiration for the exhibition of other 
 qualities than the mere ability to make, and in a 
 large way to spend money ; in short, he determined 
 to make himself worthy of her. And again the 
 question arose; but how? 
 
 He had thought vaguely of the racing game, 
 of the most magnificent of yachts, of the finest 
 and speediest of stables, of the fastest string of 
 automobiles, of a thousand similar things which 
 he had dismissed as unworthy of his high purpose 
 and inadequate to his end; until finally, fortune 
 favoring him, he hit upon the field of politics. 
 Miss Haldane in some of those now rather fre- 
 quent conferences had casually enough remarked 
 that she liked men who did things, who really ac- 
 complished something for good in this world. 
 
 How frequently we are undone or made by our 
 casual remarks! How much more they some 
 times bring about than our more carefully studied 
 utterances! Is it because in the casual is more 
 apt to be found the natural? 
 
 Gormly instantly resolved to do something. 
 Now if any man really wants to accomplish good 
 in this world, there are few opportunities of greater 
 possibilities than those presented in the political 
 arena. There is also no field in which it is harder 
 to accomplish the end. Gormly as a political force 
 was entirely unknown. He was as latent as he 
 had been in the merchandising line twenty-five years
 
 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 45 
 
 before. He was without experience. While he 
 had a talent for management, he did not know 
 whether it extended to political management or not. 
 One requisite, popularly considered vital, he had, 
 and, that was an abundance of money. Another 
 requisite he possessed albeit unwittingly, was 
 character. And still a third was his, and that was 
 imagination coupled with capacity the ideal and 
 the real ; the dreamer and the practical man in one ! 
 An irresistible combination that! 
 
 Fortune was further kind to him, however, 
 for concurrently with his decision she presented 
 him with an opening. How oftentimes ability 
 lacks opportunity, even opportunity to make op- 
 portunity! Gormly's business was sufficiently 
 great to have enabled him to extend it in several di- 
 rections. He was one of the heaviest importers in 
 New York. He brought Ireland, England, France, 
 Germany, Holland, Spain, Italy, and the Orient into 
 New York Bay and unloaded them in his great insti- 
 tution. He had conceived, some dozen years before 
 after paying tremendous freight charges, the pro- 
 priety of establishing his own line of freight 
 steamers. It had amused him to combine the 
 practice of the ancient merchant prince with the 
 customs of the modern one. He had bought the 
 controlling interest in a freight line of half a dozen 
 large steamers, which he found no difficulty in us- 
 ing as cargo carriers for other people when they 
 were not supplying his own needs. 
 
 The purchase of the freight line had carried
 
 46 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 with it a lease of one of the piers in the North 
 River. The lease had run out the year before. 
 He had thereafter availed himself of what he con- 
 ceived to be an excellent opportunity of subleas- 
 ing another pier in the East River. The city had 
 just completed an elaborate railroad, surface and 
 subway, for the transportation of heavy freight 
 from the waterfront to the great mercantile estab- 
 lishments inland. This system had been leased 
 to the Gotham Freight Traction Company, a vast 
 corporation with a full set of ostensible promot- 
 ers and directors, but which had back of it powers 
 and persons unknown to the general public, care- 
 fully concealed from it in fact. 
 
 The corporation had not been formed to pro- 
 mote the health of its members. Therefore when 
 Gormly applied to the authorities for permission 
 to construct a switch from his pier on the one 
 hand and his warehouse near the river front on 
 the other to connect both with this subway, the 
 permission was instantly granted, but coupled with 
 an expense demand upon him for something like 
 a million dollars. 
 
 Gormly could give Miss Haldane a million dol- 
 lars to play with ; he would not spend ten cents for 
 bribery. " Millions for love, not a cent for trib- 
 ute," might have been his paraphrase of an an- 
 cient, popular and probably apocryphal American- 
 ism. He saw instantly that the demand upon him 
 was a mere attempt to hold him up. To build 
 the switch would cost perhaps forty or fifty thou-
 
 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 47 
 
 sand dollars ; the privilege might be worth as much 
 more ; but inasmuch as no streets were crossed, no 
 overhead traffic hindered, he was doubtful even 
 as to that. The road had been built by private 
 capital subscribed by the people on a public 
 franchise. The interests of the public were sup- 
 posed to be paramount. A reasonable return upon 
 their investment was all that the promoters had 
 a right to expect. 
 
 Gormly had consulted his attorneys, had ap- 
 pealed to the city council, and had done every- 
 thing that he could to settle the matter short of 
 publishing the whole affair. He had failed ab- 
 solutely everywhere. The members of the trans- 
 portation committee of the Board of Aldermen 
 were very sorry, but they did not see what could 
 be done. A gentle hint that Gormly might pre- 
 fer to indemnify the aldermen for their trouble 
 in case they should give him permission was met 
 with pained silence or explosive wrath. It was 
 furthermore pointed out to him that the board 
 had no power, the rights of the people having been 
 vested in the corporation for a ninety-nine-year 
 period. It was too bad that the innocent alder- 
 men had allowed themselves to be placed in such 
 an unfortunate position; but so it was and there 
 you were. There was no help for the matter, and 
 Gormly's only resource was to pay the money, 
 unless he wanted to unload his goods into truck 
 wagons and vans and cart them all over the city. 
 Of course he could do this; but it would be much
 
 48 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 easier, more profitable and more desirable in every- 
 way if he had the right to run cars out on the 
 pier alongside of the vessels of his fleet and trans- 
 port the merchandise in bulk in that way. 
 
 He was in a very desperate situation. Here 
 he was saddled with a twenty-five-year lease of 
 one of the most expensive piers in New York ; here 
 he had a great warehouse six blocks or more away 
 from the pier; here he had also a vast store sev- 
 eral miles from the warehouse ; here was a railroad 
 that practically connected all three, provided one 
 or two little spurs or switches could be built from 
 pier to railroad, and from warehouse to railroad. 
 It was perhaps the one mistake that he had made 
 in his business career not to have arranged mat- 
 ters before all this came to a climax. We all make 
 mistakes, and that Gormly made only one is re- 
 markable. That he should have to pay as heav- 
 ily for that one as for many is perhaps even less 
 remarkable. The railroad people meant to make 
 him pay. They were resolved that he should; he 
 was equally determined that he would not. 
 
 He was not alone in his position, however; for 
 it was found on all sides he discovered it by 
 making quiet inquiries that other shippers and 
 merchants seeking similar privileges were being 
 held up in the same way. The road had proved 
 enormously expensive to build ; the stock had been 
 watered unmercifully; it would afford an indiffer- 
 ent return upon the investment unless its income
 
 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 49 
 
 could be bolstered up in this way. Contracts 
 which had been entered into for the construction of 
 switches were found to be of little value; means 
 were available to break them and evade them, and 
 the whole waterfront of New York found itself 
 practically helpless in the grasp of this octopus of 
 a corporation. 
 
 There had been no clamor in the papers over 
 this matter, it being the habit of the conservative 
 business man to work quietly so long as he could, 
 to agitate nothing, to grin and bear it while en- 
 durance was possible; but there was a tremendous 
 undercurrent of resentment and dissatisfaction, and 
 Gormly thought he saw an opportunity of turning 
 it to his own account. To expose the iniquitous 
 methods of procedure of the Gotham Freight 
 Traction Company, to bring about its ruin or its 
 downfall by depriving it of the franchise it was 
 abusing, to safeguard the people in their rights in 
 any further grants, was certainly an object suffi- 
 ciently high and sufficiently vast to attract the at- 
 tention, and, should he succeed, to awaken the ad- 
 miration of any being. Inasmuch as Miss Hal- 
 dane was deeply interested in the welfare of the 
 people at large and in general, nothing, thought 
 Gormly, could more conduce to his plans than 
 such an endeavor on his part. And Gormly him- 
 self without losing sight of Miss Haldane began 
 to look at the possibilities from a high and noble 
 point of view, in which self interest took a sec-
 
 50 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 ondary position. He was still the soul of chiv- 
 alry toward a woman and consequently in his heart 
 toward the world as well. 
 
 Therefore, late in November he came boldly 
 out in the open, and over his own name vigorously 
 attacked the Gotham Freight Traction Company. 
 He did it in a unique way too. Instead of the 
 full page advertisement of Gormly's store which 
 appeared simultaneously in all the great dailies, 
 there was presented one morning in clear, direct, 
 businesslike English a statement of the whole sit- 
 uation exactly as it was. There were no threats, 
 no menaces, no intimations of any future plan or 
 purpose; just a blunt statement of facts printed 
 in large double-leaded type, and signed with the 
 familiar facsimile of his now famous autograph. 
 
 The thing was an instant sensation. The news- 
 papers took it up. They were not loath to take 
 up the cudgels for such a heavy advertiser as 
 Gormly, anyway. Other merchants, freighters, 
 and shippers were interviewed, and a case was in- 
 stantly made out against the Gotham Freight Trac- 
 tion Company which would have shaken a less 
 ponderous, less thick skinned, less indifferent or- 
 ganization to pieces. Even the authorities were 
 interviewed, and they shed hypocritical tears over 
 the unfortunate trickery by which the public had 
 been buncoed out of its legitimate rights. They 
 beat their breasts and made plaintive confessions 
 of how they had been befooled by the wily cor-
 
 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 51 
 
 porate interests ; but they took occasion at the same 
 time to point out that there was nothing whatever 
 to be done about it. 
 
 The party in power was one that had long domi- 
 nated the metropolis. To be sure it gave the 
 metropolis a fairly good government; but the peo- 
 ple paid over and over again. They were robbed 
 shamelessly right and left, on every hand, and 
 while something was tendered them, what they got 
 was no quid pro quo for the frightful extravagance 
 of the administration. Graft abounded every- 
 where. The party out of power, which had been 
 out of power so long that it had perforce be- 
 come virtuous, did not hesitate to point out the 
 dreadful state of affairs to all who would listen; 
 but its efforts had so far been unavailing, and the 
 party in power remained there doing as it pleased, 
 perhaps remained there because of its so doing. 
 
 Now the Gotham Freight Traction Company 
 had its weak point. Things that depend upon the 
 collusion of so many unscrupulous men, not to say 
 villains, usually have a weak point. Acumen in- 
 tense is used to cover up these weak points, and 
 defenses are thrown about them as far as possible. 
 It is a wise man, indeed a genius, who finds out 
 these things and assails the organization thereat. 
 The first principle of good soldiering is to oppose 
 to your adversary's weak point your own strong- 
 est. The weak point in the enterprise of the Goth- 
 am Freight Traction Company lay in a certain
 
 52 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 link vital to the continuance of the carefully de- 
 vised system : the franchise of which was about to 
 run out. 
 
 Under ordinary conditions there would have 
 been no difficulty in securing on mere nominal 
 terms a renewal of the franchise from the party in 
 power, provided undue publicity could be avoided. 
 The connecting link involved was a short one, but 
 absolutely necessary. Few people knew that the 
 franchise was to expire, and in the ordinary course 
 nothing would have happened. An ordinance re- 
 newing it would have been slipped through the 
 Board of Aldermen, signed by the Mayor, and that 
 would have been all. 
 
 So sure did the company feel of its ground, so 
 confident were its members that Gormly and his 
 fellow victims would see the necessity of paying 
 without delay, that they had never contemplated 
 this publicity and never imagined they would have 
 to face this bitter and determined attack upon their 
 franchises and upon their methods. They knew, 
 of course, that they held the aldermen in their 
 hands ; that in their close alliance with the Sachem 
 Society, the organization that ran things, they 
 could pass anything they wanted in defiance of any 
 public sentiment whatsoever; but it would be un- 
 fortunate to be compelled to resort to such drastic 
 methods and so openly to defy public opinion as 
 would be involved in such a course. 
 
 Gormly had made one blunder; but like a bril- 
 liant soldier he had succeeded in turning it to his
 
 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 53 
 
 advantage. One advertisement was succeeded by 
 another, judiciously intermingled with the ordinary 
 or extraordinary advertisements of the bargains 
 at the store, in which with a brilliance that electri- 
 fied the public and even surprised Gormly himself 
 he had not realized his great capabilities in that 
 line the Gotham Freight Traction Company 
 was made the subject of scathing criticism and 
 bitter attack of which the Sachem Society and the 
 party in power came in for a large share. And 
 men everywhere began asking what was to be done 
 about it. 
 
 The watchword of reform is " What is going 
 to be done about it? " not "what are you going 
 to do about it?" that is the contemptuous as- 
 surance of the unreformed! but when one man 
 asks that question so persistently that others get to 
 asking it too, the beginning of the foundation of 
 the reform is laid. 
 
 In previous campaigns the party out of power 
 had been led by a series of forlorn hopes, men en- 
 thusiastic in their devotion to the cause of reform 
 and not noted for much of anything else. The 
 leaders of the outs took notice of Gormly. In- 
 quiries began to be made about him; his business 
 methods were investigated ; his resources were dis- 
 cussed; his character was analyzed; his career made 
 the subject of study. He was interviewed. He 
 had hitherto resolutely denied himself to any such 
 seekers after opinions. Now he was found to be 
 astonishingly amenable to questions on certain
 
 54 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 lines. From being merely a name attached to a 
 familiar institution, he became within one month 
 one of the great personalities of New York. The 
 situation was intoxicating. He kept himself well 
 in hand, however, and with unusual caution re- 
 fused to disclose his plans or commit himself to 
 any special course of action. Knowledge, he real- 
 ized, was power, and he confined himself to giving 
 knowledge of the situation to his fellow citizens, 
 who absorbed it greedily, and relishing it clamored 
 for more. 
 
 Incidentally, he did not lose in the estimation of 
 Miss Haldane by this exploitation of himself, 
 which he had so cleverly managed that no one 
 dreamed it was due to his own motion. Even in 
 those exclusive circles- in which Miss Haldane 
 moved, which are ordinarily indifferent to any hap- 
 penings on this side the terrestrial sphere, some ac- 
 count of Gormly and his doings penetrated. That 
 he was rich and a bachelor were the most interest- 
 ing facts which appealed to this set. Men and 
 women there began to inquire as to who he was. 
 It was Miss Haldane's privilege and pleasure to 
 enlighten them so far as she could, without be- 
 traying the nature of their confidential relations; 
 and, being young and enthusiastic and something 
 of a hero worshiper, some of the now enviable 
 notoriety of Gormly was enjoyed and participated 
 in by Miss Haldane. 
 
 There were several papers on the side of the 
 administration, which were owned and controlled
 
 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 55 
 
 by the party in power, that would have been glad 
 indeed to have discredited Gormly; but the closest 
 scrutiny revealed nothing in his life that could be 
 used for that purpose. Where he had come from 
 was not known; but for the last quarter of a cen- 
 tury at least his course had been traced with con- 
 siderable accuracy, and indeed there was little of it 
 that was not discovered and disclosed to the eager 
 public. Before that, however, it was a blank. 
 Gormly had refused again and again to discuss his 
 personal affairs or career in any way, shape, or 
 form. He was quite willing to talk about the 
 Gotham Freight Traction Company or any mat- 
 ter of public moment, but for the rest he was un- 
 shakably silent. His early past, therefore, was a 
 mystery; but as the interest in a mystery that has 
 no special bearing upon the present, that persist- 
 ently remains unsolved, soon dies out, particularly 
 where there is recent material of an engrossing 
 nature at hand for discussion, so Gormly's begin- 
 nings were allowed to repose in that oblivion 
 whence no one could rescue them. 
 
 Then Gormly did an unusual thing for him. 
 He purchased a country place on Long Island. 
 It came to him as a great bargain and was alto- 
 gether very desirable both as to the house and as 
 to the grounds in which it stood. This received 
 no mention in the public press, because the whole 
 matter had been handled by the invaluable Chal- 
 oner, and Gormly's name had not appeared at all. 
 The place was desirable, in that it was not far
 
 56 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 five or six miles from the country place of the 
 Haldane family. It was bought completely fur- 
 nished, and the staff of servants previously em- 
 ployed was retained. 
 
 Gormly knew from the clipping bureau that it 
 was the custom of the Haldanes to pass the Christ- 
 mas holidays at their country place. They usually 
 made up a house party for the joyous season, which 
 they preferred, through one of the freaks of fash- 
 ion to which even the highest social set is sus- 
 ceptible, to spend there rather than in their town 
 house. He had seen Miss Haldane rather less 
 frequently of late, because the work at the settle- 
 ment house was now so far advanced that it was 
 merely a matter of carrying out the plans decided 
 upon and spending the money so generously placed 
 in her hands by him, which did not need much con- 
 sultation. So, on the vain hope that chance might 
 throw him in touch with her, Gormly decided also 
 to occupy for the Christmas season his lonely cot- 
 tage it was called a cottage, although it was 
 more like a baronial mansion than anything else 
 on the Long Island shore. 
 
 It was snowing hard the evening of his arrival 
 the day before Christmas, and Gormly did not like 
 snow. He had bitter memories intermingled with 
 a storm, and the sight of the white, ice covered, 
 snow clad fields filled him with unpleasant remin- 
 iscences. 
 
 Since he had bought the estate through the 
 faithful Chaloner, he had not seen it himself.
 
 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 57 
 
 Therefore, after the excellent dinner which had 
 been provided by his new chef and served by his 
 new butler, he determined upon a careful inspec- 
 tion of his residence. Bidding one of the serv- 
 ants go before and light the different rooms, ac- 
 companied by the butler, he started on his tour. 
 They had advanced as far as the library when the 
 familiar tinkle of the telephone made them pause. 
 
 " See who it is, Deals," said the master of the 
 house. 
 
 The butler placed the receiver to his ear and 
 took the message. 
 
 " It's from the keeper of the lodge gate, sir," 
 he said, turning and looking toward his master. 
 " He says that there's a party down there stalled 
 in an automobile. They can't get on in the snow. 
 They'd like to come up to the house. There are 
 ladies in the party, and " 
 
 " Tell them to come up by all means at once," 
 said Gormly. 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir," returned the butler, " but 
 you know it's half a mile by the road, and it'll be 
 terrible walking for the ladies in such weather as 
 this." 
 
 " Quite so," returned Gormly. " What does 
 the stable afford?" 
 
 " There's the station wagon and the pair that 
 brought you over, sir. Those are all that are 
 there." 
 
 " Yes, I remember. That's all I told Chaloner 
 to send down, not expecting to Well, have
 
 58 THE DEVOTION OF MR. GORMLY 
 
 that hitched up and telephone them that a convey- 
 ance will be at the lodge in a few moments; that 
 I should be glad to have them come to the house 
 at once." 
 
 After the message was transmitted, another 
 thought occurred to Gormly. 
 
 " By the way," he asked, " did you find out the 
 names of the people? " 
 
 " Yes, sir," answered the butler, " it was Mr. 
 Haldane and his party." 
 
 The inspection stopped right there. Gormly 
 had no interest in any property when there was a 
 possibility of meeting Eleanor Haldane. He had 
 more or less hated automobiles in his life; now he 
 blessed them. That one should break down be- 
 fore his door and precipitate the woman he loved 
 into his arms, as it were, was almost too much to 
 hope for from fortune.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 SOCIETY BURSTS UPON MR. GORMLY 
 
 T?NTER at last, Miss Haldane, accompanied 
 *-' by her father, her mother, her brother, Miss 
 Louise Van Vleck Stewart (one of her intimate 
 friends and a possible sister-in-law), and Dr. War- 
 ren Deveaux (a retired physician, an old bachelor, 
 and an old and intimate friend of the family). 
 The newcomers were all dressed in winter automo- 
 bile garments. Livingstone Haldane, the brother, 
 who had been riding outside with the chauffeur, 
 was covered with snow ; the others, who had been 
 safely sheltered in the big limousine body of the 
 motor car, showed no evidence of the winter storm. 
 It was young Haldane who broke the somewhat 
 awkward pause consequent upon their entrance. 
 
 " Mr. Goodrich," he began, unbuttoning his 
 coat and slipping it off as he advanced. 
 
 " Your pardon, sir," said Gormly, " but Mr. 
 Goodrich is no longer the owner of this place." 
 
 " Why, Mr. Gormly," burst out Miss Haldane 
 impetuously, as she turned at his voice and recog- 
 nized him, " this is a great surprise ! We didn't 
 know that you were to be one of our neighbors." 
 
 She had been in the background and had not 
 observed their host until she heard him speak. As 
 
 59
 
 60 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 she spoke, she stepped forward impulsively with 
 outstretched hand. 
 
 " Eleanor," exclaimed her father in great sur- 
 prise, surveying Gormly as he spoke, with a stare 
 as cold as the winter weather, " do you ah 
 know this gentleman? " 
 
 " Certainly I do," returned the girl. " It is 
 Mr. George Gormly of the Gormly store, you 
 know." 
 
 " Ah, indeed," began her father. 
 
 " I have known him for " she paused uncer- 
 tainly. 
 
 " Seven months yesterday, Miss Haldane," an- 
 swered Gormly, who was nothing if not accurate. 
 
 '' We have er bought things at your shop 
 for a longer time than that, I fancy," here inter- 
 posed Mrs. Haldane vaguely with an air of great 
 condescension. 
 
 " You have been on my books, madam, as one 
 of my most valued customers ever since I moved 
 to Broadway twenty-one years ago," returned 
 Gormly, who was by no means ashamed of his 
 business, else he would not have continued in it. 
 He was keen enough to see, however, the estima- 
 tion in which both he and it were held by the 
 mother of the woman that he loved. 
 
 " Yes," said Haldane at this juncture, " I have 
 been making out checks with monotonous regu- 
 larity to your firm ever since." 
 
 " My good man " began Mrs. Haldane still 
 somewhat vaguely, and evidently rather at a loss
 
 SOCIETY BURSTS UPON MR. GORMLY 61 
 
 how to place this irreproachably clad and fine ap- 
 pearing gentleman who had soiled his hands with 
 trade and yet did not seem to be at all embarrassed 
 or ashamed of it. 
 
 " Oh come, I say mother ! " began Livingstone 
 Haldane. 
 
 " Mother ! " exclaimed the daughter, blushing 
 with vexation. " Mr. Gormly, forgive me, I for- 
 got that you did not know my family." 
 
 " I have seen them often in the store, Miss Hal- 
 dane, and have even waited upon some of them in 
 other days myself," replied Gormly, quite as cold 
 and formal in his manner as anyone in the room. 
 
 " Nevertheless I want the pleasure of present- 
 ing you to my mother. Mr. George Gormly, 
 mother, my very good friend." 
 
 Mrs. Haldane drew herself up. Gormly bowed 
 himself down in a bow most carefully calculated 
 to express a proper degree of appreciation of the 
 honor and nothing more. 
 
 " My friend, Miss Stewart; my father, and my 
 brother, Mr. Livingstone Haldane ; Dr. Deveaux." 
 
 The persons mentioned bowed coolly, except 
 that Livingstone Haldane infused a little more cor- 
 diality in his recognition than the others did, while 
 Dr. Deveaux actually stepped forward and ex- 
 tended his hand. 
 
 " My dear sir," he said genially, his old face 
 beaming with good nature and genuine admira- 
 tion, " I am delighted to have the privilege of 
 shaking you by the hand. Anybody who has the
 
 62 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 courage to attack the Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company as you have done in the papers may be 
 regarded as a public benefactor whom it is an 
 honor to know." 
 
 " Thank you," said Gormly, grateful for this 
 recognition. 
 
 " Sir," began Haldane, " an unfortunate acci- 
 dent to our machine " 
 
 " The machine's all right," interposed his son, 
 jealous for the reputation of his favorite car; " no 
 car could run through such drifts as these." 
 
 " Quite so," continued his father. " Has 
 thrown us upon your hospitality. I did not know 
 that my friend Goodrich had sold this place, 
 or" 
 
 " Let that give you no concern, sir," answered 
 Gormly, " I pray that you will consider the place 
 and all in it as your own. I beg you will take off 
 your wraps and make yourselves entirely at home." 
 
 " That's very handsome of you, I am sure," 
 continued the elder Haldane, slowly removing his 
 coat; " but my own place lies but six miles beyond 
 here, and if you will permit us to telephone my 
 stables, I think we shall have to trouble you but 
 very little." 
 
 " The telephone is in the library yonder, Mr. 
 Haldane, and is at your service as is everything 
 in the house. I regret that my own stables are 
 not yet furnished. The small station wagon and 
 pair which brought you up are the only horses I 
 have on the place just now."".
 
 SOCIETY BURSTS UPON MR. GORMLY 63 
 
 " And jolly well crowded we were ! " said young 
 Haldane. 
 
 " Meanwhile," continued Gormly, " may I ask 
 have you had dinner? Can I offer you anything 
 to eat, or " 
 
 " We thank you," answered Mrs. Haldane, 
 " but we dined at the Braddons a place five or 
 six miles back before we started." 
 
 " A cup of tea or a glass of wine after your cold 
 ride, then ? " said Gormly. 
 
 He was in doubt as to what was proper under 
 the circumstances, being without experience to meet 
 such conditions ; but he was very anxious indeed to 
 do just the right thing, and equally anxious also 
 not to overdo it. 
 
 " That would be very nice indeed," said Miss 
 Haldane. " Louise, aren't you simply dying for 
 a cup of tea? " 
 
 " Perishing for lack of it," answered Louise 
 promptly. 
 
 Gormly summoned the butler, gave the neces- 
 sary directions, showed Haldane where the tele- 
 phone was, invited the other men into the library 
 also, where there was a well stocked buffet and 
 excellent cigars; after which he showed the women 
 into a small reception room on the other side of the 
 hall, and left them to divest themselves of their 
 wraps. 
 
 He was very nervous and ill at ease; but no 
 one would have suspected his perturbation. He 
 was glad that he had something to do; thankful
 
 64 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 that Goodrich's corps of servants appeared equal 
 to the emergency. Indeed, he realized that he 
 had only to indicate his wish to have it carried out 
 properly. Chaloner had made all necessary ar- 
 rangements, it seemed. He resolved to raise the 
 young man's salary on the spot. He appreciated 
 efficiency, and was accustomed to be relieved of 
 details. He liked to give orders, to plan things 
 largely, and then leave the working out to others. 
 
 The men refreshed themselves according to their 
 fancy at the buffet, lighted their cigars, which, as 
 Chaloner had been careful to send a supply of 
 Gormly's favorite and private brand, they found 
 excellent, while Haldane vainly endeavored to get 
 in communication with his own house. Such was 
 the severity of the storm for a country ill prepared 
 for it, however, that the wires were broken in ev- 
 ery direction. Even that to the lodge was found 
 to be out of order at last. 
 
 Gormly had not waited in the library to hear 
 the result of the telephoning. As soon as he had 
 the men comfortably provided for, he had gone 
 back to the great hall, which was more of a living 
 room than anything else. There was a huge fire- 
 place in it at the back in which great logs cracked 
 and blazed merrily. The first of the women of 
 the party to present herself was Miss Haldane. 
 She was in full evening dress. Her noble head 
 rose grandly from her exquisite shoulders. She 
 had taken off the heavy gloves she had worn with 
 her fur coat, and her beautiful hands and arms
 
 SOCIETY BURSTS UPON MR. GORMLY 65 
 
 were quite bare. In her dark hair she wore a dia- 
 mond coronet. Her dress, soft, shimmering stuff 
 of white, trailed behind her. She looked like a 
 queen in a book that night. 
 
 He had never seen her except in the quiet con- 
 ventionality of a street dress. He had imagined 
 her in all sorts of guises. When she burst upon 
 him that way, however, the sight dazzled him. It 
 was so far beyond any dream he had ever indulged 
 that he could scarcely comprehend it. Gormly 
 had faced all sorts of crises in his long business 
 career, and though he never boasted, had he been 
 given to the habit, he would have said that nothing 
 had ever caused him to lose his presence of mind 
 before; but the sight of Miss Haldane struck him 
 speechless. He stopped and stared at her. For 
 once his iron control deserted him. There was 
 that frank, open admiration in his glance of which 
 no one could mistake the meaning. The blood 
 flamed in her clear, pale cheek and lent the final 
 toujih of beauty to her appearance. She moved 
 uneasily and raised her hand. Her gesture re- 
 called Gormly to himself. He bowed profoundly. 
 
 " You must pardon my surprise," he said 
 gravely, " I have never seen you in an evening 
 gown, and I confess my imagination unequal 
 to" 
 
 " Do you like it? " said the girl nervously. 
 
 " I am scarcely conscious of it, Miss Haldane," 
 he returned directly. " I see only you." 
 
 " How singularly unobservant," she said lightly,
 
 66 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 recovering her equipoise, " for a man whose busi- 
 ness it is to buy and sell such things not to notice 
 them." 
 
 " In your presence to-night, Miss Haldane, 
 business is as far from me as if it was on the other 
 side of the world. It is on the other side of the 
 world," he continued swiftly; " for this " and if 
 " this" did not mean " you," it meant nothing. 
 His glance comprehended her gravely " is a dif- 
 ferent world from any in which I have ever moved, 
 and I " 
 
 His speech was broken by the entrance of Mrs. 
 Haldane and Miss Stewart. The latter was a 
 fragile, graceful, charming girl, who would have 
 attracted instant attention and notice anywhere, ex- 
 cept beside her regal companion and friend. Mrs. 
 Haldane was a not unworthy complement to the 
 other two. She still preserved her face and bear- 
 ing, and had hitherto waged a more or less suc- 
 cessful war against the great American tendency, 
 on the distaff side, to grow too fat. These two 
 also were wearing elaborate dinner gowns. 
 
 " I hope," said Gormly, addressing the eldest of 
 the three, " that you found everything that you 
 required, madam?" 
 
 " Everything, thank you, Mr. Gormly." 
 
 " I regret that this is a bachelor establishment, 
 and there are no women about to serve you." 
 
 " Why, it is almost like a club," said Miss Stew- 
 art. " How delightful it must be, Mr. Gormly ! "
 
 SOCIETY BURSTS UPON MR. GORMLY 67 
 
 " I never realized, Miss Stewart," he answered 
 directly, " how much the establishment lacked un- 
 til now." 
 
 " Why, you can pay compliments like " burst 
 out the girl and then stopped. She had intended 
 to say " like a gentleman," but concluded that such 
 a remark would be uncalled for. 
 
 " It is forced payment," said Gormly quickly, 
 " extorted by your presence." 
 
 "From an unwilling source?" interposed Miss 
 Haldane laughingly. 
 
 " I wish all my debtors were as anxious to settle 
 as I am to pay this tribute," answered Gormly 
 smiling. 
 
 At this moment Haldane, followed by the two 
 other men, came in from the library. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," began Haldane, senior, " I am 
 unable to get anybody over the telephone." 
 
 " I am sorry to hear that. I suppose that the 
 wires are down on account of the storm." 
 
 " Exactly. Meanwhile, I scarcely know what 
 to do. Could you send a man on a horse over to 
 my place? " 
 
 " I should be glad to do so, did I possess the 
 horse." 
 
 " The pair that brought us up from the lodge ? " 
 
 " Neither is broken to saddle, I believe, and 
 but I can send a man over on foot. I have no 
 doubt " 
 
 " I hardly think that would be possible," inter-
 
 68 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 posed Dr. Deveaux. " I should not like to be re- 
 sponsible for any man on foot in such a storm as 
 this." 
 
 " I'll go myself," said Gormly quickly. 
 
 " You, Mr. Gormly ! " exclaimed Mrs. Hal- 
 dane. " Why, we couldn't think of such a thing. 
 The danger! " 
 
 " Madam, I have been afoot in worse storms 
 than this," he answered, " when I was a mere boy 
 in the far West." 
 
 It was the first intimation anybody from New 
 York had had as to any period of Gormly's life 
 outside of New York, and one of the company at 
 least pricked up his ears at this remark and listened 
 attentively. 
 
 " We couldn't think of allowing you to do so," 
 said Miss Haldane. 
 
 " I suppose that pair you have could hardly take 
 us over? " questioned Livingstone Haldane. 
 
 " I am afraid not," answered Gormly. " They 
 have been driven rather hard to-day, and they are 
 a light pair at best, as you notice." 
 
 " Well, we are thrust upon you, then, marooned 
 as it were." 
 
 " I hope you won't find my house the typical 
 desert island," answered Gormly, smiling. " In- 
 deed, I scarcely know what the resources of the 
 establishment are, having entered into possession 
 only to-day; but whatever they are, they are at 
 your service. It will give me great pleasure to
 
 SOCIETY BURSTS UPON MR. GORMLY 69 
 
 have you pass the night here. I have no doubt we 
 shall be able to make you comfortable in some way, 
 all but the ladies." 
 
 " There's no help for it, I suppose," answered 
 Haldane somewhat gloomily. " I guess you will 
 have to keep us until morning." 
 
 " Don't put it that way, I beg of you." 
 
 " And to-night is Christmas Eve too ! " pouted 
 Miss Stewart. 
 
 " Think how happy you make a lonely old bach- 
 elor," returned Gormly, " by being his Christmas 
 guests. And if you will accept this situation, as 
 indeed I fear you must, I shall make arrange- 
 ments so that you can be taken to your own place 
 on Christmas morning. Let me consult my butler, 
 who was Mr. Goodrich's major domo before I 
 bought the place, and see what can be done." 
 
 A brief conversation with that functionary threw 
 some little cheer ovet the situation. Gormly's 
 own wardrobe, which had been sent down, would 
 amply supply the men with whatever they needed, 
 and the butler imparted the cheering news that the 
 lodgekeeper was a married man with two grown 
 daughters, and he had no doubt that such things as 
 the women required might be secured from them. 
 
 " Send at once," said Gormly quickly, " and ask 
 Mrs. Bullen to come up to the house and be of 
 what service she can to the ladies. How are we 
 off for bed-rooms? " 
 
 " Plenty of them, sir, and all ready for guests.
 
 70 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Mr. Goodrich used to keep the house always in 
 order. He liked to come down here at any time, 
 and there is no lack of anything of that kind." 
 
 " Well, see that they are prepared, and have 
 Mrs. Bullen here immediately." 
 
 As the butler went off to attend to these orders, 
 Gormly reentered the room, and found the whole 
 party comfortably gathered about the fire. He 
 explained that he had found a woman on the place, 
 the lodgekeeper's wife; that he had sent the station 
 wagon for her; and that she would be present 
 doubtless within a half-hour with such indispensa- 
 ble articles of attire as might serve to make the 
 women guests at least comfortable. 
 
 " If you were only in communication with your 
 shop, Mr. Gormly," said Mrs. Haldane and 
 whether she meant to be offensive or not, Gormly 
 could not tell, " we would lack nothing." 
 
 " I am sorry for your sake, madam, that I am 
 not. As it is, we shall have to do our best with 
 the limited resources at hand." 
 
 " Oh, we shall do very well, I am sure," said 
 Miss Stewart. " It is really quite an adventure. 
 I'm glad it happened." 
 
 " Well, sir," said Haldane, melting a little, 
 " you are certainly very kind." 
 
 Conversation ran on desultorily this way for a 
 short time, when the butler announced the arrival 
 of Mrs. Bullen. As he did so, the tall clock musi- 
 cally chimed out the hour of nine. 
 
 " Now that your woman is here, Mr. Gormly,"
 
 SOCIETY BURSTS UPON MR. GORMLY 71 
 
 said Mrs. Haldane, rising, " as I am somewhat 
 fatigued from the ride and the experience, I shall 
 retire to my room. I suppose you young people 
 won't think of going to bed at this unearthly 
 hour?" 
 
 " No, indeed," answered Miss Stewart. " I 
 think I'll stay awake until Christmas." 
 
 " Will you go, Beekman? " said Mrs. Haldane, 
 addressing her husband. 
 
 " Why er my dear " 
 
 " I was about to propose a table of bridge," said 
 Dr. Deveaux?" 
 
 "An excellent idea," returned Haldane quickly; 
 " but there are six of us here, and " 
 
 " I don't play," said Gormly quickly. 
 
 " You have no scruples against it, I pre- 
 sume? " 
 
 " Oh, none whatever, and I should be delighted 
 to watch the rest of you." 
 
 " I'll stay out also," said Eleanor. " I don't 
 care much for bridge at best." 
 
 "Heretic!" cried Miss Stewart. "Mr. Hal- 
 dane, shall you and I play against your father and 
 Dr. Deveaux? " 
 
 " With you, Miss Stewart, I would play against 
 anybody for anything," answered young Haldane 
 gallantly. 
 
 " It is settled then." 
 
 " Good night," said Mrs. Haldane, moving 
 away, escorted by the butler, and met outside pres- 
 ently by Mrs. Bullen,
 
 72 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Mr. Gormly and I will watch your game," 
 said Eleanor. 
 
 " By the way, Eleanor, may I ask where you 
 met Mr. Gormly ? " queried her father. 
 
 " He is very much interested in our social set- 
 tlement work. Many of his employees live in the 
 vicinity of the new settlement house we are build- 
 ing, and I have had occasion to consult him at his 
 office a great many times." 
 
 " Always to my profit," said Gormly. 
 
 " Ah," said the elder man reflectively, wonder- 
 ing how much might be behind that entirely inno- 
 cent statement. 
 
 Meanwhile a footman arranged a card table, at 
 which the quartet took their places and instantly 
 became absorbed in the game. Miss Haldane 
 manifested no special interest in the play, and at 
 Gormly's suggestion she left the hall and went 
 with him into the inviting little library through 
 the broad open doors that gave access to it from 
 the hall. Another fire was burning there. He 
 drew a low chair before it in which she sat down. 
 He himself stood with his arm resting on the man- 
 tel, looking down on her. He needed the physical 
 advantage of his position to counterbalance his 
 sense of insufficiency, and besides he liked to see 
 her leaning forward, her face upturned and illu- 
 minated by the flickering firelight. 
 
 The two were in plain sight from the bridge 
 table; but as they talked in low tones their con- 
 versation was inaudible in the hall. Haldane;
 
 SOCIETY BURSTS UPON MR. GORMLY 73 
 
 glanced curiously and uneasily at them from time 
 to time; but finally, becoming absorbed in his 
 game, paid them no further notice.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 MISS HALDANE IS CHARMED AND CHARMING 
 
 "1VP* GORMLY >" be S an Miss Haldane, " I 
 *- have not seen you for some time." 
 " Not for two months and eleven days, Miss 
 Haldane," answered Gormly quietly. 
 
 " Gracious 1 " exclaimed the astonished girl. 
 " How pat you have the time ! Do you keep a 
 calendar of my visits to your office? " 
 
 " I have a marvelous memory for details which 
 I wish to remember," said the man. 
 
 Indeed, he did keep a calendar so far as Miss 
 Haldane was concerned, though he would not have 
 her know that just then. 
 
 " Your memory must be wonderful indeed." 
 " And I am so much interested in the settle- 
 ment house that How does it progress, by the 
 way? " he continued, gravely as if his recollection 
 of anything connected with her was a mere matter 
 of course. 
 
 " Oh, beautifully. You see, there is nothing to 
 consult you about now. It is all in the architect's 
 and builders' hands. You have been so helpful to 
 me I really don't know what I should have done 
 without you." 
 
 " And you have, of course, respected my con- 
 74
 
 MISS HALDANE IS CHARMED 75 
 
 fidence? No one knows anything about my con- 
 nection with the enterprise? " 
 
 " No one at all." 
 
 "Not even your father?" 
 
 " Certainly not. I never discuss business with 
 my father, nor does he discuss business with me." 
 
 " And yet," said Gormly quickly, " I should 
 think he might discuss business with you to advan- 
 tage." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " asked the girl. 
 
 " I am a business man, Miss Haldane, accus- 
 tomed to deal with men and women in a business 
 way, and much depends upon my ability to esti- 
 mate the capacity of those with whom I work. I 
 have not often seen a woman, or even a man, with 
 a better head for business than you have." 
 
 It was the deftest thing the man could have said 
 to her. Women, she knew, were not naturally 
 businesslike, and to have such qualities attributed 
 to her was the subtlest kind of flattery. It came, 
 too, from a man who was a power in the business 
 world, and was therefore the more valuable. 
 
 " It is very good of you to say that," said the 
 girl, smiling pleasantly in appreciation, " and I 
 am more proud of it because everybody says you 
 are such a fine business man yourself." 
 
 " The way you have handled this settlement 
 work, the businesslike way in which you presented 
 it to me, the flood of light you have poured on 
 the work as it went on and forgive me your 
 quick apprehension of the suggestions my larger
 
 76 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 experience has enabled me to make, have all con- 
 vinced me of the truth of this. You are indeed a 
 rare young woman, Miss Haldane." 
 
 There was something in the man that rather dis- 
 armed the blunt directness of the statement, she 
 thought. 
 
 " I should like to do something really worth 
 while," said the girl after a little pause, which he 
 had sense enough not to break, giving his words 
 time to carry their due weight to her. " I like 
 people who do something worth while." 
 
 " So do I," said the man, with obvious meaning. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," she exclaimed impetuously, 
 " why don't you do something worth while? " 
 
 Gormly smiled. " My dear young lady," he 
 answered really, he was old enough to be her 
 father, he thought half sadly as he noted his form 
 of speech, " I have the largest store in the world. 
 I have agents in every civilized country and many 
 that are uncivilized. I own and control a fleet of 
 steamers. I have my private woolen mills, and 
 silk mills and factories. I suppose there are ten 
 thousand people in my employ. I can give you 
 a check for another million for your settlement 
 work as often as you wish it, and " 
 
 " These are all very well, Mr. Gormly," said 
 the girl gravely. " They spell tremendous mate- 
 rial success ; they show your ability and acumen ; in 
 the eyes of the world they count for a great deal, 
 indeed, I find lately that they are counting more 
 and more; but they don't really amount to any-
 
 MISS HALDANE IS CHARMED 77 
 
 thing after all. What is money, what are power 
 and influence ? My father, for instance, was born 
 with more than he could possibly spend, more 
 than he knew what to do with, inherited from 
 thrifty ancestors who had the wit to buy land 
 when it could be bought for a song. He has in- 
 fluence, power. What does it amount to? I 
 want him to do something, really to do something 
 in the world for the good of mankind. I am 
 preaching to you just as I preach to him." 
 
 " Do you look upon me as you would a 
 father?" asked Gormly quickly. 
 
 " Why, no, not exactly. Certainly not," an- 
 swered the girl. 
 
 " I am forty-four, you know." 
 
 " No, I didn't know ; but what if you are ? You 
 are still a young man. My father is fifty-five, 
 and I don't call him old." 
 
 " Wonderful consideration from twenty-two ! " 
 said Gormly smiling. 
 
 " How did you know my age, Mr. Gormly?" 
 asked the girl curiously and yet somewhat an- 
 noyed. 
 
 " Miss Haldane, there are very few things 
 which can be known about you that I don't know." 
 
 " This is most extraordinary," she began. 
 
 " Extraordinary that I should have taken an 
 interest in you, and should have found out in per- 
 fectly honorable and open ways what I could 
 about you, what all your friends know about 
 you?"
 
 78 
 
 "But this interest?" 
 
 " You have yet to fathom my interest in you." 
 
 " You surprise me, Mr. Gormly. You annoy 
 me a little, I believe." 
 
 "God forbid!" said the man. 
 
 " And you frighten me somewhat. That you 
 should have concerned yourself so " 
 
 " Miss Haldane, look at it, if you please, from 
 the business point of view; my standpoint, as you 
 naturally infer. Would I trust you so implicitly 
 with large sums of money if I did not know some- 
 thing about you ? " 
 
 " Oh," said the girl, vaguely disappointed. 
 
 " Therefore, you may look at my interest as 
 precautionary if it is more agreeable to you," an- 
 swered the other, smiling in a baffling way. " But 
 you were giving me some advice? " 
 
 "Are you saying that sarcastically?" 
 
 " By no means. I was never more anxious to 
 hear anything than to have you finish what you 
 were about to say." 
 
 " Well," resumed the girl, " I was saying that 
 you ought to do something in life. I don't know 
 what talent my father has. As I told you, his 
 money came to him without any effort on his part." 
 
 " He has the reputation of being one of the 
 ablest and most conservative financiers in New 
 York," answered Gormly. 
 
 "Yes; but whether he is a great constructive 
 force or not, I can't tell. Naturally I think so." 
 
 " If I may judge from the qualities exhibited
 
 MISS HALDANE IS CHARMED 79 
 
 by the one member of his family I know best, I 
 should say yes," returned the man. 
 
 " But there is no doubt about you," said the 
 woman. " You have made yourself. You started 
 with little or nothing, if I may believe the news- 
 paper accounts of you." 
 
 " Have you been reading them? " 
 
 " Every word," answered the girl. " I was 
 quite proud of being able to say to my friends that 
 I knew you and what they said about you was 
 true." 
 
 Never in his life had Gormly been happier than 
 at this frank, spontaneous expression of approval. 
 
 ' You ought to put these great talents of yours 
 at the service of your fellow men; not in buying 
 and selling, but in doing something for them," she 
 ran on. 
 
 " Don't you think that in selling them honest 
 goods at a fair profit, in telling them the strict and 
 only truth about what you have to sell, in allowing 
 them the utmost freedom of return and exchange, 
 in providing generously for employees, is doing 
 service to your fellow men ? " 
 
 " Certainly, it is. It is doing service to the 
 little world which you touch, a larger world per- 
 haps than most of us can touch. But I want you 
 to do something, I want every man and every 
 woman who has the ability to do something, in a 
 great, splendid way." 
 
 " But what would you have me do? " 
 
 " I don't know," answered the girl. " I don't
 
 8o THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 know what I would have anybody do; but there 
 are so many things to be done, so many wrongs to 
 be righted, so many causes to be espoused and 
 advocated, so many things to be achieved. The 
 great man goes out and makes opportunities. 
 Part of his greatness, I take it, consists in seeing 
 what there is to do. Ruskin says somewhere that 
 the greatest thing anybody can do is to see some- 
 thing. If I were a great woman, I could answer 
 your question better; but I am only " 
 
 " I think you are a great woman," said Gormly 
 softly, " and I would be perfectly willing to take 
 your answer and abide by it." 
 
 " I would not have it that way," answered the 
 girl dreamily. " When my father asks me what 
 I would have him do, I say to him, ' Go and see.' 
 He laughs at me ; most people laugh at me. You 
 don't, Mr. Gormly." 
 
 "Never!" said Gormly. "And I confess to 
 you that of late I have had similar thoughts. I 
 want to do something for humanity," he went on 
 slowly. " For seven months and one day to do 
 something great and splendid has been my aspira- 
 tion." 
 
 "Seven months and one day!" exclaimed the 
 girl. " Why, how curious ! That's the time that 
 has elapsed, you said, since you I " 
 
 " The very time, Miss Haldane." 
 
 " I don't understand." 
 
 " It is easily explained. There are certain peo- 
 ple who stimulate us to achievement, who awaken
 
 MISS HALDANE IS CHARMED 81 
 
 our ambition, who quicken our hope, who 
 Don't you comprehend? You have put some- 
 thing into my life which it lacked. All these long 
 years I see now that I have been preparing or 
 being prepared to do something. I needed just 
 the fillip to the imagination which you gave me. 
 Now I want to do something for you, Miss 
 Haldane." 
 
 "Forme, Mr. Gorm'ly?" 
 
 " For you and my fellow men ; for your ap- 
 proval and theirs. You see you have brought me 
 in touch with a state of being of which I knew 
 little. I was not born into your society. Until 
 I saw you, I had no desire to mingle in it. If I 
 had been a person of enough consequence before 
 you awakened me for the world to have noticed, 
 it would have called me a woman hater. Save in 
 a business way among my employees and among 
 people to whom I sell, I literally and actually 
 knew no women. I have not taken a vacation, 
 except business trips abroad, for twenty-five years. 
 For instance, this is the first time in all that long 
 period, that I have stood alone in a room and 
 talked socially, by her gracious privilege, on terms 
 of outward equality, with a fine, high bred, capa- 
 ble, woman. Can't you understand how you exert 
 a new influence, how you have brought a new force 
 into my life, and that from my acquaintance with 
 you results are certain to come?" 
 
 He sat down on a chair on the other side of the 
 fireplace as he spoke, bringing himself on a level
 
 82 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 with her. She looked at him with curious in- 
 tensity. His face was averted from her; he 
 searched the depths of the fire with his direct, 
 somewhat fierce gaze. She could look at him un- 
 checked; she could study him as she had never 
 done before. In his turn he had awakened in her 
 an interest that she would have been unable to 
 explain, and she regarded him with much more 
 than the casual inspection of former meetings. 
 
 She saw his smooth shaven face seamed and 
 lined with thought and care. She marked the 
 strength, the intelligence, the resolution, in his 
 countenance. It lacked completing touches of ten- 
 derness, it lacked the woman's influence; but aside 
 from that it was altogether admirable, virile, and 
 strong. Nor did he look his years in the firelight. 
 Her father had been red faced, white mustached, 
 and white haired ever since she could remember 
 him. There were none of those evidences of age 
 and high living in this man. He looked master- 
 ful, fit for command, strong for great enterprises. 
 His talents were wasted, she thought, even in 
 operations of the magnitude which he had spread 
 before her. 
 
 " I want to do something," he said, " to make 
 me worthy," his voice trembled, " the respect of," 
 he looked at her, " of people like you," he went 
 on, " and I am going to do something too." 
 
 " You frighten me," said the girl, appalled as 
 we often are by the granting of our prayers, the
 
 MISS HALDANE IS CHARMED 83 
 
 acceptance of our suggestions, the realization of 
 our hopes. " I don't like to feel that what you 
 are doing is for for " 
 
 " Say it, Miss Haldane. For you." 
 
 " I can't assume such a responsibility," she pro- 
 tested; " and such a motive is not the highest, the 
 best." 
 
 " Nonsense ! " said the man almost roughly. 
 " The best things in life are done for the sake of 
 good women, and there is not a human being in 
 the world who possesses your powers and capa- 
 bilities who does not thrill to responsibilities. In 
 your heart of hearts you are glad or you will 
 be glad if through your inspiration something is 
 accomplished, by whatever force or means it may 
 be, even by me, for mankind." 
 
 And the woman knew that the words were true. 
 She thrilled even then to the strength of his pro- 
 testation. 
 
 " You see I know humanity. I don't know 
 society; you observed that by my awkward recep- 
 tion of you all here to-night." 
 
 " Indeed," said the girl, " it was most graceful 
 and kindly hospitality, and we deeply appreciate 
 it." 
 
 " It is good of you to say so. These things I 
 could learn," he hesitated, " if I had some one who 
 knew to teach me; but other things I know myself. 
 I am at a discount with women; but I can handle 
 men and I know men. Every human being is
 
 84 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 glad to ally himself with success. If you and I 
 together do something, you will be happy if we 
 succeed." 
 
 "And miserable if we fail?" queried the girl 
 with a nervous laugh. 
 
 " We will not fail." 
 
 "You are proposing a partnership?" 
 
 " There is a quasi-partnership existing between 
 us now in the settlement house. Your devotion, 
 your generous thought for those people, with my 
 business back of you, for it is back of you, Miss 
 Haldane, in that or anything else to the last limit, 
 is going to produce results there that nobody 
 dreams of. The settlement house work has been 
 tried before; but never as it's going to be tried 
 now. I have been down there again and again, 
 partly on the chance of seeing you, and partly 
 because I wanted to see how things were going 
 and what you had been doing, and I tell you your 
 plans are epoch making. They are going to be 
 carried out, too." 
 
 "Are you going to devote yourself to that?" 
 
 " No," said the man quickly. " I have some- 
 thing higher and greater in view. That's your 
 part of the partnership; mine is to help you, 
 and" 
 
 " And what are you going to do ? " asked the 
 girl, intensely interested, leaning forward, her 
 breath coming quicker. 
 
 " I am going to be Mayor of New York, for 
 one thing, Miss Haldane."
 
 MISS HALDANE IS CHARMED 85 
 
 "Yes. And then?" 
 
 It touched him immensely to see the matter of 
 fact way with which she accepted his stupendous 
 declaration. 
 
 " And then, I am going to be the best Mayor 
 New York ever had, an honest Mayor. The ad- 
 ministration shall be conducted on business lines, 
 and business with me doesn't spell chicane. There 
 isn't a dishonest dollar in my fortune. You will 
 forgive my personal talk? I don't often resort 
 to it; but you make me tell you whatever you want 
 to know." 
 
 How did this man divine that these things were 
 things she wanted to know? thought the girl, as 
 she nodded gravely to him. 
 
 11 Go on ! " 
 
 " I am going to suppress graft; I am going to 
 break up the gangs that rob the city; I am going to 
 bring the traction companies, the freight and the 
 others, to terms. I am going to make them give 
 the people good value for the franchises they en- 
 joy; I am going to reform the police force and 
 stop its taking toll of crime, its connivance with 
 sin I New York is going to be free, and I am 
 going to tell it the truth and make it so ! " 
 
 He stopped and, not trusting himself to look at 
 her, stared into the fire again. There was a long 
 pause. Who was it that had said of old " Ye shall 
 know the truth and the truth shall make you 
 free?" The woman caught herself breathing 
 deeply; her heart was beating madly; she could
 
 86 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 scarcely trust herself to speak. Finally he broke 
 the silence. 
 
 " Well," said he, flashing a direct look at her, 
 " what do you thing of it, Miss Haldane? " 
 
 " It is the greatest dream that ever entered a 
 human brain," said the girl quietly. 
 
 " It is my business, it has been my business all 
 my life, Miss Haldane, to make dreams come true, 
 and I am dreaming now a greater dream, dearer to 
 me than that I have outlined before you." 
 
 What could he mean? She strove to meet his 
 glance fairly; but her own eyes fell before his own 
 direct gaze. 
 
 " Do you think I can do it, make my dream 
 come true ? " he asked. 
 
 "Which dream, Mr. Gormly?" 
 
 " Both of them." 
 
 "That you can be Mayor of New York; that 
 you can redeem the city ; that you can restore to the 
 people their liberties, I' don't know. Other men 
 have tried it and have failed." 
 
 " And I may fail too," answered Gormly very 
 quietly. " Such achievements are not the results 
 merely of one man's efforts. The people them- 
 selves must respond. Whether I can make them 
 do that or not will determine the issue." 
 
 " I think you can, Mr. Gormly. You have 
 made me respond." 
 
 " And will you help me ? " 
 
 "I! What can I do?" 
 
 "Do what you have done to-night; listen to
 
 MISS HALDANE IS CHARMED 87 
 
 me, believe in me, inspire me, be my silent partner 
 in my endeavor as I have been yours in your en- 
 deavor." 
 
 " What are you proposing to me? " 
 
 " Nothing now but what I say." 
 
 " And after you have succeeded? " 
 
 "That's the other dream, and " 
 
 The woman stopped him with a gesture. 
 What could she say? Questions trembled on her 
 lips; thoughts seethed in her brain. What did he 
 mean? What could he mean? What wild im- 
 aginings filled her mind? She broke the thread 
 violently. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," she said resolutely, " if you 
 make that dream come true, you will have done 
 more service to humanity than has ever been done 
 by a citizen of this republic, and you will be the 
 greatest man on this side of the world." 
 
 " And if my other dream comes true," said 
 Gormly, " I will be the happiest." 
 
 " May they all come true ! " said the girl im- 
 pulsively rising and giving him her hand. 
 
 " Do you mean that?" eagerly asked the man, 
 gratefully taking her proffered hand in his own 
 firm, resolved clasp. 
 
 " I don't know," she faltered, " what your other 
 dream is; but if it corresponds with the one you 
 have told me, I repeat the prayer." 
 
 " At the proper time," said the man, " you 
 shall know. Meanwhile, to-morrow we shall get 
 to work."
 
 88 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " To-morrow will be Christmas," said the girl, 
 smiling. 
 
 " My Christmas present to you, Miss Haldane, 
 will be the beginning of the campaign." 
 
 " And mine to you, Mr. Gormly," she returned 
 laughing, " will be my good wishes and hearty en- 
 couragement in your labor." 
 
 " I could wish nothing better," he went on 
 lightly, glad and relieved at this change from the 
 intensity of the interview. " I shall announce my- 
 self as a candidate for the mayoralty at the next 
 election. Representatives of the minority party 
 have already approached me on that subject." 
 
 " And what did you say to them? " 
 
 " Nothing yet. You see this is all new work to 
 me, and I must consider my way carefully." 
 
 " Have you ever made a public speech? " 
 
 " Never in my life." 
 
 " Well, if you can talk to the people as you have 
 talked to me to-night, I am sure you will win." 
 
 The girl said it artlessly, carelessly; but his 
 heart leaped to the assurance. 
 
 " That's to be determined," he said. " Most 
 men would say it was easier to talk to one woman 
 than to a thousand people. I have had experience 
 with neither. As I told you, it has been a quarter 
 of a century since I talked alone with a woman." 
 
 11 Was that in the West of which you spoke? " 
 
 The man looked at her gravely. 
 
 " You are asking me a question, Miss Haldane,"
 
 MISS HALDANE IS CHARMED & 
 
 he said, " about my early years, and all the re- 
 porters in New York have failed to induce me to 
 discuss it." 
 
 " Forgive me ! " said the girl, flushing with em- 
 barrassment at her thoughtless curiosity. 
 
 " I am glad to tell you. It was in the West." 
 
 " And who was she ? Your mother? " 
 
 " My mother died shortly after I was born, and 
 my father before that. I have had to shift for 
 myself almost from the time I could walk." 
 
 " And this other woman with whom you 
 talked ? " she persisted. 
 
 Gormly had suddenly become very pale. 
 
 " She wasn't a good woman, Miss Haldane," 
 he said simply, " and I have never seen her since 
 that night." 
 
 " Didn't you know that she was not a good 
 woman ? " asked the girl. 
 
 She had no right whatever to continue this con- 
 versation; but something impelled her. He had 
 been very frank. His interest in her was now 
 matched by hers in him. 
 
 " Not at that time ; I did not suspect, that is, I 
 was only a boy of nineteen." 
 
 " And is it because of that woman that you have 
 seen no others until I met you? " 
 
 " Yes, Miss Haldane." ' 
 
 " Poor man ! " said the girl half to herself. 
 
 "Not at all," answered Gormly; "you were 
 quite worth waiting for."
 
 90 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Eleanor," said her father at this moment, 
 " won't you take my hand ? I want to talk to 
 our host a little myself." 
 
 And although Eleanor, as she had said, cared 
 nothing for bridge, the interruption at that juncture 
 was very welcome to her.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 MR. HALDANE IS GREATLY SURPRISED 
 
 "IV/TR. HALDANE was in something of a 
 L*-*- quandary. For certain reasons and for 
 sometime he had been contemplating ah interview 
 with Gormly. He had about made up his mind 
 that it should take place at the first convenient op- 
 portunity he could contrive; when fortune made 
 further arrangements to that end unnecessary by 
 putting him that night in Gormly's own house. 
 That far everything was simple enough; but Hal- 
 dane was by no means relieved of his problem 
 thereby. Not only did he greatly desire the inter- 
 view which was indeed necessary, almost vital in 
 fact, to the furtherance of certain matters in which 
 he was deeply concerned, but he did not desire that 
 his interest, personal interest that is, in the affair 
 should appear. In other words he wanted to talk 
 seriously about something of great importance to 
 him without disclosing that the matter was of more 
 than passing moment. 
 
 The opposition had greatly underrated the char- 
 acter and ability of Gormly. The Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company, for instance, had 
 pooh-poohed him at first, and even now, though 
 the public press was filled with accounts of him and
 
 92 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 his doings, they still greatly underestimated his 
 qualities. Haldane himself had joined in this de- 
 preciation until he had met Gormly. He had as 
 yet enjoyed no opportunity of conversation with 
 him, save in a general way, as has been seen; 
 but he was accustomed to deal with men, and he 
 saw instantly that he was face to face with a per- 
 sonality at once able, courageous, determined, and 
 strong. 
 
 Whether anything could be done with him by 
 diplomacy or other so called gentler methods was 
 a question that at first glance appeared susceptible 
 only of a negative answer; yet Haldane felt it in- 
 cumbent upon him to make the attempt by the 
 use of what he called conciliatory measures before 
 precipitating that battle, which, if George Gormly 
 was the man Haldane suspected him to be, would 
 be the greatest contest that had ever been waged 
 in New York. Haldane had no fears for the ul- 
 timate outcome of such a battle; but as he was a 
 wise man he would rather avoid it, if that were in 
 any way possible, than provoke it. 
 
 Now that the chance for speech with the man 
 had arrived, he was in some dubiety as to how 
 far he should go. This very hesitation was an 
 evidence of the impression Gormly had made upon 
 him. The elder man, therefore, had no very 
 clearly defined plan in approaching his host. The 
 plans that he had made being conditioned upon 
 ignorance, were promptly abandoned on acquain- 
 tance and inspection.
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 93 
 
 Behold the two men seated on either side of 
 the bright fire in the library, Haldane smoking 
 one of Gormly's excellent Havanas; glasses, bot- 
 tles, and ice on a little table at hand. From the 
 great hall beyond, the hum of desultory conversa- 
 tion from the bridge players who were not es- 
 pecially intent upon their game provided a pleas- 
 ant background for conversation, which Haldane 
 determined, if he could make it so, would be an 
 agreeable one. He had disapproved of Mrs. Hal- 
 dane's manner, not because he thought it unsuited 
 to the occasion, but on account of the peculiar 
 qualities and characteristics of Gormly and the re- 
 lationship in which he stood to certain matters of 
 importance. He had been inclined on the first 
 entrance to follow his wife's patronizing, arrogant 
 assumption of superiority; but now he strove to 
 infuse all the geniality and cordiality possible into 
 his voice and manner. 
 
 On the other hand Gormly naturally had a deep 
 interest in Haldane. As the father of the woman 
 he loved, he would necessarily be a great factor 
 in the battle he meant to wage for her hand. His 
 consent and influence, while not absolutely es- 
 sential, would naturally be of great value. If he 
 could by any means win the support and counte- 
 nance of the great financier, his dream would be 
 by that much the more easy of realization. He 
 had an idea, however, that this would be impos- 
 sible. That did not daunt him or render him the 
 less alert. To win Haldane's consent possibly
 
 94 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 might be no more practicable than to win Miss 
 Haldane's consent. Yet Gormly was accustomed 
 to attempt the impossible, and nine times out of 
 ten to achieve it. That Haldane had any rela- 
 tionship, or could have any relationship, to him 
 other than that of a prospective father-in-law never 
 entered his head. That was sufficient to render 
 the interview memorable to him. 
 
 Both men, therefore, approached it casually; 
 both were on their guard, both were deeply anxious 
 to make no mistake. Haldane as the older and 
 more experienced player, was the more composed. 
 His affectation of indifference was admirably as- 
 sumed, quite in keeping with his character and 
 with the situation; for, as Gormly reasoned, he 
 could not be expected to have the slightest idea 
 that Gormly considered himself a suitor for 
 Eleanor Haldane's hand. And it was not to be 
 supposed that Haldane had any more interest in 
 any other of Gormly's projects, social, mercantile, 
 or political. Gormly, on the other hand, was 
 deeply concerned in fathoming the elder man, and 
 made no special effort to disguise that fact. His 
 manner, as became the younger, was respectful 
 without being in the least degree propitiatory or 
 submissive. He sat forward in his chair; Hal- 
 dane reclined somewhat languidly in his. 
 
 The conversation began with a remark from 
 the older man about the weather. I have long 
 wondered why the weather is the staple inaugural 
 topic. However pugnacious men may be over
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 95 
 
 matters of pronunciation and principle, the general 
 tendency of humanity is to be agreeable. It does 
 not make any difference what opinions we may 
 hold of the quality or character of the weather, 
 we are not apt to hold them with sufficient determi- 
 nation to make it worth while to quarrel about it. 
 Go out in the midst of a pouring rain and tell 
 the first man you meet that it is nice weather, 
 and nine times out of ten he will agree with you, 
 although he may think it, as indeed it is, detestable. 
 It is a safe topic, therefore, for introduction. 
 
 " I have rarely experienced so severe a snow 
 storm," said Haldane blandly. " I have been 
 coming down to Long Island in winter off and on 
 ever since I was a boy, and this surpasses anything 
 within my knowledge." 
 
 " It is bad enough for New York," responded 
 Gormly. " Here when the temperature gets down 
 to the zero mark and the wind blows thirty or 
 forty miles an hour, and it snows hard all day, we 
 call it a blizzard. Most people welcome this 
 sort of snow storm because of the mild excitement 
 of the situation, and the Street Cleaning Depart- 
 ment rejoices at the opportunities of graft pre- 
 sented." 
 
 At that last remark, though Haldane had no 
 ostensible connection with the street department, 
 or any other department of the municipal adminis- 
 tration in fact, the man slightly lifted his head 
 and glanced for a moment with deeper interest 
 at his companion.
 
 96 THE RING AND THE 
 
 " I take it from your allusion that you have ex- 
 perienced worse storms than this." 
 
 " I have been in real blizzards, Mr. Haldane," 
 answered Gormly quietly; " more than once where 
 the wind's velocity was scarcely to be measured, 
 where the temperature was from twenty to thirty 
 below, where the sleet needles cut like whips, and 
 the storm had full sweep unchecked and unbroken 
 by any thing." 
 
 " Yours, I take it, has been an adventurous life 
 then, not always run in the humdrum ways of busi- 
 ness." 
 
 " I have found sufficient excitement in building 
 up and administering my business to satisfy, I 
 should think, the most red blooded and ardent 
 of men." 
 
 " But nothing like the wild, adventurous free- 
 dom of those earlier years to which you have al- 
 luded in er ' 
 
 Haldane paused reflectively. 
 
 " In other sections of our country," answered 
 Gormly nonchalantly. " However, I am glad of 
 the storm in this instance, since it has enabled me 
 to extend to you and your party the shelter of my 
 roof." 
 
 ' That's very kind of you indeed, Mr. Gormly, 
 and we deeply appreciate it, I assure you. I feel 
 great hesitation in trespassing on the hospitality of 
 a total stranger like yourself," answered Mr. Hal- 
 dane equably, although he was quite aware of the 
 check he had received.
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 97 
 
 " You need not, sir," continued the other with 
 his usual directness. " I have been acquainted 
 I have had the privilege of knowing, that is 
 your daughter for some time, and I am honored in 
 the acquaintance of her father and mother and your 
 friends." 
 
 " You say you have known my daughter for 
 some time? " 
 
 " I have had that pleasure." 
 
 " If I mistake not, she said that you had been 
 interested in her settlement work. Quixotic im- 
 aginations of an enthusiastic girl, my dear sir; but 
 I humor her." 
 
 " You do well," returned the other. " And if 
 you will give me leave to differ with you, I hardly 
 call it quixotic. I have examined into the plan 
 thoroughly. I suppose your daughter sought me 
 at first because so many of my own employees and 
 their friends are apt to benefit largely thereby. 
 And I must say it strikes me as being altogether 
 admirable as well as entirely feasible. I hope and 
 believe it will succeed." 
 
 " Quite so," returned Haldane. He was not in 
 the least interested in the matter. Although he 
 had indulged his daughter's whim, as he described 
 it, by a magnificent donation, he did not take 
 the thing very seriously. He realized, however, 
 that it would be wise to pretend interest that he 
 did not feel, after such an expression on the part 
 of his host. " Your judgment as to the feasibility 
 of the plan, therefore, I consider most valuable,
 
 98 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 and I am glad it has your approbation. I presume 
 that you have " 
 
 " I have assisted Miss Haldane in every way pos- 
 sible," returned Gormly, who did not propose to 
 be questioned as to the details of his relation to 
 the scheme. " Of course," he went on, " your 
 own reputation as a financier is known to me as it 
 is to all of New York, and if I may be permitted 
 to say so I am of the opinion that a large part of 
 your executive ability, not to say genius, has des- 
 cended to your daughter." 
 
 " Thank you," was the answer. " Eleanor is 
 certainly a most capable young woman." 
 
 " And it must be a source of gratification to you 
 that she chooses to exercise her capability in this 
 direction rather than in the vain and aimless social 
 avocations of a large and influential section of 
 our so called best people in the city?" 
 
 " Certainly, very true. But frankly, I could 
 wish that there was a more equable division of 
 time between the er high and the low, so to 
 speak; that Eleanor could give more of her at- 
 tention to those duties, which after all, my dear 
 Mr. Gormly, however we men of the world may 
 deprecate them, go to make up so large a part of 
 life, and leave more of the detail work of this in- 
 stitution to others." 
 
 " I know little about the social obligations of 
 the world to which you refer. It has not been 
 my privilege to have an entrance therein,"
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 99 
 
 " Merely a matter of choice on your part, I am 
 sure," murmured Haldane deprecatingly. 
 
 " Possibly," was the cool reply. " I have not 
 hitherto been greatly interested in effecting an en- 
 trance within the charmed circle, nor am I especially 
 now, saving your presence of course and meaning 
 not the slightest offense in the world." 
 
 " None whatever is taken, and I pray you to 
 proceed. You interest me exceedingly." 
 
 " In my business, Mr. Haldane, and I have no 
 doubt that the experience is your own, I have found 
 that what I supervise myself is well done, and 
 what I delegate to others is frequently ill done, 
 and sometimes not done at all." 
 
 ' The remark is as old as Ben Franklin," 
 laughed Haldane, " and the principle is older 
 still." If Haldane had been familiar with Scrip- 
 ture, he might have gone back much further for 
 exemplification. " But surely," he went on, " in a 
 great business such as yours is, you can't attend per- 
 sonally to every detail yourself." 
 
 " By no means," returned the other. " I have 
 succeeded in surrounding myself with a very capa- 
 ble corps of subordinates perhaps I had better 
 call them assistants who have been tried and 
 tested, and upon whom I have devolved responsi- 
 bilities commensurate with their capacities, and 
 from whom I expect results. But I supervise 
 every department of the business myself. I am in 
 possession of frequent reports concerning it even
 
 ioo THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 in its details. I make regular and rigid inspec- 
 tions. In short, so far as one man can do so, I 
 have it all in my own hands, certainly in my own 
 mind." 
 
 " My own practice, Mr. Gormly, with my af- 
 fairs, which are somewhat large and extensive, is 
 similar to yours." 
 
 " I take it, sir," was the answer, " that we are 
 in line with all successful men in that." 
 
 It irked Haldane a little to be so calmly included 
 in the same category with Gormly ; for he had never 
 been in trade and had acquired much of the Old 
 World prejudice against the keeping of a store. 
 To be sure, this was a store like none other in the 
 world; but nevertheless the taint of barter as 
 the others would have phrased it accrued to 
 Gormly. However, it was not worth quarreling 
 about. Not that Haldane had the slightest ob- 
 jections to quarreling with Gormly; on the con- 
 trary, he would have enjoyed it immensely, and 
 indeed intended in one way or another to do that 
 very thing before he got through with him; but 
 it would be bad policy to do it without more prep- 
 aration for victory, and it would be in execrable 
 taste to precipitate antagonism in the enjoyment 
 of his hospitality. Therefore he swallowed his 
 dislike and proceeded as follows: 
 
 " Even the best of subordinates make mistakes 
 once in a while." 
 
 ' They are no more immune from that," was 
 the swift rejoinder, " than the ablest of employers."
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 101 
 
 Haldane laughed. It was exceedingly well 
 done. For the moment it even deceived his acute 
 companion. He spoke with an air of the utmost 
 frankness. 
 
 " I have no personal concern, of course, in the 
 matter, but I have been greatly interested in the 
 remarkable series of articles that have appeared 
 under your name. I assume that you are re- 
 sponsible for them." 
 
 " I confess that I wrote every one of them with 
 my own hand." 
 
 " They do you great credit, I am sure. I have 
 never heard more vigorous expressions in better 
 English than those I have read." 
 
 " Thank you," said Gormly gravely. " I have 
 tried to be as simple and direct in the presentation 
 of facts as I could. I imagine it is the significance 
 of the fact itself that so deeply impresses you." 
 
 " It may be. What I started to say was that 
 and you will permit me, for you yourself have 
 admitted the mistake I suppose you were be- 
 trayed into this unfortunate position through some 
 error on the part of one of your subordinates." 
 
 " No," said Gormly, who was nothing if npt 
 honest, and in that particular he had vastly the 
 advantage of Haldane in the little duel of words 
 proceeding, if he had known it, " that was a mis- 
 take of my own, one of those employer's errors to 
 which we alluded a moment since." 
 
 " It is like to cost you dear, I fancy, before you 
 get through."
 
 102 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " I don't know," answered Gormly quietly; " but 
 if it does I am prepared to stand it." 
 
 " The Gotham Freight Traction Company, 
 which I hear is an immensely strong financial 
 organization and is naturally relentless and inexor- 
 able in matters of business, is apt to exact compli- 
 ance with its demands, or leave your warehouses, 
 as it were, in the air." 
 
 " I have never credited them with any other 
 intent." 
 
 ; ' Then I suppose in the end you will take your 
 medicine, as the young men say, and content your- 
 self with your ah proclamations ? " 
 
 " My experience has been that publicity, if 
 coupled with surrender, is never very efficacious. 
 If I should accede to the demands of the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company, the fact that I had 
 exposed them would be of little moment." 
 
 " Oh, then, you propose to do your own freight- 
 ing by wagon and give up the battle? " asked Hal- 
 dane, his eagerness a little more apparent than he 
 imagined possible. 
 
 Gormly looked at him curiously. 
 
 " I have not said so," he answered. 
 
 : ' What do you propose? " 
 
 It was a blunt, direct question, and one unwar- 
 ranted by the situation. 
 
 " Well " began the merchant slowly. 
 
 " I ask simply as a citizen interested in the wel- 
 fare of the community. Some of the backers of 
 the Gotham Freight Traction Company are friends
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 103 
 
 of mine, and from to-night I shall hope to count 
 you also among that number," explained the finan- 
 cier gracefully. 
 
 " Thank you," returned Gormly. " I fear, 
 however, that any discussion of my plans might 
 be considered as premature. I have learned that 
 it is not wise to say what you are going to do until 
 you are ready to do it; that it is much better, in 
 fact, to substitute doing for saying." 
 
 " An excellent maxim ! " returned the other with 
 well simulated indifference. " All of your fellow 
 citizens, however, will be deeply interested in the 
 outcome of the affair. I am an older man than 
 you are, Mr. Gormly, and may therefore take the 
 liberty, not of advising you as to the conduct of 
 your business, but of saying in a friendly way one 
 or two things that occur to me. The first is that 
 as a business man I know that this publicity is 
 more or less distasteful to you. I assume that it 
 will be to the Gotham Freight Traction Com- 
 pany, which, I believe, is a very worthy con- 
 cern, desirous of minding its own business and 
 exploiting its own properties. I think myself, 
 viewing the situation impartially, that you have 
 been hardly dealt with. I don't want to see the 
 affair advance any farther, for the credit of the 
 community. I think I have some little influ- 
 ence, my name and connections er my 
 family, and " 
 
 He hesitated and then stopped. 
 
 " I quite understand the importance of any-
 
 104 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 thing that you may say, from your own personal 
 reputation, Mr. Haldane, from the means at your 
 disposal, and from the position which your family 
 has occupied in the community. It is only nec- 
 essary to mention those things." 
 
 "Thank you," replied the other. "Well, 
 what I meant to say is this. You have built up a 
 great business here in New York. We are er 
 
 proud of it. You are, I believe, one of the 
 institutions of the city. I shall, if you will permit 
 me to use my influence with certain of my acquain- 
 tances in the traction company, try to induce it to 
 
 ah modify its demands. Suppose we say 
 five hundred thousand dollars for the connections 
 and nothing more to appear about it in the public 
 press? " 
 
 " Is this " burst out Gormly quickly. He 
 had intended to say " a bribe " ; but realized that 
 if he did so, he would affront Haldane, of the 
 nature of whose interest in the matter he was so 
 desirous of adjusting, he was not yet aware, and 
 so he changed his mind and said, " Is this a com- 
 promise you are offering? " 
 
 " I am offering nothing," returned Haldane 
 lightly, almost indifferently. " I am not in posi- 
 tion to offer anything. I have no right to do so, 
 no desire. As I stated to you, I am simply a 
 citizen who wants to see this unpleasant matter 
 removed from the papers, where such things are 
 discussed by intemperate writers without any real 
 comprehension of the issues involved and I offer
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 105 
 
 as the friend of my friends, and, if I may so call 
 myself, as your friend, to bring you two together." 
 
 " You are not empowered to make such a propo- 
 siton ? " 
 
 " Certainly not," was the specious answer. " I 
 simply take advantage of the fortunate chance 
 that gives me the privilege of your acquaintance 
 to do what I conceive to be a most important pub- 
 lic service." 
 
 u And you have no personal interest in the mat- 
 ter?" 
 
 " I have already assured you as to that." 
 
 " Under the circumstances then, I shall have 
 no hesitation in acting according to the dictates 
 of my judgment; my conscience as well, I might 
 add." 
 
 " You would do that in any event." 
 
 " Certainly; but if it were a matter of personal 
 interest to you, sir, I might be inclined, in view 
 of the good will you have manifested toward me, 
 to give you another answer from that which I now 
 deliver." 
 
 "And what is that?" 
 
 " I will not accept any such offer, if it should 
 be made me by authority. I will not pay a single 
 cent over and above the actual cost of building 
 the switches and a proper and reasonable amount 
 for the privilege of the connection."- 
 
 " Of course, you must make your own decision. 
 In that case, however, I fear you will never get 
 the switches."
 
 106 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " I am quite sure that before I get through I 
 shall have not only the switches, but " 
 
 Gormly paused, and looked his companion hard 
 and directly in the face. 
 
 " But what?" said Haldane, flicking the ashes 
 from his cigar daintily, and speculatively watch- 
 ing the blue curl of smoke that rose languidly from 
 its end in the air. 
 
 The room was very still, though it was sur- 
 charged with possibilities of explosion and cur- 
 rents of emotion and feeling that should have 
 shaken not merely the frail spiral of smoke, but 
 the building and the city itself with its violence. 
 
 Gormly thought quickly. He was not now de- 
 ceived by the well assumed indifference of Hal- 
 dane. He was convinced that there was some- 
 thing back of it; that the relation of Haldane to 
 the whole affair was more than a mere casual one ; 
 that Haldane had not told him the plain, unvar- 
 nished truth. And the first emotion that came 
 over him was one of intense disgust and shame 
 that Eleanor Haldane's father should put himself 
 in that position, shame for her. Whatever 
 Gormly had been or had done, as has been said, 
 he had gained his success honorably, and had been 
 a truth teller and a truth doer ever since he had 
 come to New York. Perhaps if he had been a 
 speculator instead of a legitimate business man, 
 he might have been tempted into other courses. 
 He was a man accustomed to decide things quickly, 
 not on the spur of the moment; but when he had
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 107 
 
 the facts presented to him, he usually came to an 
 instant conclusion. He had certain facts pre- 
 sented to him now, and he resolved to take the 
 bold course of declaring his purpose to this man, 
 who, he was now forced to believe, was in al- 
 liance with the enemy, how close an alliance he 
 could afterward ascertain. 
 
 " But what, sir? " asked Haldane again at last. 
 
 " Well, Mr. Haldane, I will be frank with you. 
 I not only intend to have my track connections, 
 but I intend to have the Gotham Freight Trac- 
 tion Company as well." 
 
 " My dear sir! " said Haldane gently, not turn- 
 ing a hair before this astounding declaration. 
 Indeed, it was too absurd and incredible even to 
 startle. It could only amuse, and there was a 
 flicker of a smile on Haldane's otherwise impas- 
 sive and indifferent, not to say blase, countenance. 
 " Are you aware that the bonds of the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company are two hundred and 
 fifty million dollars; that stock for twice as much 
 more has been issued and sold and is already at a 
 premium; that it is in the enjoyment of a ninety- 
 nine-year franchise with the privilege of renewal; 
 that its promoters include some of the ablest fin- 
 anciers in the city?" 
 
 " Much of what you say is a matter of public 
 notoriety. You have given me, however, some 
 information that I did not possess and which is of 
 value," said Gormly quietly. 
 
 Haldane did not acknowledge the touch, though
 
 io8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 he winced inwardly at it. He was too good a 
 player not to know that with such a dangerous ad- 
 versary as it would seem Gormly would be, he 
 could not afford to make the slightest concession 
 or give the most seemingly unimportant informa- 
 tion. 
 
 " And yet you speak," he went on, " of con- 
 trolling the company?" 
 
 "I do." 
 
 " This is most interesting. I am curious to 
 know how you propose to do it? I confess that 
 in these peaceful days I enjoy nothing so much as 
 a trial of wits, a struggle of brains." 
 
 " It is the only warfare nowadays in which 
 the individual may engage legitimately. We are 
 all agreed as to that." 
 
 Gormly paused as Haldane resumed. 
 
 " But has it occurred to you how utterly im- 
 possible would be such a contest?" 
 
 " I have nd doubt that the odds would be 
 heavily against me." 
 
 " My dear sir, to use the language of Belmont 
 Park, you would be a hundred-to-one-shot." 
 
 " But such shots sometimes hit the mark." 
 
 "Rarely, rarely!" 
 
 '' That they should do so once is enough in- 
 spiration for me." 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," began Haldane, suddenly 
 turning and facing him. " I have no doubt that 
 at buying and selling anything but stocks I should 
 be a mere tyro in your hands. The business that
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 109 
 
 you have built up is evidence of your capacity in 
 that line; but you have, I take it, never mingled 
 in Wall Street, never dealt on the exchange? " 
 
 " Never. I don't mean to either." 
 
 " How then do you expect to obtain control of 
 such a corporation as this, especially when it has 
 back of it the city government as well as the 
 Sachem Society? " 
 
 This was a direct question. A great deal of 
 the dissimulation that had been exhibited by the 
 elder man had been abandoned. His interest 
 now was expressed even more frankly than had 
 Gormly's been exhibited originally. As the one 
 man had abandoned his reticence, the other 
 had acquired it. The question was one Gormly 
 could have declined to answer without a moment's 
 hesitation without giving any offense, for it was one 
 that Haldane had no right to ask. He thought 
 deeply, if swiftly, and before he spoke, Haldane 
 continued: 
 
 " You are, I take it, a wealthy man ; but no 
 single man could command the resources of this 
 corporation; that is, no single man outside of those 
 few who are in it," he went on, " and it would 
 be sheer madness for you to attempt it." 
 
 " Mr. Haldane," said Gormly, coming to 
 another conclusion, " there is a power in this 
 country greater than the money power." 
 
 " And what may that be, sir? " 
 
 " The power of the people." 
 
 " In this instance, the people are already on
 
 no THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 the side of the Gotham Freight Traction Com- 
 pany." 
 
 "Are they so?" 
 
 " Certainly. Through their representatives 
 they have voted them a franchise under which the 
 line has been constructed and by which it is 
 operated, through the provisions of which it will 
 be held." 
 
 " Have the people surrendered their rights ab- 
 solutely to the Gotham Freight Traction Com- 
 pany?" 
 
 " I should say that they had." 
 
 " Are they delivered, bound hand and foot, to 
 this corporation?" 
 
 " Well, you put it rather poetically ; but in sub- 
 stance your remark is true." 
 
 "And have they no redress or recourse?" 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " And what is that? " 
 
 " I haven't the slightest objection to telling you. 
 They can revoke the franchise at the expira- 
 tion of the ninety-nine-year term." 
 
 "Is that all they can do?" 
 
 " Absolutely all. You see, therefore, it would 
 be quite hopeless for you to attempt to fight this 
 corporation, even with the alliance and support of 
 the people, which it is by no means certain you 
 could gain." 
 
 "And that is your unprejudiced opinion ? " 
 
 " It is. Therefore I urge upon you the ac-
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED in 
 
 ceptance of my offer to mediate between you and 
 them." 
 
 " And you say your interest is purely im- 
 personal?" 
 
 " Entirely." 
 
 Haldane, according to his code, was a man of 
 unblemished honor. His word in any personal 
 matter was as good as his bond. He would have 
 scorned to lie, or even to prevaricate or deceive in 
 any personal matter. But when it came to the 
 vast affairs of business, he was as corrupt as are 
 most of the great manipulators of stocks and prop- 
 erties. He belonged to the most selfish group 
 of men on earth. Dealing habitually with the 
 public, the principle in vogue was one that had 
 been unequivocally set forth by the prototype of 
 the present financial buccaneer, " The public be 
 damned," therefore, he did not hesitate in 
 furtherance of his plans or desires to say whatever 
 suited him without the slightest regard for the 
 truth. 
 
 " I am glad, as I said before, to know that," 
 returned Gormly, " because I should not like to 
 find myself in opposition to one who has mani- 
 fested such friendliness to me as you have." 
 
 Haldane looked up suspiciously; but Gormly's 
 appearance was absolutely guileless. 
 
 " For notwithstanding what you tell me," the 
 merchant continued, " all of which is doubtless 
 true. I propose to enter the contest with the
 
 ii2 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Gotham Freight Traction Company. I have 
 never allowed myself to be robbed; I have never 
 been beaten by trickery and chicanery; and I don't 
 propose to be robbed or beaten now." 
 
 " Ruin, absolute ruin, is before you," said the 
 other earnestly, " if you engage in this contest. 
 You have made one mistake, sir. You would bet- 
 ter pay for it, even though you pay high, than 
 involve your whole business in a hopeless battle." 
 
 " But has the Gotham Freight Traction Com- 
 pany made no mistakes in its turn ? " 
 
 " None that I am aware of." 
 
 "Are you familiar with its affairs?" 
 
 " Only as I may read of its transactions in the 
 public press." 
 
 "And you approve thereof?" 
 
 " My approval or disapproval is not of special 
 moment. I confess that possibly your unfamil- 
 iarity with such methods may cause you to believe 
 the Gotham Freight Traction Company to be harsh 
 in its methods; but I think they have done nothing 
 illegal, nothing outside the scope of the charter, 
 nothing inconsistent with the terms of the fran- 
 chise." 
 
 " But, sir, they are trying to hold me up to 
 use a blunt phrase for a million dollars for a 
 thing that should not be worth a tenth of that 
 amount on a liberal basis. Morally " 
 
 " Morals, my dear Mr. Gormly, somehow seem 
 to have little to do with business. They have the 
 power and the desire, and you are in the unfortu-
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 113 
 
 nate position of the under dog. You must do 
 what they like, or " 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 " We shall see," said Gormly. " I believe, 
 though I am not a student of military history, that 
 an able general is one who takes advantage of 
 the mistakes of the enemy, and that more battles 
 are won by such sharp sighted endeavor than by 
 deliberate planning." 
 
 " Precisely ! This is a case in point. The 
 Gotham Freight Traction Company is taking ad- 
 vantage of your mistake." 
 
 " But I have also heard," continued Gormly 
 imperturbably, " that the ablest general is he who 
 not only takes advantage of his enemy's mistakes, 
 but who turns his own mistakes to good account. 
 I propose to do that. Under ordinary circum- 
 stances I should have no special ambitions in the 
 political field; but, now that the issue has been 
 drawn, you will forgive my plain speech, be- 
 tween honesty and dishonesty, blackmail and fair 
 dealing, I propose to antagonize the party in 
 power and the Sachem Society which granted this 
 franchise and delivered the city into the hands of 
 this corporation and to drive them out." 
 
 " Many men have tried that; none in my recol- 
 lection have succeeded." 
 
 " The more honor in succeeding now, and the 
 more inspiration to try." 
 
 " But suppose you did succeed, what then ?
 
 ii 4 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 How would that affect the Gotham Freight 
 Traction Company?" 
 
 " Meanwhile," said Gormly, and in this in- 
 stance he deliberately laid all his cards on the 
 table. " I propose to take advantage of the one 
 blunder of the Gotham Freight Traction Com- 
 pany." 
 
 "And what is that?" asked Haldane with in- 
 tense eagerness. There was no longer the faintest 
 pretense between these two. His cards were on 
 the table as well, although he had not admitted it. 
 
 " In order to make the franchise of the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company really of value, to com- 
 plete the system, without which it begins and ends 
 in the air, they must have the old New York Street 
 Car Company franchise which expires next spring. 
 It covers the only available routes and the only 
 available streets to connect the two ends of the 
 Gotham enterprise. Somehow or other the astute 
 minds controlling the corporation failed to secure 
 the renewal of this franchise. It has to be voted 
 upon and passed in the spring." 
 
 u The present administration," was the quick 
 reply, "will be in power until the April elections. 
 The franchise expires in March. No re-grant of 
 it could be made until then. It will be renewed 
 before a new administration could supplant the 
 old, even if your wild dreams were successful." 
 
 " That is to be seen," answered Gormly coolly. 
 
 " My dear sir, it is self evident." 
 
 " By no means. I am not a politician, neither
 
 MR. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 115 
 
 am I a speculator, neither am I a financier; but I 
 have had dealings with greater masses of men and 
 women possibly than any man outside of the 
 Mayor of the City or the Governor of the State, 
 and I know what public opinion is. I think I 
 know also how to arouse and stimulate it. Public 
 opinion shall be aroused on the question of the 
 renewal of the franchise of the New York Street 
 Car Company, with a clear explanation of the 
 principles and consequences involved, to such an 
 extent that I do not believe any administration 
 on earth will dare to counter it." 
 
 "And who will do this arousing?" 
 
 " I will." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " By offering myself as a candidate for Mayor 
 of New York and by fighting the battle on that is- 
 sue, and that alone." 
 
 " I might," said Haldane slowly, after a deeply 
 thoughtful moment. " I might secure the 
 privileges you desire conditioned 
 
 " I don't desire them now, Mr. Haldane," re- 
 turned Gormly. " I am in the battle to stay. I 
 ask nothing from the Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company; it can confer no favors upon me. I 
 shall take what I am entitled to by the grace of 
 God and the will of the people." 
 
 Haldane stared a long time at the dark, deter- 
 mined face of his host. 
 
 " You will make a splendid enemy, Mr. 
 Gormly," he said at last. " The battle between
 
 u6 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 you and the Traction Company will be one worth 
 going a long distance to see." 
 
 " I shall be fighting," returned Gormly, with 
 more meaning than the other dreamed of, " for 
 all that life holds dear." 
 
 " Is success then so priceless to you? " returned 
 the other. " Well, I fear you are doomed to 
 deep and bitter disappointment," he continued, 
 rising to his feet. 
 
 " That's as may be," was the answer, as the 
 merchant also rose; "but at least the battle will 
 be worth while." 
 
 Haldane looked fixedly at the younger man. 
 He acknowledged that in him the Gotham Freight 
 Traction Company and he himself had found the 
 worthiest antagonist that the abundant and bril- 
 liant talent of the great metropolis could pro- 
 duce. 
 
 At that instant the tall clock in the hall struck 
 the hour of twelve. 
 
 " I have the honor," said Gormly, bowing for- 
 mally, " to wish you a very Merry Christmas, Mr. 
 Haldane."
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 GORMLY ANNOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY 
 
 ' I V HE hall into which Miss Haldane stepped 
 ** early the next morning had been transformed 
 into a perfect bower of winter beauty. There 
 had been no time to buy anything; but the most 
 available pine trees on the place, of which there 
 were several, had been ruthlessly sacrificed, and 
 under Gormly's personal supervision the hall, a 
 magnificent apartment under any circumstances, 
 had been lavishly decorated with the fragrant 
 evergreen in honor of Christmas. 
 
 The storm of the night had blown itself out 
 with the advent of the day. It was a brilliant, 
 sunshiny morning. The lawn without fairly scin- 
 tillated with light and whiteness from the ice and 
 snow. The air was clear as a bell and very crisp 
 and cold. Miss Haldane knew this; for, finding 
 the hall deserted on her entrance, without more 
 ado she went out through the vestibule and 
 stepped on the porch, surveying the blue waters 
 of the sound tossing gaily beyond the ice crust 
 that lined the shore in front of her. The cold 
 and brisk breeze brought a glorious touch of red 
 to her cheeks. She incarnated the very spirit of 
 youth and beauty and happiness as she reentered 
 117
 
 ii8 THE RING AND THE MAN . 
 
 the hall, and coming face to face with Gormly 
 wished him again a Merry Christmas. She was 
 not dressed in her dinner gown, either, nor had 
 she been compelled to resort to the wardrobe of 
 the lodgekeeper's wife, which surely never would 
 have afforded adequate clothing for her youthful 
 yet splendid figure. 
 
 Gormly had been busy during the night. He 
 actually had not slept a wink. Not the most 
 ardent and devoted of youthful lovers could have 
 more unselfishly spent himself to promote the com- 
 fort and convenience of the woman he adored. 
 So soon as he had got the party safely to bed, 
 he had gone to the stable, and in default of any- 
 one else who could do so, he had himself ridden 
 across the country through the snow and storm, 
 which was even then dying out, to notify the peo- 
 ple at the Haldane place of the predicament of the 
 family and to arrange that maids and men with 
 proper clothing should be brought over to his own 
 cottage early in the morning. 
 
 The pair that he had in the stable were spirited 
 animals, not broken to the saddle. They had 
 never been ridden. Gormly rode one, however, 
 without too much difficulty, and it brought back old 
 days in rather grim and tragic recollection when 
 he found himself bending to face the storm as he 
 had done when a boy on the prairies. As before, 
 it was for a woman; but this time how different 
 a being! 
 
 With four horses attached to the large station
 
 GORMLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY 119 
 
 wagon, the maids and men had arrived betimes, 
 and when mistress and master awoke they were 
 ready to attend upon them. Hence Miss Hal- 
 dane was under no necessity of appearing in 
 evening costume at eight o'clock in the morning, 
 or of making a guy of herself in Mrs. Bullen's 
 extraordinary attire. She was one of the rare 
 women who appreciate the privileges they enjoy. 
 She was correspondingly grateful and naturally 
 very curious. She had learned, of course, from 
 her maid how the news had been brought and 
 how she happened to be there with the change of 
 apparel. 
 
 Miss Haldane had not slept very well; for one 
 reason her thoughts had dwelt unceasingly upon 
 that strange conversation she had had with her 
 host. She had awakened earlier than the rest, had 
 dressed immediately, and had descended to the 
 hall in the hope of seeing him. Her pleasure and 
 satisfaction sparkled in her eyes as she extended 
 her hand. 
 
 "How delightfully Christmaslike is the room; 
 how good it smells ! " she said after the first 
 words of greeting. 
 
 " I am glad indeed that it pleases you," 
 answered Gormly, smiling. " And if you will 
 permit me, I will repeat my words of last night, 
 or early this morning, and wish you again a very 
 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as 
 well." 
 
 " And I will give you back your wish with in-
 
 120 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 terest," returned Miss Haldane, " as I did last 
 night. I am sure that we are all intensely 
 grateful to you for your forethought in having the 
 maids and clothes brought over. Felice, my maid, 
 has told me that you rode over yourself very early 
 this morning to carry the news of our plight, and 
 to bring them. It must have been hard riding." 
 
 " It took me back to boyhood days, Miss 
 Haldane." 
 
 "In the West?" asked the girl. 
 
 " Well, yes," was the somewhat reluctant 
 answer, " although the greater part of my boy- 
 hood was not spent in the West." 
 
 " And this ride in the storm, was it like the 
 other rides and storms you have experienced? " 
 
 '* This was a very mild affair compared to 
 those. I could wish it had been harder." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " This time I was riding for another woman, a 
 different woman." 
 
 Miss Haldane rather thrilled to the direct state- 
 ment; but womanlike she changed the subject. 
 She was interested in Gormly, nothing else. It 
 was quite obvious that the man was greatly im- 
 pressed by her, and other things, which were not 
 quite obvious were certainly possible and per- 
 haps even more than probable, but Miss Haldane 
 did not desire to realize these things more clearly 
 than she did at present. Yet she could not be 
 insensible to them. 
 
 Women always think tenderly of their admirers,
 
 GORMLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY 121 
 
 and they never quite lose a certain regard for 
 those who have professed affection for them. A 
 woman may marry and have children and be a 
 devoted wife and mother; but she resents, be she 
 as old as the hills, the defection of any former 
 admirer as a personal slight to her qualities and 
 characteristics. It is part of the innate selfishness 
 of a sex that loves to be admired and has achieved 
 its present position because it has qualities that 
 provoke admiration and demand it. Therefore 
 Miss Haldane was pleased with what she thought 
 she saw and heard in Mr. Gormly's man- 
 ner nothing more than that. So, at least, she 
 would have declared. 
 
 " Did you have this Christmas arrangement of 
 pines made in the hall ? " She asked irrelevantly. 
 
 " For you and your party," interposed 
 Gormly with a perceptible break after the pro- 
 noun so as to allow the fact to permeate thor- 
 oughly. " I wish," he added, " that circum- 
 stances permitted me to signalize the season by 
 offering you an adequate Christmas present." 
 
 " Indeed, you have made us all a Christmas 
 present in extending such gracious and adequate 
 hospitality, in your thoughtful care and provision 
 for us." 
 
 " I have, however, something that may pos- 
 sibly interest you, which I may venture to hope 
 you may regard as a personal tribute from me in 
 lieu of such a gift." 
 
 "And what is that?" asked Miss Haldane,
 
 122 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 her curiosity getting the better of her discretion. 
 
 " It is here ! " said Gormly, extending to her a 
 copy of The New York Planet of Christmas 
 morning, which had been brought over from the 
 station by special messenger by his direction. 
 
 "The morning paper!" exclaimed the girl, 
 with a laugh. 
 
 " Not so much the morning paper, interesting 
 though it usually is, but something that appears 
 therein." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " Allow me." 
 
 He took the paper from her, opened it until 
 he came to the advertising section, and then 
 handed it back to her. In bold type covering a 
 whole page she read the following:
 
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 a 73 
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 C +> 
 
 51 
 
 
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 DUtn'W i "! ^ Ml B b ^ 
 
 a a a o o. e a JS ic3 
 
 >S- fi o2i OO^JBW ^^z 
 
 u-sbe-r-c .SJ.ii'Ce^ ^3 
 
 <1> - J . M - V ti ^ ^> ^* 
 
 Sat.,, w & *o,> o S! "i-^a 
 
 '' e "Se & ^fc5 ,2^4> 
 
 4,^^-=o -a_2^ ^?ia 
 
 ***** *isii &;i 
 
 Me-e jr^o^aj.:: feSa
 
 124 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Eleanor Haldane read this extraordinary an- 
 nouncement aloud. Then she handed the paper 
 back to him and extended her hand, joyfully ex- 
 claiming, 
 
 " It is perfectly splendid. It's the finest thing 
 I have ever heard. Nothing could have de- 
 lighted me more. I am so glad to see you ir- 
 revocably committed to the step! I am sure you 
 will be elected, and " 
 
 " What, my dear child," 1 broke in the cold 
 voice of Mrs. Haldane, who was just descending 
 the stairs, " is giving you such joy, may I ask? " 
 
 " Mother," said the young woman, turning to 
 her and lifting the paper from the table, " what 
 do you think? Mr. Gormly has announced 
 himself as candidate for Mayor of New York at 
 the spring election." 
 
 " Indeed," began Mrs. Haldane loftily, sur- 
 veying Gormly through her lorgnette, " I am 
 quite surprised." 
 
 " I think it's awfully jolly," broke in Miss 
 Stewart, who had followed the elder woman into 
 the hall. " I didn't know that gentlemen 
 mingled in politics as a rule. I thought it was 
 all reserved for the Sachem Society." 
 
 " What you don't know about the politics of 
 New York would fill a large book, Miss Stew- 
 art," said Livingstone Haldane, who had entered 
 the room with Dr. Deveaux at the same time. 
 
 " I am afraid it will be a sad day for the men," 
 said the doctor, " when the women begin to take
 
 GORMLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY 125 
 
 intelligent interest in men, not merely as men but 
 as politicians." 
 
 "What has started the political discussion?" 
 queried young Haldane. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly has," answered his sister. 
 " He has announced himself as candidate for 
 Mayor of New York." 
 
 " And I said that I never knew that gentle- 
 men went into politics," interposed Miss Stewart. 
 
 " They often enter," said the doctor, " as 
 gentlemen; but infrequently leave with the same 
 degree." 
 
 " That's right," answered Livingstone. " It 
 is rather a nasty game to play." 
 
 " But don't you think," asked Gormly, " that 
 if a few more gentlemen would play it, it would 
 become a cleaner game?" 
 
 " Of course, it would," assented the vivacious 
 Miss Stewart. " Mr. Haldane, why don't you 
 enter it yourself? " 
 
 " By Jove ! " exclaimed the young man, " that 
 wouldn't be a half bad idea, would it, sis?" 
 And it came almost with a shock to Gormly to 
 hear his divinity called by this homely appella- 
 tion. " Father's always talking to me about a 
 career and all that. I wonder why that would- 
 n't be a good game ! " 
 
 " It's expensive enough as a pastime," said Dr. 
 Deveaux, " to rank with horse racing and auto- 
 mobiling and other pleasant enjoyments of the 
 harmless rich."
 
 i 2 6 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 r 
 
 " I should not think," said Mrs. Haldane pon- 
 derously, " of allowing my son to associate 
 himself with " 
 
 " Mother," cried her daughter, " you forget 
 that Mr. Gormly " 
 
 "Quite so, quite so," said the lady vaguely; 
 "but for persons in er trade." 
 
 " Yes," said Dr. Deveaux, " politics as a rule 
 is made up of barter and sale, I believe." 
 
 " If that's the case," interposed young Hal- 
 dane facetiously, " I'll get father to buy me the 
 office, and " 
 
 His sister turned on him contemptuously. 
 " Livingstone," she said, " this is a serious mat- 
 ter. The people of New York have been robbed 
 right and left in every way. Everybody knows 
 that. We have the worst administration that has 
 ever disgraced the city. Mr. Gormly, for the 
 sake of the people, is going to try to make things 
 different."' 
 
 " They all say that," laughed Livingstone. 
 " I don't mean anything personal of course, Mr. 
 Gormly." 
 
 " Say whatever you like, Mr. Haldane," re- 
 turned Gormly composedly. " I expected that 
 the notice would cause discussion; indeed I wrote 
 it for that purpose. Nor can I feel aggrieved 
 if some of the discussion is unfavorable to the 
 proposition; I expect that much of it will be. 
 Nevertheless I beg to assure you that I have en- 
 tered upon the undertaking very seriously with
 
 GORMLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY 127 
 
 a definite purpose in view; that I have honestly 
 stated that purpose without any reservation what- 
 soever in the advertisement, which, if you will do 
 me the honor to read it, sets forth my ideas ex- 
 actly. And while much that you have said, Dr. 
 Deveaux, about politicians and the political situa- 
 tion is generally true, I wish to assure you that I 
 reserve barter and trade for my business, and if 
 I cannot be elected by the votes of the people on 
 a plain, straightforward issue such as I present, 
 then I shall cheerfully devote the rest of my life 
 to minding my own business." 
 
 " The man who minds his own business," said 
 Haldane the elder, who had entered unobserved 
 by the rest of the group, and had listened long 
 enough to catch the drift of the conversation, " as 
 a rule is not cut out for a politician. The chief 
 function of the politician is to attend to the busi- 
 ness of other people, and the successful politician 
 is the one who can first of all persuade the people 
 that their business needs attention; and secondly, 
 that no one can give it such attention as he him- 
 self; that he is the one indispensable man." 
 
 " I do not assume to be the only man who can 
 give New York a business administration; who 
 can stop graft and abuse; who can safeguard the 
 rights of the people; who can stand for justice 
 and equal opportunity, the administration of the 
 law, and the abolition of privilege. There are 
 doubtless thousands of men who could be trusted 
 to do those things, or at least to make a brave
 
 j 2 8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 attempt in that direction; but none of them has 
 come forward with an offer to do so." 
 
 " And so you yourself have jumped into the 
 breach ? " said Haldane, reaching for the morning 
 paper with which his daughter made haste to 
 supply him. 
 
 " I do so, I beg you to believe, because no one 
 else appears to be willing. Should anyone pre- 
 sent himself who would in my judgment more 
 effectively promote these things, I should be glad 
 indeed to withdraw in his favor and give him my 
 support." 
 
 Gormly spoke with such simplicity and sincerity 
 that his truth was evident even to the most sus- 
 picious in the room. 
 
 " Father," began young Haldane, " look at 
 me ! " Haldane fixed a coldly critical eye upon 
 him. " You have intimated several times that 
 idleness was not the proper career for a young 
 man. How would I do for a candidate for the 
 office of Mayor. I understand that it can be 
 bought, and if you care to invest the money I 
 shall try to live up to the opportunities." 
 
 " Splendid 1 " said Miss Stewart. " And then 
 unless Mr. Gormly should withdraw, we should 
 have a lively battle between them, and we should 
 know both the candidates. 1 think I should like 
 to get out with a carriage and flowers and cam- 
 paign like the English women do, kisses for votes, 
 and " 
 
 " I should not like that at all," said young Hal-
 
 GORMLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY 129 
 
 dane genially, " unless I could buy up the voting 
 privileges of the community and elect myself, 
 having you do your campaigning entirely with 
 me." 
 
 " This kind of campaign," returned Miss 
 Stewart, " is one in which money purchases no 
 privileges. What do you think of that, Mr. 
 Gormly?" 
 
 " I have the highest respect for the purity of 
 Mr. Haldane's motives, especially as you offer to 
 campaign for him in so charming a way; but 
 under the circumstances I hardly think that I 
 could withdraw from the position I have taken. 
 I am sure that if I can enlist you on my side on 
 the same terms, I am as good as elected." 
 
 "Behold," said Dr. Deveaux, " the un- 
 doubted power of woman in politics! For the 
 bribe with which Miss Stewart seeks to corrupt 
 mankind, I should be willing to vote for anybody, 
 even herself." 
 
 " You are fully committed to the enterprise, I 
 see, Mr. Gormly," said Haldane gravely. 
 
 " Absolutely." 
 
 " Well, I supposed as much after our conver- 
 sation last night. Nothing can alter your reso- 
 lution." 
 
 "Nothing; at least nothing that is likely to be 
 offered." 
 
 " Eleanor," said Haldane at which Mr. 
 Gormly started violently, the word came in so 
 pat, "what do you think of this scheme?"
 
 I 3 o THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Father, I think it is splendid, glorious ! 
 Mr. Gormly told me of his intention last night, 
 as he seems to have told you. I have always said 
 that the man who does something in a large way 
 for his fellow men is after all fulfilling more 
 nearly than any other the highest obligations and 
 privileges of his manhood." 
 
 " My dear child," said Mrs. Haldane disap- 
 provingly, " are you intending to enter the politi- 
 cal field?" 
 
 " Not on the same terms as Louise ; but so far 
 as wishing Mr. Gormly success in his enterprise, 
 I am fully committed thereto." 
 
 " It is the people who wish but do nothing 
 else," commented Dr. Deveaux dryly, " who are 
 responsible for present conditions." 
 
 " Exactly," answered Miss Stewart. " I al- 
 ways thought that very thing, and am delighted 
 to have my proposed plan win the approval of so 
 active and important a political exponent as Dr. 
 Deveaux." 
 
 " You make me more determined then ever to 
 offer myself," said young Haldane amid the gen- 
 eral laugh. 
 
 " And I may have some influence," added Miss 
 Haldane earnestly. 
 
 " To wit," said her brother, " with the Duke, 
 and the Count, and the Baron, and the Baronet, 
 and the other scions of the effete aristocracy upon 
 whom father is spending his good money, and 
 mother her good taste, and I my good temper."
 
 GORMLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY 131 
 
 " Livingstone," interposed his mother loftily, 
 " these gentlemen to whom you refer have no 
 interest whatever in the er politics of New 
 York." 
 
 And yet, thought Dr. Deveaux, though he said 
 nothing, they might have a deep and abiding in- 
 terest, since he alone of those present suspected 
 how much of Miss Haldane's fortune was due to 
 the fact that Haldane was not so disinterested in 
 municipal affairs as he seemed. 
 
 Miss Haldane answered sharply. " They are 
 not the only men of my acquaintance. Most of 
 those whom we know socially are of your mental 
 caliber and disposition, Livingstone; but there are 
 some earnest men among my friends whom I am 
 sure I can interest." 
 
 "If you wish to gain your sister's good opin- 
 ion, Mr. Haldane," said Miss Stewart, " I see 
 that you will have to do something." 
 
 " Would that also gain yours ? " 
 
 " It is very doubtful," was the reply. " You 
 see I haven't that innate predisposition to like you 
 which would naturally be a family characteristic." 
 
 ' Jesting aside, Mr. Gormly," said Haldane, 
 " I suppose that you realize the tremendous na- 
 ture of the undertaking you have set to yourself, 
 if you are in earnest." 
 
 " I never was more in earnest in my life. I 
 think I realize perfectly." 
 
 " Every vested influence, every political influ- 
 ence, will be against you."
 
 i 3 2 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " And what will be for you." 
 
 " I shall be," said Miss Haldane impulsively. 
 
 Gormly bowed. " With you and right on my 
 side, Miss Haldane," he said not ungracefully, 
 " I am sure of a majority." 
 
 " Don't delude yourself," continued the older 
 man gravely, " with the belief that because your 
 gallant, if somewhat quixotic, declaration wins 
 the support of a certain section of the community, 
 which like my daughter here, is made up more or 
 less of dreamers and theorists, that you are thereby 
 making possible the achievement of your desire." 
 
 " I think," returned Gormly, " that all my life 
 I have been something of a dreamer." 
 
 "In the dry goods business?" queried Mrs. 
 Haldane, who undauntedly took occasion to 
 exert what she believed to be the prerogatives of 
 her station. " Surely that is a practical and 
 prosaic business." 
 
 " Madam, the most practical and prosaic," said 
 Gormly; " but even in the dry goods business one 
 may dream dreams and see visions. When I was 
 a young clerk in an obscure store on the East Side, 
 I dreamed of that Broadway building, and the 
 dream has come true." 
 
 " The most practical man on earth," said Dr. 
 Deveaux, casually, " is the dreamer whose dreams 
 are realized." 
 
 " And I dream dreams of a regenerated New
 
 GORMLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY 133 
 
 York as well," continued Gormly swiftly. " As 
 your husband says, madam, every organized force 
 will be against me; but there is one power which 
 is above every other force or organization in com- 
 munities like ours, if it can only be awakened to 
 its responsibilities and made to feel its force; and 
 that power " 
 
 He stopped and looked smilingly at the elder 
 woman. 
 
 " Is the people," cried her daughter with en- 
 thusiasm. " And that power I am sure you are 
 going to have." 
 
 She stretched out her hand to him impulsively. 
 Gormly took it, bowed over it, all but kissed it. 
 
 " I am going to try for it, at least," he said 
 smiling gratefully at her. 
 
 " Sir," said the quiet voice of the butler at 
 this moment, " breakfast is served." 
 
 " Breakfast," said Dr. Deveaux, " and what it 
 stands for, the material, is always an object to 
 politicians except the very young ones." 
 
 " I am veteran enough," answered Gormly 
 genially, " to appreciate it, even though this is 
 my first essay in the field." 
 
 '' We will breakfast with you, Mr. Gormly," 
 said Haldane, " on condition that you will take 
 your Christmas dinner with us." He spoke with 
 the utmost geniality and cordiality, in a manner 
 so foreign to his usual bearing that his son and 
 his wife looked at him with amazement. " I am
 
 134 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 sure," continued the older man, " that my wife 
 joins me most heartily in this invitation. My 
 dear" 
 
 His voice took a slight touch of sharpness, 
 scarcely perceptible, but quite sufficient to awaken 
 the astonished Mrs. Haldane to action. 
 
 " Quite so," she said vaguely, not in the least 
 understanding why the sacred portals of the Hal- 
 dane home should be opened to this upstart out- 
 sider, this nouveau rlche, especially on Christmas 
 Day. She did not know that Haldane intended 
 to fight this man to the bitter end, and as a pre- 
 liminary thereto he felt it advisable for many 
 reasons to invite him to dinner such are the 
 conditions of modern war! "We should be 
 charmed, I am sure, if Mr. Gormly would honor 
 us," she continued as she accompanied him to- 
 ward the breakfast room. 
 
 But Gormly, though he saw an interested 
 second to the invitation in Miss Haldane's glance, 
 was wise enough to decline. He preferred to be 
 in the position of one who confers favors rather 
 than receives them at this stage of the game. He 
 was in no way beholden to the Haldane family. 
 He had supported Miss Haldane's enterprises 
 m largely; he had been fortunate enough to be of 
 service to them in a rather unpleasant situation, 
 and he preferred to let the relationship stand in 
 that way much to Mrs. Haldane's relief.
 
 135
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 THE OUTS WOULD FAIN TAKE A HAND 
 
 * I V HE political declaration of Gormly was the 
 * sensation of the hour; the sensation of many 
 hours, in fact. It came at exactly the right time. 
 The non-church going section of New York, from 
 which the larger part of politics was unfor- 
 tunately recruited the truly good Christian 
 being a man who leaves the doing of such duties 
 to his ungodly neighbor as a rule 1 had abun- 
 dant leisure to read the papers on Christmas 
 morning, and every paper in the city contained 
 that same announcement which Miss Haldane 
 and the party at the cottage had read in The 
 Planet. 
 
 Every paper contained also editorial comment 
 then and thereafter. The administration papers 
 ridiculed the proposition, endeavored to laugh it 
 out of court. Confident in their powers and their 
 control of the sources of power, they strove to 
 sneer away the new challenger in the political 
 tournament. Other men possibly as high in 
 character had announced themselves from time to 
 time with similar platforms. Their announce- 
 ments had created mild sensations, their campaigns 
 had sometimes created more sensations; but the re- 
 
 137
 
 i 3 8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 suits had invariably been defeat. The army of 
 grafters- and officeholders synonymous terms ! 
 rather imagined that the results in this case 
 would be exactly as before. The newspapers 
 whose function it was to tell the babes and suck- 
 lings of the rank and file what they ought to think 
 at the behest of the wise and prudent, sought to 
 encourage this confidence, confidence of success 
 being thought half the battle, although sometimes 
 too much of it is half the defeat. 
 
 So the administration papers sought to whistle 
 the new candidate down the wind of their disdain. 
 Nevertheless, since George Gormly's money was 
 as good as anybody else's in New York, they kept 
 on printing his communications, in which his ad- 
 vertisemnts were alternated with his political 
 manifestos. 
 
 The anti-administration papers, and those 
 which strove so far as newspapers could to take 
 a dispassionate view of the situation, were unani- 
 mous in their approval of Gormly's candidacy. 
 They declared that his election would be the best 
 thing that could happen for New York ; they were 
 also practically unanimous in their hopelessness of 
 his success. 
 
 Gormly had carefully studied the situation. 
 He was not disappointed in the least degree. 
 He knew beforehand that some would deride, 
 others would applaud, and all would disbelieve 
 that he could succeed. He was a man of that 
 peculiar American wit which we call shrewdness.
 
 THE OUTS WOULD TAKE A HAND 139 
 
 He had to the full that other quality known as 
 " common " sense, because it is so extremely rare 
 perhaps, witty adjective from one point of view, 
 since the essence of wit is to be found in antithesis, 
 and he realized that while such a proclamation 
 as he had made would inevitably cause a tremen- 
 dous discussion, it would have to be followed up 
 by work, if it was to be more effective than a 
 flash in the pan. He had learned that organiza- 
 tion was the keynote of success, as overorganiza- 
 tion was its death knell. He knew that the ar- 
 rangement which secured all general principles, 
 leaving the utmost liberty in details, was the one 
 which was in the end bound to succeed, provided 
 the factors upon whom dependence was to be 
 placed were in any degree worthy of their re- 
 sponsibilities. 
 
 He was also aware that the native intelligence 
 of the community, even allowing for the vast 
 number of ignorant foreigners who were allowed 
 without let or hindrance to fill the city, was very 
 high. The first requisite for successful cam- 
 paigning, therefore, he decided to be education. 
 Knowledge, as of old, is still power. 
 
 The ideal method of enlightening the people to 
 the seriousness of the situation and of convincing 
 them of their ability to amend it was by word of 
 mouth. Gormly had never been a public 
 speaker. He did not expect to startle the world 
 with the oratory of a Demosthenes, a Burke or a 
 Webster. He had an idea that methods such as
 
 i 4 o THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 they practised were out of date. Fortunately he 
 had plenty of self confidence, and he was quite 
 capable of presenting a situation in a simple, busi- 
 nesslike, way, so clearly that even the ignorant 
 could comprehend it. Such argument was the 
 more effective from its very simplicity and from 
 the absence of rhetorical effects. 
 
 He was a man of the most vigorous and 
 splendid constitution. His habits of life had 
 been of the best, and he was fully prepared to 
 spend himself in going from place to place 
 throughout the city telling the people the truth. 
 A few months only would elapse before the 
 spring elections that would determine the issue. 
 No matter how assiduously he campaigned, he 
 could reach only a portion of the vast conglomer- 
 ation that made up political New York. It 
 would be necessary for him, therefore, to keep 
 telling the same story in the different papers of 
 the city to reach those who did not hear his voice, 
 and to drive home in the minds of those who had 
 heard what they had listened to. 
 
 He was prepared to spend his money as well as 
 himself for this end. He realized that under 
 present conditions a great deal of money was 
 necessary to a political campaign, more money as 
 a rule than any one citizen could afford to expend. 
 Hence had arisen the necessity for an organiza- 
 tion like the corrupt and contented Sachem So- 
 ciety, which could secure a vast sum of money in 
 the aggregate from many contributors, ranging
 
 THE OUTS WOULD TAKE A HAND 141 
 
 from bribes from the corporations to the petty 
 blackmail levied upon the woman of the street; 
 and would, when the election was over, be able to 
 make proper returns to those who had contributed 
 time, labor, or money to insure the result. 
 Gormly was willing to spend his own money; but 
 not for the illegimate purposes of campaigning. 
 He resorted to the unusual expedient of pub- 
 lishing week by week exactly what he spent and 
 how it was expended, deploring at the same time 
 in his advertisements and in his public speeches 
 the necessity for spending any money at all. He 
 pointed out that the ideal method of settling such 
 a 1 question would be the presentation of candi- 
 dates, the submitting of platforms, and then the 
 unbiased judgment of the voter. The fact that he 
 had to spend money in the way he did afforded 
 him one of the strongest arguments in favor of 
 his candidacy. 
 
 Watson, one of the assistant general managers of 
 his great institution, a tyro like Gormly in politics, 
 but a man of great ability and acumen, he made 
 manager of his campaign. The party out of 
 power through its leaders declared that it in- 
 tended to make him its candidate; other smaller 
 parties proposed to fall in line. It was pointed 
 out by those interested that indorsement by these 
 organizations would provide Gormly with an or- 
 ganization and be of immense benefit in taking off 
 his hands the details and minutiae of political cam- 
 paigning, about which he was supposed to know
 
 i 4 2 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 nothing; that it would at once provide him with 
 a respectable following, and, as they claimed, 
 lend dignity to his position. The purpose of this 
 political party, whose influence was considerable 
 and whose ramifications were many, whose 
 leaders were men of experience, was of course 
 thoroughly well known. It was discussed in the 
 public press, and the day and hour of the forth- 
 coming interview with Gormly, offering him 
 their indorsement, were accurately set forth. 
 His decision as to these proffers of support was 
 awaited with growing interest and excitement. 
 
 The conference between these leaders and 
 Gormly was short, sharp, and decisive. It took 
 place in his own business office. The deputation 
 was made up of a banker named Poole, who 
 had a certain prominence in municipal affairs 
 through his connection with the national com- 
 mittee of the party to which he belonged, who 
 was a brilliant financier, a liberal giver, and a 
 valuable member of the opposition; Benson the 
 real leader of the party, the political boss so far 
 as the outs had anything to boss; and Fitchett, an 
 attorney as bright as he was unprincipled, who as- 
 pired to political preferment himself. The trio 
 met Gormly in his business office. 
 
 Poole was the natural spokesman. " Mr. 
 Gormly," he began he had some slight acquaint- 
 ance with Gormly through some minor financial 
 transactions in which his bank and the Gormly 
 store had been involved, " I want to make you
 
 THE OUTS WOULD TAKE A HAND 143 
 
 acquainted with Mr. Benson, the chairman of our 
 municipal committee, and Mr. Fitchett, an at- 
 torney of whom you have doubtless heard." 
 
 Gormly shook hands with the men mentioned 
 and begged them to be seated. 
 
 " We are," began Poole impressively, " a com- 
 mittee, I might say a deputation, from the board 
 of management of our political organization, who 
 have been appointed to ah interview you 
 about the mayoralty situation." 
 
 " I am very glad indeed, gentlemen, to see you, 
 and to hear anything you may have to say to me." 
 
 This was an assumption of independence which 
 did not promise well for the interview. Fitchett 
 exchanged quick glances with the banker. Ben- 
 son the boss audibly snorted. 
 
 "We have," continued Poole with lofty dig- 
 nity, " of course observed your announcement of 
 your candidacy in the daily papers." Gormly 
 bowed. " We have been struck with your pecu- 
 liar availability for the office. Your large 
 business interests, the fact that you are so well 
 known to the people of New York, your un- 
 doubted probity, the evidence of good manage- 
 ment and ability which we see around us, and 
 er " 
 
 " The barrel that you can tap," suggested 
 Benson, whereat Fitchett glared at him savagely; 
 but as there was no table to screen the movement, 
 was unable to kick him as he desired. 
 
 " And in short," continued Poole hastily, striv-
 
 144 
 
 ing to cover the unfortunate interjection, " these 
 all convince us that you are the very man for 
 whom the party has been looking. We have 
 come here to proffer you our support, and to say 
 to you that our convention which is to be held 
 next week will undoubtedly make you our candi- 
 date, and indorse your platform. And in fine we 
 want you to lead us." 
 
 " Your convention is composed of deputies 
 from all the voting precincts of the city, is it not, 
 who are elected at regularly called primaries? " 
 
 " Certainly," was the answer. 
 
 " Well, how can you three gentlemen, or your 
 central committee which has how many mem- 
 bers?" 
 
 " A hundred,'" replied Fitchett. 
 
 " Exactly, a hundred. How then can you 
 three gentlemen, or even the whole hundred of 
 you, forecast the action of your convention which 
 has not yet assembled? " 
 
 " It's easy to see, Mr. Gormly," said Benson 
 half pityingly, " that you don't know anything 
 about practical politics. The committee of a 
 hundred will carry out the will of the party be- 
 cause the will of the party will be the will of the 
 committee of a hundred; and the committee of 
 a hundred will carry out the will of this com- 
 mittee visiting you, because the will of this com- 
 mittee is the will of the committee of a hundred. 
 If I say I mean if we say that our party
 
 THE OUTS WOULD TAKE A HAND 145 
 
 wants you for Mayor, you can bet your last dollar 
 that you're the man it wants. See?" 
 
 " I see," said Gormly. " In that case why 
 have any convention at all! Why have any 
 committee of a hundred? Why have anybody 
 but you, Mr. Benson," he stopped long enough 
 to make the pause appreciable, " and your co- 
 adjutors? Why have any people, as a matter of 
 fact? Why don't you and Mr. Liffey, who I 
 believe holds a somewhat analogous position to 
 yours in the other party, get together with two 
 able coadjutors like those you have brought and 
 settle the question what the people are going to 
 have?" 
 
 " Well, Mr. Gormly, since you put it that 
 way," said Benson coolly, " if I was a little 
 stronger than I am, if this city wasn't so hope- 
 lessly in Charley Liffey's grasp, that's about what 
 we'd do. Now, we think that you've got certain 
 elements of strength with the people that'll sort of 
 balance things. I don't know whether you can be 
 elected or not. I'm speakin' frankly now, gentle- 
 men, and as a practical politician; but I believe 
 you're more apt to be elected than anybody else, 
 if we can get a fair count, or count the ballots 
 ourselves, which is more or less doubtful with 
 Liffey in power, and therefore we want you for 
 our candidate, because we think we can win." 
 
 " How very disinterested ! " 
 
 " Mr. Benson puts it rather ah forcibly,
 
 I 4 6 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Mr. Gormly," began Fitchett sauvely. " Natu- 
 rally being compelled to care for the rank and file, 
 he thinks more of the loaves and fishes than of 
 other matters of equal or greater importance. It 
 takes all kinds of men, you know, to make up a 
 political party. We are here as a matter of 
 principle. We believe that the people have been 
 robbed by the present administration." 
 
 " Why, everybody in New York knows it 1 " 
 said Benson contemptuously. " What are the 
 people for but to get robbed, anyway? Any 
 man who's foolish enough to allow himself to be 
 robbed deserves it." 
 
 " Mr. Benson," broke in Poole, " really the 
 discussion has taken a most extraordinary turn. 
 For myself I regard it as highly desirable that 
 the city of New York, especially as next year 
 there is to be the national election for the presi- 
 dency, should by all means be brought over to 
 our party. We think if anybody in the city can 
 win against the Sachems, you are he, Mr. Gormly, 
 and we are prepared to back you to the last limit. 
 I have had some experience in financing national 
 campaigns. I should be glad to put my services 
 at your disposal in that " 
 
 " I also," said Fitchett. " I am not a finan- 
 cier, unfortunately; but I am not without ex- 
 perience in organizing meetings, speaking, secur- 
 ing a corps of speakers, and so on, and I should 
 be delighted to be associated with you in this bat- 
 tle for reform and victory."
 
 THE OUTS WOULD TAKE A HAND 147 
 
 " Now, gentlemen," said Benson, " this is all 
 very well for the outside world. Of course we 
 have to play on the reform string until all other 
 music is drowned out, and of course it stands to 
 reason we'll give the people a better administra- 
 tion than the present one, if we put 'em out. 
 Liffey has been in power so long that he ain't even 
 decent. He ain't willing to take a fair, respect- 
 able graft; he wants everything. But when it 
 comes down to talkin' business with the candi- 
 date in his private office, the best thing is the whole 
 truth. Certainly it's important from one point 
 of view that we should win this year. It may 
 give us more power in the national convention 
 next year. If we can deliver the goods in New 
 York city, why, our voice is goin' to mean some- 
 thing, our influence is goin' to be worth some- 
 thing, and that accounts for Mr. Poole's presence 
 here. As for Mr. Fitchett, he's one of the 
 brightest young lawyers' we've got. He knows 
 which side his bread's buttered on. He wants to 
 be district attorney and run with you, and you 
 couldn't get a better campaigner to stand by your 
 side. As for me, all the power we've got, which 
 I admit ain't as much as we'd ought to have, I 
 control. I put it at your disposal. Now what do 
 you say." 
 
 " I protest," began Poole angrily; while 
 Fitchett bit his lip, but managed to control him- 
 self better than the banker. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Gormly, " it will hardly be
 
 i 4 8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 necessary for you to continue the interview 
 further on these lines." 
 
 " What do you mean? " exclaimed Benson. 
 
 " I mean that while I am, of course deeply 
 touched by your hearty and spontaneous prom- 
 ises of support in this coming campaign, and 
 while I appreciate highly the honor that you pro- 
 pose to me of making me your candidate, and 
 while I see to the full the significance of the argu- 
 ments you have severally brought forth, and 
 while I am, I think able to look at the matter from 
 your point of view, I regret to say that I must 
 decline your proposition." 
 
 " What ! " roared Benson. " You ain't goin' 
 to run then? " 
 
 " I haven't said anything to that effect, have 
 I?" 
 
 " But," interposed Poole, "you can't expect to 
 succeed without any organization back of you. 
 Why, man, the ring that's against you, the in- 
 fluences that are opposed to you, both financial 
 and political, is something that you can't im- 
 agine ! " 
 
 " You don't know the power of Charley Liffey," 
 growled Benson. " Why, he could beat you with 
 his eyes shut. He could beat me, and I'm no in- 
 fant in arms when it comes to politics, and what'd 
 you be ? " 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," began Fitchett, " there are a 
 vast number of intricate details connected with 
 elections of which you presumably know little.
 
 THE OUTS WOULD TAKE A HAND 149 
 
 Not that I disparage your knowledge in the 
 slightest degree; but you have evidently had no 
 experience in these matters. We can supply you 
 with an organization to take care of them, and 
 your own popularity, which I assure you if I am 
 able to read the public mind is increasingly grow- 
 ing, will do the rest. It requires much more than 
 a candidate and a majority of votes to win an 
 election." 
 
 " The ballots have got to be counted," said 
 Benson, " and the money's got to be spent. 
 That's one reason why you're such an available 
 candidate. We could get any number of long 
 haired reformers; but they don't put up the money. 
 You're puttin' it up every day. In common with 
 all the rest of us, I read those accounts you're pub- 
 lishing from week to week, and it makes me sick 
 to see so much good money goin' to waste. Not 
 but what it's doin' some good; but a practical 
 man like myself could administer it so much bet- 
 ter. You could buy a voting precinct with what 
 you spend on a single ad. Wastin' good money 
 on the press! It's men you want to buy, not 
 newspapers. That's the reason Liffey always gets 
 the best of me. He's got more money than I 
 can get, consequently he's got the men. But with 
 your own contributions and the chances for suc- 
 cess that you'll give us, there's lots of other rich 
 men that'd be willing to take risks on our gettin' 
 in power." 
 
 " I am not one of those men, Mr. Benson.
 
 i 5 o THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 I'll take no chances whatever on your getting in 
 power." 
 
 " Well, it's got to be Liffey's crowd or ours, 
 and your fightin' Liffey's crowd from beginning 
 to end. Therefore logically you belong to us." 
 
 "I cannot see the force of your reasoning," said 
 Gormly, " and I tell you here and now that while 
 I shall be very glad to have the votes of any or 
 every man in New York, yet I will be beholden to 
 no political party in the city. I have entered 
 this campaign as an independent. If the people 
 wish to elect me, they can do so; if not, not." 
 
 " Why, I told you," said Benson pityingly, 
 "that you might get elected; but you've got to 
 be counted in." 
 
 " If I am elected," said Gormly, " you need 
 not fear that I shall be counted out." 
 
 " But, Mr. Gormly," said Poole, " you have no 
 organization." 
 
 " No man," interposed Fitchett, " can carry on 
 such a campaign single handed." 
 
 "Where's the rest of your ticket?" growled 
 Benson. 
 
 " You have to be a regular nominee," said 
 Poole. 
 
 " I shall be nominated by petition, gentlemen," 
 said Gormly coolly. He pointed to his desk. 
 " Look at that pile yonder. They are coming 
 in every day." 
 
 " Signed by women and children and cranks, I 
 suppose 1 " sneered Benson.
 
 THE OUTS WOULD TAKE A HAND 151 
 
 " I have a corps of young men," answered 
 Gormly, " who personally visit every petitioner, 
 find out if he is a voter and if he really means 
 what he says when he asks me to run. Every 
 name is verified and registered." 
 
 " Well, I'll be damned! " cried Benson in great 
 amazement. 
 
 " I am afraid if you continue in politics with 
 your present views that you will be," said Gormly 
 coolly. " As for organization, I have an organi- 
 zation of my own. I am overwhelmed with prof- 
 fers of individual assistance. The most avail- 
 able of those who volunteer are being enrolled. 
 I am meeting them frequently. We are discussing 
 the issues and preparing to hold meetings and send 
 out speakers all over the city." 
 
 " Who's managing the game? " 
 
 " One of my assistant managers in the store, 
 Mr. Watson." 
 
 "What's he know about politics?" 
 
 " His experience compared with your own has 
 been little, but on different lines. He is learn- 
 ing rapidly, however, and I think before you get 
 through, you will find him worthy of even your 
 own steel, Mr. Benson." 
 
 " That's all very well," said the boss, greatly 
 taken aback over the situation. " It does seem 
 as if somebody's got a head on his shoulders around 
 here." 
 
 " It might be concluded that I had myself," 
 said Gormly genially; "but we'll pass that by."
 
 i 5 2 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " But in spite of all these things, you'll be 
 beaten as sure as fate. I tell you, you've got 
 to fight the devil with fire. Of course, while I 
 agree with these gentlemen here that purity in 
 politics, which has been called an iridescent dream, 
 whatever that means, is to be desired, and if we 
 could win without money and without resortin' to 
 the dodges that have made the party in power in- 
 famous, we'd be glad to do it." 
 
 " Certainly, of course," said Poole and Fitchett 
 immediately. 
 
 " But as it is, it can't be done. Now, every 
 man is supposed to be in politics for what there 
 is in it, and I've lived long enough to know that 
 the supposition is mainly true. What you're in 
 it for, we don't quite know, but admitting that 
 you're more or less disinterested, so are we. Ain't 
 that so, gentlemen?" 
 
 " Certainly, certainly, to be sure." 
 
 " And therefore we offer you our assistance." 
 
 " I accept your offer, as I accept the offer of 
 every good citizen, but I cannot permit myself to 
 be allied with any political party, or to be known 
 specifically as the nominee of that party." 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," said Benson after a long 
 pause, " what's to prevent us from nominatin' you 
 anyway, and makin' you the nominee of our party." 
 
 " Nothing that I know of can prevent your 
 doing such a thing; but nothing can force me to 
 accept your nomination. I shall simply say in that 
 case that while I appreciate the honor you do me,
 
 yet I refuse positively to be considered as the 
 nominee of any political party whatsoever." 
 
 " And s'pose Charley Liffey should turn round 
 and nominate you too?" 
 
 " My answer would be just the same. I am 
 going to be elected, if elected at all, as an absolute 
 independent by the vote of the people, no more 
 and no less." 
 
 " But Mr. Gormly " began the banker. 
 
 " Mr. Poole, excuse me; it is quite useless to 
 talk to me any more on this line. My mind is 
 made up, and nothing you can say, or anyone 
 can say, will change it. I repeat that I thank you 
 for your expressions of interest; I shall appreciate 
 your individual votes, but that I cannot and will 
 not under any circumstances accept a nomination 
 at your hands, or at the hands of anybody else." 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," said Benson, rising, contempt 
 and resentment striving for the mastery of his 
 voice, " in some ways you're a mighty smart man. 
 You have begun this movement brilliantly. If 
 you had something to back you up and carry you 
 on, and had somebody to spend your money, you 
 could be elected; but the position you're takin' 
 now makes me regard you as, you'll forgive the 
 language, a damned fool ! " 
 
 " Mr. Benson," said Gormly, " thank you for 
 your compliment. Your opinion does me honor, 
 at least the last part of it. Let me say that I 
 have been something of a student of history. It 
 is the men who have been considered by politicians
 
 i 5 4 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 of your stamp as damned fools who have done 
 the good work of the world. Mr. Poole, Mr. 
 Fitchett, I wish you good afternoon." 
 
 The disgusted delegation tramped out; Ben- 
 son full of wrath, his red face expressive of his 
 fury; Fitchett uneasy and undecided; Poole with 
 every ounce of his dignity outraged beyond repair. 
 The three men had to run the gauntlet of report- 
 ers outside the business office. They com- 
 municated nothing whatsoever of the results of 
 their interview to these assiduous young men. 
 
 Gormly, however, was more amenable to their 
 appeals for an interview. On the heels of the 
 delegation, they swarmed into his office. One 
 resolution Gormly had taken; to give the people 
 the fullest information all the time about what he 
 proposed. He was willing to discuss any public 
 question at any time with anyone, and he had no 
 objections to his opinions being quoted. The man 
 who makes many speeches and submits to many 
 interviews is usually apt to make mistakes sooner 
 or later. That Gormly made no mistakes was, 
 to the thoughtful, as much an evidence of his 
 qualities, as anything else in his career. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Gormly to the group of 
 newspaper men, " as has already appeared in the 
 press of the city, these gentlemen who have just 
 left came to offer me the nomination of the mi- 
 nority party for the office for which I have pro- 
 posed myself. I thanked them for the honor
 
 THE OUTS WOULD TAKE A HAND 155 
 
 that they had done me; I declared that I should 
 appreciate the individual votes of any members of 
 that or any other party at election time; but I 
 refused positively to allow myself to be tied up 
 to any party, to be allied with any party, to be 
 the candidate of any party. I intend to make this 
 canvass as an absolute independent." 
 
 " Isn't Mr. Poole a stockholder in the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company?" asked one of the 
 reporters. 
 
 " I know nothing whatever about Mr. Poole's 
 financial undertakings." 
 
 " Doesn't Lawyer Fitchett desire to run for 
 district attorney?" asked another. 
 
 " I am not informed as to the political ambi- 
 tions of Mr. Fitchett." 
 
 " What did Bill Benson say to you? " asked a 
 third. 
 
 " As a practical politician of large experience, he 
 ventured to give me some advice upon the con- 
 duct of my campaign." 
 
 "Did you take it?" asked another amid the 
 roar of laughter which greeted this reply. 
 
 " I am sorry to say that the cogency of his ar- 
 guments and the force of his representations did 
 not appeal to me as he expected. My methods 
 are so different from those he advocated that it 
 is hardly possible to harmonize our views or 
 practices." 
 
 " Good for you ! " broke out an enthusiastic
 
 156 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 cub reporter, who had not learned that the ex- 
 pression of emotion by a newspaper man anywhere 
 except in his paper is bad form. 
 
 " I think that will be all this afternoon, gentle- 
 men," said Gormly, rising to signify that the in- 
 terview was over.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 A QUIET MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 
 
 ARLY in the new year, at the instance of Hal- 
 dane, whose connection with the administra- 
 tion and the party in power was no less definite 
 and vital because it was entirely secret, a meeting 
 of the inner circle of the governing body, popularly 
 known as " The Ring," was called at his private 
 residence on upper Fifth Avenue, which he very 
 unobtrusively reoccupied for the occasion. The 
 meeting was held late at night. The men sum- 
 moned thereto came up town quietly and unosten- 
 tatiously slipped into the house. No notice was 
 taken of it, and no mention of it got abroad 
 through any of the papers, especially since it was 
 known that Haldane was not in residence. 
 
 For many reasons Haldane's relation to the 
 Sachem Society was carefully concealed. He 
 represented a distinct group of financiers and busi- 
 ness interests whose relations with the party in 
 power were most intimate. These relations in 
 some instances were suspected, but their actuality 
 had not been allowed to transpire. Haldane kept 
 in constant touch with Liffey the boss; but no 
 one, save the inner circle, suspected that the two 
 were hand in glove together. 
 
 157
 
 i58 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Haldane did not often meet with anyone but 
 Liffey. In this instance, however, he at least ap- 
 preciated the gravity of the situation, and had 
 directed Liffey to bring with him those whose ad- 
 vice would naturally be sought on such subjects 
 as he desired to discuss. He had also assembled 
 two of the directors of the Gotham Freight Trac- 
 tion Company, to wit, Van Slyke and McRonald, 
 men associated with him upon whose judgment 
 and ability he could rely. In addition to them 
 came Liffey, Grand Chief of the Sachem Society 
 and the acknowledged and undisputed boss of the 
 party; Connell, the Chief of Police; Rutherford, 
 the District Attorney ; Habberley, the Street Com- 
 missioner; and last and also least, the Hon. Peter 
 D. Warren, Mayor of the city. 
 
 These men fairly represented the municipal ad- 
 ministration and control. They formed the most 
 powerful ring for the carrying on of public affairs 
 for their own profit that had ever been welded 
 together by brilliant ability, taking complete and 
 thorough advantage of the supineness of the peo- 
 ple. Liffey, as leader of the great Sachem So- 
 ciety, controlled the organization absolutely. The 
 Chief of Police wielded the vast powers for graft 
 of that remarkable organization. The District 
 Attorney, through whose hands all criminal prose- 
 cutions must pass, was the safety valve of both the 
 Sachem Society and that portion of the people to 
 which it looked for support. The Street Com- 
 missioner, who had at his disposal more appoint-
 
 A MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 159 
 
 ments than all the rest of the administration put 
 together, used them primarily for the good of the 
 party and after that for cleaning the streets. 
 
 The Mayor, the ostensible head but really the 
 servant of the quartet, was there because of his 
 office, and he was in office because he could be 
 controlled. From the point of view of the men 
 present, he was the best Mayor that New York 
 had ever had. He was a man of some parts. 
 He could make a brilliant speech, preside grace- 
 fully and with dignity at public meetings, and was 
 altogether an admirable figure to head a great city 
 in everything but morals. Morals in politics did 
 not count; at least the absence of them did not 
 count in that coterie and what it represented. 
 
 Associated with these four intensely practical 
 men and this pliant, willing figurehead were the 
 interests represented by the Gotham Freight Trac- 
 tion Company, of which Haldane was in absolute 
 control, although the presidency was vested in an- 
 other man. The interests of Haldane and his as- 
 sociates were not confined to the Gotham Freight 
 Traction Company. They had their hands on 
 every public franchise. Their private affairs, of 
 course, were vast and multiform; but with them we 
 have nothing to do. Their alliance with the po- 
 litical party, for which they had paid and would 
 continue to pay enormous sums, had brought them 
 very material advantages in one form or another. 
 Without the privity of the public they were be- 
 hind every possible public utility. The combina-
 
 160 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 tion was the most inclusive and comprehensive of 
 any that the world had ever seen. All the trusts 
 that make New Jersey their headquarters hardly 
 equaled in wealth and control the organizations 
 these men represented. 
 
 They were practical men who had no scruples 
 about availing themselves of the opportunities af- 
 forded by their alliance with the party in power 
 that is why they were in alliance with it ! They 
 would have scorned to have descended in person to 
 the low and devious levels made necessary by prac- 
 tical politics; but they had no hesitation whatever 
 in suborning these methods by paying largely for 
 the privileges they sought to enjoy. I said they 
 paid; of course in the end it was the people who 
 paid the people always ultimately pay and 
 that the payment was made in small sums by in- 
 dividuals neither decreased the enormous aggre- 
 gate nor altered the fact that the long suffering 
 public footed the bills. 
 
 The alliance of this great financial ability with 
 this remarkable capacity for political manipulation 
 constituted, it was fondly believed, an impregnable 
 defense to any attack from outside sources. The 
 people were as helpless as children in the grasp 
 of a giant; not because the people lacked power, 
 but because they had no adequate knowledge of the 
 power they enjoyed or how to use it. They lacked 
 leadership, and leadership combined with financial 
 ability necessary to make the leadership tell. 
 There was plenty of money in the opposition and
 
 A MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 161 
 
 there was plenty of leadership; but somehow or 
 other they never got together. The clever ma- 
 nipulators of the Ring saw that this separation was 
 maintained. 
 
 Haldane, from his one interview with Gormly, 
 had an idea that in this instance the two forces to 
 be dreaded by the Ring were incarnated in Gormly 
 and would rally about Gormly. Hence he had 
 taken the unprecedented step of calling these men 
 together to deliberate on the situation and decide 
 what was best to be done. Now, of course, every- 
 one of those present had read Gormly's startling 
 announcements of his candidacy. Most of them 
 had read them with amusement; only the most 
 prescient with any feeling of alarm, and even that 
 feeling was not sufficiently deep to have awakened 
 any special degree of anxiety. Yet the fact that 
 each one had been summoned to Haldane's house, 
 the politicians through Liffey and the financiers 
 through Haldane himself, rather startled them. 
 
 The election was four months off. The party 
 in power the Sachem Society, rather had 
 done nothing toward nominating a candidate or 
 considering the campaign. The primaries were 
 held later in the spring, and there was always 
 sufficient time allowed thereafter to go through 
 the farce of an election. Gormly's announcement, 
 however, had precipitated the question, and im- 
 mediate action was required. 
 
 The eight men assembled in the spacious library 
 of the Fifth Avenue house. The curtains were
 
 162 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 discreetly drawn. The men had arrived singly 
 and at different times. They were admitted by 
 Haldane's confidential secretary in person. Cigars 
 and liquors were provided, and the eight, from 
 all sorts of differing social ranks, mingled freely 
 together on terms of absolute equality. 
 
 The District Attorney, for instance, was a 
 graduate of Yale. Haldane himself had come 
 from Harvard. The Mayor was a product of 
 Columbia. Liffey had started in as a poor Irish 
 immigrant. The Chief of Police had been a 
 saloon keeper and finally the Colonel of a National 
 Guard regiment. McRonald was a Scotsman 
 whose shrewdness and ability had won him a high 
 position among the financial magnates. Van 
 Slyke belonged to an old Dutch family and had 
 inherited a vast fortune, which his adroit manage- 
 ment had tremendously increased. They repre- 
 sented American life with its opportunities and its 
 possibilities. 
 
 Morally they were pretty much of a stamp. 
 The lesser men were no whit more immoral than 
 the greater. The greater men, however, were 
 more legal than the lesser. There was no pre- 
 tense whatever between them. Matters were dis- 
 cussed and referred to exactly as they were on 
 the rare occasions when they met together. This, 
 it was felt from Haldane's first word, was an un- 
 usual situation in which the utmost frankness of 
 speech was demanded. 
 
 " Gentlemen," began Haldane quietly, " I have
 
 A MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 163 
 
 called you here, as you have doubtless surmised, 
 because of the announcement of the candidacy of 
 George Gormly for Mayor." 
 
 " Do you think it's of sufficient importance, Mr. 
 Haldane, for such an unusual conference as this 
 is? " asked the boss. 
 
 " I certainly do, Liffey," was the reply. 
 
 The difference in station and in position was 
 marked by the two forms of address. Haldane 
 was always " Mr. Haldane " ; Liffey was al- 
 ways " Liffey." I should not like to say which 
 was the more powerful; it would be difficult to 
 decide: Yet Haldane, if anyone, had the ad- 
 vantage; for Liffey took Haldane's money and 
 did his dirty work. Yet Liffey was not without 
 a certain independence; for thousands who knew 
 nothing whatever of the capitalist would be quick 
 to do the henchman's bidding. Money in politics 
 without a man is more or less useless. If a break 
 came, for a certain period at least Liffey could 
 still retain control of his men; whereas Haldane 
 would find it extremely difficult to get another man 
 of the ability and unscrupulousness of Liffey by 
 whatever expenditure of money he chose to make. 
 Therefore, though Haldane occupied a place of 
 leadership, his authority and position were none 
 too well assured. Liffey paid him the outward 
 respect indicated, but otherwise met him on an 
 entire parity. 
 
 " It isn't the first time," said Rutherford, a 
 man of exceptional ability and great distinction
 
 164 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 of manner and bearing, " that some impracticable 
 reformer has offered himself for popular suffrage 
 on such a platform." 
 
 " But it is the first time in my recollection," re- 
 turned Haldane, " that a man possessing the pe- 
 culiar combination of business ability, unquestioned 
 integrity, and unlimited money has put himself 
 forward." 
 
 "What's he know about practical politics?" 
 growled the Chief of Police. 
 
 "What sort of an organization has he got?" 
 asked Habberley, the Street Commissioner. 
 
 " I don't think he knows anything about prac- 
 tical politics," answered Haldane, " as you gentle- 
 men understand the term, and I am sure that he 
 has no organization whatever." 
 
 " Of course," remarked the Mayor, " he can 
 have an organization whenever he wants one. 
 The outs will be glad to take him up if he is as 
 available a man as you think he is." 
 
 " That goes without saying," was the answer, 
 " and I beg to assure you that I consider him the 
 most available man from the point of view of the 
 opposition that has ever appeared on the political 
 horizon." 
 
 " I don't care a cuss how available he is," said 
 Liffey. " We can beat him, and we will. Of 
 course, it'll take more money." 
 
 He looked significantly at the trio of financiers. 
 " The amount of money that it takes now," 
 said McRonald grimly, " is something terrific."
 
 A MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 165 
 
 " I should say so," added Van Slyke. 
 
 ;t Well, you get what you bargain for, don't 
 you?" returned the boss viciously. "You get a 
 free hand to take it out of the people, don't 
 you?" 
 
 " Gentlemen, gentlemen," said Haldane au- 
 thoritatively, " I hardly think the discussion is 
 taking a profitable turn. Doubtless, as Liffey 
 says, we can beat him; certainly we must do so. 
 Probably it will cost more money; that is, if in 
 some way his candidacy cannot be headed off." 
 
 " Can he be induced to withdraw, do you 
 think? " asked Rutherford. 
 
 "No, I think not; but if we made him some 
 concessions it is barely possible he might, though 
 I gravely doubt it. He's all stirred up over this 
 switch business. I have already taken upon my- 
 self to offer to use my influence to get the price 
 demanded cut in half." 
 
 " What did he say to that? " asked the Mayor. 
 " Five hundred thousand is a pretty good price 
 for any man." 
 
 His own price was much less, by the way. 
 
 " He declined the offer immediately. I think 
 he said he wouldn't pay anything except the cost 
 of the switch and a reasonable sum forty thou- 
 sand dollars for the privilege." 
 
 " I want you to mark, Mr. Haldane," put in 
 Liffey, " that if we're mixed up in a fight, it's 
 the extortionate demands of the Gotham Freight 
 Traction Company which has brought it about."
 
 1 66 
 
 " My dear sir," answered Haldane contempt- 
 uously, " how are we to satisfy the demands made 
 upon us by you and your fellow members of the 
 Sachem Society and make a profit for ourselves 
 out of the matter, if we don't make men like 
 Gormly pay heavily?" 
 
 " That's your lookout." 
 
 " Well, you will find that it's also yours if we 
 stop payments." 
 
 " Oh, I don't know. I guess there's others 
 that'd be glad to enjoy the franchises." 
 
 " Now, Liffey," said the District Attorney, 
 who perhaps from his official position as public 
 prosecutor had more influence over the boss than 
 anybody present, " don't talk like a fool ! You 
 know perfectly well that we are all necessary to 
 one another; that we are all in the same boat; 
 we all have to fight the same battle. Have you 
 anything to propose, Mr. Haldane?" 
 
 " I don't know that I have any definite proposi- 
 tion just at present," was the answer. " I'm not 
 sure that we could decide upon any particular 
 course of action. The situation seemed to me to 
 present possibilities of sufficient gravity to warrant 
 us in considering it together, and perhaps our 
 united wisdom may enable us to come to the right 
 conclusion as to what's to be done. I have met 
 this Gormly. I have er as you would say, 
 sized him up carefully; I put him down for a man 
 of indomitable courage. Whatever his motive 
 may be, he is thoroughly determined upon his
 
 A MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 167 
 
 course. However small his experience in politics, 
 he is a business man through and through." 
 
 " Mr. McRonald and I have had business re- 
 lations with him," said Van Slyke, " and there is 
 not an abler business man in the city." 
 
 " Does he dabble in Wall Street? " asked War- 
 ren. "If so, it would be easy for you to form a 
 combination to break him." 
 
 " His business methods are confined to his mer- 
 cantile establishment, and they are purely legiti- 
 mate." 
 
 " What resources has he got? " 
 
 '* Well, I should say he can command perhaps 
 a score of millions." 
 
 "Whew! " exclaimed Liffey. " He might be 
 a good man to tie to." 
 
 " You can set your mind at rest as to that, 
 Liffey. He wouldn't tie to a man like you." 
 
 " Oh, I don't know. Pretty good men have 
 found it to their interests to tie up with me, and 
 they haven't lost anything by it. Have you, Mr. 
 Haldane?" 
 
 Haldane locked his teeth. It was this sort of 
 covert insult which was the necessary concomitant 
 of his alliance which, in his secret heart, he loathed. 
 Again it was the District Attorney who inter- 
 posed. 
 
 " I take it that this is a conference," he said 
 equably, " as to what we are to do, if anything, 
 to head off this man. You don't think he can be 
 bought off, Mr. Haldane? "
 
 1 68 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " I am sure he cannot be." 
 
 "Well then, he'll have to be fought down," 
 returned the other; " for it is evident that we can- 
 not afford and I mean you especially, Liffey 
 to have the workings of the Sachem Society 
 brought before the public." 
 
 " I'm in no deeper than the rest of you," 
 growled the boss. 
 
 " Pardon me," said the District Attorney coolly, 
 " you happen to be the man who does the dirty 
 work." 
 
 " The rest of you pay for it." 
 
 " Yes, quite so ; but it's the man that fills your 
 position that usually gets in trouble when trouble 
 comes. Therefore, it would be just as well for 
 you to be a little more civil in your remarks, I 
 think. It is just possible that the grand jury 
 might take cognizance of them if they were 
 heard." 
 
 " I could break you, Rutherford," said Liffey 
 fiercely, " at the next election. You wouldn't 
 have votes enough to be counted." 
 
 " Probably, certainly," returned Rutherford in 
 his usual imperturbable manner; " but before that 
 time you wouldn't be in a position to count any- 
 thing but bars, not the kind you get drinks over 
 either." 
 
 " Gentlemen, gentlemen," said Warren, " as 
 Mayor of the city " 
 
 "You Mayor!" sneered Liffey, now thor- 
 oughly aroused and in an ugly mood. '' Hell! "
 
 A MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 169 
 
 " Well," said Haldane peremptorily asserting 
 himself at last, " I think we've had just about 
 enough of this. I am sure everybody's good 
 sense will see that there is nothing to be gained 
 by this recrimination. There will be time enough 
 for that when we have failed. The thing to 
 be done now is to get together, keep together, and 
 beat Gormly." 
 
 " You think he's got a chance, do you ? " 
 
 " More than a chance." 
 
 " But we control everything." 
 
 " Everything but Gormly, apparently," an- 
 swered Van Slyke. 
 
 " Yes," said Rutherford, disregarding the last 
 remark; "but you know, Liffey, our control rests 
 largely upon the indifference of the people. If 
 they get waked up, it would go like that." 
 
 He snapped his finger as he spoke, and no man 
 contradicted him, for true it is that on the indiffer- 
 ence of the many is founded the power of the 
 one. 
 
 " We could still count the votes," said the Chief 
 of Police uncertainly. 
 
 "Undoubtedly; but if there are enough people 
 interested in the affair, the votes will be counted 
 as cast." 
 
 " And we have the courts on our side," added 
 Habberley. 
 
 "Yes, to a certain extent; but there are limits 
 beyond which even our own Judges could not go. 
 Therefore, if Mr. Haldane's estimate of Gormly
 
 i 7 o THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 is correct, and for myself I am rather inclined to 
 believe that it is, we are face to face with a ter- 
 rific proposition." 
 
 " Besides," put in Van Slyke, " if he gets the 
 nomination of the outs, which he certainly will, 
 he'll have about as shrewd a body of men around 
 him, who are accustomed to the manipulations 
 of practical politics, as we have. Benson's no 
 fool, whatever he is." 
 
 " If necessary," said Liffey, " I can fix Benson 
 all right." 
 
 " Well, we don't like alliances of that kind," 
 said Rutherford. " It means division, and we've 
 got enough to divide among as it is. Don't you 
 agree with me, Mr. Haldane? " 
 
 " I certainly do, Mr. Rutherford." 
 
 " Well then," said Liffey, " I think the best 
 thing to do, if you gents are all agreed that it's 
 serious, is to pitch upon a candidate. We want 
 to have a man that's entirely respectable, and yet 
 who knows which side his bread's buttered on and 
 who'll take care of the organization." 
 
 " I think," said Warren tentatively, " that I 
 have earned another term. I certainly haven't 
 failed in my duty " 
 
 " To the people ? " asked Rutherford. 
 
 " To the organization," answered the Mayor 
 with dignity, " and my private character is all 
 that could be desired." 
 
 Liffey snorted with disdain. 
 
 " My dear Mr. Warren, undoubtedly you are
 
 A MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 171 
 
 very available. Whether or not you are the most 
 available is the question," interposed McRonald. 
 
 " We ought to get some man of the highest 
 consideration, who belongs to a most respectable 
 family, and yet who's amenable to the right pres- 
 sure. How'd you do yourself, Mr. Haldane?" 
 asked the boss innocently, if bosses can ever ask 
 anything in that vein. 
 
 What Haldane thought of this request could 
 hardly be determined from his imperturbable 
 countenance. 
 
 " Under no consideration," he said, decisively, 
 " could I accept the honor. My interests, our 
 interests, are too vast for me to localize them by 
 becoming Mayor of New York." 
 
 " Haven't you got a son? " asked Connell, the 
 Chief of Police. " He'd have all the advantages 
 of name and station and so on that you would, 
 and I have no doubt he'd do pretty much what 
 you said, and I'm sure you'd say what was best 
 for us all." 
 
 " I think that would be. an excellent idea," 
 chimed in Rutherford. " How old is your young- 
 ster, Haldane?" 
 
 " He's twenty-eight." 
 
 " Never done anything in his life, has he? " 
 
 " Do you mean in business, or any other way? " 
 
 " Anything he's got to cover up I mean." 
 
 " Nothing, I believe," answered the father. 
 " He's been a lively lad ; but nothing dishonorable 
 that I am aware of."
 
 172 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " You can bank on it, gents," said the Chief of 
 Police, " that if he had done anything shady, I'd 
 have heard of it. He's clean and straight and 
 popular with all sorts of people. I think he'd 
 make a first rate candidate." 
 
 " This hadn't occurred to me at all, I confess," 
 said Haldane; " but it's worth considering. Way 
 back in the early days when it was a matter of 
 much less moment financially but of much more 
 standing politically, several of my family have 
 filled similar positions." 
 
 " He's the very man we want, young, 
 enthusiastic, inexperienced, rich, controllable. 
 Where is he now ? " asked Rutherford. 
 
 " He's down on Long Island at my country 
 place." 
 
 " Can you get in communication with him by 
 telephone? " 
 
 " I think so." 
 
 " Suppose you call him up and ask him whether 
 or not, if he got the nomination, he would run." 
 
 " I will. Excuse me, gentlemen," said Hal- 
 dane, going out into the hall where one of the 
 duplicate telephones was installed. 
 
 He did not care to do his telephoning in the 
 library before the group of conspirators. 
 
 " I think," protested Warren as Haldane closed 
 the door behind him, " that this is a shame. You 
 promised me that if I made a satisfactory Mayor, 
 I should have the refusal of the office again, and
 
 A MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 173 
 
 I'd like to know what I've done that you should 
 throw me down? " 
 
 " Promises," said Liffey, " dont go in politics 
 longer than it's agreeable, as you very well know. 
 We ain't throwing you down, either. You'll be 
 provided for doubtless in some way, and maybe 
 this young Haldane ain't the most available man 
 after all. We're not committed to him yet. For 
 myself, I'm kind of tired of the old man's airs 
 and domineerin' methods." 
 
 " I wonder if the day will not come when your 
 underlings will be tired of your domineering airs 
 and methods too? " queried Rutherford. 
 
 " Do you mean to imply that I am an under- 
 ling of Haldane's, Bill Rutherford? " began Liffey 
 furiously. 
 
 " Why, you're the servant of every man you 
 bribe or who bribes you. We all are, for that 
 matter," returned Rutherford, cynically. " We 
 sell ourselves when we buy others, and the price 
 we get is just what we give." 
 
 This philosophy was too much for the boss and 
 his satellites, although it was evident from the 
 uneasy way in which Van Slyke and McRonald 
 shifted in their seats that they realized the truth 
 of the lawyer's remarks. 
 
 " I'll tell you one thing that we can do without 
 waiting for a candidate," here interposed the 
 Chief of Police. 
 
 " And what is that, pray? " asked the Mayor.
 
 174 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 ; ' We can put the Central Office detective force 
 on Gormly's trail. We can look up his record. 
 We can find out all about him ever since he was 
 a baby. It's dollars to pennies but what we'll 
 discover something that he'd like to keep hidden. 
 There's mighty few men that ain't got a shady 
 past, or a shady present, or ain't lookin' forward 
 to a shady future. That's been my experience 
 as the head of the Police Department." 
 
 " Your suggestion is an excellent one, and your 
 observations do you credit. It's the first prac- 
 tical suggestion we've had here this evening," said 
 Van Slyke. 
 
 " Right," said Liffey, bluntly. " Turn up some 
 dirty story about him, and if you need evidence I'll 
 supply all that's necessary." 
 
 " You'll have to be careful," said Rutherford, 
 " that such evidence as you supply shall be unim- 
 peachable, and that such a story as you turn up 
 shall be true, else I won't have anything to do 
 with it." 
 
 " Oh, I guess you'll take your orders from the 
 society." 
 
 " Not from you, Liffey, not from anybody," 
 said Rutherford ^ietly enough, though his face 
 flushed at the insult. " As a matter of fact, be- 
 ing District Attorney, I hold the whip hand of 
 you all." And again the uneasy movement from 
 the financiers evidenced the truth of that asser- 
 tion. " My term still has two years to run, re-
 
 A MEETING OF THE DICTATORS 175 
 
 member, and there are things I could do even with 
 you. Don't forget that!" 
 
 Liffey gritted his teeth; but said nothing in the 
 face of so obvious a proposition.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE PLANS OF THE RING 
 
 A T this moment Haldane reentered the room. 
 * He looked gravely troubled. 
 
 " Well," asked the boss, " did you get the 
 boy?" 
 
 " I had no difficulty in calling him up on my 
 private wire ; but " 
 
 "What'd he say?" 
 
 " Gentlemen, it is past belief, but when I asked 
 him whether he would accept the nomination or 
 not, he said " 
 
 Haldane paused. 
 
 " What was it? Out with it! " said the Dis- 
 trict Attorney. 
 
 "He said no." 
 
 "No! Why not?" 
 
 " He said he had already pledged his support 
 to Gormly that afternoon at the intercession of 
 er my daughter and some other friends." 
 
 "Well, I'm damned!" said the boss. "Are 
 you goin' to stand for that? " 
 
 " I hardly see how I can prevent it," answered 
 Haldane, very much perturbed, " unless I should 
 disclose my own connection with the administra- 
 
 176
 
 THE PLANS OF THE RING 177 
 
 tion ; which, I take it, is a thing to be avoided for 
 all our sakes." 
 
 " Yes, unless we want to kill the cow we're 
 milkin'," returned Liffey, " it is. But can't you 
 put pressure on him? " 
 
 " To a certain extent, yes." 
 
 " Cut off his allowance." 
 
 " Unfortunately, he has sufficient money of his 
 own from his grandfather's estate, to keep him 
 from er want ; and as he is quite of age, my 
 influence must be a matter of persuasion." 
 
 " Well, you've got enough of a certain kind of 
 persuasion," answered Liffey. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Rutherford, " this is a very 
 serious indication of the gravity of the situation. 
 If young men like Livingstone Haldane espouse 
 the cause of George Gormly, it means that he'll 
 have a following among that class that has tre- 
 mendous weight." 
 
 " That class as a rule don't cut much of a figure 
 in politics," said the Street Commissioner. " It's 
 my white wings and Connell's gang and the society 
 that does the work." 
 
 " Don't make any mistake," said Rutherford. 
 " The class to which you refer, if it could be 
 waked up, is capable of doing amazing work." 
 
 " If I know anything about it," said Van Slyke, 
 " Gormly will wake them up too." 
 
 " I guess we'll have to fall back on Mr. War- 
 ren and his administration," said Haldane. 
 
 " It might be construed as a confession of weak-
 
 i 7 8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 ness if we threw him over," McRonald assented. 
 
 " Gentlemen," began Warren sententiously, " I 
 shall always be glad to serve the people and 
 er my friends and supporters in any office to 
 which I may be chosen." 
 
 " We'll take care of that," interrupted Liffey 
 contemptuously. 
 
 " In order to make it regular," said the District 
 Attorney, " I propose that we all declare here and 
 now our preference for our candidate. I don't 
 hesitate to say that I think Warren is the best man 
 we can get. We know him; we know just ex- 
 actly what we can expect from him. He is rather 
 liked by the people, and his connection with this 
 little ring here is not too obvious. I don't hesi- 
 tate to say that I think Warren is our best man 
 to make the running." 
 
 " I guess that suits me," returned Liffey. 
 
 Habberley and Connell agreed, and Van Slyke 
 and his colleague also assented. 
 
 " Now," said Liffey, " I've got something else 
 to propose. What do you think as to the likeli- 
 hood of Gormly's gittin' or acceptin' the nomina- 
 tion of the outs? " 
 
 " I think he could get it by turning over his 
 hand," answered Haldane ; " but I think it is ex- 
 tremely unlikely that he'll accept it. He told me 
 that he intended to run as an absolute independent ; 
 not to be tied to any party whatsoever." 
 
 " They'll offer him the nomination sure," said 
 Connell. " They ain't never had such a chance as
 
 THE PLANS OF THE RING 179 
 
 he'll present since I've been Chief of Police, and 
 that's nearly twenty years." 
 
 " Well, if he won't accept it, that'll make them 
 all sore as the devil," said Habberley. 
 
 " Exactly," interposed Liffey, " and therefore 
 I propose that we make a nonpartisan ticket to 
 run against him ; that we divide the offices between 
 the ins and outs; reservin' to ourselves the most 
 important and vital ones of course, but givin' the 
 outs enough to make 'em feel good, let 'em git 
 their fingers into the public pie for a few pickin's, 
 and so on. We can easily do that without losin' 
 too much, and we'll present a united front against 
 him." 
 
 " A united front of all the grafters, thieves, 
 blackguards, financiers, and politicians in New 
 York! " sneered Rutherford. 
 
 " You don't like the scheme, Mr. Rutherford," 
 roared Liffey angrily. 
 
 " Vastly. I think it's one of the best that could 
 be proposed." 
 
 " As for myself," said Haldane, " I also think 
 it has elements of attractiveness, although I must 
 protest against being placed in the category you 
 have enumerated, Mr. Rutherford." 
 
 " Oh, protest all you like," said the District 
 Attorney easily. " The suggestion is a good one, 
 Liffey. It's not hard to see why you're in your 
 present position. You have a level head. I 
 think we are all agreed on what you suggest; eh, 
 gentlemen ? "
 
 180 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 "Good! " said Haldane after the assents had 
 been received. " It only remains then to make up 
 the slate. Shall we do it now or later? " 
 
 '* We might as well do our part of it now," 
 said Liffey. " I'll see Benson to-morrow and 
 put it up to him. He can name his contributions 
 to the list, and then we'll announce it." 
 
 " And our platform? " queried Rutherford. 
 
 " To stand on our record and point with pride, 
 and say mighty little else," returned the boss con- 
 cisely. 
 
 Rutherford laughed; so did the rest. It was so 
 absurd and yet so exceedingly adroit. 
 
 " And I'll carry out my part of the game," 
 said the Chief of Police. 
 
 " What part was that? " asked Haldane. 
 
 " While you were out," answered Rutherford, 
 " our worthy censor of public morals, guardian of 
 public interests, and enforcer of public law, sug- 
 gested that it would be a good thing to employ 
 the detective force of the city in looking out for 
 the interests of the party by investigating the past, 
 present, and future of Mr. Gormly. You see a 
 reform candidate has got to be of blameless life. 
 That's the reason we are none of us allied with 
 that party, I take it. And if anything whatso- 
 ever can be found which tends to cast a cloud 
 over the individual reformer, his cake's dough." 
 
 " I've offered to manufacture any kind of evi- 
 dence necessary," said Liffey. 
 
 " Our worthy friend has evidence to burn, as
 
 THE PLANS OF THE RING 181 
 
 it were," continued Rutherford; "but I have 
 warned him that the manufactured article will 
 not go in this instance." 
 
 " You are right," said Haldane. " Nothing 
 but the truth will serve against George Gormly." 
 
 "Well, I'll get it," said the chief. "He's 
 weak somewhere. I have never seen any man that 
 wasn't, and I'll find it out before the election." 
 
 " I suggest," said Mr. Haldane, " that any in- 
 formation you may acquire should be submitted to 
 those of us who are present before any use is 
 made of it." 
 
 " Oh that, of course," said Liffey. " Chief, 
 don't make any moves without submitting them 
 to me." 
 
 " There is still another matter of interest to us 
 all which must be settled," continued Haldane. 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 " The old franchise of the New York Street 
 Car Company that expires this spring; the link 
 that completes the circle of the Gotham Freight 
 Traction Company." 
 
 " Well, that's a matter that concerns you pretty 
 intimately," said Liffey. 
 
 " You'll find that it concerns us all, Liffey, be- 
 fore you get through," said Rutherford. 
 
 " For without that link, we're a broken circle, 
 as it were," said Haldane. 
 
 " Exactly," said the Mayor, " the ring is 
 busted." 
 
 " Well, it doesn't seem to me that's a very diffi-
 
 182 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 cult proposition," said Liffey. " We've got the 
 Board of Aldermen, and the Borough Presidents 
 as well. All we've got to do is to draw up an 
 ordinance and shove it through. The Mayor 
 here'll sign it, and that'll be the end of it." 
 
 ; ' The program that you outline is doubtless 
 possible, and it may be that it is desirable and 
 necessary; but it is by no means as easy as you 
 think, Liffey," said Haldane. " If I know any- 
 thing about Gormly he'll make a fight on that 
 issue. That is our weak point. If we had that 
 franchise safely passed and in our pockets, we 
 could laugh at him." 
 
 " But I tell you, Mr. Haldane," said Liffey, 
 " that all we've got to do is to bring it up and it'll 
 be passed." 
 
 " I don't know about that. I don't know 
 whether it would be good policy even if we pos- 
 sessed the power." 
 
 " We've got the power all right." 
 
 " Well, even admitting we possess it, to jam 
 through a measure like that in the face of op- 
 position such as such an action would surely bring 
 forth You see we are none too invulnerable 
 as it is, and the fewer opportunities we give for 
 the opposition to attack us, the better. I am not 
 committed to this view ; but I don't know whether 
 it would not be better to defer the passage of such 
 an ordinance until after the election." 
 
 " And suppose we were beaten in the election ? " 
 said Rutherford.
 
 THE PLANS OF THE RING 183 
 
 " 'Tain't supposable," interrupted Liffey. 
 
 " Excuse me, everything is supposable in politics 
 in New York," was the the quick rejoinder. 
 
 " Well," said Haldane, " if we were beaten 
 in the election, of course we should have to make 
 terms with the enemy." 
 
 "Terms!" snorted Liffey. "Why we'd be 
 ground down to the dust. It'd be state prison 
 for some of us, and " 
 
 " I think that while there is much in what you 
 say, Haldane," said Van Slyke, " yet we'd better 
 make sure of the ordinance before the election. 
 We would have that, anyway, even if we failed, 
 which, as Mr. Liffey says, is hardly possible." 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Haldane, " I am by no 
 means convinced of what you say. I tell you 
 that the main fight will be on the disposal of that 
 very franchise. There will be such a hue and 
 cry about it that its passage w r ill be a dangerous 
 move in the game. I admit that we can pass 
 anything in spite of any commotions, but the ques- 
 tion is do we want it." 
 
 " That's hardly the question," said McRonald. 
 " Of course we want it; but the question is, is it 
 the best thing to do. I think there is tremendous 
 force in your arguments, Mr. Haldane. If we 
 present ourselves with that franchise, which is so 
 immensely valuable and vital indeed to the com- 
 pletion of our properties, as well as to the public, 
 we shall certainly have given to the opposition the 
 strongest ground for appeal to the people. If
 
 184 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 we do not present ourselves with the franchise, if 
 we allow the election to determine that unofficially 
 as it were, and then when we have won the elec- 
 tion, we avail ourselves of our opportunities, we 
 shall be in a much safer and better position." 
 
 " Do you wish to submit this franchise to the 
 vote of the people, Mr. McRonald?" asked 
 Rutherford. 
 
 " By no means," answered the financier. 
 
 " Well, what do you propose then ? " 
 
 " This. Would it not be well, in case this 
 movement grows strong enough to be worthy of 
 the attention we are giving it, to declare as from 
 the party in power that while we have the power 
 to grant the franchise, and while we think it would 
 be for the interests of the people that it should 
 be granted, yet we are willing to defer action 
 until after the election and let the election deter- 
 mine. If we are continued in office, we can say 
 that our policies are vindicated and there will be 
 no reason why the franchise cannot be passed." 
 
 " That would be a wise course," said Haldane. 
 " I don't know but that it is the wisest course; 
 but we must face the alternative." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " Defeat ! If we made that proposition, and 
 then were defeated, it would be impossible for us 
 to secure the franchise, and " 
 
 "And what?" asked Liffey. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Haldane, " the stock of the 
 Gotham Freight Traction Company is two hun-
 
 THE PLANS OF THE RING 185 
 
 dred and fifty millions, and the bonds outstanding 
 aggregate almost as much. If we don't have this 
 franchise, they won't be worth ten cents on the 
 dollar to us." 
 
 " How much actual money has been invested in 
 the concern ? " asked the District Attorney. 
 
 " Two hundred and fifty millions from the peo- 
 ple, and very little else," answered Haldane. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Van Slyke, " you must face 
 this matter squarely. You are all interested, 
 everyone of you has stock in the concern; it is a 
 source of revenue to the Sachem Society." 
 
 " How much is it really worth? " queried 
 Liffey. 
 
 " It's worth, of course, what was put into it." 
 
 " And what will its earning capacity be? " 
 
 " If we control it, it will pay a fair dividend 
 on all the stock that has been put out, most of 
 which is held by our friends and the friends of 
 the organization," answered Van Slyke. 
 
 The problem was a tremendous one. They 
 faced It silently a moment or two, and at last 
 Haldane restated it. 
 
 " You see, we can, if necessary, defy public 
 opinion and jam through an ordinance at the last 
 minute even if we are likely to lose the election, al- 
 though by so doing we should give the enemy a 
 tremendous advantage at the close of the cam- 
 paign. Or we can defer the granting of the fran- 
 chise until after the election, in the hope that the 
 postponement will be our strongest card for win-
 
 1 86 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 ning. In case we win, everything would be easy; 
 and in case we lose " 
 
 He paused. There was no necessity for stating 
 what would happen then ; every man saw it clearly. 
 
 " Ain't there no way of gittin' around the sit- 
 uation? " asked Liffey. 
 
 " None that I can see," was the answer from 
 Haldane. 
 
 " Have you looked at it from every point of 
 view ? " 
 
 ' You may be certain of that, and I tell you, 
 gentlemen, that other interests of greater mag- 
 nitude would be involved in the fate of the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company." 
 
 "Are we involved in those other interests?" 
 asked Liffey. 
 
 " You certainly are, sir, inasmuch as they touch 
 every public utility that the city can grant." 
 
 " Why in the name of all that's businesslike 
 didn't you get control of this franchise before?" 
 asked Rutherford. 
 
 " We couldn't," Haldane replied. " It is im- 
 possible to get a renewal of a franchise until it 
 expires. We got everything else by degrees, and 
 there would have been no difficulty there is no 
 difficulty so far as the mere act goes in pick- 
 ing up this franchise as well, so long as we con- 
 trol the Aldermen. We didn't anticipate the 
 entry of this infernal fool into the political game." 
 
 " Why didn't you wait before committing your-
 
 THE PLANS OF THE RING 187 
 
 selves to the greater enterprise until this franchise 
 matured? " 
 
 " We couldn't. There were other interests 
 anxious to build the subway and unite the various 
 other franchises in one organization. The people 
 were clamorous that the road should be built, and 
 there was nothing else to do but build it. Be- 
 sides, who could have foreseen this situation. No, 
 gentlemen, we were helpless, and without this 
 franchise we are more helpless." 
 
 " What does it cover? " asked the Mayor. 
 
 " It covers pretty much every available route 
 by which we can connect the ends of the traction 
 company." 
 
 " How much territory? " 
 
 " Oh, a mile or a mile and a half, I should say; 
 but every possible right of way is included in the 
 franchise." 
 
 " And if we don't get it? " 
 
 " Somebody else will get it, of course. He will 
 build the connections, and hold us up for any- 
 thing that he wants." 
 
 " But it will be no good to anybody else with- 
 out what we've got," suggested Van Slyke. 
 
 " True ; but we have got several hundred mil- 
 lions involved and can't adopt a do-nothing policy. 
 Probably ten millions or even less will cover the 
 expenses required by rebuilding under the old or 
 new franchise, and that ten million has us by the 
 throat."
 
 1 88 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " It should be easy for five hundred millions to 
 freeze out ten," said Rutherford. 
 
 " Under other circumstances it would not be 
 at all difficult," answered Haldane; " but the peo- 
 ple are to be considered in this case. This road 
 was built as a public convenience and, gentle- 
 men, it has to be run." 
 
 " This is a hell of a fix for men as smart as you 
 to git yourselves in ! " said Liffey. 
 
 ' Your language, if somewhat inelegant," said 
 Haldane sarcastically, " well describes the situa- 
 tion; but it was one that could not have been 
 avoided and could not have been foreseen. The 
 only question that interests us now is what are we 
 going to do about it." 
 
 " Well, that's a question that's going to be put 
 up to us pretty hard," said the Mayor. " Gormly 
 is going to put it up to us." 
 
 " You may be sure of that," answered the 
 financier. 
 
 " As I take it," said Liffey, " we can secure 
 the franchise or we can make its future grant the 
 issue of the campaign; and if we win, pass it then; 
 and if we fail, take our medicine." 
 
 " You've stated it exactly." 
 
 " For myself, I'm in favor of grabbing the 
 franchise now," said the boss. " It means money. 
 Money's what we're here for. The object of 
 politics is money for the crowd that's in. The 
 aim of the crowd that's out is to git in so they 
 can git the money. Of course, it's pleasant to
 
 THE PLANS OF THE RING 189 
 
 have power, to direct the destinies of this great 
 city, and influence our fellow citizens to follow our 
 leadership," he went on sneeringly; "but after 
 all what we're all out for is the dough. With 
 money we can buy votes; with votes we can get 
 office ; with office and money we can get immunity 
 from the consequences. Even if we're beaten by 
 the Mayor, we'll still have the District Attorney, 
 we'll still have the police force. I'll still be here ; 
 so will you, Mr. Haldane. And therefore, 
 rather'n take any risk, I move that the franchise 
 be renewed as soon as it expires, and that the 
 grant be made to the Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company. I'd rather have something substantial 
 than play for a chance any time. Not but what 
 I'm sure that we're goin' to win the election; I 
 don't agree with Mr. Rutherford about the power 
 of the people. I've heard about it ever since I 
 was in politics; but I've never seen a manifesta- 
 tion of it. I control the organization : the people 
 can vote how they please and be damned to 'em ! 
 I'll see that the votes are counted and I'll be re- 
 sponsible." 
 
 " Yet you are not willing to trust the franchise 
 to the powers you assume you have? " asked Ruth- 
 erford quickly. 
 
 " No, I'm not. I don't see the use of it. We 
 can win anyway, but if by some miracle we didn't, 
 we'd still have the franchise and the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company and them other in- 
 terests it represents back of us. I guess we
 
 wouldn't suffer any therefore, no matter what 
 happened. Besides, all it'd mean would be a 
 wait of four years. These reform movements 
 always get tired of themselves, and then one or 
 the other of the old parties comes in. We'll be 
 the one." 
 
 " I am inclined to believe that much of Mr. 
 Liffey's contention is sound," said Van Slyke at 
 last. 
 
 " Well, gentlemen," said Haldane, " what do 
 you all think about it? " 
 
 " Let's get what we can," said the Mayor. 
 
 " And keep all we've got," added Connell. 
 
 " Very well then," said Haldane, " so be it. 
 We are united upon a nonpartizan ticket which we 
 can select presently, with Warren at the head of 
 it. Mr. Liffey will see Mr. Benson and induce 
 his cooperation. Mr. Connell will investigate 
 Mr. Gormly's career. Mr. Rutherford will ar- 
 range to have the franchise renewed as soon as it 
 is possible to do so. Mr. Warren will at once 
 announce himself as a candidate for reelection. 
 Messrs. Liffey, Habberley, and Connell will get 
 their forces in line. And I think that's all." 
 
 " Not quite, Mr. Haldane," said Liffey. 
 
 "What else?" 
 
 " You'll git the barrel open for the necessary 
 expenses of the campaign ? " 
 
 " Quite so," said Haldane, dryly. " You may 
 depend upon us to do what is proper; eh, gentle- 
 men?"
 
 THE PLANS OF THE RING 191 
 
 Van Slyke and McRonald nodded. 
 
 " I think we've done a pretty good night's 
 work," said the District Attorney, rising to his 
 feet. 
 
 " Don't go yet," said Haldane. " We must 
 fix up the slate first, and that will be all." 
 
 It was a half-hour later when the last one de- 
 parted from the house. Haldane was quite aware 
 of the conditions under which his fortune was be- 
 ing increased and his power extended. He had 
 been brought in contact with the naked reality of 
 the situation a great many times; but it seemed to 
 him that never before had it presented itself in so 
 hideous and unattractive a guise as on that night. 
 The financier was hardened. His conscience, 
 while keenly alive in other directions, in matters 
 concerning politics and the people was seared and 
 indurated. But what had been said and what he 
 had discussed that night had sickened him. 
 
 His thoughts, as he sat alone reflecting upon 
 the situation, went back with a certain degree of 
 envy to Gormly's simple honesty, his clear cut 
 purpose, his clean and splendid record, his won- 
 derful chances of success. He doubted very 
 much whether Connell's most careful scrutiny 
 would reveal anything of a shameful character in 
 the career of the enemy, and he realized that noth- 
 ing else than the absolute truth would serve in 
 the present crisis. Haldane was a much abler, 
 farther sighted man than any of those, who had 
 gathered about him that night, brilliant though
 
 i 9 2 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 they were in spite of the coarseness of some and 
 venality of all. He could see dangerous pos- 
 sibilities, possibilities of which they made light. 
 
 Presently the financier's thoughts turned to his 
 daughter strange to her rather than to his 
 wife ! with a sickening feeling of disgust at 
 himself. What would she think of such unholy 
 alliances as that upon which he had entered, to 
 which he was committed? What would she say 
 could she have overheard the conversation in 
 which he had just borne his ignominious part? 
 What was the cause of her strange interest in 
 Gormly, and what was to be deduced from 
 Gormly's strange interest in her? The great mer- 
 chant had some unusual characteristics. He had 
 even attracted his son to his cause ! 
 
 Haldane felt quite lonely, quite old, as he sat 
 there in the small hours of the morning, his cigar 
 gone out, musing over the situation. He pulled 
 himself together at last. The battle was not lost. 
 The enemy had not won, and before that came 
 about there would be a struggle which would beg- 
 gar description. The cards seemed to be in his 
 hands, or in the hands of the ring of which he 
 was chief. No more experienced players ever sat 
 at a game than those associated with him. They 
 ought to win ; but would they ? Haldane was by 
 no means certain.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 
 
 /"^ORMLY'S refusal to accept the indorsement 
 ^-^ and become the nominee of the outs cre- 
 ated a great sensation. The superficial considered 
 that he was courting political suicide. Keen ob- 
 servers recognized the consistency of his decision 
 and saw in his bold attitude further presage of 
 success. It was an evidence, which by and by 
 even the stupid could apprehend, that Gormly 
 literally meant what he said when he declared 
 that he was to be an absolutely independent can- 
 didate, tied to no faction, bound by no party, en- 
 tirely free and unfettered. 
 
 The men who rallied to his support, while as 
 innocent as babes in the practical politics affected 
 by Liffey and Benson, were nevertheless men 
 of abounding zeal, keen intelligence, and high 
 quality. Nor were the workers that gathered 
 round the new leader entirely from the social set 
 and circle of the Haldanes. Gormly in one way 
 or another employed a vast number of working 
 men. His relations with them had always been 
 not merely " square," as they phrased it, but kind 
 and generous. They rallied round him to a man, 
 
 193
 
 194 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 and although tremendous pressure was brought 
 to bear upon them, whereat some fell by the way, 
 the great bulk of them campaigned for him on 
 their own account. Then, too, there were at- 
 tracted to him numbers of plain, honest people, 
 without any great ability or station, but who had 
 the welfare of their city sincerely at heart, so that 
 his advocates and helpers were fairly representa- 
 tive. They were organized and started at work 
 immediately in every direction. No hall or other 
 possible place of meeting was too remote or too 
 inconsiderable to be overlooked. Before the 
 enemy realized it, ample time had been secured in 
 every possible assembly room and there were 
 nightly meetings all over the city. The cam- 
 paign was speedily in full blast. 
 
 In the Gormly store itself was a great audito- 
 rium in which free concerts, lectures, and entertain- 
 ments had been given for the employees and 
 patrons of the store. This auditorium had out- 
 side entrances and could be completely cut off from 
 the other business. It was there that Gormly 
 established headquarters under the direction of 
 Watson, who showed himself an apt learner and 
 demonstrated his capabilities more definitely every 
 day. Gormly himself gave the larger part of his 
 attention to the campaign. Every afternoon he 
 assembled in the auditorium the workers and 
 speakers, and every afternoon there was the freest 
 possible discussion of the issues, of what was to 
 be said in the speeches of the night, of the places
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 195 
 
 to be covered. The man showed a genius for 
 leadership and direction that was amazing. He 
 developed a power of succinctly presenting the 
 facts, which in large measure he was able to com- 
 municate to his followers. Of course, amid so 
 many of such varying qualities, mistakes were 
 often made; but the general direction of the cam- 
 paign was carefully followed and the mistakes 
 were after all of little moment. 
 
 Livingstone Haldane's example had been fol- 
 lowed by not a few young men of fortune and 
 position. It became in a certain sense among a 
 certain set the fashion to campaign for Gormly. 
 Automobiles of all sorts were available for 
 transporting speakers, and classes and social dis- 
 tinctions were wiped out in the greater issues in- 
 volved. The proletariat found itself rubbing 
 shoulders with the aristocracy, and observed that 
 the millionaire was not so bad as he was painted, 
 while the contact with the people was helpful also 
 to the so-called leisure class. It is hard to be 
 exclusive in the tonneau of a swift moving ma- 
 chine. You have to get in touch with your fellow 
 passengers therein while you are being bumped to- 
 gether, and the intercourse was good for both. 
 By these methods what was picturesquely de- 
 scribed in the city papers as a whirlwind cam- 
 paign was inaugurated. 
 
 It must not be supposed that the opposition was 
 idle; by no means. Never had its activities been 
 so great, its energies so manifestly put forth. It
 
 196 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 had welcomed with joy the news of the refusal of 
 Gormly to become the candidate of the minority 
 party. Liffey had at once decided in his own 
 mind that that settled the issue. Even farther 
 sighted men like Rutherford were of the same 
 opinion. Haldane alone, the wisest, shrewdest, 
 and ablest of the group, was not convinced, and 
 under his vigorous though secret urgings the Ring 
 redoubled its efforts to beat the Man. 
 
 At the proper time the proposition from the 
 party in power to make a combination with the 
 outs was sprung upon the public. It created al- 
 most as much of a sensation as had Gormly's re- 
 jection of the support of the opposition. It was 
 hailed on one side as an evidence of the fairness 
 of the party in power and the Sachem Society, 
 which many people imagined needed no alliance 
 of that kind. It was considered as testimony to 
 the fact that the party in power had nothing to 
 conceal, since it admitted the outs to its councils, 
 and that it was sincerely desirous of giving New 
 York a business administration in which all fac- 
 tions and parties should be represented. There 
 was truth in the contention, too. The only fac- 
 tion or party that would not be represented by this 
 alliance would be the common people. 
 
 Wiser heads, however, realized that altruistic 
 methods were inconsistent entirely with the real 
 spirit of either party and saw in the alliance a con- 
 fession of weakness. And the editorial contin- 
 gent of the Gormly papers seized upon this idea
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 197 
 
 and made the most of it. In the beginning, 
 Gormly's advertisements, including his political 
 manifestos, had been printed in every paper in 
 the city. They were paid for as other advertise- 
 ments are and why not ? But the Sachem So- 
 ciety had put the screws on certain journals which 
 owed much to its influence, and because of this 
 pressure they had summarily refused any more 
 of Gormly's unique proclamations. They pro- 
 fessed themselves entirely ready to print his busi- 
 ness advertisements at the usual rates. Gormly 
 retaliated, of course, by withdrawing all adver- 
 tising of any sort from them, and doubling the 
 space he purchased in the other papers. Nat- 
 urally, therefore, the press divided in two sec- 
 tions; those that were controlled by the party in 
 power, and those that were favorable to the new 
 candidate. The ablest editorial talent in New 
 York was enlisted as never before in this cam- 
 paign. 
 
 Incidentally, nothing that he could have said 
 or done could have so increased the business of his 
 store! His business rivals and associates indeed 
 suggested, and the suggestion was quickly seized 
 upon by the administration papers, that the whole 
 thing was a clever advertising dodge, and that 
 Gormly was simply using his candidacy to boom 
 his business. There was no satisfactory answer 
 to this argument, which was one of the best that 
 could have been devised by the opposition, and 
 it was harped upon immensely, although their
 
 ig8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 leader was vigorously justified from this charge 
 by his army of fighters. 
 
 The general counsel for the Gormly mercantile 
 operations was a very distinguished law firm, one 
 member of which had held a cabinet position in 
 the national Government a number of years back. 
 The legal and political moves in the game were 
 well known to this attorney and he and his part- 
 ners afforded Gormly an immense amount of val- 
 uable advice. They saw that all the provisions 
 of the law regarding his candidacy were complied 
 with ; they advised him of the necessity for clerks, 
 watchers, and other minor officers connected with 
 the election, and carefully sought to preserve the 
 strictest legality and see that all the requirements 
 of the election laws were fulfilled. 
 
 The expenses of the campaign were enormous. 
 Not one cent was paid out for bribery or for the 
 purpose of influencing votes in any improper way ; 
 but the hiring of halls, the payment of the ex- 
 penses of meetings, organization, transportation, 
 printing, salaries, and so on aggregated an ex- 
 traordinary sum. Even Gormly himself had not 
 realized how great these expenses would be ; but he 
 paid them without blenching. His resources were 
 vast. He put at the disposal of his candidacy 
 all the accumulations and earnings of twenty-five 
 years. He saw that by the time the vote was 
 taken, his ready money would be expended. Of 
 course, he would still have his great business,
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 199 
 
 which would be entirely unencumbered; but every- 
 thing else would go. 
 
 He still kept to his plan of printing every week 
 sworn statements of his expenses, challenging the 
 other party to do the same. The challenge was 
 disregarded, and efforts were made to show that 
 Gormly was trying to buy his way into the office. 
 The reason the society did not publish its ex- 
 pense account was not because it was ashamed of 
 the amount, for it was vastly greater than what 
 Gormly expended. They had nearly as many 
 expenses as he, except for the newspaper adver- 
 tising, which they got free, and in addition they 
 disbursed an immense bribery and corruption fund 
 through Liffey, Connell, Habberley, and Benson. 
 
 Again and again were Haldane and his asso- 
 ciates called upon for remittances, which were in- 
 variably forthcoming. There was no possibility 
 of refusal. The fortunes of the group of finan- 
 ciers controlling the public utilities were bound up 
 in the election. Failure to win a victory would 
 mean financial ruin to many of them. Fortunately 
 for him, it did not mean so much to Haldane, al- 
 though his great fortune would be seriously im- 
 paired by defeat. Most of the others, however, 
 had turned over everything that they possessed, 
 and pledged their credit as well, to the vast syndi- 
 cate of which he was the head. Indeed, he and 
 Van Slyke would be the only ones not totally 
 ruined by the election of Gormly. Consequently
 
 200 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 they paid and paid and paid, protesting in their 
 hearts but shutting their teeth grimly and hand- 
 ing out the cash, which was disbursed to the best 
 advantage by Liffey and Benson. It was hon- 
 estly disbursed, too; that is, it was disbursed in 
 the interests of the campaign. One of the chief 
 powers of a boss is that he stands by his friends 
 and reserves his plunderings for the people and 
 his other enemies. 
 
 Besides, Liffey realized that his own position 
 of undisputed leadership, which he had enjoyed 
 for so many years, depended upon his success. 
 This, if nothing else, would be a sufficient stimu- 
 lus to his energies. He never planned so care- 
 fully, fought so desperately, for victory. In this 
 he was brilliantly seconded by Benson, glad at 
 last to be recognized, and realizing that here was 
 probably the only opportunity that he and his 
 would ever enjoy for preying upon the public. 
 Rutherford was also exceedingly brilliant in his 
 campaigning, and Warren, fighting for his life, 
 developed unusual power as a speaker and a per- 
 suader. Every employee of the administration, 
 every member of the Sachem Society, was keyed 
 up to the most determined efforts. Even business 
 and speculation became of secondary importance 
 in the fury of the campaign. 
 
 Gormly himself spoke every night somewhere, 
 and the crowds that greeted him were enormous. 
 Meanwhile every detective in the employ of the 
 city, and all others who could be suborned, were
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 201 
 
 concentrating their efforts on Gormly's past and 
 present. He could not take a step outside of his 
 office without being shadowed. It was not diffi- 
 cult for spies to mingle with the crowd of buyers 
 in his store and scrutinize every person who en- 
 tered his private room. They had so far dis- 
 covered nothing. Gormly had lived an absolutely 
 clean, upright, honest, hardworking life since he 
 landed in New York. They did not find out 
 where he came from or even where he was born. 
 The only possible clue they had was the state- 
 ment that he had once been in the West, with 
 which Haldane had supplied them. Men had 
 scoured the principal cities of the West; but noth- 
 ing had been learned. Connell was in despair. 
 He had counted, from his knowledge of the un- 
 derworld, upon finding something that could be 
 used to Gormly's disadvantage; he had not suc- 
 ceeded. He and Liffey and Benson had again 
 and again been on the eve of determining upon 
 the manufacture of some degrading or incriminat- 
 ing story which would at least serve their purpose. 
 It would not be difficult to get witnesses to such 
 an endeavor; but it would be highly dangerous to 
 resort to such an expedient, and they were still 
 hesitating and undecided. 
 
 About this time the disputed franchise expired. 
 A resolution was immediately introduced in the 
 Board of Aldermen at the City Hall granting a 
 renewal of it to the Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company. Every move in the game was watched,
 
 202 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 and the resolution had scarcely been read and 
 referred to a committee when it was communi- 
 cated to Gormly. The next day the Gormly pa- 
 pers rang with the charge that the city fathers in- 
 tended to give away its most valuable remaining 
 public franchise to the Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company. 
 
 At the next meeting, despite the furious pro- 
 tests of the Gormly party, the resolution was put 
 upon its passage. Gormly here played his great- 
 est political card. Attended by a body of friends, 
 he presented himself at the council chamber and 
 forced admission. When the resolution renewing 
 the franchise was about to be voted upon, as a cit- 
 izen of New York deeply interested in the matter 
 he demanded to be heard. Before permission 
 was either granted or refused by the astonished 
 presiding officer, Gormly drew from his pocket a 
 piece of paper. Amid the deepest silence he held 
 it up and said: 
 
 " I offer ten million dollars for this franchise. 
 If it be granted me, I shall guarantee to operate 
 the road in the interests of the people, and turn 
 over all the profits above six per cent, on my in- 
 vestment, to the people themselves." 
 
 The room was thronged with citizens, from at 
 least half of whom there burst forth the most spon- 
 taneous and heartfelt roar of applause that ever 
 smote the ears of the miscalled city fathers. 
 
 " Lest there should be any doubt of my ability
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 203 
 
 to make good," continued the merchant, " I beg 
 to say that I have here in my hand a forfeiture 
 check for one-fourth of the amount in question, 
 which is certified to by the City of Gotham Na- 
 tional Bank." 
 
 ' The gentleman is out of order," remarked the 
 presiding officer as soon as he could recover his 
 equipoise. " We are not auctioning off public 
 franchises to the highest bidder. We are grant- 
 ing this one in the interests of the public to the 
 company which has already served the people so 
 well and has assumed the burden of the great sys- 
 tem of which this is the necessary connecting 
 link." 
 
 " Sir ! " cried Gormly, amid a chorus of groans, 
 hisses, and cheers, " I protest against " 
 
 " Any other interruptions from the speaker," 
 came quickly from the chair, " and any further ex- 
 pressions of approval or disapproval from the 
 spectators, will result in the clearing of the room 
 by the sergeant at arms." 
 
 " And if the sergeant at arms wants help," cried 
 Connell, the chief, a burly blue coated figure gor- 
 geous in gold lace, who stood in a position where 
 he could observe the whole assembly, " the police 
 force of the city is at your service." 
 
 ** I call," said one of the Aldermen, " for a vote 
 on the resolution." 
 
 ' Those in favor of the granting of the fran- 
 chise will say aye," immediately said the chairman.
 
 204 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 There was a furious chorus of "Shame! 
 shame ! " from a great number of spectators in 
 which the feeble " ayes " were scarcely heard. 
 
 " Those opposed," went on the voice of the 
 chairman, trembling with excitement, "will sig- 
 nify it by saying no." 
 
 A thundering shout of " Noes " rang through 
 the hall, the few in opposition making up by their 
 vociferation for their small numbers. 
 
 " The ayes have it," said the chairman, ham- 
 mering on the desk with his gavel! 
 
 " Division ! Division ! " clamored the opposi- 
 tion, v 
 
 " Those in favor," continued the chairman, dis- 
 gusted at being compelled to put the administra- 
 tion thus on record, but powerless to prevent it, 
 " will stand up." 
 
 Amid shouts and cries and disorder never be- 
 fore equaled, the members of the administration 
 got to their feet. The whip that had been cracked 
 over their heads had been used to effect. Some of 
 them were mere ignorant tools; others were able 
 to understand what they were doing. They all 
 voted alike. A score of alert reporters from care- 
 fully prepared lists were checking off the votes. 
 
 "The ayes have it; the ordinance is passed," 
 cried the chairman triumphantly, after the noes 
 had been called to their feet and counted. 
 
 " I move," said Alderman Hellman, " that we 
 do now adjourn."
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 205 
 
 The motion was carried with a rush, and in- 
 stantly the spectators began a wild scramble from 
 the hall. Among the first to leave was Gormly. 
 The corridor and stairs were packed with people 
 who had been unable to gain admittance to the 
 chamber, but had learned what was toward. 
 Through them Gormly and his bodyguard forced 
 a way. Outside the scene was not unlike that of 
 an election night ; for City Hall Park was crowded 
 with a great mass of excited citizens. 
 
 When Gormly's well known figure was seen in 
 the doorway, a great shout of acclaim rose from 
 the multitude. 
 
 There were many there who belonged to the 
 administration. They had been judiciously distrib- 
 uted throughout the crowd to leaven it and were 
 under the control of careful organization and lead- 
 ership. They strove to drown the cheering by 
 groans, hisses, catcalls, mockeries, and insults, but 
 without much avail. 
 
 Gormly had not intended to speak; but the 
 opportunity was too good to be lost. As he 
 descended the steps, the cheering changed into a 
 demand for a speech from him. No hustings had 
 been prepared, but by the curbstone stood a big, 
 high powered automobile. It was filled with peo- 
 ple. Livingstone Haldane sat in the chauffeur's 
 seat. The place beside him was vacant. 
 
 " Up here, Mr. Gormly ! " he cried, pointing. 
 
 Without observing who was in the tonneau,
 
 206 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Gormly clambered up to the seat and stood on it. 
 He was thus lifted sufficiently high above the 
 crowd. 
 
 " Fellow citizens," he began as the cheering sub- 
 sided and the multitude gave him opportunity to 
 speak, " you know that in order to complete the 
 ring of oppression which holds the city in its iron 
 grasp under the name of the Gotham Freight 
 Traction Company, it was necessary that the old 
 franchise of the New York Street Car Company 
 expiring to-day should become the property of 
 that company. The Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company is the most gigantic combination which 
 has ever been formed to rob an unsuspecting and 
 indifferent people. Through the franchises they 
 already enjoy, they have created an institution 
 that will enable them to continue their predatory 
 practises " 
 
 " Talk English ! " shouted a voice from the 
 crowd. 
 
 " Thank you, my friend," answered Gormly. 
 " Which will enable them to steal from you your 
 money, your earnings, your investments, your 
 profits, your capital, whatever you have for the 
 next one hundred years. They have sold bonds 
 to pay for the building of the road; not one cent 
 of their own money has gone into it. They have 
 issued stock to themselves to double or quadruple 
 the value of the investment, and they are deter-' 
 mined to make you pay interest, large interest, on 
 that stock as well as on the bonds. But, in order
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE 'IS HEARD 207 
 
 that they can carry out this nefarious and thiev- 
 ing proposition, they must secure this franchise 
 which expired to-day, otherwise their traction 
 lines will be incomplete, will end in the air, there 
 will be no connection between its ends ; for the ter- 
 ritory covered by this franchise is so situated that if 
 the lines are to be connected it must be through 
 this territory. Consequently this franchise is the 
 most valuable of the few remaining properties of 
 the people. You own it; it belongs to you. By 
 holding it in your own control, you can bring this 
 gang of robbers and thieves in the City Hall and 
 out of it to terms. It's your last chance to 
 get your rights. If you hold it, they are at your 
 mercy. 
 
 "I do not propose injustice or unfair treat- 
 ment. Every citizen is entitled to a square deal; 
 the capitalist and the laborer; the rich man and 
 the poor man. The law and justice recognize 
 citizens as individuals, and if I am elected I shall 
 deal fairly between the members of all ranks and 
 stations, businesses and classes. 
 
 " This franchise, the possession of which means 
 so much to you, is about to be given away. The 
 council has overwhelmingly passed an ordinance 
 granting it, without restrictions, to the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company for the space of one 
 hundred years. Will you sanction that? " 
 
 The square was now seething with excitement. 
 Gormly's clear, powerful voice carried to the ex- 
 tremes of the crowd. His plain, practical pres-
 
 208 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 entation was simple enough for all to understand. 
 Indeed, most of the men present knew all that he 
 was saying. He paused at this juncture and sur- 
 veyed the crowd. A voice suddenly cried a shrill 
 negative, and instantly the word was caught up 
 and a great thundering chorus of u No, no ! 
 Never ! " rolled through the park with ever in- 
 creasing volume and vehemence. 
 
 If Gormly had looked back, he could have seen 
 the windows of the City Hall crowded with alder- 
 men, white faced and anxious, listening to that 
 tremendous and even furious negative. 
 
 " Let's get the aldermen out here ! " cried a 
 voice in a pause in the commotion, " and show 'em 
 what we think! " 
 
 There was an instant response to the sugges- 
 tion. The people made a wild surge toward the 
 entrance of the City Hall. Hands were raised, 
 fists were shaken, voices cried hoarsely. The 
 multitude could easily have degenerated into a 
 mob. But Gormly checked it. His control was 
 admirable. 
 
 " No, gentlemen," he cried, " no, men and 
 citizens of New York. We must do things law- 
 fully. The grant has not become a law; it has 
 not been signed by the Mayor. Believe me, they 
 will not be insensible to this protest. Let it be 
 repeated in every local organization; let every 
 member of the Board of Aldermen be warned by 
 his constituents not to press this bill, to reconsider 
 his action at once.
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 209 
 
 " Gentlemen " he held up a piece of paper. 
 One of the tall lights in the square illuminated 
 his face and figure. His every action was dis- 
 tinctly visible to the multitude " I have here in 
 my hand a check, certified by the City of Gotham 
 National Bank, for two and one-half millions of 
 dollars. Before this ordinance was passed this 
 evening, not ten minutes ago, I offered this sum of 
 money as a forfeiture, binding me to pay ten mil- 
 lions for the franchise in question. I offered to 
 subscribe to an agreement which would limit my 
 own returns to six per cent, upon my investment; 
 and promised that the people should have every 
 cent of profit over and above that legitimate 
 amount. The offer was refused; that check was 
 declined, but it still holds good. I make the offer 
 not merely to the cringing, subservient, whipped 
 into line aldermen, but to you, the people. I have 
 heard it said often that money talks. Well, here 
 is my money. Is it talking now ? " 
 
 "It's talkin' so the whole world can hear!" 
 burst forth from some deep voiced man in the 
 crowd. 
 
 " It isn't a foolish proposition that I make. It 
 shows the value of that franchise that I am will- 
 ing to give this amount of money for it, because I 
 know I will make a decent return on my invest- 
 ment, and further, great sums for the people. 
 But whether they accept it or not, I am willing to 
 spend this sum, and more too if it is necessary, in 
 legitimate ways to drive from power the gang that
 
 210 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 has made the city a byword, that has brought re- 
 proach upon New York and every citizen of it. 
 Don't misunderstand me, fellow citizens; not one 
 penny of this amount, or any other amount will 
 ever be spent for bribery, to influence or persuade 
 against his judgment any man to vote for me or 
 for any policy. If you want to know how the 
 money is spent, you can read from week to week 
 published statements covering every expenditure." 
 
 " What're you going to get out of it? " asked 
 a voice. 
 
 " I am going to be elected Mayor of New York 
 by you men," answered Gormly. " I am going 
 to get the consciousness that I have an opportu- 
 nity to give New York a clean, decent, law abid- 
 ing administration, without graft. I am going to 
 put the people in the enjoyment of their rights; 
 or rather they are going to put themselves there 
 by my election. I am alone in this world " 
 
 " Not much you ain't ! " cried a voice. " You've 
 more friends than any man in New York." 
 
 " Friends I have in plenty, I see," was the 
 quick answer; "but I have neither wife nor rela- 
 tives nor children. Some men like to spend their 
 money in building libraries and hospitals, soup 
 kitchens and art galleries. I had rather spend 
 mine for the benefit of all the people; for there 
 isn't a citizen, man or woman or child, who will 
 not be benefited by a clean, decent administration 
 of municipal affairs. 
 
 " I made my money here. Every dollar of it
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 211 
 
 you gave to me. I am giving it back to you. We 
 worked together to make it ; I by selling you good 
 goods and telling the truth about it, and you by 
 paying a fair price for it and coming back if you 
 were not satisfied. We will work together in the 
 same way now. If you give me the opportunity 
 to administer the affairs of the city, I pledge my 
 business honor, at which no man can point a finger, 
 that I will do it honestly and honorably to the 
 satisfaction of honest and honorable men, or you 
 can throw me over." 
 
 " Now, remember," the speaker continued as 
 wild cheers greeted this announcement, " that 
 clamor and glamor don't win elections; that 
 shouting and cheering are all very well in their 
 way, but it is votes that count. You must see 
 that your votes are deposited, and then you must 
 see that they are fairly counted. I beg that you 
 will disperse now, go home, and make it your busi- 
 ness to see your aldermen about this franchise. 
 Do it quickly and do it hard." 
 
 " We'll see them now ! " yelled one voice after 
 another in quick succession. 
 
 " Let 'em come out here! " 
 
 "We'd like to talk to 'em!" 
 
 " Give us a chance at them ! " 
 
 "Where's the Mayor?" 
 
 The square was in a tumult again, which even 
 Gormly for the moment was helpless to control. 
 
 Now the Hon. Peter D. Warren was in the 
 City Hall. He had heard all that had been
 
 212 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 said, and witnessed all that had been done. Al- 
 though he was a briber and a corruptionist, he 
 was not without courage. It seemed to him that 
 the psychological moment for his advent had ar- 
 rived. Therefore, he hastily made his way 
 through the corridors filled with trembling and 
 frightened aldermen, and boldly appeared on the 
 outside steps back of Gormly. He was recog- 
 nized at once. The adherents of the administra- 
 tion who found themselves in the minority to their 
 great surprise, cheered loudly; but their cheers 
 were drowned out by yells and groans and deri- 
 sive cries. The Mayor stood quietly, a little pale, 
 but apparently undaunted. He waved his hands 
 for silence. Gormly assisted him in quelling the 
 tumult. The Mayor stepped to the extreme edge 
 of the portico; but before he could begin his 
 speech, the same burly voiced man who had been 
 such a useful adjunct to Gormly interrupted him. 
 " We don't want to hear any speech from you 
 to-night. We just want to express our opinion on 
 the question of the franchise. We want you to 
 hear it, and we want you to answer one question. 
 Mr. Gormly," he roared, his great voice compell- 
 ing attention, and as he spoke he sprang up on the 
 steps of the automobile and faced the crowd, " we 
 want you to ask the Mayor of this city if he's 
 going to sign the bill granting the franchise. 
 But before you do that we want you to tell him 
 what we citizens of New York think of the prop- 
 osition."
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 213 
 
 Through the crowd at this moment came charg- 
 ing a platoon of police, at the head of which was 
 the chief himself. The men handling their sticks 
 shouldered their way roughly through the people 
 groaning, raging, swearing, about them. Connell 
 laid his hand on the speaker and sought to drag 
 him from the automobile. The man struck back 
 violently; clubs flashed in the air. The multi- 
 tude in another instant would have been a mob. 
 Gormly it was who came again to the rescue. 
 
 " These," he promptly interposed, raising his 
 voice, " are peaceable citizens discussing a great 
 public question. I appeal to you as Mayor of 
 this city to call off the police. Take your hand 
 off that man's collar, Connell," he shouted, " or 
 by the living God I'll turn this mob upon you 
 and there won't be a rag left of you and your 
 bluecoats! " 
 
 He stepped down to the body of the car as he 
 spoke; and before the chief realized what he was 
 about he seized him by the collar and threw him 
 backward. It was a magnificent exhibition of 
 strength and nerve and courage. 
 
 11 Call them off," he shouted to the Mayor, " or 
 I won't be answerable for the consequences! 
 They will storm the City Hall. If you let them 
 alone, they won't do any harm. They are peace- 
 able citizens. They shall not be interfered 
 with!" 
 
 As soon as he stopped, the roar of the mob be- 
 gan. Some were there who thought they had
 
 214 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 never heard a sound so terrible and so menacing. 
 The Mayor, not without good sense, came to the 
 rescue. 
 
 " So long," he said in his powerful, finely modu- 
 lated voice, " as these people do nothing, they 
 shall not be interfered with. March your offi- 
 cers up here to the steps of the City Hall, Chief! " 
 he cried. 
 
 There was nothing for Connell but obedience. 
 The big superintendent was brave enough. He 
 would have liked nothing better than a fight with 
 the mob, whatever might be the result; but in the 
 face of such an order he could only comply. Shak- 
 ing his baton fiercely at Gormly, he gave an order 
 to his men, and, followed by the curses and groans 
 of the multitude, they marched up the steps of the 
 City Hall and grouped themselves about the 
 Mayor. 
 
 " I want to tell you," cried Gormly, mounting 
 to the seat again and now thoroughly aroused, his 
 voice ringing like a trumpet, " that you have no 
 need of police protection in the presence of the 
 people of New York." 
 
 " Let me speak ! " said the Mayor. 
 
 " No ! " thundered the crowd. " We don't 
 want to hear you speak! " 
 
 " Mr. Mayor," said Gormly, " these people 
 want to express an opinion to you. Fellow citi- 
 zens, those who are in favor of indorsing the ac- 
 tion of the council in granting the franchise to the 
 Gotham Freight Traction Company will say aye."
 
 215 
 
 Every henchman, every follower, every ally, 
 every official present, cried, " Aye ! " 
 
 It made a brave showing until the negative was 
 put, when such a roar of disapproval arose that it 
 was like the breath of the gods and fairly shook 
 the ancient stones of the hall. The trees seemed 
 to quiver under it; the lights danced before it. 
 The yelling and cheering kept up for several 
 minutes. 
 
 " Now, sir," said Gormly, " you see what our 
 masters the people think. They wish me to put 
 to you a question. If such a measure comes be- 
 fore you, will you veto it or will you not? " 
 
 The Mayor was in a dilemma, a fearful one. 
 He was quick enough to see that his whole politi- 
 cal future, the future of his party, practically de- 
 pended upon his action; for after such temper as 
 had been exhibited, it was patent that the matter 
 would be the most prominently discussed, most 
 bitterly criticized, most vehemently espoused, of 
 any issue in the campaign. If he did not declare 
 his purpose to veto the bill, he and his party were 
 doomed. If he took some other course, they 
 would still have a fighting chance. The alder- 
 men, who had already put themselves on record, 
 must be sacrificed. What of that? There were 
 larger issues involved than the return of a body 
 of men of that kind. The Mayor rose to the 
 occasion. 
 
 " Gentlemen," he said, " my action shall be dic- 
 tated by yourselves."
 
 216 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 "Answer! Answer! No speech!" roared 
 the crowd. 
 
 " Every man is entitled to his chance," said 
 Gormly, " and I beg you to hear." 
 
 " I will pledge you my word," continued the 
 Mayor, " that so far as I have power the is- 
 suance of this franchise shall be determined by the 
 election. If I am so fortunate as to receive a 
 majority, I shall take it as a sign that you indorse 
 the policy which, with an eye single to the public 
 interest, believes that it demands the granting of 
 this franchise to the Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company, which has already served you so well. 
 If on the contrary, my distinguished opponent 
 shall prevail, the matter will be left for his deter- 
 mination." 
 
 " You won't sign the bill if it comes to you 
 then? " asked some one in the crowd. 
 
 " I will not, and I will use what influence I have 
 to see that it is not presented to me," was the 
 answer. 
 
 " Nothing," said Gormly, " could be fairer than 
 that. The issue is clearly and sharply drawn. If 
 you want to perpetuate the power of the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company, you have only to 
 reelect the present Mayor. If you want to re- 
 sume your own control of affairs, you have only to 
 elect me. I don't ask you now which it shall be. 
 I don't want any more cheering. I want you to 
 go to your homes and go to work. Good night." 
 
 He sank down in the automobile, covered with
 
 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS HEARD 217 
 
 perspiration and trembling with nervous excite- 
 ment. 
 
 " Have you any more appointments for to- 
 night? " asked Livingstone. 
 
 " None. Take me out of here." 
 
 " Gentlemen," said young Haldane, " will you 
 make way for the next Mayor? He served you 
 well to-night, and I want to take him home to 
 rest." 
 
 Amid tumultuous cheering and applauding, the 
 crowd opened a line through which the big auto- 
 mobile slowly moved over toward Broadway and 
 then sped upward through the night. 
 
 Connell turned to the Mayor. " Shall I drive 
 these dogs out of the square? Curse 'em! " he 
 cried. 
 
 Nothing would have suited the Mayor better; 
 but policy would not permit. 
 
 " No," he said, " just picket the approaches to 
 the City Hall. Let the people alone. They will 
 disperse now." 
 
 Indeed they were already beginning to break 
 away. 
 
 " Well, you've gone and done it now, for sure," 
 said Connell, giving the necessary orders. " Un- 
 less you get elected, the Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company's busted." 
 
 " We're all * busted,' as you say," said Warren 
 gloomily, " unless I am elected." 
 
 The Mayor turned away and walked into the 
 City Hall. Rutherford met him at the door.
 
 218 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 I want to congratulate you," he said, " on your 
 
 course." 
 
 " Do you approve of it? " 
 
 " Approve ! It was the nerviest sort of a thing 
 for you to do, but the only thing. That damned 
 Gormly had you dead to rights; but you took the 
 wind out of his sails." 
 
 " I don't know," answered the Mayor, ner- 
 vously. " What will Liffey and Benson and the 
 rest say? " 
 
 "I don't know," returned Rutherford; "but 
 whatever they say, it was the only thing on God's 
 earth to do, and they ought to be glad that you 
 had the nerve to do it. Now, we've got to win 
 the election." 
 
 " Yes," said the Mayor; " but how? " 
 
 Outside the City Hall a slender, quiet, but 
 shrewd looking man edged his way carefully 
 through the rapidly dispersing crowd until he 
 caught sight of Connell standing on the steps 
 scowling at the multitude, black rage in his heart. 
 
 " Well," said the chief, as the man came close 
 to him, " any news? " 
 
 The man nodded. 
 
 "What!" roared the officer. "Have you 
 got" 
 
 " I have a clue," was the answer. 
 
 " Come in here 1 " said the chief, laying his 
 hand on the other man's shoulder, and in his ex- 
 citement and eagerness almost jerking him into 
 the City Hall.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 MISS HALDANE LISTENS TO A DECLARATION 
 
 t?OR some distance the automobile sped on- 
 * ward. Before one of the big wholesale 
 buildings on lower Broadway, now entirely dark, 
 it suddenly stopped in obedience to a signal from 
 the tonneau. A hand was laid on Gormly's shoul- 
 der, and a voice he knew and to which he thrilled 
 spoke to him. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," said Miss Haldane, " that was 
 the most magnificent, splendid, dramatic scene I 
 ever witnessed or participated in." 
 
 Gormly rose to his feet instantly and faced 
 about. 
 
 " You were there, Miss Haldane ! " he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " Didn't you see me? " asked the girl, a note of 
 disappointment in her voice. 
 
 " And didn't you see me? " put in Miss Stewart 
 opportunely. 
 
 " Well, girls," said Livingstone Haldane, " how 
 long are you going to keep us stopping here? " 
 
 " I was about to suggest," said Miss Stewart, 
 " that Mr. Gormly and I change places. I don't 
 want to talk to you particularly ; but I know that 
 219
 
 220 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Eleanor wants to speak to Mr. Gormly, and " 
 
 The words were not out of her mouth before 
 Gormly had leaped to the street and opened the 
 door. He assisted Miss Stewart to the place he 
 had vacated, and took her place in the big roomy 
 tonneau. As soon as the exchange had been ef- 
 fected, Haldane started up the street again. 
 
 " I am sure now that I was aware of your pres- 
 ence, Miss Haldane," said Gormly quietly. He 
 looked very white and tired, careworn and hag- 
 gard, thought the girl, as they passed under an 
 electric light which for a moment illuminated his 
 features. " And because of that I know that I 
 never spoke better." 
 
 " It was a great occasion," was the reply, " and 
 great occasions make great speeches." 
 
 " That and the consciousness unconscious, if 
 you will, if I may use such a contradiction that 
 you were listening dare I not say sympatheti- 
 cally? carried me through." 
 
 " It was glorious. You played upon those peo- 
 ple as I might play upon " 
 
 " Me," said Gormly softly. 
 
 " Upon an instrument of music," continued the 
 girl. " I think your election is sure." 
 
 " I think so too," was the answer; " but I am 
 not indulging in any overconfidence, and there is to 
 be no weakening of effort until the last minute." 
 
 " That's right," said the woman quickly. " Do 
 you really think the Mayor meant what he said: 
 that he will do what he said he would do? "
 
 A DECLARATION 221 
 
 " Not a doubt of it," was the answer. " He 
 would not dare to do otherwise. Every paper in 
 New York will be filled with the scene to-morrow. 
 Listen!" 
 
 They had by this time reached Fourteenth 
 Street. Although it was long after the ordinary 
 time for the issuance of the latest editions of the 
 newspapers, newsboys were already crying ac- 
 counts of the episode on the streets, and papers 
 were being bought eagerly on every hand. 
 
 " You see," said Gormly, " he's bound now to 
 do it. He has committed himself." 
 
 " You forced him to do so." 
 
 " Well, I had some hand in it; but after all the 
 people forced him." 
 
 " It's a good augury, isn't it ? They will under- 
 stand their own power better." 
 
 " Yes, I think so," said the man. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," she turned suddenly full upon 
 him, " why have you said to my brother that I 
 must not come to the store any more to consult you 
 on business matters? " 
 
 " My dear Miss Haldane," said Gormly. " I 
 did that for your sake." 
 
 "But why?" 
 
 " I have ascertained that I am being shadowed 
 by practically all the detectives of the City Hall 
 force; that I am watched constantly; that all my 
 visitors are noted; and I did not wish to involve 
 you in any notoriety whatsoever. Therefore, al- 
 though I had no knowledge that you would come
 
 222 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 or that you wanted to come, I thought it proper to 
 advise you through your brother not to do so." 
 
 " Of course I wanted to come," said the young 
 woman, earnestly. " I have read every scrap per- 
 taining to the campaign. I have done what I 
 could among such friends as I was able to influence 
 to get them to aid you. It was through me that 
 Livingstone proffered his services. I even tried 
 my father, but I have been unable to make any 
 impression upon him; and I wanted to hear from 
 you directly how things were going. Of course 
 Livingstone tells me; but it is not like hearing 
 from you." 
 
 " I realize all that you have done, and you can't 
 imagine, Miss Haldane, how great a deprivation 
 it was to me to send such a message, and how hard 
 a course it was to decide upon." 
 
 " I made Livingstone bring us both down here 
 to-night. He told me you were going to attempt 
 to stop the passage of that franchise. I counted 
 upon meeting you. I thought we could take you 
 away in the car for a little time, and that I could 
 have an opportunity to assure you how fervently 
 we are all praying for your success. But I never 
 dreamed that I was going to be the spectator of 
 such a scene as that which has just happened. I 
 don't believe there was ever anything more dra- 
 matic or splendid in the history of American poli- 
 tics. Why, it was like a new Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence ! When that multitude surged back and 
 forth, crying, yelling, threatening, and muttering,
 
 A DECLARATION 223 
 
 I followed every emotion in my own heart. I 
 never was so thrilled in my life. I am glad to 
 have lived through this, to have seen it, to have 
 been a small part of it." 
 
 " You can't imagine," said Gormly, " how great 
 a part of it you have been. I will not say that I 
 am doing it all for you now; that would not be 
 true or fair. But you were my inspiration in the 
 beginning, your words, your presence. Miss Hal- 
 dane, I have something to say to you." 
 
 The slowly moving automobile was by this time 
 in the midst of the theatrical district. Although 
 it was late for the theaters, there were still crowds 
 of people on the street. One of them recognized 
 Gormly and signalized his knowledge by leading a 
 cheer. Others caught it up, and the automobile 
 moved up Broadway through a continuous and 
 ever increasing roar of admiration and applause. 
 It was not until the quieter sections above Forty- 
 fifth Street had been reached that Gormly could 
 resume the conversation. 
 
 " First of all," he began, when speech was again 
 practicable, " where are you taking me? " 
 
 " Anywhere you want to go. You said you had 
 no engagement, you know." Miss Haldane 
 leaned forward and touched her brother, tie 
 stopped the car again and turned about. " Mr. 
 Gormly wants to know where we are going." 
 
 " I thought we'd swing over past the park and 
 go out Riverside Drive. We can get a decent bite 
 to eat in some quiet place along the river road,
 
 224 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 and a spin will do us all good. Is that agreeable 
 to you ? " 
 
 " I am in your hands," answered Gormly grate- 
 fully. " And indeed I think I should like it very 
 much. I had no idea how tired I was and you 
 don't know how few opportunities I get like this 
 for an hour's quiet enjoyment." 
 
 " Leave it to me," said young Haldane. " I'll 
 turn you up at your apartment in proper time and 
 in good shape. To-night you are going to enjoy 
 yourself and drop the campaign for a little while." 
 
 Gormly sank back in the luxurious seat as the 
 machine started once more, with an expression of 
 great relief. He had said he was tired. No won- 
 der! The strain of three or four months' cam- 
 paigning had been enough to test his nerve and 
 vitality to the very limit. He had enjoyed no 
 opportunity for relaxation. The pace had been 
 too swift, the going too hard, for that. He had 
 not dared to let up for a single moment. He 
 would not have dared it then ; but being caught up, 
 abducted as it were, he gave himself up unre- 
 servedly to the joy of the moment. To find him- 
 self flying through the city by the side of the 
 woman he loved, so near that he could reach his 
 hand out and touch her, if he possessed the right, 
 was happiness enough. To have won her ap- 
 proval, to have heard her thrilling words of appre- 
 ciation, to enjoy at the same time the consciousness 
 that in what had up to this time been the supreme
 
 A DECLARATION 225 
 
 moment of his life he had been lucky enough to 
 have her present, completed his satisfaction. 
 
 There was only one cloud on his horizon, and 
 that lay in some information confirmatory of a 
 suspicion he had entertained ever since Christmas 
 Eve, which had come to him that afternoon. It 
 was now about to be settled beyond doubt that the 
 controlling spirit of the Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company, against which he was making his great 
 battle, whose downfall was after all the object of 
 his campaign, not for any other reason, however, 
 than that it stood for all that was bad in municipal 
 administration, was her father. Some of the 
 shrewdest and ablest of his allies had been doing 
 some investigating on their own account, and they 
 had discovered this fact. He was merely waiting 
 for some final evidence before taking action. 
 
 Whether or not Gormly would have engaged in 
 the battle, if he had had foreknowledge of this 
 alliance between the father of the woman he loved 
 and the powers he was trying to overthrow, is a 
 question. As to his present attitude, he had begun 
 his campaign with mingled feelings. It had been 
 at first in a certain sense and for a short time a 
 campaign for the winning of Eleanor Haldane; 
 but larger issues had speedily relegated that as a 
 motive into the background, and now the cam- 
 paign made every possible appeal to his honor as a 
 man, to his sense of duty as a citizen. And while 
 Eleanor Haldane bulked large before him, he
 
 226 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 knew that no matter what might be the result of 
 the campaign so far as she was concerned, he must 
 of absolute necessity press on to the end of it. He 
 wanted to win for her; but if it became necessary, 
 he would win without her, and for the people's 
 sake. 
 
 The confirmation of his suspicions had given 
 him a great shock. He feared that the disclosure, 
 which would be inevitable in a short time, would 
 put Eleanor Haldane farther away from him 
 than ever; but he realized as that consciousness 
 came to him that whether that was so or not, he 
 must go on. He felt deeply for her. He knew 
 her ideals; he realized what an awful and appall- 
 ing shock it would be for her when she learned the 
 unworthiness of her father. He knew too that 
 the information would have to come from him; 
 that he could not afford to shut his eyes to. the sit- 
 uation; that it was necessary at the proper time 
 to proclaim the connection. He might not do it 
 personally; but it must be done by his adherents 
 and with his permission. 
 
 It would make his election probably certain to 
 reveal to the public the vast corruptive influences 
 behind the traction company and the Sachem So- 
 ciety. His agents had been thorough in their 
 work, and they had discovered what nobody sus- 
 pected; that the syndicate of which Haldane was 
 the head practically controlled all the public util- 
 ities and afforded all the financial backing for the 
 Sachem Society and its immense corruption fund.
 
 A DECLARATION 227 
 
 If it had been a case of mere personal ambition 
 on Gormly's part, he would have thrown over his 
 desire for her sake without question. But it was 
 more than that. It was a case of serving the peo- 
 ple; it was a case of redeeming a great city; it was 
 a case of being true to the thousands of men who 
 on the strength of his declaration had rallied to 
 his support and had cast their lot in with him. 
 It was not to be thought of. Not for any reward 
 that could be imagined could Gormly draw back 
 now. To win was more imperative than ever, 
 to win even if he lost her. 
 
 Neither in his heart of hearts did he think, if 
 she knew the situation, that she would have him 
 draw back. The sense of her father's position 
 might break her heart; but she was of Roman stuff 
 in her soul, he believed, and capable of any sacrifice 
 for the right. 
 
 Gormly had meant to carry on his campaign to 
 the end, and then tell her that he loved her and ask 
 her to be his wife. He saw swiftly that with all 
 the complications before him this would be an en- 
 tirely fruitless proceeding. Indeed, if under more 
 favorable circumstances he could have won her 
 affections, it was probable that now such an en- 
 deavor would be unavailing. He had been won- 
 dering since the knowledge had come to him how 
 he could get speech with her without too great 
 publicity, and behold fortune had given him the 
 chance. At whatever hazards he intended to avail 
 himself of it.
 
 228 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Miss Haldane," he began after they had been 
 running along for some time in silence, " I said 
 that I had something to say to you. I don't sup- 
 pose either the time or the circumstances are pro- 
 pitious, but necessity compels me to say it now." 
 
 " I shall be very glad indeed to listen to any- 
 thing that you have to say to me," was the answer. 
 
 " I had intended to defer this statement until 
 after I was elected, until I had really achieved 
 something." 
 
 " Whether you are elected or not, you have 
 achieved a great deal." 
 
 " I cannot agree with you as to that ; but it is a 
 matter about which we won't waste any argument. 
 I thought that if I had really done something or 
 put myself in a position to do something, for I will 
 not disguise from you that the election is but the 
 first part of the battle. If I am so fortunate as to 
 win, I shall have an infinitely harder fight to keep 
 my pledges to the people and to carry on the ad- 
 ministration as it should be carried on than I shall 
 have gone through with to get the election." 
 
 " I have no doubt that it will not be easy; but 
 I have confidence that you will do it." 
 
 " Thank you. I meant it was my purpose 
 I intended when I had won the first step to 
 ask you if you would not help me with the rest of 
 the battle." 
 
 " Help you, Mr. Gormly? " 
 
 " Yes, Miss Haldane, I purposed to ask you to 
 be my wife."
 
 A DECLARATION 229 
 
 " Your wife ! " exclaimed the girl. 
 
 " It surprises you doubtless. Possibly it dis- 
 mays you." 
 
 " It surprises me, certainly." 
 
 " And yet you must have known, you must have 
 seen, you are woman enough for that, that I 
 cared a great deal for your opinion." 
 
 " I will not deny it, Mr. Gormly," returned the 
 girl. " Things you have said, not so much that 
 perhaps as the way you have said them, have led 
 me to think so. But I really never imagined 
 You see there is so much difference " 
 
 " I know that I am almost old enough to be 
 your father," returned the man gravely. " I am 
 no boy. Therefore, I am the more sure and con- 
 vinced of what I say, and you can be the more sure 
 also that I love you." 
 
 He faltered over the unfamiliar words. The 
 girl stole a glance at him in the moonlight. He 
 stared straight ahead of him and looked grim 
 enough. He had moved over in the broad seat, 
 almost in contact with her, in order that he might 
 be heard by her and by no one else in the car, 
 which was now flying up the river drive at a great 
 pace. 
 
 "It is a great honor that you pay me," began 
 the woman. 
 
 " Wait ! " said the man. " I am not through. 
 I did not intend to tell you to-night. As I say, I 
 was going to wait until I had something worth 
 while to offer; but things that I have learned have
 
 230 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 made it necessary in my judgment to inform you 
 of this fact at once." 
 
 " What things, Mr. Gormly? " 
 
 " Indeed, I cannot tell you ; at least not now. A 
 political campaign in some aspects is a terrible 
 thing. Charges are made, accusations are brought, 
 hidden things disclosed, and sometimes the com- 
 plexion of affairs changes in a day." 
 
 " Is some one making charges against you or 
 discovering things about you? " 
 
 " No one. It is not of myself I am thinking." 
 
 " Of whom ! Of what then ? " 
 
 " As I said before," returned the man, " I can 
 say no more. It seems to me that now my honor 
 demands that I put you in possession of the state 
 of my feelings. I am not asking you if you care 
 anything for me. I realize that you could not. 
 It is easy for me to have fallen in love with you, 
 indeed I don't see how I could have helped it; but 
 the case with you is different. I think I am per- 
 haps a man who might win a woman's affection; 
 but it would never come spontaneously. I would 
 have to show what was in me," he went on, with 
 complete and utter ignorance of the process, which 
 he was keen enough to discover in his own case and 
 stupid enough to know nothing of with regard to 
 womankind. " And I want you to know, what- 
 ever happens in these closing days of the cam- 
 paign, that I do truly and devotedly love you. 
 Great God! Miss Haldane, I haven't used these 
 words to a soul since I was a boy. You can't
 
 A DECLARATION 231 
 
 know what they mean to me, what I would like to 
 have them mean to you. Some day, it may be 
 soon, I shall ask you to be my wife; but now all 
 that I want to impress upon you is that whatever 
 happens to me or anyone, I am pledged to you in 
 my heart forever. Nothing can make any differ- 
 ence in my feelings. You understand that? " 
 
 He turned his head and looked directly at her. 
 Unconsciously he reached his hand out and caught 
 her by the arm. The woman faced him steadily. 
 She did not even make a motion to draw her arm 
 away. 
 
 " I understand entirely," she said. 
 
 " And you you will do you think " 
 He stopped. " No," he said, " I shall stop there, 
 with this moment, with this statement. I ask 
 nothing, I expect nothing, and so far as a man can 
 crush down his own feelings, I hope for nothing. 
 I just want you to know the fact." 
 
 " I know it," was the answer. " Now, you must 
 let me say something. I am, at least I believe my- 
 self to be, absolutely heart free. Sometimes I 
 have thought that what you have said might be 
 true, with regard to your feelings I mean; but I 
 have tried to put it out of my mind. Your dec- 
 laration, therefore, comes to me with a certain 
 measure of surprise. You have not asked me any- 
 thing, and it is just as well that you have not. I 
 think I can say honestly and truthfully that I do 
 not care for you now in the way you seem to care 
 for me."
 
 232 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Seem to care for you," cried the man impul- 
 sively. 
 
 ' The way you do care for me then," returned 
 the woman. 
 
 " That's better." 
 
 " And whether I could care in that way, I don't 
 know; but at least I care for no one else. And 
 while I hold myself as free as the air, when you 
 speak to me again on this subject, I shall at least 
 be ready to hear you." 
 
 " That is all that I can ask." 
 
 " Meanwhile I want to say over and over again 
 how I respect you, how I admire you. The fine 
 life you have lived, the splendid stand you have 
 taken for public right, the crowning of your long 
 and honorable and unblemished career with the 
 success which I think I see before you and with 
 the great opportunity for service, fills me with 
 pride. You have been good enough to say that I 
 had a part in It. There never will be anything in 
 my life of which I shall be more proud than of 
 that, if it should be true." 
 
 " Miss Haldane," said Gormly, " what you say 
 to me is sweeter and more precious than the ac- 
 claim, the applause, the indorsement, of all the 
 rest of the people of New York. As I said, I be- 
 gan this to make myself worthy of you; but I 
 would not be worthy of you, I would not be worth 
 considering in any light, if I did not say to you 
 now that I am carrying it on for the work and for
 
 A DECLARATION 233 
 
 the possibilities that it presents, as well as for 
 you." 
 
 " I believe you," said the woman, " and I am 
 glad to have you say that." 
 
 " Although there is nothing in my life I so covet 
 as you, Miss Haldane," went on the man with the 
 blunt honesty that somehow appealed to the 
 woman much more powerfully than more graceful 
 and romantic wooing, " yet if I had to choose now 
 between you and this great opportunity for service 
 to the people " 
 
 He paused and looked at her again, wondering 
 how she would receive the statement he was deter- 
 mined to make. 
 
 " You would choose the opportunity for serv- 
 ice," interposed the woman quickly. 
 
 " I should have to do so." 
 
 " And you would do well," she said without any 
 mental reservation. Yet there was a little pang 
 of disappointment in her heart at his frank admis- 
 sion, which, if she had stopped to consider it, 
 might have told her more of her true feelings than 
 she had been willing to admit or than he had sus- 
 pected. " I could not respect you," she went on, 
 " if you allowed one woman or anyone to influence 
 you now." 
 
 " And yet you still remain my inspiration," said 
 the man. " Your approbation means more to me 
 than anything or everything else. I don't know 
 what fate has in store for me; but I doubt if I
 
 234 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 shall have another opportunity of the magnitude 
 of that I have enjoyed to-night, and that you were 
 there completes my satisfaction." 
 
 " Mine, too." 
 
 " Yet, there is another thing that I ought to 
 say," continued Gormly and this was the hardest 
 thing he had ever attempted, he thought. " You 
 have spoken of my career, of my long and hon- 
 orable record, of my enblemished reputation. I 
 have to confess to my shame that I am not alto- 
 gether worthy of your confidence." 
 
 " What do you mean? " 
 
 " Ever since I have been in New York, there is 
 no act of my life that I could not tell you myself; 
 but before that " 
 
 1 You were a boy then," said the woman 
 quickly. 
 
 " But I mingled with life in an ugly way." 
 
 " That ride in the snow ? " she whispered, star- 
 ing at him in turn. 
 
 It did not occur to him to lay any emphasis upon 
 or draw any inference from the fact that she had 
 remembered his remarks of several months before. 
 
 " And that other woman, was it she for whom 
 you rode? " she went on. 
 
 " Yes," said he. 
 
 " Did you do anything that makes you un- 
 worthy the respect of " 
 
 " Not anything dishonorable in one sense," an- 
 swered Gormly. " And whatever it was, I have 
 repented of it long since and would have made
 
 A DECLARATION 235 
 
 amends if I could have done so; but Well, if 
 I ever should come to you with that question about 
 being my wife, I will tell you all about it. As it is, 
 I don't want even the faintest shadow of a pre- 
 tense about myself where you are concerned." 
 
 " You were only a boy, as you say, Mr. 
 Gormly," said Miss Haldane after a long pause. 
 " I don't know what it is, nor do I wish to, now. 
 I know what you are, the world knows what you 
 have been since you have been here, and I " 
 She extended her hand to him. " I trust you, I 
 would trust you with anything." 
 
 The man took it in both his own. They were 
 stretching out beyond the city. No one was near. 
 The two in front were busy about their own con- 
 cerns. He bent over and kissed it fervently. 
 
 " I thank you for that," he said simply, as he 
 released it.
 
 BOOK III 
 THE CRUCIAL MOMENTS 
 
 237
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 MRS. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 
 
 * I X HE Haldane family usually partook of 
 * luncheon together. Breakfast was an ir- 
 regular meal taken at different times by different 
 members of the household, and dinner usually 
 brought many engagements which widely sepa- 
 rated them. A few days after the automobile 
 ride, while the excitement over the proposed grant- 
 ing to the Gotham Freight Traction Company of 
 the New York Street Car Company franchise was 
 still at its height, Mr. and Mrs. Haldane and their 
 daughter, after waiting sometime for the arrival 
 of Livingstone Haldane, sat down to luncheon 
 without him. 
 
 The conversation turned, as it usually did, on 
 the campaign. Haldane looked worried. Well 
 he might be! The bold and decisive action of 
 Gormly, his adroitness in wresting the pledge that 
 he had got from the Mayor, the fact that the city 
 was now thoroughly aroused and as never before 
 to the situation, were calculated to increase his 
 anxiety, which had grown with the progress of 
 the campaign. Public sentiment was apparently 
 overwhelmingly against the party in power and 
 the Sachem Society, and while by clever manipula- 
 
 239
 
 240 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 tion the society and its allies had often won out 
 in the face of public opposition, it would be diffi- 
 cult to do so in this instance. The brilliant stroke 
 of Gormly when he offered ten million dollars 
 for the franchise and thereafter compelled Warren 
 to declare the granting of it to depend upon the 
 election had greatly increased the probabilities of 
 defeat. 
 
 There were indications also, which added to 
 Haldane's troubles, that his own connection with 
 the Gotham Freight Traction Company would 
 soon be known, and that there would be disclosed 
 to New York at the same time the operation of 
 that gigantic company, its ramifications, and the 
 control it had of public utilities in every direction. 
 There was only one ray of light in the darkness 
 anywhere, and that at present was scarcely more 
 than a suggestion. Whether anything would 
 come of it or not was yet to be determined. If it 
 did not, the case was almost hopeless. 
 
 It was Eleanor who opened the conversation, 
 after the luncheon had been served and the serv- 
 ants had withdrawn. 
 
 " Father," she said, " I have been thinking for 
 some days now that I ought to tell you something 
 that happened the other night." 
 
 "What night, Eleanor?" 
 
 " The night Mr. Gormly made his famous 
 speech in the City Hall square. You know Liv- 
 ingstone and Louise and I were down there in the 
 car and saw and heard it all."
 
 MRS. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 241 
 
 " Yes," said her father, somewhat bitterly, " it 
 was told to me the next morning that Gormly had 
 spoken from your brother's car and that after it 
 was all over he had ridden away with you two 
 young women." 
 
 "Told to you?" exclaimed his daughter. 
 " Why should you be interested in Mr. Gormly's 
 movements? " 
 
 Haldane saw that he had made a mistake. " I 
 mean," he said quickly, " that I heard of all this 
 from some of those who were present." 
 
 " Eleanor, I am surprised," began Mrs. Hal- 
 dane in her loftiest and most impressive manner, 
 " that you should allow yourself to be mixed up 
 with this ineffable person in any way. It is bad 
 enough to have Livingstone espousing his cause; 
 but to have you associated with him in the public 
 eye, or out of it, is simply preposterous! " 
 
 " Mother! " said Miss Haldane mildly; but the 
 elder woman was not to be stopped. 
 
 " The family has never been allied with trade 
 since it has been settled on Manhattan Island. I 
 am a five-barred Colonial Dame; your father's 
 people are nearly as old; and I say frankly that I 
 do not like your intimacy with this person. Of 
 course Livingstone being a man, it does not make 
 so much difference; but you should be more 
 careful." 
 
 " I think it proper," said Miss Haldane at this 
 juncture, " to inform you that Mr. Gormly told 
 me that he that he cared very much for me."
 
 242 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 "What! " exclaimed both Mr. and Mrs. Hal- 
 dane at the same moment and with one voice. 
 
 The intimation, however, and the feeling ex- 
 pressed in both cases were decidedly different. 
 Both were surprised; but Mrs. Haldane's surprise 
 was lost in indignation. In Haldane's amaze- 
 ment, there was a shade of relief. A possibility 
 instantly leaped into his mind, a possibility that he 
 dared not formulate or give utterance to. It ren- 
 dered him less emphatic, therefore, in his disap- 
 proval. Nothing restrained Mrs. Haldane. 
 
 ' The impudence, the insolence of that man ! " 
 she cried. " It was bad enough to have him as- 
 pire to be Mayor of New York; but that he 
 should have the audacity, the presumption to raise 
 his eyes to you, Eleanor Haldane, is inconceivable ! 
 I trust that you reduced him to his proper position 
 instantly. For one thing, I am glad that he did 
 declare himself; for now the acquaintance will be 
 absolutely ended." 
 
 " He did not ask me to be his wife," returned 
 the daughter quietly. 
 
 " Why, good gracious ! you don't mean to say 
 that he" 
 
 " Eliza," interposed Haldane, " don't be fool- 
 ish. I have no doubt that Mr. Gormly's remarks 
 were entirely proper." 
 
 " Mother ! " exclaimed the girl indignantly. 
 " Of course they were." 
 
 " Well, you said yourself he did not ask you to 
 marry him."
 
 MRS. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 243 
 
 " No," was the hesitating answer. " But he 
 said he intended to do so." 
 
 " I wish he would do it then, and have it over 
 with." 
 
 " My dear wife," said Haldane, " while of 
 course such an alliance is not to be thought of, yet 
 Mr. Gormly, so far as I know, has done no dis- 
 honor to Eleanor by his remark, and " 
 
 " Have you taken leave of your senses, Beek- 
 man Haldane?" cried his wife. "Such a prop- 
 osition as that should be disposed of at once, and I 
 repeat I am sorry that the man hesitated, for what- 
 ever reason I can't imagine, so that the affair 
 might have been conclusively settled." 
 
 " I am not at all sure, mother," answered Miss 
 Haldane, " that it would have been conclusively 
 settled in the way at least you seem to think the 
 only way possible, if he had asked me to be his 
 wife." 
 
 " Eleanor, you could not possibly love this 
 man!" 
 
 " I could do so; but I certainly do not love him 
 now. I certainly respect and admire him, I think 
 he is the leading citizen of New York to-day. If 
 he wins this election and goes on as he should, 
 there is no reason why he should not be President 
 of the United States. I believe it would be easier 
 to be elected to that office than to become Mayor. 
 And while I do not feel toward him as I should 
 toward the man I will someday marry, yet there 
 are many other things in the prospect that allure."
 
 244 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " But you are a Haldane, you are a Stuyvesant, 
 you are " 
 
 " I know, mother, all that my ancestors were. 
 As for myself, I am just an American girl, who 
 likes American men and American institutions, and 
 who is glad to see people do things." 
 
 " I presume," said Haldane, who had said lit- 
 tle but had thought deeply, " that such a proposi- 
 tion, if definitely made, would be made to me." 
 
 " Well then, of course," said his wife, " you 
 will give but one answer." 
 
 " And what would you suggest that should 
 be? " asked Haldane. 
 
 " To show him the door." 
 
 " I hardly think," returned her husband, " that 
 I should be guilty of that discourtesy." 
 
 " There is no use," interposed her daughter, 
 " to discuss the matter any further; for he hasn't 
 asked me, I haven't accepted him. I don't know 
 whether he ever will ask me or not, and until he 
 does why trouble about it ? " 
 
 " I am sure," returned Mrs. Haldane, " that I 
 would never have given it a second thought if I 
 had been certain that you appreciated the obliga- 
 tions of your position. Why, you might be a 
 Duchess or anything else! And yet you are ac- 
 tually hesitating about being the wife of a shop- 
 keeper." 
 
 " No, mother, I am not hesitating about it at 
 all; for, as I have said, he hasn't asked me to be 
 his wife."
 
 MRS. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 245 
 
 " Well, what does he mean then by telling you 
 that he loves you ? Loves ! " sneered the older 
 woman disdainfully. 
 
 " Yes," said her father, " it seems to me a 
 rather remarkable course for a man to address 
 a woman in that way, and yet not complete his 
 proposition." 
 
 " He said that something was impending which 
 made him feel that it was proper to tell me this 
 now." 
 
 " Something impending? " 
 
 " Some sort of disclosure, I inferred," an- 
 swered the girl, " that might affect him or pos- 
 sibly me." 
 
 Haldane started. 
 
 " Well," he said, " I do not quite agree with 
 your mother. There is no insult in the honest 
 affection of any honest man. Of course, it is ab- 
 surd and impossible from one point of view for 
 a man of Mr. Gormly's social rank and position 
 and privileges to dream of aspiring to a family like 
 ours, your mother's and mine, which I may say 
 is quite as good as hers, by the way. But if he 
 approaches you again upon the subject, I wish 
 that you would refer him to me." 
 
 "Father!" 
 
 " Beekman ! " exclaimed the older woman, 
 greatly surprised. " You don't mean " 
 
 " Now, I don't mean anything, except just what 
 I say," answered Haldane decisively. " It is 
 proper that such a proposition should be made to
 
 246 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 me; and in short I very greatly desire to be al- 
 lowed to discuss the matter, if it goes any further, 
 with Mr. Gormly personally." 
 
 Haldane spoke sternly, and his wife at once 
 subsided, as she invariably did when he assumed 
 that mood. Eleanor, however, was not so easily 
 silenced. 
 
 " Of course, in any event you would be con- 
 sulted, father," she said firmly; "but so far as 
 the disposition of my hand goes, that is a matter 
 that concerns my heart, and it is one which, al- 
 though I should be very glad of your counsel and 
 your approval, I shall have to decide myself." 
 
 " Quite so, quite so," said Haldane. " I have 
 no other idea." 
 
 At this moment, which threatened to grow more 
 tense, Livingstone Haldane entered the room. 
 He was greatly perturbed and alarmed. 
 
 " Father," he said abruptly, " I want to see you 
 alone for a moment or two please ! " 
 
 " Have you had your luncheon, Livingstone? " 
 asked his mother. 
 
 "Yes no I don't care anything about it," 
 returned the young man. " I'm too busy and too 
 disturbed for anything of that kind." 
 
 "What has happened?" began Haldane, 
 rising. 
 
 " Why, Mr. Gormly But I would rather 
 see you alone." 
 
 " Has he made a proposition to you for your 
 sister's hand?" questioned Mrs. Haldane.
 
 MRS. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 247 
 
 "What!" exclaimed her son. 
 
 " Eleanor," explained his mother, " has just 
 stated that Mr. Gormly took advantage of your 
 kindness to him the other night, after that dis- 
 graceful episode in the City Hall, to make love 
 to her in the tonneau of the car." 
 
 "You don't say!" exclaimed the young man, 
 apparently neither shocked nor surprised. " Well, 
 he's a good one. What did you say to him, sis ? " 
 
 " It is very unpleasant to me to have these mat- 
 ters discussed in this way," answered Eleanor, her 
 face flushing. " As I have explained to father 
 and mother, Mr. Gormly did me the honor to 
 say that he cared a great deal for me. He did 
 not ask me to be his wife, although he expressed 
 his intention of doing so. He said that certain 
 things had made him anticipate his purpose and 
 state his feelings toward me now without waiting, 
 as he had expected to do, until the end of the 
 election." 
 
 "What things?" asked young Haldane. 
 " Things that concerned him, or " 
 
 " I don't know what they are." 
 
 " Well, I think I do," returned the young man. 
 
 "What are they?" his sister asked him with 
 great eagerness. 
 
 But young Haldane was not quite prepared to 
 declare what things they were. 
 
 " On second thoughts," he said, evasively " I 
 don't know. At any rate I want to talk some 
 matters over with father."
 
 248 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Financial matters, my boy? " 
 
 " Political." 
 
 " Very well. If your mother and sister will 
 excuse us, we will go into the library." 
 
 " Certainly," answered Mrs. Haldane, making 
 virtue of necessity. 
 
 " If they concern me or my relation to Mr. 
 Gormly," said Eleanor, " I should like to know 
 them immediately." 
 
 " They concern us all," he answered. " And, 
 by the way," he added, " I was going to withhold 
 it ; but I might as well give it to you now. Here's 
 a letter to you from Mr. Gormly. He asked me 
 to give it to you when I saw you. I was going 
 to talk to father about this other matter before 
 I gave it to you; but you can read it over while 
 we are gone." 
 
 " The impudence of that man, saying he loves 
 you one day and writing to you another! " ex- 
 claimed Mrs. Haldane, as the father and son left 
 the room. 
 
 " What was it you wished to say to me, Living- 
 stone? " began the older man as they entered the 
 library. 
 
 " Father," returned his son with bewildering 
 abruptness, " I learned at headquarters to-day that 
 you were the head and front of the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company and all the rotten lot 
 against whom we are fighting." 
 
 The expected had happened, but Haldane met 
 it directly and like a man. For all his excite-
 
 MRS. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 249 
 
 ment he faced his son with a manner much more 
 composed and equally as firm as that in which the 
 young man was at the time. Indeed the son could 
 not but admire the bearing of the father in the 
 face of this, to him, crushing revelation. 
 
 " From whom did you learn this? " asked the 
 older man quietly. 
 
 " From Gormly himself." 
 
 " Does anybody else know it? " 
 
 " It isn't generally known, if that's what you 
 mean. It hasn't got in the papers yet. The peo- 
 ple who found it out, of course, told Gormly, and 
 he came to me with it. He said that I had been 
 one of his best and most useful helpers in this 
 campaign; that he valued my assistance most 
 highly " 
 
 " Eliminate all that, my dear boy," said the 
 father, " and come to the point." 
 
 " I am coming to it. He said that as his fight 
 was against the Gotham Freight Traction Com- 
 pany, and in that respect against you, he supposed 
 I would want to draw out of it, and he would 
 give me an opportunity, so that I could leave hon- 
 orably before the news became public." 
 
 " And what did you say? " 
 
 " I said I'd come right up here and find out 
 the true facts in the case from you." 
 
 " And suppose that I am er interested in 
 the traction company?" 
 
 "To what extent are you interested?" asked 
 the younger man.
 
 250 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 He had all his father's directness when his feel- 
 ings were aroused as in this case, and he put the 
 question straight at him. 
 
 '' Well, that was not the question I asked you." 
 
 " But it is the question with me, father." 
 
 u I recognize no right that you have to put 
 such questions to me." 
 
 " I may not have any right; but I am doing it 
 just the same. I know and we all know just what 
 the Gotham Freight Traction Company is. Its 
 ramifications have been followed out and discov- 
 ered. We know that it holds nearly every public 
 franchise. We know that it is the financial backer 
 of the Sachem Society. We know that it is hand 
 in glove with the administration. We know that 
 it is robbing the people. And for that reason I 
 want to know how deeply you are interested in it." 
 
 " Go back to Gormly and find out ! " thundered 
 his father, intensely angered at the young man's 
 scathing denunciation. 
 
 " No, sir, I'm going to find it out from you 
 before I leave this room." 
 
 " Do you threaten me? " 
 
 " I entreat you to tell me. You might as well. 
 It is to be published in every paper in the city to- 
 morrow. The articles are all written. I saw 
 them. I've got Gormly to hold them back until 
 I could see you. If you don't tell me, you'll have 
 a chance to deny perhaps a great deal more than 
 you want to or are able to-morrow morning." 
 The situation was a terrible one for the older
 
 MRS. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 251 
 
 man. Under ordinary circumstances, he would 
 not have greatly cared if his connection with the 
 Gotham Freight Traction Company and the ad- 
 ministration had gradually leaked out; but to 
 have it sprung as a trap, without warning, on the 
 instant as it were, and at this stage of the cam- 
 paign, was ruinous. Haldane appreciated the ef- 
 fect it would have upon the political fortunes of 
 his party, upon his financial interests, upon the 
 election; most of all he appreciated the effect it 
 would have upon his daughter. At his son's 
 blunt announcement of his determination to know 
 all then and there, he lost for the moment his 
 nerve, his fine self control and he went suddenly 
 white. The two men had been standing. The 
 elder sat down upon a chair by the desk and 
 leaned his head upon his hands. 
 
 " Let me think," he said faintly at last. 
 
 " You don't have to think," went on the young 
 man with unconscious cruelty, " to say how deeply 
 you are involved in the affairs of the Gotham 
 Freight Traction Company." 
 
 " As deeply as anybody can be," was the des- 
 perate admission. 
 
 "Good God!" exclaimed Livingstone, sur- 
 prised in spite of his forewarning. " You ! It 
 isn't possible. I saw the proofs with my own 
 eyes, and yet I wouldn't believe that you would 
 ally yourself with that gang of thieves and 
 scoundrels." 
 
 " Somebody had to take that franchise and
 
 252 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 build that road," answered his father. " We are 
 giving the people good service, and " 
 
 " Don't make excuses," said the young man, 
 brushing them away with a wave of his hand. 
 " How on earth are we going to explain the facts? 
 What will Eleanor think? " 
 
 " You have influence with Gormly," said the 
 father. " Go to him. Tell him that I must see 
 him and at once. Can you bring him here? " 
 
 " Well, he's watched like a hawk," said young 
 Haldane. " Your dirty crowd has detectives on 
 his trail all over New York. If he came up here, 
 it would be reported in every paper in the city to- 
 night and to-morrow morning." 
 
 " You took him away with you once. You 
 must get me an interview with him immediately." 
 
 "What are you going to do? What are you 
 going to say to him? " 
 
 " Never mind that. I must see him." 
 
 " Look here, father. I am not mixed up with 
 the Gotham Freight Traction Company and that 
 gang that you're allied with, and I don't intend 
 to be involved in any schemes you may undertake 
 to get Gormly in trouble." 
 
 " I don't intend to make any trouble. I must 
 see the man, and you must arrange it. Come, are 
 you my son, or are you not? " 
 
 " I am your son all right," answered the 
 younger man ; " but I tell you frankly that I have 
 cast in my lot with Gormly and this isn't going
 
 MRS. HALDANE IS SURPRISED 253 
 
 to make any difference. Perhaps we can stave 
 this off or " 
 
 " At any rate I must see Gormly, and you must 
 help me. For God's sake, don't stand there ar- 
 guing with me, but arrange in some way to bring 
 Gormly and me together secretly and without 
 delay!" 
 
 " Let me think a minute," said the younger 
 man at last, impressed by his father's terrible in- 
 sistence. " I have it. The car is at the door 
 fortunately. I'll run down and tell Gormly you 
 want to see him about this cursed business. I 
 don't know whether I can persuade him to meet 
 you or not; but I'll do my best. Then you go 
 over to Louise Stewart's at once. She's true blue 
 and won't betray you. Her mother is away, and 
 she'll be alone except for the servants. You have 
 nothing to fear from them. I will get Gormly 
 there by some means, and then you can see him. 
 I'll telephone you there." 
 
 " Hurry then, and don't tell your sister or your 
 mother anything of this," said Haldane as he rose 
 to end the interview. 
 
 " No fear of that. I am not likely to proclaim 
 it," answered his son shamefacedly.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE DESPERATE POSITION OF HALDANE 
 
 A T this crucial moment there was a knock on 
 '' ^ the door. Bidden to enter, Eleanor came in, 
 followed by her mother. 
 
 " Father," she said, proffering him an open let- 
 ter, " the emergency which we discussed has come 
 upon us sooner than we anticipated." 
 
 The girl was very nervous and excited, her 
 hands trembled as she held out the paper. 
 
 " What! What do you mean? " gasped Hal- 
 dane, his own agitation not less evident. 
 
 Could it be possible that his daughter had al- 
 ready heard of this revelation? 
 
 " Here is the letter from Mr. Gormly, which 
 Livingstone just brought me, in which he formally 
 asks me to be his wife." 
 
 " By Jove ! " exclaimed young Haldane, " that's 
 fine of him ! " 
 
 " How can you say that when " protested his 
 mother vehemently. 
 
 " Give the letter to me," interrupted Haldane, 
 waving her peremptorily aside. " I shall see Mr. 
 Gormly in half an hour." 
 
 " What answer shall you give him, sis? " asked 
 her brother, intensely interested. 
 
 254
 
 DESPERATE POSITION OF HALDANE 255 
 
 " I haven't made any yet," was the reply. 
 " But I can only repeat what I said the other 
 night: that while I respect and admire Mr. Gormly 
 exceedingly, I do not love him." 
 
 " At least," questioned the older Haldane, 
 "you don't dislike him, do you?" 
 
 "Dislike him, father? Not at all. I have 
 just said " 
 
 " Well, give me the letter then, and " 
 
 At this moment the footman, bowing before 
 the open door, entered. " Beg pardon, sir," he 
 said, " but a party by the name of Liffey is wait- 
 ing outside to see you." 
 
 "Which Liffey?" asked young Haldane. 
 
 " He says as how his name is Charles, sir," an- 
 swered the footman. 
 
 "Charley Liffey!" exclaimed the son of the 
 house. ' What is he doing here now? " 
 
 " Why," said Eleanor in great surprise, " that 
 is the Grand Chief of the Sachem Society and the 
 most notorious " 
 
 " Yes, yes. I know," interposed Haldane 
 quickly. " You will kindly leave me for a few 
 moments, all of you. Where is Mr. Liffey?" 
 
 " I've got him waiting in the hall, sir." 
 
 " Tell him I will see him here. Livingstone, 
 do you carry out my injunctions at once. Eleanor, 
 say nothing to Mr. Gormly about this proposition 
 until I have seen him. Now leave me." 
 
 " But, Beekman " began Mrs. Haldane. 
 
 " Father ! " protested his daughter.
 
 256 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Eliza," said her husband, " not another word! 
 Eleanor, I am tried now beyond endurance. 
 Please go ! " 
 
 When Liffey entered the library, now empty 
 of all its former occupants save the elder Haldane, 
 he confronted a very agitated and very angry man. 
 
 " Do you know what's up now, Liffey? " was 
 the question that was hurled at him. 
 
 " Do I know what's up? Well about the best 
 news that we could hear is up." 
 
 " You regard it that way, do you ? Well, I 
 don't." 
 
 ; ' What do you mean? " 
 
 " Why, Gormly has discovered my connection 
 with the Gotham Freight Traction Company and 
 the close alliance that exists between the Sachem 
 Society and the corporation, and all the rest of it." 
 
 " The devil you say ! " cried Liffey. 
 
 " It's so, and he has it all ready to publish to- 
 morrow morning." 
 
 " Well, that's bad," returned the boss; " but it 
 might be worse. The quieter these things are 
 managed, the better; but still it ain't so bad as it 
 might be. You see it was bound to come out 
 sooner or later, and " 
 
 " My dear man, you don't understand the im- 
 portance of this matter. For the Gotham Freight 
 Traction Company to be found to be in close al- 
 liance with the Sachem Society and with the ad- 
 ministration will lose us the election, and then the
 
 DESPERATE POSITION OF HALDANE 257 
 
 New York Traction Company franchise goes, 
 and" 
 
 " Well, just wait a bit, Mr. Haldane. Things 
 ain't so black as they seem. I've got a little piece 
 of news that'll discount yours all hollow." 
 
 "And what is that, pray? It was a fearfully 
 risky thing, by the way, for you to come here to 
 my house in broad daylight." 
 
 " Oh, we can afford to risk things now." 
 
 " You take it mighty coolly. What have you 
 learned?" 
 
 " It's this," said Liffey, coming closer and sink- 
 ing his voice to a whisper lest he should be over- 
 heard by any one. 
 
 A look of relief spread over Haldane's face as 
 he listened to Liffey's communication. " Are you 
 sure of it? " 
 
 " All but sure of it. We'll know definitely in 
 two days. Men are verifyin' the tale, and Con- 
 nell and I are expectin' a telegram any time. 
 There's no doubt about it, though. It's a sure 
 thing. All you've got to do now is to keep this 
 revelation you're tellin' me about out of the pa- 
 pers for two days, and then they can talk their 
 mouths off. It won't affect us a bit. Can you 
 doit?" 
 
 "It is barely possible that I may be able to 
 keep the thing quiet for that length of time. 
 Especially in view of what you have just told me." 
 
 " That's up to you. As for myself, my reputa-
 
 253 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 tion has always been pretty good in this com- 
 munity, and I guess I could stand the knowledge 
 of my intimate relations with your company be- 
 in' spread abroad." 
 
 " But I can't, I tell you." 
 
 " Look here, Mr. Haldane," said Liffey, his 
 fat, smooth, babyish pink face flushing with anger, 
 " you're not reflectin' on us men of the Sachem 
 Society, are you ? " 
 
 " No, no, certainly not," answered Haldane 
 quickly; " But I am viewing the effect of the dis- 
 closure on the campaign. You see, we got it 
 hard enough when Gormly made that fool War- 
 ren promise to let the election determine the grant- 
 ing of the New York Traction Company fran- 
 chise." 
 
 " I don't think much of Warren as a rule, Mr. 
 Haldane," said Liffey; "but he done the right 
 thing there. It was a fine stroke of politics. All 
 we've got to do now is to win the election." 
 
 " Yes, I know ; but can we do it ? " 
 
 " With what I've just told you, we can ; pro- 
 vided you can hold off this disclosure for two 
 days longer." 
 
 " I'll do it," answered Haldane resolutely, "if 
 it kills me. I have an appointment, or at least 
 I expect to have one, to see Gormly inside of an 
 hour, and I must go now. You will excuse me ? " 
 
 " Certainly. I only came up here to tell you 
 that" 
 
 " But wasn't it frightfully dangerous ? "
 
 DESPERATE POSITION OF HALDANE 259 
 
 " Lord, no ! We've got every detective in the 
 city campin' on Gormly's trail. There ain't none 
 left but amachoors, and I don't care a damn for 
 their efforts." 
 
 " Very well. But it won't do for us to be 
 seen leaving together." 
 
 " No. I've got a hansom out here, and I'll go 
 first." 
 
 " Very good." 
 
 " Will you let me know as soon as you can 
 what's goin' to happen about this disclosure? " 
 
 " Certainly. I will telephone you to-night." 
 
 " Be sure and use the private signal." 
 
 " Of course. And if necessary I will see you 
 at the usual place." 
 
 Haldane named an unsuspicious office easily ac- 
 cessible from Sachem Hall, in which in emergen- 
 cies the leaders sometimes met. 
 
 " All right. Keep a stiff upper lip, Mr. Hal- 
 dane. We're goin' to win the biggest victory 
 against the biggest enemy that New York has ever 
 seen, you mark me. Goodby." 
 
 In half an hour Haldane, in answer to a tele- 
 phone message from his son, was bowling along 
 upper Fifth Avenue in his own electric toward 
 the Stewart home. Miss Stewart herself ad- 
 mitted him. She had been warned of his arrival 
 and had been watching for him. 
 
 " Yes," she said in answer to his eager ques- 
 tion, " Mr. Gormly is here. Livingstone brought 
 him. I was just coming into the house, so I let
 
 260 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 them in myself. No one knows that he is here 
 or that you have come. How delightfully mys- 
 terious it is! Is it a conspiracy? What does it 
 mean? " 
 
 " Is Livingstone here also? " 
 
 " Yes. He is in the small drawing room with 
 Mr. Gormly." 
 
 " I want you to amuse him while I talk with 
 Mr. Gormly. Don't let anyone disturb us." 
 
 " Not for the world," said the girl, throwing 
 open the door of the little reception room as she 
 spoke. " Here is Mr. Haldane, Mr. Gormly. 
 Livingstone, you are to come with me." 
 
 " I intend to be present," answered Living- 
 stone Haldane firmly, " at this interview." 
 
 " You will pardon me," said his father with 
 equal resolution, " but I intend to see Mr. Gormly 
 alone." 
 
 " Go, Haldane," said Gormly. " If there is 
 anything that you ought to know, I will tell you 
 what it is later." 
 
 "But I would" 
 
 " Livingstone," said Miss Stewart, " this is very 
 ungallant and unkind toward me." 
 
 " Your father and I both wish to be alone," 
 said Gormly sternly, whereat the young man, with 
 very bad grace be it admitted, retired and shut 
 the door. 
 
 Gormly waited for the older man to begin. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," said Haldane at last, " my son 
 has told me that you have discovered my connec-
 
 DESPERATE POSITION OF HALDANE 261 
 
 tion with the Gotham Freight Traction Com- 
 pany." 
 
 " I told him so this afternoon." 
 
 "Why did you tell him?" 
 
 11 To give him an opportunity to withdraw from 
 his association with me before I published the 
 story of the corrupt corporation, and because I 
 have a sort of chivalrous, old fashioned feeling 
 that compels me to warn you of what I am going 
 to do before I do it." 
 
 " I need not ask you how you found it out or 
 who betrayed us." 
 
 " Nobody betrayed you, sir. I have had some 
 of the ablest men in the United States investigat- 
 ing the affairs of the corporation so far as it could 
 be done, and it was inevitable that they should 
 discover your connection with it and much of the 
 history of its dealings. I wonder you ever ex- 
 pected to keep it a secret." 
 
 " I never did. I never made any secret of it, 
 or would not have made any if this New York 
 Traction Company franchise had been granted; 
 but now " 
 
 " Now, sir, it is too late to discuss what you 
 would have done." 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," said Haldane, " you this day 
 addressed my daughter and asked her to be your 
 wife?" 
 
 " I did, sir." 
 
 "Why to-day?" 
 
 " Because I intended all along to do so, and I
 
 262 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 preferred to do it now rather than after the pub- 
 lication of the news that will be made to-morrow. 
 I shall repeat my offer to-morrow." 
 
 " And you wish to marry her? " 
 
 " It is it was the dearest wish of my 
 heart." 
 
 "Was, sir?" 
 
 ' Yes, and so far as I am individually con- 
 cerned it still remains so; but there are things 
 higher than our own personal wishes, Mr. Hal- 
 dane, as I have been finding out, and to be Mayor 
 of New York for the^purpose of serving the peo- 
 ple is now my chief ambition." 
 
 " But you love my daughter, I understood her 
 to say." 
 
 " She could not possibly say how much I care 
 for her, or how proud I should be to make her 
 my wife." 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," said Haldane, lowering his 
 voice and looking about him, " it is not beyond 
 possibility that your desires in that direction might 
 be gratified." 
 
 " Do you carry a message to me from Miss 
 Haldane?" 
 
 " No, not exactly. She, however, placed the 
 matter in my hands. I have your letter here." 
 He drew it forth. " And, in short, it is possible 
 that she might be induced to favor your suit. Of 
 course," he added very slowly in a mere whisper 
 during which he kept his eyes carefully averted
 
 DESPERATE POSITION OF HALDANE 263 
 
 from the other man's face. " You will under- 
 stand that if you were a party to this er 
 revelation to which you have alluded, that would 
 render any alliance impossible." 
 
 " You say," asked Gormly slowly, " that Miss 
 Haldane is not privy to your decision, that you do 
 not make this proposition by her authority?" 
 
 " Certainly not. She knows nothing about it; 
 but I am sure that with my wish and your own 
 determined and er most agreeable person- 
 ality, the matter can be brought about," he paused, 
 significantly, " on conditions," he added. 
 
 " What conditions ? " 
 
 " I leave that to your own perspicacity." 
 
 "By the living God!" burst out Gormly, 
 furiously throwing off all restraint in his indigna- 
 tion and resentment, " if I treated you rightly, I 
 would kick you out of the house. I would expose 
 you not merely for your connection with that 
 thieving octopus but as a father who tried to bar- 
 ter his daughter to secure his own immunity." 
 
 "Sir, sir!" exclaimed Haldane furiously, but 
 Gormly was not to be interrupted now. 
 
 " I love your daughter in ways that I doubt you 
 are able to understand; but I would not take her on 
 such conditions as those you mean me to infer, I 
 would not degrade her by thinking of her on such 
 terms, even if I lost her forever. I am unworthy 
 of her enough now, God knows! but I would be 
 so far beneath her under such circumstances that
 
 264 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 I could not even look at her again. I don't 
 understand how she could have been born of such 
 a father." 
 
 " I will not be talked to in that manner by you, 
 sir," cried Haldane, who did not lack courage. 
 " I here and now definitely decline your proposal 
 for my daughter's hand." 
 
 " I will take that declination from her, and from 
 no one else ! " said Gormly. 
 
 " She will repeat it, I am sure, if she hears with 
 what insolence you have treated me." 
 
 " And I pray to God for the sake of her love 
 toward you and her respect toward you that she 
 may never hear one word of what you have said. 
 I have had enough of this interview, Mr. Hal- 
 dane." 
 
 He turned to the door. 
 
 "Wait!" said Haldane. 
 
 " To hear another infamous proposition from 
 you?" 
 
 " No, sir. But I have something more to say, 
 and it is this. You are not so invulnerable your- 
 self, sir, but that you might be glad for a little 
 judicious silence." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " Never mind what I mean. You publish what 
 you have there at your peril ! I warn you that in 
 two days thereafter, your name will ring as a 
 scoundrel and a blackguard throughout the 
 United States." 
 
 " Having tried bribery and failed, you now re*
 
 DESPERATE POSITION OF HALDANE 265 
 
 sort to threats," said Gormly. " But that you 
 are her father " 
 
 He clenched his fist, stood staring a minute, then 
 shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and turned 
 away. 
 
 "You won't be warned then?" said Haldane. 
 
 " Not by you." 
 
 "And you intend to publish my connection?" 
 
 " Everywhere." 
 
 " I shall tell Eleanor that you have done it." 
 
 " I shall tell her myself," returned Gormly, 
 tearing open the door. " Haldane," he called, as 
 he stepped into the hall. When the young man 
 presented himself, he thus addressed him, " Your 
 father and I have had a rather painful interview, 
 into the details of which it is not necessary to 
 enter. I have only to say that the story I told 
 you goes to the newspapers to-night. And now," 
 he held out his hand, " good-by. I wish that we 
 might have fought together until the end." 
 
 " But we are going to fight together until the 
 end," cried the young man fiercely. " I love my 
 father, and until now I have always respected him. 
 I have been content to follow his lead; but I can 
 do so no longer. My money is my own. It 
 came from my grandfather. I am beholden to 
 my father for nothing. Right is right, and a 
 man's got to do what is right if all the fathers 
 on earth stand between." 
 
 " v You will both of you live to regret it," cried 
 old Haldane after a bitter look at the pair. With
 
 2 66 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 his head high he marched out through the door. 
 " Do your worst! " he said ere he closed it be- 
 hind him. " You will see what will happen to 
 you in a day or two ! " 
 
 He certainly bore himself well in defeat and 
 impending disaster, thought Gormly, with a flicker 
 of admiration for the older man's courage. 
 
 "What does it mean?" asked Miss Stewart. 
 
 " It means," said Livingstone, " that my father 
 is tangled up with a gang of scoundrels ; that he is 
 the brain and backbone of the Gotham Freight 
 Traction Company that we are fighting; and that 
 he is in close alliance with the Sachem Society. It 
 means that we my family and I are dis- 
 honored. It means that I no longer have the 
 right to ask you what I had intended to ask you 
 when the campaign was over and we had won, to 
 be my wife." 
 
 "Are you asking me now?" cried Miss Stew- 
 art ecstatically. 
 
 " I would be if it was proper." 
 
 " It is proper," she said, blushing divinely. 
 
 " You don't mean " 
 
 " You goose ! " said the girl, " I don't love 
 your father or your family." 
 
 Here Gormly turned and went into the draw- 
 ing room again. When he came back, which 
 he did not do until summoned by Miss Stewart 
 herself, he confronted the blushing pair. 
 
 " You could not have chosen a truer, better 
 man than Mr. Haldane," he said. " And as for
 
 DESPERATE POSITION OF HALDANE 267 
 
 you, Haldane, you are the luckiest man on earth." 
 
 He sighed with envy and regret as he spoke. 
 
 " I want to do something for you now," said 
 young Haldane. 
 
 " Well, there is one thing you can do for me." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " I want to see your sister, and immediately." 
 
 " I will have her here in ten minutes," answered 
 the young man, tearing himself away from Miss 
 Stewart without another word. 
 
 " And will you leave me alone in the drawing 
 room until that time comes, my dear young lady? " 
 asked Gormly, also turning away.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 GORMLY RESISTS HIS GREATEST TEMPTATION 
 
 A^ORMLY had faced many difficult situa- 
 ^*-* tions in his life. Even his successful busi- 
 ness career had confronted him with crises of mo- 
 ment. But he had never contemplated anything 
 which imposed so hard a task upon his judgment 
 and his feelings as the approaching interview. 
 What means young Haldane would take to in- 
 duce his sister to come with him, how much of 
 what had transpired he would tell her, Gormly 
 had no means of knowing of course; but he felt 
 confident that by hook or crook the young woman 
 would be produced, and that a few minutes would 
 find him face to face with her. 
 
 He did not in the least know how to begin or 
 what to say, and the more he thought of it the 
 more difficult became the situation. He felt like 
 a man who has found a pearl of great price which 
 he would fain claim for himself, only to be 
 confronted with an imperious demand from a 
 power that he could not control that he must 
 throw it aside; nay more, that he must cast it 
 down and trample it under foot. He knew that 
 he had to choose between his love and his duty, 
 between the dearest wish of his heart and the 
 
 268
 
 GORMLY RESISTS TEMPTATION 269 
 
 right course; that there would be made upon him 
 a demand for sacrifice almost greater than mortal 
 could bear; that the consequences would not be 
 merely personal to himself, he could have faced 
 those with more philosophy, but that they would 
 be terribly crushing to the being above all others 
 dear to him. 
 
 It was well that the time for reflection was 
 short. It is better for a man who has to do 
 great things to do them before the mental and 
 spiritual enemy has time to instil doubts into the 
 mind. And it was with a feeling of relief in his 
 growing apprehension and misery, therefore, that 
 he heard the front door open. He heard voices 
 that he knew in the hall, and in another moment 
 the library door was opened and Miss Haldane 
 entered the room alone. He had risen on her 
 approach and stood confronting her. She was 
 evidently greatly surprised. 
 
 " I did not know you were here," she began. 
 " Livingstone did not tell me. I did not expect " 
 
 " It was to see me, or rather that I might see 
 you, that you were brought here, and I alone am 
 responsible." 
 
 " It is a most extraordinary proceeding," said 
 the girl nervously. " I can't imagine why I was 
 brought to you." 
 
 " It was necessary for me to see you," returned 
 the man. 
 
 " Then why didn't you come to my house? " 
 
 " I could not."
 
 270 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " There are reasons which will probably render 
 me forever an unwelcome visitor to your house." 
 
 " I know, political reasons ; but they have no 
 effect upon me." 
 
 " I am afraid that they will have an effect upon 
 you, Miss Haldane, and because of that fear I 
 have ventured upon this unusual course, for which 
 I tender you my sincerest apologies." 
 
 " I believe," said the girl slowly, " that some- 
 thing very serious must have happened, or you 
 would not have had me brought here." 
 
 " Something serious has happened, or is about 
 to happen." 
 
 " And that being the case, these others mat- 
 ters are of trivial importance. Will you tell me 
 what you want? " 
 
 ' You might reasonably suppose that I might 
 want an answer to my letter." 
 
 Eleanor started to speak; but he checked her. 
 
 " I can't imagine, of course, that your feelings 
 toward me have changed in the least degree in 
 the short time that has elapsed since I told you 
 that I loved you." 
 
 " I don't know what my feelings are," said the 
 girl frankly ; " but I don't think they have greatly 
 changed." 
 
 "Of course not. How could they?" 
 
 " And with that knowledge, why did you make 
 me a formal offer of yourself, why did you ask 
 me to be your wife? "
 
 GORMLY RESISTS TEMPTATION 271 
 
 " I was in honor bound to do so." 
 
 " In honor? " 
 
 " You know, of course, that it is the dearest 
 wish of my heart, and that were circumstances 
 other than they are, I should have waited a more 
 fitting season to have begged you to marry me; 
 but something is about to happen which would 
 perhaps render it impossible for me to approach 
 you. If that was the case, I wanted you to feel 
 that I was wholly and entirely devoted to you 
 personally; that nothing could make any differ- 
 ence; that I had placed my fate, my life, my fu- 
 ture, in your hands." 
 
 " Why should anything make any difference ? " 
 asked the girl. " Why should you make this 
 profession to me now rather than at some other 
 time? What is going to happen?" 
 
 " I can scarcely bear to tell you." 
 
 " But you have called me here for that very 
 purpose, have you not? " 
 
 " I have." 
 
 " And you think it your duty to tell me? " 
 
 " I am sure of it." 
 
 " Then it is not like you to hesitate over your 
 duty," was the quick answer. 
 
 " Ah, but when duty involves us in differences 
 with those we love, when the hand that would fain 
 support must strike the blow, it isn't so easy." 
 
 " You alarm me beyond measure ! " cried the 
 girl, pressing her hands to her breast as if to still 
 its wild throbbing. " You must not keep me in
 
 272 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 suspense any longer! What is it that you have 
 to tell me? What is it that is likely to come be- 
 tween us? " 
 
 " Before I tell you anything, will you give me 
 an answer to my question? " 
 
 " You are entitled to it, and you shall have it. 
 As I said, I like you, I respect you, I believe I care 
 more for you than any man I know; but I don't 
 love you yet. I don't feel it here. I can't prom- 
 ise to be your wife. It wouldn't be fair to you. 
 You are entitled to more than I can give. Some 
 day perhaps, I don't know; but now I must de- 
 cline. I admire you, as I have said, more than 
 any man I ever saw. I think you are the finest 
 man in the United States to-day, the noblest, the 
 best, the truest; but " 
 
 " I am none of these things," said the man 
 quickly. "If you had said yes, I should have 
 been compelled to show you that I was not. But 
 that is neither here nor there. You have given 
 me my answer, and I take it like a man." 
 
 " I am very sorry," said the girl. " And now 
 what have you to say to me? " 
 
 " This," responded Gormly, handing her a few 
 typewritten sheets of paper. 
 
 "Am I to read this?" she asked, taking it 
 from him and looking very straight at him. 
 
 He was very pale now and she was scarcely 
 less white. 
 
 " Wait! " said the man, as she lifted the paper
 
 GORMLY RESISTS TEMPTATION* 273 
 
 and bent her head. " Perhaps it would be more 
 merciful to tell you." 
 
 ' Just as you think best. I am a strong 
 woman. I can bear anything. Is it about," 
 there was a long pause, " my father? " 
 
 He nodded his head. 
 
 "What has he done?" 
 
 Gormly hesitated, trembled, would have been 
 lost. 
 
 " Give me back the paper! " he cried hoarsely. 
 
 " No," said the woman, thrusting it behind her. 
 " I must know what you have to tell me." 
 
 She stood very straight. She faced him very 
 boldly. 
 
 " Miss Haldane," he began, " I say to you 
 quite simply that I would rather be dead than 
 stand here as I do now with the burden of telling 
 you that your father is the head and front, the 
 backbone, the brains, the genius, the everything, 
 of the Gotham Freight Traction Company and 
 the Sachem Society." 
 
 "My God!" exclaimed Miss Haldane, the 
 paper dropping from her fingers to the floor. 
 
 She was paler than ever. She stared at him 
 almost in dumb incomprehension. Her body 
 swayed slightly. Gormly stepped closer to her, 
 seized her gently, supported her to a chair by the 
 library table. She put her face in her hands and 
 rocked to and fro silently. 
 
 " It can't be true," she said at last. " You are 
 mistaken. Surely not my father in that sink of
 
 274 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 corruption and bribery and iniquity and shame! 
 Say it isn't true ! " 
 
 " I wish to heaven I could say it ; but " The 
 man shook his head. " I told you that I would 
 rather have been dead than have brought this upon 
 you." 
 
 * You are not to blame," answered the woman, 
 her sense of justice uppermost. " It is the fact 
 itself that kills, if it be a fact. There must be 
 some mistake." 
 
 " I wish there was." 
 
 " Are you sure absolutely? " 
 
 " Your father confessed it here in this room a 
 half-hour ago." 
 
 " Why do you tell me of it? " 
 
 " Because," was the answer, " the whole world 
 has to know it, and I preferred to tell you myself 
 rather than let you get it from the newspapers." 
 
 " You are going to publish it? " 
 
 " To-morrow morning." 
 
 "But why why?" 
 
 She threw up her arms in nervous appeal. 
 
 " Think," said the man, " it is the one fact that 
 makes my election certain." 
 
 " And does your ambition run to the wrecking 
 of my father's good name in order that you may 
 be elected?" 
 
 " No. If you will think, you will know that 
 it does not. I am doing it for the sake of honor, 
 for the sake of duty, for the sake of humanity,"
 
 GORMLY RESISTS TEMPTATION 275 
 
 he paused and raised his own hand. " So help 
 me God! " he cried with upturned face. 
 
 " But is it necessary? " 
 
 " Absolutely." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " The cause of popular government is being 
 fought out right here. The contest transcends in 
 importance any political battle that has ever been 
 waged. If the government of and for and by 
 the people is to be a success, we have to demon- 
 strate it now or else go down, it may be forever. 
 The people have a right to know what is back 
 of the Sachem Society, where it gets its enormous 
 corruption fund. I should be a traitor, false to 
 my duty, a betrayer, if I did not make public this 
 knowledge that has come to me." 
 
 " I see." 
 
 " And you believe, don't you, won't you, that 
 it is the hardest thing that has ever been laid upon 
 me to bring shame upon you through your father, 
 to plunge you in disgrace? I would cut my arms 
 off for you, if I could save you thereby. But in 
 this case, I am absolutely helpless." 
 
 The girl nodded her head. " Will you let me 
 see the paper? " she asked. 
 
 Gormly stooped, picked it up, spread it before 
 her, and turned away. The letters danced be- 
 fore her eyes so that she could scarcely read; but 
 by an immense effort at concentration she finally 
 mastered the contents of the brief but damning
 
 276 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 document. It was clearly and succinctly ex- 
 pressed; but it told the story with sufficient am- 
 plitude. Citations and proofs accompanied it 
 No one could possibly doubt its accuracy. There 
 were no personal reflections upon anyone, she 
 realized, and for that she had a little flash of 
 gratitude in her heart. The story itself was al- 
 lowed to condemn. She read it through several 
 times, Gormly respecting her silence absolutely. 
 
 ' It is all true," she said at last. " You say my 
 father was here?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "He was very much agitated at some news 
 that my brother brought him a short time ago. 
 Does Livingstone know ? " 
 
 " He does. I told him." 
 
 14 Why?" 
 
 'To give him an opportunity to withdraw 
 from association with us in view of this attack." 
 
 14 And what did he decide ? " 
 
 " He decided to stay with me." 
 
 " And this is why you made me that offer of 
 marriage now rather than later?" 
 
 1 Yes. I wanted you to feel, after you had 
 this news, that while I alone knew it, I paid you 
 the highest compliment that I could think of; 
 that my heart was irrevocably pledged to you 
 whatever was to happen." 
 
 'That was kind of you. You have always 
 been kind to me."

 
 GORMLY RESISTS TEMPTATION 277 
 
 " I don't see how you can say so after this." 
 He pointed to the paper. 
 
 " This," she replied, her eyes following his out- 
 stretched hand, " makes a great difference, doesn't 
 
 it?" 
 
 " I don't know. I suppose it will. It does 
 not make any difference in me." 
 
 " But don't you see it makes it impossible for 
 me if you How could I ? The enemy of my 
 father!" 
 
 " I don't suppose you could," he answered. 
 " That is another reason why I wrote when I did, 
 because I was fearful that you would hate me 
 when my agency in the unearthing of this was 
 known; that you would receive no communication 
 from me; that our acquaintance would be broken 
 off ; and I wanted you to know before it was too 
 late all that was in my heart." 
 
 " I am surprised," said the woman, " that you 
 could still continue to love the daughter of " 
 
 " Don't say that ! " quickly interposed Gormly. 
 " I don't love you because you are anybody's 
 daughter, but because you are yourself. I can't 
 trust myself to speak about it when I see you," 
 he continued, turning away, " and I could curse 
 myself for ever having become involved in such a 
 situation. I wish there was some way out of it. 
 Sometimes I am minded to " 
 
 "There is no way out of it," said the girl 
 quickly.
 
 278 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " No, I suppose not." He turned away from 
 her and began to pace the room with long steady 
 steps. " A woman," he ground out bitterly, 
 " ruined my young life, and now I have to ruin 
 the young life of another woman, the good pay- 
 ing for the bad ! " 
 
 The woman scarcely heard him. She was 
 thinking deeply. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," she said at last, " come here. 
 Sit down there on the other side of the table. I 
 want to see you." 
 
 Amazed, the man complied with her request. 
 
 " Now tell me the whole solemn truth. You 
 say my father was here with you before I came? " 
 
 11 Yes." 
 
 " Does he know that you know? " 
 
 " It was to see me about that that he came." 
 
 " Did he make some effort to induce you not to 
 publish these facts? " 
 
 " Naturally." 
 
 "What was the effort?" 
 
 " He argued with me." 
 
 "Is that all?" 
 
 " He threatened retaliation." 
 
 "Is that all?" 
 
 " I think he even pleaded." 
 
 "And is that all?" 
 
 " Yes," said Gormly, telling her his first lie, 
 telling it bravely, audaciously, even looking her 
 straight in the eye without blenching.
 
 GORMLY RESISTS TEMPTATION . 279 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," returned the woman, " what- 
 ever he is, my father is not a fool." 
 
 " His worst enemy would not so describe him." 
 
 " He knew that you were not a man who could 
 be moved by threats or entreaties. You have 
 demonstrated that you can be, in this campaign 
 at least, iron hard, inflexible, immutable. And 
 there is no argument that any mortal man could 
 use which could induce you to hold your hand. 
 Isn't that true?" 
 
 "I I am afraid so." 
 
 " What then did he propose to influence you? " 
 
 " Great Heaven," cried Gormly, " I have told 
 you all that I will tell you; all that you have a 
 right to know! Suffice it to say that he did not 
 move me." 
 
 " Do you love me very much, Mr. Gormly? " 
 
 " Love you ! You know I do. Why do you 
 ask?" 
 
 " A half an hour before my father saw you, I 
 gave him your letter to me." 
 
 " Well." 
 
 " He took that letter with him. He said he 
 wanted to see you about it. Mr. Gormly, I ask 
 you, I implore you, I adjure you, did my father 
 offer me to buy your silence? " 
 
 Gormly stared at her in ghastly horror. It was 
 bad enough to be compelled to disclose her 
 father's moral, political, and financial turpitude; 
 but to reveal him as one who had endeavored to
 
 2 8o THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 save himself at the expense of his daughter was 
 more than he had bargained for. 
 
 " You don't answer," said Miss Haldane. 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Stop ! You are on oath now, by your honor 
 as a gentleman, by your belief in God, by your 
 faith in womankind, by your love for me! I 
 want the truth. Indeed, it is almost unnecessary 
 for you to speak. Your silence, everything, con- 
 firms me in that belief. Did my father say that 
 he would induce me to marry you, if you would 
 keep silent about this? Oh, don't take refuge 
 in silence! Think for me a moment. In all 
 your great schemes for humanity, give one thought 
 to this one woman," she laid her hand on her 
 breast again, " that you say you love. You can't 
 leave me in this terrible uncertainty. I know my 
 father said it. A man who would do what he 
 has done would not hesitate at that. But I must 
 know, and I must have your answer." 
 
 " And I can't tell you." 
 
 " You can." 
 
 " Well, I won't then. I have told you enough. 
 Anything else you must get from other people." 
 
 " And so you refused me? " said the girl stand- 
 ing up. " Look at me ! " She stretched her 
 hands out and stood boldly, magnificently, de- 
 fiantly before him. "You refused me! Many 
 men have wooed me; many men have sought me 
 for a wife. I did not love you, I don't love 
 you ; but I might have learned. You might have
 
 GORMLY RESISTS TEMPTATION 281 
 
 had me. You say I am the dearest desire of your 
 heart. A little silence, a paper torn in two, a mo- 
 mentary forgetfulness, and I should have been 
 yours." She picked the paper up from the table 
 as she spoke and held it before her. " I could 
 tear it up in a moment. Think what you might 
 have had." She stepped slowly around the table 
 and approached him. She came nearer to him. 
 He stared at her fixedly without moving. She 
 was by his side now. She laid her hand upon his 
 shoulder. u Me," she said, " for this, and you 
 refused ! " 
 
 He nodded. It was the hardest task life had 
 ever laid upon him, this discussion! 
 
 " What are you made of? " she cried. 
 
 " I don't know," gasped the man hoarsely. " I 
 was a fool ! " 
 
 " Will you take me now," she interposed 
 swiftly, " and suppress this? If I say that I will 
 marry you to-morrow, will you keep this a secret 
 forever? " 
 
 " Great God! " whispered the man, " how you 
 tempt me! " 
 
 "Will you do it? Answer!" 
 
 "No!" said Gormly faintly at last. "I 
 won't!" 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " For two reasons. I would not be worth your 
 respect for a moment if I did. I could never 
 hope for your love in that case. And I won't 
 have any woman that I have to buy."
 
 282 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " And we have both tried to bribe you, my 
 father and I, and we have both failed." 
 
 " You did not try to bribe me, Eleanor. I am 
 sure you did not know what you were doing." 
 
 " I did," she said. " I wanted to test you. I 
 wanted to try you. I wanted to see if it was true. 
 I wanted assurance that my father had done this 
 thing. I wanted to measure your manhood by my 
 womanhood. I said I did not love you, Mr. 
 Gormly ; but I don't know it seems to me I 
 come nearer to it now than than ever before. If 
 it were not for this " She crumpled the paper 
 up in her hand and threw it on the table. " Oh 1 " 
 she said in a sudden change of mood, " the light 
 has gone out of life for me ! " 
 
 " My dear child ! " he began tenderly. 
 
 She shook her head and sat down once more 
 and once more buried her face in her hands. He 
 ventured to come near to her. He laid his own 
 hand on her head and stroked it gently, murmur- 
 ing broken words; meaningless, save to her on 
 whose ears they fell indistinctly. At last she 
 lifted her head and looked at him. She caught 
 his hand in both her own. 
 
 " You are a great man," she said, " a strong 
 man, a true man, and I am only a poor, wretched 
 woman. I kiss the hand that smites me." Be- 
 fore he could prevent it she suited the action to 
 word. " Now," she said, " go. You have done 
 all you can. I understand, I believe. Sometimes 
 I think I But won't you go now ? "
 
 GORMLY RESISTS TEMPTATION 283 
 
 Without another word Gormly turned and left 
 her. 
 
 He found Miss Stewart and young Haldane 
 still in the hall. They stared at him awestruck 
 at the tragedy in his grim face. 
 
 " Go to her ! " he said as he passed them. 
 " She needs you."
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE LAST COUNCIL OF WAR 
 
 OUMMONED by Liffey at Haldane's urgent 
 ^ request, the governing members of the ring 
 met that night at their secret rendezvous. There 
 were present besides the two mentioned, Van 
 Slyke and McRonald, Rutherford, Connell, Hab- 
 berley, Benson representing the allies, and the 
 Mayor. When Haldane arrived, he found the 
 others already assembled. 
 
 "Well?" asked Liffey as soon as the other 
 entered the room. 
 
 " He's found it out and he's going to do it." 
 
 " Found out what and going to do what? " 
 asked Rutherford. 
 
 " Gormly has got onto us, Mr. Rutherford," 
 was Liffey's reply. The boss realized instantly 
 that Haldane had failed to postpone the dis- 
 closure. " He's found out the secret history of 
 the Gotham Freight Traction Company. He's 
 found out that you and Mr. Haldane and Mr. 
 Van Slyke and Mr. McRonald and the rest of 
 you belong to the ring which has been running 
 things. He's found out how many public utilities 
 we own and control. He's found out the whole 
 
 284
 
 THE LAST COUNCIL OF WAR 285 
 
 bloomin' history; where we git our money, how 
 we spend it." 
 
 " And who was the traitor that betrayed you? " 
 asked Benson fiercely. 
 
 " I'd like to know that same," answered Liffey, 
 his fat jaws clamping together, his " pompadour " 
 crest bristling. 
 
 " I don't imagine anybody betrayed us," said 
 Rutherford. " We've known all along that the 
 thing was bound to get out sooner or later. If it 
 had been later, it wouldn't have made much dif- 
 ference; but now Is he going to publish it? " 
 
 " He is," answered Haldane. 
 
 "When?" demanded Van Slyke. 
 
 " To-morrow. It will be in every paper in the 
 city except our own." 
 
 "Great God!" exclaimed Connell. "If we 
 could only stave it off for just three more days. 
 Gimme three days, and " 
 
 " I thought you were goin' to hold it off for 
 that long? " questioned Liffey. 
 
 " I tried," answered Haldane brokenly. " I 
 saw him this afternoon. I used every influence at 
 my command for delay." 
 
 " And couldn't you do anything with him? " 
 
 " Nothing." 
 
 " Damn him ! " gritted the boss through his 
 teeth. 
 
 " Did you bid for him? " questioned the Chief 
 of Police.
 
 286 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Haldane nodded. 
 
 " Did you go high enough? " asked Benson. 
 
 " I went so high," said the man, u that his re- 
 fusal covered me with worse shame than the pub- 
 lication will do." 
 
 " To hell with your shame ! " exclaimed Liffey 
 brutally. " I don't care for that. It's the 
 effect on the fortunes of the party that I'm con- 
 siderin'." 
 
 " Put it that way if you wish." 
 
 "What did you offer him? " asked the Police 
 Commissioner. 
 
 " Never mind what I offered him," returned 
 Haldane. " It was all that I had." 
 
 " And it wasn't enough? " queried Rutherford, 
 who had a clearer comprehension of what the offer 
 might have been than the others. 
 
 " No." 
 
 "So it's coming out to-morrow, is it?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Well, I don't know what we can do," said 
 Liffey, " but grin and take it." 
 
 "It means ruin, ruin! " answered Haldane. 
 
 " Absolute, utter ! " echoed Van Slyke. 
 
 " Oh, I don't think it is as bad as that," re- 
 turned the boss. " It will make it harder than 
 ever to pull through; but we've got the election." 
 
 " Even if we win the election," said Haldane, 
 " my reputation, my character " 
 
 " You ain't got no character to lose," said Liffey, 
 with disgusting frankness, " any more than I
 
 THE LAST COUNCIL OF WAR 287 
 
 have. Might as well be honest in facin' the 
 situation. Of course your reputation is bound to 
 suffer; but you're big enough and rich enough to 
 live that down. We've just got to swallow it, 
 that's all, and redouble our efforts." 
 
 Haldane groaned. 
 
 " I sympathize with you Haldane," said Ruth- 
 erford; "but what Liffey says comes pretty near 
 being the truth." 
 
 " Gents, hear me ! " burst out Connell. " I 
 can't throw no light on this situation; I don't see 
 no way of keeping this rot out of the papers un- 
 less we could burn up the plants or close 'em down 
 some way, which I'd like to have the job of doin'. 
 But we ain't beat yet. This high and mighty 
 flyer posin' on a pinnacle of morality ain't so hell 
 fired virtuous as he seems, and in three days from 
 now I expect he'll be crawling on his knees to us 
 all. Oh, if I'd only found it out a week ago, 
 we'd had him cold! " 
 
 " Found out what?" 
 
 " This man that's posin' as an angel of virtue 
 before the people of New York and talkin' re- 
 form and so on is an adulterer, a thief, and a self- 
 confessed murderer." 
 
 " What ! " roared the men present. " You're 
 dreaming! You're mad! " 
 
 " I am, am I? Well, you just wait," returned 
 the chief, " and you'll find I'm the sanest man in 
 the whole bunch. You know the other night 
 when you was jammin' through the franchise at
 
 288 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 the City Hall and Gormly made his great play? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Well, one of my men I had a bunch of 
 plain clothes men scattered through the crowd 
 with his eyes and ears open heard a man say, 
 lookin' at Gormly standin' up on that automobile 
 and givin' the crowd his infernal rot, * Well, if 
 that ain't a dead ringer for a boy named George 
 Fordyce that I used to know back in Kill Devil 
 Camp in Wyoming twenty-five year ago, I'll eat 
 my hat! ' My man sized up the speaker at once. 
 He was a big Western man free of speech as he 
 was with his money. His name's Bill Hamilton, 
 and he's a big Montana mine owner. They call 
 him Colonel out there. They struck up a friend- 
 ship right away, had a few drinks together, and 
 my man got enough out of him to get on the trail 
 of the story we been lookin' for without Hamil- 
 ton in the least suspectin' what he was after. I 
 sent a dozen of the smartest men on the force out 
 to Wyoming to rustle up old inhabitants of Kill 
 Devil Camp, which has long since been blotted 
 off the map. It seems that this Gormly, or For- 
 dyce, or whatever his name is, once run away with 
 a miner's wife, first robbin' him of his pile and 
 shootin' the miner." 
 
 The little group of men listened to the chief's 
 startling story in a fever of excitement and sur- 
 prise, which Connell greatly enjoyed. 
 
 " Now, we knew that he never came to New 
 York with no woman," he ran on. " We've got
 
 THE LAST COUNCIL OF WAR 289 
 
 his whole history from the day he landed here, 
 every minute of it. We reasoned that the woman 
 must have deserted him, or he her. Naturally 
 she'd make for one of the big cities, especially if 
 she had the money. We believed that she had it; 
 for he had practically none when he landed. He 
 went to work as a clerk in a store at five dollars a 
 week. A woman like that'd be pretty sure to 
 turn up on the town somewhere sooner or later. 
 We've got a detailed history of everyone of 'em 
 here and elsewhere. If she went down to the 
 gutter, she'd be dead. If she went up to the par- 
 lor, she'd be alive still. It was only necessary to 
 look among those that are runnin' the thing. We 
 found one, who'd come from Wyoming. I went 
 to see her myself, and I've got her confession 
 here." He hauled a paper out of his pocket. 
 " She didn't want to tell nothing about it. She 
 don't come out of it especially creditable; but we 
 had means to make her. All we got to git now 
 is the stuff from Wyoming, a witness or two to 
 identify Gormly with Fordyce, and that's the end 
 of him." 
 
 Connell snapped his finger in derision. 
 
 " Has the woman seen the man? " asked Gad- 
 ler as soon as he could get his breath. 
 
 " Often." 
 
 "Does he still" 
 
 " Lord, he don't know she's on the earth." 
 
 " Is she sure he is the man? " 
 
 " She says so."
 
 2QO 
 
 " Has she never tried to blackmail him? " 
 
 " Never. She's glad enough to let him alone, 
 I guess." 
 
 "Why isn't she witness enough then?" asked 
 the District Attorney. 
 
 " Well, she's mixed up in it in rather a nasty 
 way. She's afraid she'll suffer if her part of it is 
 made public." 
 
 " I can fix that," said Rutherford coolly enough. 
 " A promise of : mmunity, and " 
 
 " She won't do it," returned the chief. " You 
 can drive these woman just so far, and there you 
 stop. Besides, it ain't never goin' to come into 
 court." 
 
 " What do you mean? " asked Benson. 
 
 " I mean," said Connell emphatically, " that 
 Gormly is goin' to give up the game." 
 
 " Give up the game ! " repeated Haldane. 
 
 " That's what I said. It's goin' to be put up 
 to him as to whether he wants this told or whether 
 he withdraws from the field." 
 
 " You might back your * put up ' to him with a 
 warrant for murder, I believe," said the District 
 Attorney. " If the evidence is what you say, I'll 
 have charges preferred against him." 
 
 " I won't need any warrants in mine," said 
 Connell. 
 
 " Still it's just as well to take one along," said 
 Liffey. 
 
 " You can't be too well armed for a man like 
 Gormly," said Benson shrewdly.
 
 THE LAST COUNCIL OF WAR 291 
 
 " All right," answered the chief. " Mr. Ruth- 
 erford and I will fix that up. Now, gentlemen, 
 you leave this to me. I am accustomed to deal 
 with criminals, and I'll fix Gormly. I ought to 
 have all the reports in my hands the day after to- 
 
 morrow." 
 
 4 Wouldn't it be well to spring it to-night? " 
 
 " Hardly. Besides it's too late. Not even 
 Gormly himself could keep the stuff out of the 
 papers now. It has been sent there undoubtedly, 
 and" 
 
 " No, let him talk. As I said, we'll just have 
 to grin and bear it, and it'll make the thing all the 
 harder for Gormly. How he'll hate to with- 
 draw ! But he'll have to do it ! " said Liffey tri- 
 umphantly. 
 
 " I guess now, Mr. Haldane," said Rutherford, 
 as the assembly dissolved and the two found them- 
 selves alone together, the others being gone, " that 
 you are rather glad than otherwise that your bribe 
 did not work." 
 
 " Yes, I suppose so. I don't know," answered 
 Haldane brokenly. " I had heard some intimations 
 of this, nothing definitely. Connell has been very 
 close mouthed. I tried to bluff Gormly with that. 
 I don't know what effect the disclosure is going 
 to have. I don't know how true it is. It seems 
 rather suspicious." 
 
 " Connell had better be careful what he does," 
 returned Rutherford. " He'd better be very sure 
 of his facts."
 
 292 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Why did you leave the handling of the affair 
 to him?" 
 
 ' Well, he'd make a good scapegoat if any- 
 thing went wrong," answered Rutherford with 
 cynical indifference. " And the rest of the crowd 
 are thoroughly aware of that," he added as the 
 two descended to the street. 
 
 Now, as it happened, Colonel Bill Hamilton 
 was not so guileless as he looked. After the first 
 exclamation and the first few confidences over the 
 drinks which he gave to the plain clothes man who 
 had so adroitly sought to get his story on that 
 eventful night, Colonel Bill shut up like a clam. 
 The interest of the stranger in the story was sus- 
 picious. Colonel Bill knew a great many things 
 that he had not told, and did not intend to tell 
 unless it was necessary. Therefore, he soon got 
 rid of his new friend and went to his room to 
 think it over. 
 
 He was morally certain that Gormly and the 
 man whom he had known as a boy as George For- 
 dyce were one and the same. Fortunately he had 
 always liked Fordyce, and he was not disposed to 
 do anything that would injure him. He re- 
 gretted extremely the casual exclamation and the 
 few confidences he had already given his new 
 friend over a convivial glass in an adjoining cafe. 
 He was glad that he had checked himself in his 
 revelations just in time. Meanwhile he intended 
 to do a little investigating on his own account. 
 
 Of course he had heard, as had everyone else
 
 THE LAST COUNCIL OF WAR 293 
 
 in the United States, of the remarkable campaign 
 of George Gormly for the mayoralty of New 
 York. He had not had a great amount of per- 
 sonal interest in the matter, however. But when 
 he identified Gormly with Fordyce, the affair at 
 once engaged his keenest attention. Since the day 
 he had left Kill Devil Camp, he had never heard 
 one word of either the man or the woman. He 
 had supposed, as everyone else had, that they had 
 perished in the storm, and although their bodies 
 had never been recovered there were plenty of 
 reasons to account for that. 
 
 Now that he had identified Gormly with For- 
 dyce, he proceeded to inquire into the situation 
 with great thoroughness. Uncouth and unedu- 
 cated though he appeared, he was yet a man of 
 much natural ability and native shrewdness. It 
 was easy for him to learn the history of the life 
 of his friend since he came to New York. 
 He had only to go back over the files of the news- 
 papers to find out that. Although he was noth- 
 ing of a politician, he divined how useful to the 
 opposition would be such a story as that to which 
 he had unwittingly given the clue. With this 
 knowledge in his possession, he carefully pon- 
 dered his course. He had sense enough to per- 
 ceive that it w r ould not be a matter of great diffi- 
 culty, with the indication that had slipped from 
 him, to follow the story down to its source and 
 thereafter to trace it out in all its ramifications to 
 the bitter end. He thought that the story would
 
 294 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 probably be spread broadcast throughout the pa- 
 pers at some opportune time. 
 
 What was he to do? Was he to see Gormly, 
 or Fordyce as he called him, and put him on his 
 guard? Or was he to wait and be governed by 
 circumstances? This was not an easy problem to 
 decide; but Colonel Bill Hamilton finally came to 
 the conclusion that his best game was the waiting 
 one. Besides he liked to play a lone hand, and 
 he felt every confidence that he could do it. 
 
 Meanwhile he determined to fortify himself 
 with such evidence as he could secure, and at the 
 proper time, if the story was ferreted out and an 
 attempt was made to make use of it, he would, as 
 he phrased it, " butt into the game ! " He set the 
 telegraph to work, therefore, and presently re- 
 ceived from his partner in Butte by express a tin 
 box full of very private official documents. There- 
 after he amused himself by following the progress 
 of the campaign and doing some highly profitable 
 local investigating on his own account, the result 
 of which filled him with joy and satisfaction. He 
 heard Gormly, who had plunged into the work 
 with renewed zeal and energy, speak a number of 
 times. The old man's heart warmed to the 
 youngster whom he had known so many years be- 
 fore in the wild West. He felt a sense of per- 
 sonal pride, of proprietorship, as it were, in his 
 success, and he longed to make himself known to 
 him, but concluded not to do so just yet. 
 
 The demonstration of the alliance between the
 
 THE LAST COUNCIL OF WAR 295 
 
 Gotham Freight Traction Company and the 
 Sachem Society, the publication of the member- 
 ship of Haldane and his friends in the traction 
 company, the exhibition of its iniquitous processes, 
 came off according to schedule. Such a storm of 
 wrath and indignation rose in the public breast after 
 the disclosure as had never been equaled in any 
 political campaign in New York. At first it was 
 feared that the control of the city would be taken 
 in the hands of mobs. It was only the personal 
 efforts of Gormly and his associates cooperating 
 with the Mayor and the Chief of Police that saved 
 Haldane and his most conspicuous partizans from 
 bodily violence. 
 
 The storm was so terrific that the administra- 
 tion papers made no attempt to counter it. They 
 contented themselves with stating that any discus- 
 sion of the issue or any defense of the accused was 
 inadvisable in the present heated state of public 
 opinion, and at the proper time, under proper con- 
 ditions, the matter would be explained satisfac- 
 torily to the unprejudiced. Meanwhile the party 
 in power grimly set its teeth and under the able 
 leadership of the Sachem Society, never so bril- 
 liantly displayed, massed its cohorts for the final 
 trial of strength in the election, now three days 
 off. With all the machinery in their hands, with 
 all the facilities for promoting fraud at their dis- 
 posal, they were nevertheless by no means assured 
 that they could so control affairs as to win out. 
 
 The stocks of the Gotham Freight Traction
 
 296 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Company had fallen off terrifically, and every 
 other interest furthered by the syndicate of which 
 Haldane was the head had suffered accordingly. 
 The city was on the verge of a tremendous panic. 
 Unrest, excitement, uncertainty, were in the air. 
 The people had been aroused as never before. 
 The great multitude of them were resolute and 
 determined to break up once and forever the ring 
 that had dominated the city and put at the head 
 of it the man. The members of the Sachem 
 Society and the forces of the administration were 
 equally determined that this should not be done. 
 All over the United States men's hearts turned 
 toward New York. It had gradually become 
 evident to the civilized world that the battle of 
 free government was being fought out there, and 
 no issue that was ever presented to a people over- 
 shadowed in degree and importance that one. 
 Gormly's name was in every man's mouth. It 
 seemed now that no human power could prevent 
 his election and the overthrow of the most cor- 
 rupt, nefarious, venal, debauched, and debauching 
 body of men that had ever swayed the destinies 
 and fattened upon the resources of a great city.
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 THE CHIEF OF POLICE VISITS MR. GORMLY 
 
 the evening of the second day before the 
 election Connell, dressed in plain clothes and 
 entirely unaccompanied, presented himself very 
 late at night at Gormly's apartment and desired 
 to see him. Gormly was still busy with Chaloner 
 over some necessary correspondence after one of 
 the largest and most enthusiastic meetings at which 
 he had spoken. It was Somes who admitted the 
 official. Gormly's establishment was a simple 
 one, and the other servants had gone home for 
 the night. 
 
 The chief presented no card. He did not care 
 to be identified any more than was necessary. His 
 manner was imperious as became his station, bully- 
 ing as became his errand, and blustering as be- 
 came his character. Somes knew very well who 
 he was, and while he had some of the English awe 
 of the police he had all the hatred of a zealous and 
 devoted partizan of his master, which he cer- 
 tainly was, for the enemy. Therefore he re- 
 quested the functionary to take a seat while he 
 carried the request for an interview to the library. 
 
 Connell had intended to force his way into the 
 presence of Gormly without any delays or pre- 
 297
 
 298 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 liminaries; but there was something in the square 
 shouldered, determined appearance of the man 
 that made him conclude to comply with the re- 
 quest to be seated where he was. After all there 
 was no use indulging in an argument of any sort 
 with that underling, he reflected; his business was 
 with the master. Therefore he settled himself 
 comfortably, luxuriating in the interview he was 
 about to have, which he felt certain would be 
 greatly to his taste. He drew out a big cigar and 
 lighted it and puffed away contentedly enough, 
 concentrating his thoughts for that which lay be- 
 fore. 
 
 Somes entered the library without knocking, a 
 most unusual course for him. He also took occa- 
 sion to turn the key of the door behind him. Then 
 he stood at attention in his respectful English way. 
 Gormly had looked up instantly the door was 
 opened, and had stopped his dictation. He was 
 greatly surprised at the valet's entrance, and more 
 surprised when he locked the door; but he real- 
 ized that something unusual was up and said noth- 
 ing. 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir," began Somes deprecat- 
 ingly, " but there's a party out in the hall wants 
 to see you." 
 
 "Who is it?" 
 
 " He didn't give any name, sir, but I recognized 
 him as the Chief of Police." 
 
 "The Chief of Police!" 
 
 " Yes, sir."
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 299 
 
 " What does he want? " 
 
 11 He didn't say, sir." 
 
 " What was his message ? " 
 
 " Just to tell you that a gentleman that's 
 what he called himself, sir wanted to see you." 
 
 " Where is he now." 
 
 " I left him sitting out in the hall, but I wouldn't 
 be too sure as to where he is, sir. He seemed to 
 want to come right in here without permission, 
 and that's why I locked the door, sir." 
 
 " I see," answered Gormly, a twinkle of amuse- 
 ment in his eye. " I wonder what the Chief of 
 Police can have to say to me? Well, I suppose 
 I'd better see him. Chaloner, will you go into the 
 dining room and wait until I call for you. Tell 
 the chief to come in, Somes." 
 
 While Chaloner gathered up his notebooks, 
 pencils, and letters and withdrew into the dining 
 room across the hall, Somes unlocked the door, 
 stepped out into the hall and presently returned. 
 He threw the door of the library open in great 
 style, drew himself up and announced as if it had 
 been a reigning prince : 
 
 "The Chief of Police of the City of New 
 York!" 
 
 Connell glared at him suspiciously, but said 
 nothing. He entered the room, carefully closed 
 the door behind him, and stood facing his host. 
 
 " To what," asked Gormly suavely, " am I in- 
 debted for the honor of this visit at this late 
 hour?"
 
 300 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 He glanced at the clock as he spoke and ob- 
 served that it was half-after eleven. 
 
 " I've got something to say to you, Gormly," 
 began Connell bruskly. 
 
 " I am not aware of any intimacy between you 
 and me, Mr. Connell, which warrants you in your 
 familiar mode of address. If you have anything 
 to say to me on any subject, a prerequisite to say- 
 ing it will be good manners, so far as you are able 
 to compass them. Do you understand? If you 
 don't, I'll put it in plain English! Address me 
 with decency and respect, or I'll have you put out 
 of the house ! " 
 
 "Me!" roared Connell. "You'd lay hands 
 on me, an officer of the law, in the discharge of 
 his" 
 
 " Are you come here as an officer of the law in 
 the discharge of your duty? If so, will you please 
 tell me without further delay what you want, 
 where is your warrant and incidentally inform me 
 why you come in plain clothes? " 
 
 " Never mind how I come or why I come ! " 
 said Connell wrathfully. " As I said, I've got 
 something to say to you," he paused for a mo- 
 ment " Mr. Gormly, if that's your name. I'm 
 going to say it, and you're going to listen ! " 
 
 " Am I ? " said Gormly. " You see that bell ? " 
 He pointed to one of the buttons in the big desk 
 in the library. " I have only to press that to have 
 two men here instantly. The three of us are quite 
 equal to throwing you out of the apartment, and
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 301 
 
 two of us, I know, would be more than willing to 
 do it. I think I have had about enough of you, 
 anyway. I have no interest in anything that you 
 have to say. I can conceive of no possible results 
 from any interview between us. Therefore, if you 
 will kindly leave without further annoying me, I 
 shall be obliged." 
 
 " Well, I don't leave yet till I've had my say, 
 George Fordyce ! " was the answer. 
 
 In spite of himself Gormly started. He con- 
 trolled himself instantly, however. 
 
 " You seem," he said coolly enough, " to have 
 discovered my middle name, which I dropped for 
 reasons that seemed good to me when I came to 
 New York." 
 
 " For reasons that seemed good to you ! " 
 sneered the big officer. " I guess they were good 
 to you ! " 
 
 "What do you know about them?" asked 
 Gormly quietly. 
 
 " I know what they were." 
 
 " And it is to tell me what you know that you 
 came here to-night ? " 
 
 " Not by any means. It's to tell you what 
 you've got to do that I'm here." 
 
 " And what have I got to do? " 
 
 " You've got to withdraw from this campaign 
 now, to-night." 
 
 " And how do you propose that I should with- 
 draw?" 
 
 " Set down there and write that for business
 
 302 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 reasons you've concluded to withdraw from the 
 campaign; that you advise your friends to vote 
 for Pete Warren, the best Mayor New York ever 
 had; that you're convinced that you were wrong 
 in the charges you've made; that investigation has 
 showed you that the Gotham Freight Traction 
 Company is all right and that the Sachem So- 
 ciety is equally honorable and virtuous. You'll 
 know how to put it. I give you the substance. 
 Fancy it up in your own language. You can 
 sling words good and plenty as has been proved 
 in this campaign. That's all you got to do." 
 
 The chief sat down in one of the big leather 
 chairs, crossed his legs, and puffed away at his 
 cigar with evident enjoyment. 
 
 "Pretty tough situation, ain't it?" he asked. 
 
 " And if I do this," asked Gormley, " what 
 do I get?" 
 
 " You'll get silence as to your doings twenty- 
 five years ago." 
 
 " Would you mind telling me what my doings 
 were twenty-five years ago? " 
 
 " Certainly not," said the chief. " No reason 
 for concealment between you and me, that I can 
 see. You ran away with a miner's wife out at 
 Camp Kill Devil, Wyoming, in the midst of a 
 howlin' blizzard. With the wife you took the 
 man's pile, product of his hard-workin', toilsome 
 life for a worthless woman and you. And be- 
 fore you left, you put a bullet into the man's 
 breast. There's three counts against you; theft,
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 303 
 
 'dultery, murder. You'll make a hell of a reform 
 Mayor, won't you? How'd the people enjoy 
 that?" 
 
 " And the price you offer for your silence is 
 that I shall give up the battle? " 
 
 " That's about it." 
 
 " Why are you offering me anything, if you 
 possess this power and are confident as to your 
 information? Why don't you publish this stuff 
 and knock me out without giving me any chance 
 to withdraw? " 
 
 " See here, Gormly, it ain't for you to ques- 
 tion ! It's for you to do what you're told. 
 We've decided that this is the way this scheme 
 is goin' to be worked, that's all there is to it. If 
 we have our reasons for not publishin' the stuff, 
 why they're ours; they're not yours." 
 
 " I suppose," said Gormly, " that you think, 
 after you have forced me to withdraw, if I should 
 do so" 
 
 " There ain't no * if about it. You've got 
 to!" 
 
 " We'll pass that by. I suppose you think you 
 can bleed me, blackmail me, put me on your list 
 of contributors to the end of time." 
 
 " Nobody ever said you was a fool, George 
 Gormly," remarked the chief with a gleam of 
 approbation in his eye; "but you see we've got 
 you dead to rights. You're helpless; there's 
 nothing you can do. Why, man, all I've got to 
 do is to go down to the District Attorney and
 
 3 o 4 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 swear out a warrant to have you arrested for 
 murder. We've got our fingers on the woman 
 you run away with, and a pretty lookin' old 
 hag she is now, too. She don't want to be mixed 
 up in it; but we've got hold of her, and if neces- 
 sary she'll swear that you done it. We've located 
 several people that used to live in Camp Kill 
 Devil who remember the circumstances. One of 
 'em said, and the woman corroborates it, that you 
 wrote an acknowledgment with your own hand, 
 sayin' that you shot up the man, and you left it 
 in the cabin. Maybe we can turn that up too. 
 It's all as clear as day. I don't really know why 
 I stay here talkin' about it any longer, except I 
 rather enjoy seein' you squirm." 
 
 "Have you seen me squirm any yet, chief?" 
 
 " No, not yet; but I can imagine how you're 
 feelin' beneath that iron composure of yours. 
 I've had to deal with too many blackguards and 
 criminals not to know that." 
 
 " And I suppose that some of your knowledge 
 is introspective as well? " 
 
 " What are you givin' me ? " answered the 
 other, to whom the language was more or less 
 Greek. " We've arranged it this way." 
 
 " May I ask who ' we ' is? " 
 
 " Certainly. There's no secrets between us 
 now. Haldane, Van Slyke, McRonald, Ruther- 
 ford, Liffey, Benson, Warren, Habberley, and 
 myself. You see we rather run things in little 
 old New York. Well," the man threw up his
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 305 
 
 hands, laid down his cigar and yawned pro- 
 digiously, " it's gittin' late. I'll take that with- 
 drawal and go." 
 
 " Wouldn't it be better for me to have my sec- 
 retary here," said Gormly, " and dictate what I 
 have to say? Let him make a number of carbon 
 copies of it, so that we could send it to all the 
 papers." 
 
 " Well, if you want to let your secretary in on 
 this game, I don't see that I've got any objec- 
 tions," said the chief. " Of course, the more 
 that knows it the slimmer'll be However, I 
 guess I can settle with him. Bring him in." 
 
 Gormly stepped to the door. 
 
 " Mr. Chaloner," he said, " will you bring your 
 notebook and pencils here? Mr. Chaloner, this 
 is the Chief of Police, Mr. Connell," he continued, 
 as the young man entered the room. 
 
 " Pleased to know you," said Connell grimly. 
 
 Chaloner bowed without saying anything. 
 
 " Will you be seated, Mr. Chaloner, and take 
 a statement from my dictation? By the way," 
 he pushed a button on the desk, and the door 
 into the hall opened instantly, with suspicious 
 promptness, it might have been thought, had any 
 of the party given it any attention, " Somes," said 
 Gormly, " I want you." The servant stepped into 
 the room. " Lock the door, please, so that I 
 may be sure we are not interrupted." 
 
 The command was instantly obeyed. 
 
 The Chief of Police stared.
 
 3 o6 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " You ain't going to let this English pup into 
 the game too, are you? " he growled. 
 
 Somes' hands clenched and tightened; his teeth 
 locked; but he was too well trained to say any- 
 thing. 
 
 "Why not?" asked Gormly nonchalantly 
 enough. " He'll have to take the slips to the 
 papers." 
 
 " I'll tend to that myself." 
 
 " Very well. But so long as he is here, I have 
 no objection to his remaining. Have you ? " 
 
 " It's your funeral, not mine. I can take care 
 of him too, I guess," was the answer. 
 
 " Now," said Gormly, " this gentleman, as you 
 know, is the Chief of Police." 
 
 " Yes, sir," said Somes. 
 
 " He has asked me to dictate a certain state- 
 ment to the people of the city of New York, and 
 I'd like to have you hear what I have to say and 
 witness all that occurs." 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Are you ready, Mr. Chaloner? " 
 
 " Quite ready, sir." 
 
 It was Gormly's habit a bad one, but one 
 that he had never been able to overcome to 
 walk up and down as he dictated. He stepped 
 over to the desk before he spoke, selected a cigar 
 with great care, lighted it amid breathless silence, 
 and the chief noticed with grudging admiration 
 that the hand that held the match did not tremble 
 a particle.
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 307 
 
 " To-night at half after eleven o'clock," began 
 Gormly, " the Chief of Police of the City of New 
 York. . . ." 
 
 "You needn't bring me into it! " roared Con- 
 nell, sitting up. 
 
 " Will you have the goodness to be silent, sir? " 
 cried Gormly. u I am dictating this statement, 
 not you ! " 
 
 "Well, you're going to dictate what I say," 
 thundered the chief, slamming his big hand down 
 on the desk, " or I'll " 
 
 " Keep back there, Somes," said Gormly 
 sharply as the man stepped forward, his face 
 aflame. " I can deal with the man. Connell," 
 he continued, " you are going to sit right there 
 until I've finished with you." 
 
 " Am I ? " roared the chief. " We'll see ! " 
 
 He threw his big, fat hand around to his hip 
 pocket; but he wasn't quick enough in his mo- 
 tion. Gormly had lived in the West and had 
 acquired some of the Western habits. There is 
 not a policeman in New York or any other city 
 who would not be absolutely at the mercy of even 
 a third rate Western bad man, when it came to 
 drawing a weapon and firing it. Before he could 
 feel the grip of his own pistol, he found himself 
 looking down the barrel of a neat thirty-two 
 which Gormly had produced from somewhere, the 
 chief was too dazed to know where. 
 
 " Throw up your hands, chief," said Gormly 
 coolly.
 
 3 o8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 There was something in the man's voice and 
 look that made the chief, who was not unfamiliar 
 with resolute men, comply. Up went his huge 
 hands in the air. 
 
 " Now, Somes," said Gormly, " see what he 
 has on him." 
 
 The valet quickly extracted a heavy Colt's re- 
 peating pistol from the chief's hip pocket. He 
 ran his hands lightly over the man's clothing on 
 the other side. 
 
 " I think that'll be all, sir." 
 
 " Good. Give it to me," Gormly laid the two 
 pistols down on the desk by the side of the sec- 
 retary. " Now, Somes," he said, " you stand 
 right behind him, and if he attempts to get out of 
 his chair keep him down." 
 
 "You're assaulting an officer of the law!" 
 roared the chief, snapping his fingers. 
 
 " You ought to be man enough to know that 
 the game's against you so far," said Gormly, 
 " and keep quiet until I get through. Then I'll 
 give you a chance to talk. Are you ready now, 
 Mr. Chaloner?" 
 
 " Quite ready, sir," was the imperturbable an- 
 swer of that most excellent young man. 
 
 " I'll begin again : 
 
 " To-night at half after eleven o'clock Ben Con- 
 nell, the Chief of Police of the City of New 
 York, called at my apartment. He came unac- 
 companied and wearing plain clothes. The ob-
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 309 
 
 ject of his 'visit was to demand of me that I should 
 withdraw as a candidate for the Mayor of New 
 York; that I should request the people who had 
 honored me with their support to vote for War- 
 ren; that I should declare my belief in the integ- 
 rity of the Gotham Freight Traction Company 
 and the purity of the Sachem Society of which 
 he is an honored member. The means by which 
 he sought to induce me to take this course were 
 a promise of silence as to certain episodes in my 
 past career, and a threat of instant publicity, in- 
 cluding a possible arrest if I refused. In the 
 presence of my private secretary Philip Chaloner, 
 of my friend and servant William Somes, and of 
 the Chief of Police, Connell himself, I am dic- 
 tating this statement. 
 
 " Twenty-five years ago I came to New York. 
 Since that time my career has been thoroughly 
 exploited. The detective force of the city, sup- 
 plemented by whatever talent could be procured 
 or suborned, has had me under investigation. To 
 not one act have they been able to point of which 
 I am ashamed, or upon which they could fix an 
 attack. 
 
 " When I came to New York I was nineteen 
 years of age. I was born in Vermont. I re- 
 ceived a common school education, graduating 
 from the high school when I was sixteen. My 
 father died before I was born, my mother at my 
 birth. Some small property accruing to me was 
 turned over to me by my guardian on my gradua-
 
 3 io THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 tlon from the high school. I spent two years at 
 sea as a cabin boy, and then drifted West, finally 
 bringing up at Kill Devil Camp in Wyoming. 
 
 " There I came under the influence of a woman 
 older than I, who thought it not unbecoming to 
 'her to beguile and entrap the young Eastern ten- 
 'derfoot who was just entering upon his nineteenth 
 year. I was young, inexperienced, impression- 
 able: I fell completely under her influence. 
 'There is something to be said for her, poor 
 woman. She was married to a drunken brute of 
 a husband, a miner, a gambler, who was not only 
 unfaithful to her, but who abused her frightfully. 
 I think my sympathies more than my affections 
 were engaged. I had a chivalric desire to help 
 her, a boy's reverence for womankind abused and 
 suffering, a quixotic spirit of knight errantry, of 
 which even now I am not ashamed. 
 
 " I had still some little money left, and resolved 
 to take her away from her intolerable life. I 
 do not wish to shelter myself behind a woman; 
 but I have always told the people of New York 
 the exact truth, and I am doing it now. We had 
 planned to leave the camp on a certain night and 
 ride south to the Union Pacific. That night was 
 the night of the great blizzard of 1882, which is 
 still remembered in the West. It was very late 
 when I reached her cabin with the horses. The 
 woman was ready for me, waiting eagerly in fact. 
 tier husband had recently won a small sum of
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 311 
 
 money by gambling. That money she took with 
 her. 
 
 " We had turned to the door to go out, al- 
 though it was almost certain death to be abroad 
 in such a storm, when her husband entered the 
 room. How he knew, or whether he knew, what 
 we were going to do, I cannot say. At any rate, 
 he was there. He covered me with a gun; I was 
 entirely helpless. He declared his intention of 
 shooting me, and delayed only that he might en- 
 joy what he conceived my fear of death, possibly 
 my pleading for life. 
 
 " I was young and fond of life, and began un- 
 buttoning my coat to get at my own weapon. If 
 I had had more experience, I should have had it 
 ready to hand; but I was new to the West, and 
 there were many things from the frontiersman's 
 point of view that I had to learn. Of course he 
 could have prevented my making any motion by 
 ordering my hands up; but he had the drop on 
 me; he knew he had but to press the trigger at 
 any time and I was done for; so he allowed me 
 to fumble away at the fastenings of my coat while 
 he talked. 
 
 " I worked in a desperate hurry, and at last got 
 my hand on the butt of my pistol. I saw from 
 the look of his eye that I would have little time 
 to draw it. I realized that unless I could I was 
 a doomed man. At that instant there was a flash 
 and a report in the room. Immediately after.
 
 312 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 the man pulled the trigger of his own pistol; but 
 the bullet went wild. He sank down on his knees, 
 and fell back dying. I dropped my own weapon 
 and bent over him. There was a hole in his breast 
 through which the blood was oozing." 
 
 " Who shot him ? " growled the chief, who 
 had been listening with the greatest absorption to 
 the narrative. 
 
 " The woman shot him," answered Gormly. 
 " But you need not put that in, Chaloner. Let it 
 go as I have dictated it." He resumed to his 
 stenographer : 
 
 rf There was nothing that I could do for the 
 man. It was more than ever necessary that we 
 get away. In pity for the woman, I tore a blank 
 leaf from a book and wrote upon it that I had 
 shot this man. We left that note on the body 
 and plunged into the storm. Words cannot con- 
 vey the frightful nature of the tempest. We be- 
 came separated in the storm through no fault of 
 
 mine." 
 
 ' Why the woman told me she threw you down 
 herself after you gave her your horse," said the 
 Chief of police. 
 
 " Don't put that down, Chaloner. That's not 
 necessary. Now," said Gormly quietly, " just 
 add this: 
 
 "After a frightful experience I succeeded in 
 reaching the station. I came to Chicago, drifted 
 about there for awhile, and thereafter came to 
 New York determined to retrieve the past.
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 313 
 
 Whether I have done so or not it is for you, my 
 fellow citizens, to judge. Whether this story 
 which I relate to you now, because I am compelled 
 to do so naturally not from choice destroys 
 your confidence in me and makes you believe that 
 I am unworthy of your suffrages and thereby un- 
 fit to fill the office to which I aspire for your 
 service, it is for you to decide. At any rate, I 
 declare to you, what is now quite evident, that so 
 far as I am concerned, conscious that however 
 you may regard this solitary episode in my life, 
 which I confess to my sorrow / am now as 
 confident of my competence and my integrity to 
 do what I said I would do if you elect me as I was 
 before the disclosure was made. 
 
 " I have informed the Chief of Police in clos- 
 ing that this statement is to be sent to every paper 
 in the city. He and those associated with him 
 who authorized this blackmailing proposition 
 and I point out that the fact that they made it 
 is evidence of their quality may do whatever 
 they please in the premises. It only remains to 
 add that in the West for some boyish whim I 
 went under the name of George Fordyce. The 
 last is my middle name, and I sign this statement 
 therefore 
 
 " GEORGE FORDYCE GORMLY." 
 "Have you got it all, Mr. Chaloner?" 
 " Every word, sir," said Chaloner. " And 
 permit me to say, Mr. Gormly, that I never hon- 
 ored you as much as I do now."
 
 314 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 u Beg pardon, sir, but me too, sir," cried 
 Somes. 
 
 ; ' Why, you infernal fool ! " roared the chief, 
 " you're not going to give the whole thing away 
 like that?" 
 
 " Mr. Connell, that statement goes out, and 
 by the hands of Somes, to every paper in New 
 York as quickly as it can be typewritten. Mr. 
 Chaloner, will you please make the very best speed 
 possible to you ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " It won't serve your purpose," blustered the 
 officer. " In the first place I can deny my part 
 of it I do deny it ! You hear me, you short- 
 hand man, before you go, and you, you English 
 whelp I I say it's a damned lie ! I never made 
 any such proposition to him. It's just one of his 
 grandstand plays." 
 
 " I beg your pardon, sir," said Somes, address- 
 ing his master, " but I can testify that he did 
 make such a proposition." 
 
 "How can you testify?" asked Gormly. 
 
 " I listened, sir, at the door ; my ear to the key- 
 hole." 
 
 " You hound ! " cried the officer. 
 
 " I don't generally resort to that practice, Mr. 
 Gormly, as you know, sir," pleaded Somes. 
 
 " I believe you, Somes." 
 
 " But in this instance I did it because I knew the 
 man was up to mischief, and I thought you might 
 want a witness, sir. You know I am sufficiently
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 315 
 
 devoted to your interests to have kept silent, if you 
 had wished me, sir." 
 
 " Your statement is of the utmost value," said 
 Gormly, smiling. " It will be entirely useless in 
 the face of this proof for the Chief of Police to 
 deny that he came here and for what purpose. 
 You see there is my word, the word of Somes yon- 
 der, the corroborative evidence of Mr. Chaloner 
 that you were here." 
 
 " And what about my word? " 
 
 " Well, if you say you weren't here," said 
 Gormly coolly, " that'll be about the strongest 
 evidence that could be presented that you were." 
 
 " I'll swear that it's a damned conspiracy; that 
 you inveigled me here, knowing that this was go- 
 ing to be made public, and turned it to your ad- 
 vantage in this way." 
 
 " You can swear anything you like." 
 
 " I'll take oath to what I said, sir," interposed 
 Somes. 
 
 "Good," said Gormly. " Mr. Chaloner, I 
 believe you are a notary public? " 
 
 " Yes," said Mr. Chaloner, looking up from 
 the typewriter, which he was clicking busily. 
 
 " Will you kindly administer an oath to Mr. 
 Somes here." 
 
 It was the first time that Gormly had ever dig- 
 nified his valet with such a title, and the man's 
 face gleamed with pleasure. 
 
 Chaloner picked up his pencil. " What is the 
 oath?"
 
 3 i6 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Allow me to dictate it," said Gormly. 
 
 "/, William Somes, do solemnly swear that at 
 half after eleven o'clock to-night I admitted to the 
 apartments of Mr. George Gormly, in whose em- 
 ploy I am, one Ben Connell, to me known to be 
 the Chief of Police of the City of New York; 
 that on receiving permission, I ushered said Con- 
 nell into the library, where he had an interview 
 with the said George Gormly ; that from my posi- 
 tion outside in the hall I heard every word of said 
 interview; that it took place exactly as it is de- 
 scribed in the statement of said George Gormly ; 
 that the Chief of Police did offer to suppress the 
 story if said Gormly would withdraw from the 
 campaign." 
 
 " That covers it, I think." 
 
 * Yes, sir. Exactly, sir," was the answer. 
 
 "Add: 
 
 "Subscribed and sworn to before me, Philip 
 Chaloner, notary public, and so on." 
 
 " Very well, sir," said Chaloner. " And by 
 the way, I think it might be of service if I added 
 to your statement that while I did not hear the 
 interview between you and the Chief of Police, 
 I am prepared to swear that it took place at the 
 time, place and under the circumstances men- 
 tioned." 
 
 " I shall be glad to have you do so, and I think 
 that will be all that is necessary," said Gormly. 
 " Now, Mr. Connell, have you any other move to 
 make?"
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 317 
 
 " You'll find yourself arrested for murder by 
 your own confession in the morning," said the 
 chief. 
 
 ' That may be," answered Gormly, " although 
 I hardly think so. There are probably cooler 
 heads and wiser than yours in the ring which I 
 am fighting, and I scarcely think they will desire 
 to proceed to that extremity." 
 
 " I will see the District Attorney at once." 
 
 " Do so, and ask him at the same time his 
 opinion of your own course, whether as an of- 
 ficer of the law you have been criminally culpable 
 in your action, and tell him that as soon as it 
 is daylight, information, official and formal, shall 
 be laid before him and that you will be im- 
 peached, indicted, dismissed, imprisoned. And 
 this whether I am elected or not. You dog ! " he 
 cried with increasing heat, " I wish I was back 
 in the West for a few hours where men take mat- 
 ters into their own hands and settle their differ- 
 ences in the old fashioned way! There wouldn't 
 be any necessity for processes of law where you 
 were concerned." 
 
 " You'll find out," roared the chief, whose feel- 
 ings were a compound of bafflement, rage, and 
 fear, " before I've done with you " 
 
 At this moment there was a ring at the door 
 of the apartment. The electric bell had been 
 ringing before ; but no one had noticed it. 
 
 " See who it is, Somes," said Gormly. " And 
 as for you, keep silent."
 
 3 i8 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 In a moment the Englishman came back, fol- 
 lowed by Livingstone Haldane in a great state 
 of excitement. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," he cried as he burst into the 
 room, not seeing the chief, who sat on the other 
 side of the open door and somewhat sheltered 
 by it, " they are going to do you up ! They 
 have unearthed some cock-and-bull story and are 
 going to force you out of the campaign. My 
 father gave it away to me to-night. He said you 
 would be out of it in the morning, and " 
 
 " This," said Gormly coolly to the chief, " is 
 confirmation of your plan, if we needed it." 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed Livingstone Haldane, ob- 
 serving for the first time the other man. " Are 
 you here? " 
 
 " I'm goin' now," answered the chief, rising. 
 
 " Before you go, remember that here is an- 
 other witness that you were here," said Gormly, 
 pointing to young Haldane. 
 
 " So he's been here with his dirty story, has 
 he?" growled the young man. 
 
 " He has." 
 
 " And what have you done? " 
 
 " Chaloner is preparing a statement that I 
 have issued for the press." 
 
 " Be warned by me, Mr. Gormly," said the 
 chief, his voice a singular mixture of entreaty and 
 bullying, " don't send that fool stuff to the papers. 
 Perhaps we can deal on some other basis. If we
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 319 
 
 let you get the election and keep quiet about this 
 thing, maybe we can get together and " 
 
 " Somes," said Gormly, " show this man the 
 door, and if he opens his mouth or says another 
 word, I give you leave to accelerate his exit in 
 any manner you may desire." 
 
 " Gimme my gun." 
 
 " We'll keep that for the present." 
 
 The Chief of Police stared wrathfully about 
 him. He glanced toward his pistol on the table. 
 He made a move toward it. Haldane interposed. 
 
 " No, I said you could not have that," he said 
 quickly, " and Somes, if you need any assistance, 
 count on me." 
 
 " Thank you, sir," said Somes quickly, " but I 
 am equal to the situation myself." He pointed 
 to the door. " Go ! " he cried imperiously, all 
 the meekness with which he conducted himself in 
 the presence of Gormly vanishing. 
 
 The Chief of Police opened his mouth. 
 
 " Remember," said Gormly, " if he says a 
 single word, he is in your hands." 
 
 " At my feet, sir, beg pardon, sir," returned 
 Somes. 
 
 Without making a sound, the chief turned, and, 
 followed closely by the valet who hung on his 
 flanks like a bulldog, his fingers itching to grasp 
 his collar, the officer strode from the room. 
 
 " Now, what is it all about? " asked Haldane, 
 when the door had closed behind them.
 
 320 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 By this time Chaloner had finished one batch 
 of the statements. Without a word Gormly took 
 one and handed it to the young man. He read 
 it through with staring eyes. 
 
 ' You are going to send this out? " 
 
 " Instantly." 
 
 " It's the bravest thing I ever saw done." 
 
 " It has to be," said Gormly. " What will be 
 the result of it on the people? " 
 
 " If I can judge by myself, it will settle the 
 question forever in your favor." 
 
 ' Then you don't withdraw from me be- 
 cause " 
 
 " I am not the withdrawing kind," said Hal- 
 dane. " You're a man through and through. 
 You gave me a new hold on life, a new interest. 
 You have made something of me. I am going 
 to stick by you to the very end. Let me get my 
 signature on that thing. I want to testify that 
 I saw the Chief of Police here, and that I know 
 from what he said in my presence that what you 
 say is true. They will see that the Haldanes are 
 divided, and that those on your side are not afraid 
 or ashamed to support you." 
 
 " I can never be grateful enough to you," said 
 Gormly. 
 
 " That's all right," said the young man, walk- 
 ing over to where Chaloner sat and dictating a 
 line or two to be added to the statements. 
 
 " Do you know," said Gormly, " I don't think 
 we're out of the woods yet. I believe that black-
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 321 
 
 guard is capable of surrounding the house and 
 preventing the delivery of any of these letters to 
 the papers." 
 
 " What good would that do him? " 
 
 " It would give him time." 
 
 " Give me what you have written," said Hal- 
 dane. " My car's down below. He won't have 
 had time to do anything yet." He picked up 
 the chief's pistol. " Give me this too, and if 
 anybody stops me, it won't be a happy thing for 
 him." 
 
 " Good," said Gormly, taking the first batch. 
 He marked them for the most important of the 
 morning papers. " If you can deliver these, we'll 
 chance the rest. I'll send the others out by 
 Somes and Chaloner." 
 
 " Have you any objection," said Haldane as 
 he picked up the batch of papers and buttoned 
 his coat, " to my telling Eleanor? " 
 
 " I wish you would so so. You will confer a 
 favor on me by doing it immediately." 
 
 " I will. Jove ! wasn't it lucky that I heard 
 this from my father to-night and came down here 
 to warn you? Goodby. We'll win yet." 
 
 He wrung the other's hand and darted from 
 the room. As he stepped into his car a number 
 of men turned into the street and approached the 
 house. There were officers among them, but 
 most of them wore plain clothes. 
 
 "Hey, stop that car!" roared a deep voice 
 which Haldane recognized as that of Connell.
 
 322 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Gormly's suspicions were justified. The car 
 had already fortunately started when one or two 
 men leaped at him. One of them gained a foot- 
 ing on the car. With one hand Haldane threw 
 on the high speed, with the other he shoved the 
 pistol in the man's face. The man fell back. 
 The car leaped suddenly forward. The chance 
 was gone. 
 
 A moment after Gormly himself came out of 
 the street door. The men were huddled in front 
 of the apartment house. He could hear Connell 
 cursing terribly. 
 
 " Ah, chief," said he urbanely, " unfortunately 
 you were too late. The first batch of copies has 
 gone by the hands of Mr. Haldane in that car. 
 Good night, gentlemen." 
 
 He turned and walked back to the hallway and 
 took the elevator to his own apartment. It was 
 as he had said. The Chief of Police recognized 
 it. There was nothing further that he could do. 
 His attempt to use brute force had failed. For 
 weal or woe, the secret was out. He stood hesi- 
 tating a few moments, gave a few orders, and the 
 men left the street. The remaining statements 
 were soon transcribed and put into shape. 
 Chaloner and Somes set forth to deliver them 
 to the various newspapers. Gormly was left 
 alone. 
 
 He had put a bold face upon the whole mat- 
 ter. He had taken the brave, the wise, course, 
 which after all was the only prudent course to
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 323 
 
 take. He had not weakened under the tre- 
 mendous pressure of the situation for a single 
 instant. He had borne himself with amazing 
 coolness and courage. Yet the man was abso- 
 lutely stricken to the heart. What the effect of 
 the disclosure would be upon the campaign, how 
 the people would receive it, whether or not he 
 would lose their confidence, whether or not the 
 honorable reputation he had built up by years 
 of just and generous dealing, would vanish, he 
 could not tell ; and to be truthful, at that moment, 
 these questions were not the chief of those which 
 filled his heart. 
 
 He asked himself how Eleanor Haldane would 
 receive the disclosure, and what effect it would 
 have upon her. Although she had been over- 
 whelmed by the revelation of her father's posi- 
 tion, Gormly had learned from young Haldane 
 that he had not thereby forfeited her regard. In- 
 deed, he suspected that when she came to look 
 at the thing dispassionately, when she realized 
 that loving her as he had, he had nevertheless re- 
 fused her; that he had remained true to his duty 
 in spite of the fact that both her father and she her- 
 self had proffered him the greatest temptation 
 that can come to man, she might the more ap- 
 prove of him. He thought that she might per- 
 haps even grow to love him out of the very whirl- 
 pool of sorrow into which he had plunged her. 
 He knew that, while she had repeated her father's 
 offer, from some wild and quixotic imagination
 
 324 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 that it was incumbent upon her to save her father 
 at any cost, she would have despised him utterly 
 if he had accepted. He could not forget that she 
 had kissed his hand as they parted. 
 
 Now what difference would this make to her? 
 She had said several times that what she admired 
 in him was his splendid record, his unblemished 
 honor, his unspotted past. And now what would 
 she think? 
 
 He might have made his defense stronger. He 
 might have said that the woman had shot the 
 man. He might have declared her abandonment 
 of him in the snow storm, her leaving him to die. 
 He might have pointed out that he had assumed 
 the guilt to shelter her; but chivalry was strong 
 in Gormly. It was mistaken sentiment in this 
 contingency, possibly. He should have thrown 
 it to the winds in such an emergency; but he had 
 told just as little that would incriminate her as 
 possible. He had taken the burden upon him- 
 self. He did not care for that. He had no re- 
 gret as to that part of it; but it would have been 
 heavenly to him if she at least could have known 
 that phase of his action. Well, it was too late 
 now. 
 
 Whether he were elected or not, he would be 
 under a cloud, forever branded. The position of 
 the Sachem Society and the Chief of Police as its 
 representative was bad enough; so bad indeed 
 after this attempt, that he felt more or less cer- 
 tain that in spite of the revelation Warren would
 
 THE CHIEF VISITS MR. GORMLY 325 
 
 be defeated; but he would be more or less spotted 
 forever. 
 
 He thought a long time about the situation, 
 plunging in deeper and deeper gloom and sadness 
 as the hours dragged by. At last he abandoned 
 all hope of ever winning the woman that he loved. 
 Well, he would devote himself with more single- 
 ness of heart on that account to the interest of 
 the people; if indeed, after this, they still thought 
 him worthy of leadership and service.
 
 BOOK IV 
 THE VICTORY 
 
 327
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 COLONEL BILL HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 
 
 V7X)UNG Haldane's first duty was to distribute 
 manifestos to the newspapers as far as his 
 copies permitted. It did not take him long to 
 run down to Newspaper Row and City Hall Park. 
 In every instance he insisted upon seeing the high- 
 est responsible person, the night editor. Having 
 discharged his errand, with the one copy which 
 he had reserved for himself, he headed for home, 
 hitting up a tremendous pace as he raced along 
 the almost deserted streets. 
 
 Before he had left to warn Gormly, he had in a 
 few hasty words given his sister an inkling of 
 what was about to happen. He knew that she 
 would be awaiting the result of his interview with 
 an anxiety not to be measured. In a short time, 
 therefore, he placed the confession in her hands. 
 With straining eyes and throbbing heart the girl 
 devoured the typewritten pages. 
 
 Her feelings were a singular compound of 
 varying emotions. For one thing, there was re- 
 lief that it was no worse; for another, there was 
 admiration at the boldness and courage with which 
 the man had grappled with a desperate situation, 
 the dexterity and resource with which in perfect 
 
 329
 
 330 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 honor and dignity he had extricated himself from 
 the dilemma in which the opposition had sought 
 to plunge him, the magnificent audacity with 
 which he had faced the crisis and dominated the 
 interview; lastly, there was a keen, terrible pang 
 of jealousy and bitterness toward that other 
 woman. It was this last emotion that was self 
 revealing. 
 
 Eleanor Haldane knew now that she loved this 
 man. She realized in this unveiling of her heart 
 that probably she had loved him all the time; 
 that the other feelings and emotions which he 
 had stirred in her heart and she had sought to 
 characterize by different words were now blended 
 into passion as great as his own. It had needed 
 this thought that that possession in which un- 
 consciously she had luxuriated had not been al- 
 ways hers, that he had cherished affection for 
 some other woman, that in days gone by he had 
 even pretended or thought that he had loved this 
 other to make her know the exact state of her 
 own feelings. 
 
 Eleanor wondered, as these thoughts swiftly 
 raced through her mind, what this other woman 
 had been like. He had said that she was not 
 a good woman. She wondered if he still remem- 
 bered her. For twenty-five years in New York 
 he had declared he had known no woman as in- 
 timately as he had known her. How far could 
 recollection carry an ancient image under such 
 circumstances? Was she, Eleanor Haldane, in-
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 331 
 
 deed first in his heart? Would she always be 
 so? 
 
 She sat quite silently, staring at the paper, 
 reading the lines over and over again, thinking 
 her thoughts, until her brother who had absented 
 himself for a brief space came back into the room. 
 
 " Well," he said, " what are you going to 
 do?" 
 
 " What am I going to do ! What have I to 
 do?" 
 
 "If your heart doesn't tell you, I can't." 
 
 "My heart?" 
 
 " Yes. The man loves you." 
 
 " He says so." 
 
 " Says so ! Why, no one could see you to- 
 gether for a minute without knowing it." 
 
 "Well, what then?" 
 
 " He is fighting the hardest battle of his life. 
 His fate's at the touch. His career is to be de- 
 termined now. He wins or loses to-morrow 
 morning." 
 
 " Yes, yes, I see all that ; but what can I do ? " 
 
 " It is not for me to tell you. You should 
 know." 
 
 " I beg you to say." 
 
 " Do you care for this man ? " 
 
 U T 
 
 " Answer me honestly, sis." 
 " Yes," said the girl simply. 
 " Well, you don't care very much if you don't 
 know what to do.'*
 
 332 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Miss Haldane stared long and earnestly at her 
 brother. As she did so, she came to a resolution, 
 sudden to the superficial view, but one toward 
 which she had been working since she had read 
 the communication. 
 
 * Will you take a note to him to-night?" she 
 asked. 
 
 " Not now," was the answer. " It's too late. 
 (< I begged him to go to bed and try to get some 
 rest. He will need all his strength to-morrow." 
 
 " But this night " 
 
 " I don't care what it is, you can't get it to 
 him to-night. Besides that isn't the best way." 
 
 The girl sat down at her desk, picked up a 
 pen, and drew a sheet of paper toward her. She 
 divined what was in her brother's mind. She 
 knew what would be the best way after all as well 
 as he. Well, she would do it! 
 
 "What will father say?" she asked half 
 curiously. 
 
 " He will have enough to do explaining his 
 part in this transaction to say anything about 
 anything else." 
 
 " You don't think that he " 
 
 " I am sorry to say it," answered young Hal- 
 dane gravely; " but it was father who gave me the 
 clue, you know, and I am dead certain that the 
 whole ring have put the Chief of Police up to his 
 dirty work." 
 
 He turned away as he spoke and hung his head 
 in shame. Eleanor Haldane had already gone
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 333 
 
 through the fires, and to her overwrought soul it 
 seemed that no further humiliation could be 
 brought upon her. 
 
 " Maybe," she said at last, forcing herself to 
 speak with trembling lips and sinking heart, " he 
 won't care after " 
 
 " Don't be a fool, sis ! " said her brother 
 roughly, yet not unkindly. " He cares more for 
 you now than anything on earth except his elec- 
 tion, and I don't know but that he would even 
 let that slide " 
 
 " He wouldn't! " was the answer. " That day 
 at Louise Stewart's, father offered me to him if 
 he would not publish that matter about the Trac- 
 tion Company, and " 
 
 "And he refused?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "Great God! I didn't think the old man 
 could sink so low." 
 
 " He's been dragged down," said the woman, 
 eager to defend her father. " He's been caught 
 by this crowd and is helpless." 
 
 The idea of his father helpless in any situation 
 was grimly amusing to young Haldane. He 
 knew him better than the woman, and understood 
 more clearly than she the whole situation. How- 
 ever, it was not for him to undeceive his sister. 
 He nodded and said: 
 
 " Very likely." 
 
 "That isn't all either," she went on dreamily; 
 " for I repeated the offer."
 
 334 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 "What! " cried her brother. 
 1 Yes. I asked him if I said I would marry 
 him, whether he would stop the publication." 
 
 " And he refused you? " 
 
 " He did." 
 
 " God! that's a man if ever there was one! " 
 * Yes," was the answer, " and that is why I 
 am taking this step now. If he had accepted me, 
 I should have despised him. He would have 
 sunk," she said bitterly, " to our family level." 
 
 " Never you mind about our level, sis," said the 
 man gently. ' There are few people on earth 
 that are as high as your level; and if Gormly ever 
 does get you, he'll be mighty lucky." 
 
 " Thank you," said the girl simply. " Now, 
 I want you to help me with what I have to write." 
 
 Haldane seated himself by her side, and the 
 two heads were soon busily bent over the desk. 
 
 While all this was happening up town, mat- 
 ters were stirring down town. The editor-in- 
 chief of The Planet, belated at a dinner, hap- 
 pened to come in for a final inspection just as the 
 night editor finished reading the first copy of 
 Gormly's communication. 
 
 " What do you think of that? " he said, tossing 
 it over. 
 
 A few moments sufficed to put the editor, who 
 was one of the coolest and most self contained 
 of men, in possession of the contents. He shook 
 his head.
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 335 
 
 " It's bad business," he remarked, handing it 
 back. 
 
 "Will it beat him?" 
 
 " I don't know," was the answer. " I think 
 not. If ever a man did atone for criminal folly 
 or carelessness by his life, Gormly has. He seems 
 to have been more sinned against than sinning, 
 anyway. People generally like a man who tries 
 to brace up and do the square thing, and if they 
 had a few days to think it over, I believe it would 
 do him more good than harm ; but you see the 
 election comes," he looked at his watch. It was 
 after one o'clock in the morning, " to-morrow." 
 
 " Of course, we will want to say something edi- 
 torially about it." 
 
 " Certainly," was the answer. " I will do it 
 myself." 
 
 He sat down at his desk, took the paper up 
 again, scanned it carefully. " Look here," he 
 said. " There is something concealed about 
 this." 
 
 "What is it?" asked the subordinate. 
 
 " Well, in the first place it doesn't say who shot 
 the man." 
 
 " Why, he says he wrote a confession." 
 
 " Yes, I know. I believe the woman fired the 
 shot, and that he's trying to save her! If we 
 could only settle that question, it would be some- 
 thing to soften the revelation." 
 
 " By Jove ! " cried the night editor, " that re-
 
 336 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 minds me! " He picked up the letter. " Camp 
 Kill Devil, Wyoming! One of the cub report- 
 ers got a story the other day about some Western 
 adventures from a certain Bill Hamilton, an old 
 Montana mine owner, and if I'm not mistaken 
 Camp Kill Devil was mentioned." 
 
 "Where is the story?" 
 
 " I killed it." 
 
 "Where is the reporter? I hope you didn't 
 kill him." 
 
 " No," was the answer. He tapped a bell on 
 his desk. " Send Mr. Abbott to me if he's out- 
 side," he said to the messenger. 
 
 Fortune was in a complacent mood. Abbott 
 had just come in from an assignment. He was 
 preparing to go home when the summons reached 
 him. Instantly he presented himself, nervous 
 and trembling, and wondering what was up, be- 
 fore the two demi-gods who decided upon the 
 destinies of the paper, and incidentally upon the 
 fate of the reporters, cub and otherwise. 
 
 " Mr. Abbott," said the night editor sharply, 
 " you brought a story in here the other day from 
 a certain Bill Hamilton in which a Wyoming min- 
 ing camp called Kill Devil, or some such name, 
 was mentioned. Do you recall it." 
 
 " Certainly, sir." 
 
 " I killed the story," said the night editor. 
 " It was no good. But now we want very much 
 to get hold of the man who gave it to you. Do 
 you know where he is to be found? "
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 337 
 
 " Yes, sir. He's staying at the Waldorf." 
 
 " Go up and get him at once ! " cut in the 
 chief curtly. " My machine is down in the street. 
 Get him up here if you have to kidnap him. Tell 
 him we want to see him about George Gormly. 
 We've got a story in which we think he would be 
 interested." 
 
 " Yes, sir," returned Abbott. 
 
 He did not wait for any further instructions. 
 He darted out of the room and in a few moments 
 was whirling up the avenue. 
 
 Colonel Bill Hamilton had gone to bed. The 
 office force made some demur about awakening 
 him ; but when Abbott disclosed who he was, what 
 he represented, and what interests were involved, 
 they sent him up. Naturally Colonel Bill was 
 somewhat annoyed at being disturbed; but as soon 
 as Abbott mentioned the name of Gormly he was 
 instantly on the alert. 
 
 "What is it?" he asked, peering through the 
 open door. 
 
 " It's about George Gormly. The editor-in- 
 chief of The Planet is at the office. He wants 
 to see you immediately. It's the biggest thing 
 that has ever come off in New York. He thinks 
 that maybe ypu know something about it and can 
 throw some light on it. I have a big car down 
 here waiting for you." 
 
 " I'll be down in a minute," came the prompt 
 answer. 
 
 " Please hurry, Colonel Hamilton ! We're
 
 338 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 holding the presses, waiting for you. Don't stop 
 for anything." 
 
 " Set right down there, young man," said 
 Colonel Bill, closing the door, " and see how 
 quick one of the old die-with-their-boots-on crowd 
 can get into his duds." 
 
 Colonel Hamilton was as good as his word. 
 He did not wait for any undue physical adorn- 
 ment. In an incredibly short space of time he 
 came out sufficiently clad for decency, and grab- 
 bing the young man by the arm he fairly ran 
 down the corridor toward the elevator. The late 
 diners were astonished as Colonel Bill and the 
 young cub forced their way through the crowded 
 hall to the automobile outside. The Colonel had 
 not forgotten the munitions of war, and he car- 
 ried a tin box in his hand which he had snatched 
 from his table as he left his bed room. 
 
 " Get us down to the office in double quick 
 time," said the cub reporter to the chauffeur. 
 " Never mind about fines. Bust up the machine, 
 if necessary; but get us there! That's the old 
 man's orders. We haven't got any time to spare," 
 he yelled, as the big car started. 
 
 They went down the avenue at a terrific pace, 
 despite the protests of the officers by whom they 
 flashed in the night and the efforts that were made 
 to report them and stop them. 
 
 " By gosh ! " said Colonel Bill, as he got out 
 of the car after a nerve racking, hair raising run, 
 " I don't know but what you can git as much
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 339 
 
 fun out of them things as a bronco on occasion. 
 B'lieve I'll take two or three of 'em back with 
 me. We'll have a jumpin' time with 'em out on 
 the hills, and " 
 
 " This way, sir," said the cub reporter, piloting 
 him into the elevator at once. " Here you are ! " 
 he exclaimed after a wild sweep upward. 
 
 He led him through a couple of doors and 
 ushered him into a big brightly lighted room 
 where two men sat. 
 
 " Colonel Bill Hamilton, sir," said Abbott 
 breathlessly. He almost felt like saluting and 
 saying, " Come aboard, sir ! " 
 
 " Thirty-two minutes," said the night editor, 
 looking at his watch. " Very well done." 
 
 " Mr. Abbott, you may remain here, if you 
 wish," said the editor to the cub. " It will be 
 interesting for you to hear." 
 
 " Thank you, sir," said the delighted young 
 reporter, making himself small and inconsiderable 
 in a corner whence he could hear and see every- 
 thing. 
 
 " Colonel Hamilton, I believe," began the edi- 
 tor suavely. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 ** I am Mr. Whitefield, the editor of this paper. 
 This is Mr. Shaw, the night editor." 
 
 " Pleased to meet you, gents," said Colonel 
 Bill. " And if ever you come out to Butte, I'll 
 try to show that we got a white town for white 
 men."
 
 340 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " You must excuse me," said the editor, " for 
 having brought you down here so summarily at 
 this hour of the night, but affairs of great mo- 
 ment " 
 
 " The kid said it was about George Gormly." 
 
 u It is," exclaimed the editor. " We learned 
 incidentally through a story turned in by this 
 most excellent young man here," he pointed to 
 the smiling cub reporter, " which I have no doubt 
 that we shall be able to resurrect that you had 
 once lived at Kill Devil Camp " 
 
 " And it was the worst named camp I ever seen. 
 So far as the devil bein' killed, he was there and 
 raisin' hell all the time." 
 
 " Exactly," said the editor. " I have no doubt 
 we can get many remarkable episodes of that 
 interesting part from you; but just at present " 
 
 " You want to know about Gormly? " 
 
 " We do." 
 
 "Well, what is it?" 
 
 " Read this," said the editor. 
 
 Colonel Bill fished a pair of spectacles out of 
 his side pocket and deliberately perched them 
 astride of his nose. One would never have 
 imagined from his slow movements that he had 
 been the quickest hand on the draw in Wyoming 
 in his young days and that he could even give 
 some of the youngsters pointers now. He read 
 the letter through very slowly. The night editor 
 was in a fever of impatience. Even the imper-
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 341 
 
 turbable editor-in-chief was considerably more agi- 
 tated than usual. 
 
 "Well, of all the damned scoundrels! " began 
 Colonel Bill. 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed the editor. " You don't 
 mean that it isn't true." 
 
 " Partly, partly." 
 
 "And Gormly?" 
 
 " God bless you ! I wasn't referrin' to 
 Gormly," said the old frontiersman. " I mean 
 the Chief of Police. He wouldn't last more'n 
 a day out West after such blackmailin' doin's as 
 that. Why" 
 
 " But the story? " asked the editor. 
 
 " I s'pose I'm partly responsible for it," said 
 old Hamilton; " for I was down at the City Hall 
 the other night when they had that big meeting, 
 and I happened to mention that Gormly reminded 
 me of a young feller I used to know out at the 
 camp named Fordyce, George Fordyce, to a fel- 
 low there. He was slick, smooth, and agreeable 
 enough and we had a couple of drinks together 
 and I let out more'n I'd ought to. Since then, 
 however, I've been doin' a little quiet investigatin' 
 on my own hook, and I've here in this tin box, 
 which I brought down with me and which I 
 keep, locked all the time, some documents you 
 might like to see." 
 
 The night editor groaned over the long winded- 
 ness of the frontiersman.
 
 342 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 "What's the matter, sonny?" asked Colonel 
 Bill solicitously. "Ain't sick, are you?" 
 
 " No, no," was the answer. 
 
 " But go on, please, Colonel Hamilton," said 
 the editor; " and will you be as explicit as pos- 
 sible. We are holding up the paper in the hope 
 that you may be able to throw some light on 
 this matter, and time is of the greatest im- 
 portance." 
 
 " I see," was the reply. " Well, then, all 
 that's written in that paper's true enough; but he 
 ain't told all the truth." 
 
 " Would you mind telling us what has been 
 suppressed or left out? " 
 
 " Cert. But first of all, I want to know where 
 you stand on this game?" 
 
 "Where we stand?" asked the night editor. 
 " We are advocating Mr. Gormly and support- 
 ing him for Mayor of New York. Our purpose 
 in seeking you is to get some information that 
 will lighten the force of what must be a terrible 
 revelation." 
 
 " I've heard about you New York newspaper 
 men," said Colonel Bill somewhat suspiciously. 
 " Is this a square deal you're givin' me? " 
 
 "Absolutely," said Whitefield. "On my 
 honor as a man ! " 
 
 He looked the other straight in the eye. Col- 
 onel Bill stared hard at him. 
 
 " I b'lieve you, pard," he said. " If you ain't 
 a square man, I ain't never seen one."
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 343 
 
 Whitefield waved the remark aside. " Now, 
 your story." 
 
 ' The man's wife was run away with as 
 Gormly, or Fordyce as I knowed him, says on 
 that night he indicates, and the woman's husband 
 was left dyin' on the cabin floor." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Nex' mornin', some of us, suspicionin' that 
 there might've been some trouble, after the storm 
 died out, got up a crowd and went over to the 
 man's shack. We found him there " 
 
 " Dead? " asked the editor. 
 
 " Not yet, but mighty nigh gone." 
 
 Colonel Bill drew from his pocket a key and 
 unlocked the tin box. From a worn envelope 
 he drew forth a worn piece of paper, on which 
 was written in pencil that was very much faded, 
 but still sufficiently legible, a brief message. Col- 
 onel Bill unfolded the paper, yellow with age, and 
 handed it to the editor, who seized it, turned to 
 the light, and read: 
 
 " / killed him, but It was in self defense. 
 
 "Fordyce." 
 
 " That's the first bit of evidence," he said. 
 
 The editor nodded. " That s&ttles it." 
 
 " No, it don't," was the reply. " For when 
 we got there, as I said, he warn't dead, and we 
 managed to revive him with a good drink of 
 liquor, which Pete Breeden that was his name 
 always would respond to," he interpolated. 
 " And he managed to say a few words."
 
 344 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 "What were they? " 
 
 " He said that his wife shot him and run off 
 with Fordyce." 
 
 " Anything more? " 
 
 " Then he died." 
 
 " I see," said the editor. " Gormly took the 
 blame upon himself to shield the woman." 
 
 " He done that. He always was a chivalrous 
 feller, that tenderfoot," said Bill Hamilton. 
 " That's the reason we all liked him so much." 
 
 " It will be Colonel Hamilton's unsupported 
 statement against this written confession, though," 
 interposed the night editor. 
 
 " Do you mean to say, young feller," said 
 Hamilton ominously, " that my unsupported 
 statement ain't good enough to establish any- 
 thing? " 
 
 " Certainly it is," was the reply, " in my mind 
 at least; but you must remember that this is New 
 York, and" 
 
 " Well, as it happens," was the reply, " the 
 statement ain't unsupported." 
 
 " What more? " asked the editor. 
 
 " This." 
 
 Colonel Bill from the same tin box fished out 
 another object wrapped in a piece of paper. He 
 unrolled the paper and exhibited a flattened leaden 
 bullet. 
 
 " This come from a thirty-two caliber revolver. 
 Doc Johnson, who was the only medical shark 
 we had in them days, he performed an autopsy,
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 345 
 
 or somethin' like that, on the body of Breeden, 
 and he got this from it. No man in the ter- 
 ritory ever carried a thirty-two. Forty-five's the 
 usual weepon for a gent out there, and this come 
 from the woman's gun. I'd often seen her use 
 it, and she could shoot most as straight as a man 
 could, that woman." 
 
 " Good ! " exclaimed the editor. 
 
 "That ain't all," said Colonel Bill trium- 
 phantly. " I got here a signed paper witnessed 
 before Justice of the Peace Jennings, the only 
 one we had, and signed by me and several other 
 men, which swears they heerd Breeden say his 
 wife killed him and that they seen this thirty-two 
 bullet took out of his breast, the autopsy bein' 
 public like the fun'ral. And it's made out in 
 due form." 
 
 " It's quite satisfactory," said the editor, glanc- 
 ing at it and passing it over to Shaw. 
 
 " So you see we fellers kind o' thought Fordyce 
 done a man's part in takin' the blame on hisself, 
 and I always kept these things. I thought they 
 might turn up handy sometime." 
 
 " You did well." 
 
 " And that ain't all either," said Colonel Bill 
 Hamilton. 
 
 " What more have you? " 
 
 " Well, I've seen the woman. She's alive yet." 
 
 " Naturally she must have been, or they couldn't 
 have got this story from her," was the answer. 
 
 " Course. Well, the end of the story's this:
 
 346 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 Them people plunged south in that blizzard. 
 We looked for 'em in the spring; but never ex- 
 pected to find their remains, 'cause it was more'n 
 human flesh could stand, such a storm as that, 
 and we naturally s'posed they'd both died and 
 got e't up by the wolves when they was partly 
 thawed out. But the other night I was takin' a 
 trip through the tenderloin for observation 
 purposes," said Colonel Bill as the ghost of a 
 smile flickered on the face of the night editor, 
 " and I seen this woman and had an interview 
 with her. She's plumb scared to death. The 
 Chief of Police who got this stuff from her 's 
 frightened her out of her boots. But I, bein' 
 an old friend of hers, managed to calm her down, 
 and I got her to give me her story. She's al- 
 ways been sorry that she served Fordyce the way 
 she done. 
 
 " I don't know how it is, but somehow I got 
 at the good side of her. You see these women 
 are goin' straight to hell perhaps, although I 
 ain't got no inside information as to that, but 
 however low they git and however bad they are, 
 there's always a soft spot in 'em somewhere. 
 They're women still. And I guess I must've 
 touched the soft spot in her somehow or other; 
 for she told me the truth. Or maybe it was 
 cause I knew so much that the rest didn't know 
 that she was afraid I'd use the information, which 
 I'd never done it ag'in' a woman, unless it was 
 to save an old friend like Fordyce, or Gormly.
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 347 
 
 At any rate she confessed the whole thing to me, 
 and she said furthermore than when them two was 
 goin' south in the storm, her horse fell down and 
 died, and that Fordyce got off his horse and she 
 mounted it, and he walked hisself hangin' to the 
 saddle strap, and she said that seein' that the 
 remainin' bronc was givin' out too, she shoved 
 Fordyce down and galloped away and left him. 
 And I got her signature to a paper confessin' it." 
 
 Again Colonel Bill had recourse to the tin box. 
 
 " Here it is. Now if them don't make a com- 
 plete case for my old friend, I don't know what 
 else to do." 
 
 " Where's the woman? " asked the editor, after 
 he had examined the last paper that Colonel Bill 
 had submitted. 
 
 " Well, you won't find her," said the old miner 
 slowly. " She's pulled up stakes and hit the 
 trail. I helped her, and I don't mind sayin' that 
 I said I'd see her through this thing. I don't be- 
 lieve she could be caught where she's gone. I 
 don't b'lieve there'll be any pursuit made after 
 her; but if she is, she's got to be let go. Pete 
 Breeden was a dog if ever there was one, and he 
 deserved all he got. That's all, I guess. Gosh! 
 I'm dry!" 
 
 " Mr. Abbott," said the editor, " will you pro- 
 cure such refreshments as Colonel Hamilton is 
 accustomed to take under such circumstances? " 
 
 " You know the dope, boy. I want it straight 
 too. Same's we had the other night."
 
 348 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Yes, sir," answered the reporter. " I'll have 
 it here in a minute." 
 
 " Now, Colonel Hamilton," said the editor, 
 " you have rendered the people of New York, 
 Mr. George Gormly, and incidentally The New 
 York Planet about as great a service as we 
 could expect to receive from a human being. 
 What you have said throws an entirely new light 
 upon Mr. Gormly's letter. He is in a much 
 more admirable position through you. I con- 
 fess that I had some doubt as to the result of 
 this publication, bold and manly and frank as is 
 Mr. Gormly's action. I feared that it was too 
 near the election for the people to appreciate it 
 thoroughly; but this alters conditions. Why, he 
 appears in this like a hero. Mr. Shaw, will you 
 put this matter in shape to accompany Gormly's 
 letter, while I comment editorially upon it. None 
 of the other papers has this, of course ? " 
 
 " I ain't never breathed it to a soul 'cept you," 
 answered Colonel Hamilton. 
 
 " It will be the greatest scoop that any paper 
 in New York has ever had. Will you remain 
 here, Colonel Hamilton, until I have finished my 
 editorial? Then I shall be glad to take you up 
 to the Waldorf on my way home, and I promise 
 you that the copy of the paper shall be ready for 
 you so soon as you open your eyes in the morn- 
 ing." 
 
 At this moment the cub reporter entered with 
 bottle and glasses.
 
 HAMILTON PLAYS HIS LONE HAND 349 
 
 " I'm glad," said Colonel Bill as he poured out 
 a generous portion, " to be of service. After 
 you're all filled up," he continued as at his sug- 
 gestion the two editors and even the cub reporter 
 accepted a small drink from the large bottle, 
 " we'll drink health and success to my young 
 friend Fordyce, which is now named Gormly, 
 and damnation to the Chief of Police and his 
 gang! " 
 
 And that was the kind of toast in which they 
 could all heartily join. 
 
 The editorial was soon written. Colonel Bill 
 and Whitefield, accompanied by the cub reporter, 
 whose home lay in the direction of the Waldorf 
 and was thus signally distinguished before all the 
 staff, and to whom, by the way, advancement had 
 been promised quietly by the editor in chief, sped 
 quickly to their respective destinations and went to 
 their beds. 
 
 Whitefield had thought that the incident was 
 completely covered and that nothing more could 
 be added to the amazing story. Before the forms 
 were finally locked, however, and the first edition 
 went to press, the night editor, who still remained 
 at his post, received a communication of such 
 amazing importance that he inserted it after the 
 editorial in large capitals, double leaded, as the 
 completing touch to the most extraordinary an- 
 nouncement that he felt had ever appeared in 
 The Planet.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 
 
 /^ORMLY was usually an early riser; but on 
 ^-* the morning before election day he slept 
 until an unprecedentedly late hour. The tense 
 situation of the day before, the late or early hour 
 at which he had gone to bed, and his long time 
 inability to get to sleep thereafter accounted for 
 this variation from his ordinary practice. He 
 had anticipated something of the kind, and had 
 instructed Somes not to disturb him. He did not 
 wish to be called. He was utterly worn out with 
 the strain of the campaign, anyway, and the oc- 
 curences of this last night had almost prostrated 
 him. There was ordinarily nothing much to be 
 done on the next day, the Monday preceding elec- 
 tion day. One final meeting was scheduled for 
 Monday night, and that was all. What would 
 be the temper of that meeting, after the letter 
 which the people would read in the morning, he 
 could not tell. Sunday morning he had been 
 certain of success; Sunday night it was a prob- 
 lem. Well, he had done all that he could. 
 Mortal man so circumstanced could do no more. 
 When he finally did get to sleep, his rest was un- 
 broken and long. 
 
 350
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 351 
 
 It was perhaps nine o'clock when he woke up. 
 He did not make use of the services of his man 
 in his toilet; he did not employ him for that pur- 
 pose. Therefore, Somes was not summoned. 
 Once awake, Gormly went at things with his usual 
 energy. He was soon bathed and dressed. He 
 had signaled, as was his custom, at the proper 
 time for the serving of his simple breakfast. It 
 was ready for him when he entered the dining 
 room. Somes was there in attendance as usual. 
 A pile of morning papers lay on the buffet. 
 Gormly made a step toward them; but checked 
 himself. 
 
 " Why," he thought, " should I spoil my break- 
 fast by reading what the newspapers have to say 
 on the important subject of my confession? The 
 news will keep. Let me at least eat in peace." 
 
 Denying himself, therefore, the pleasure of 
 reading and it required more effort than can 
 lightly be imagined, he sat down to his break- 
 fast. 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir," began Somes deferentially; 
 " but aren't you going to look over the papers, 
 sir, before you eat?" 
 
 " No, thank you, Somes. I can guess pretty 
 well what they will say." 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir, again," said the man with 
 greater eagerness, " but there are some things in 
 the paper which I think, with all deference, sir, 
 you can hardly guess." 
 
 " Whatever they are, they will keep, Somes,"
 
 352 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 returned Gormly, busying himself with his meal. 
 " I want to enjoy one good meal anyway to-day, 
 and" 
 
 But Somes was unusually persistent as well as 
 greatly agitated. He had been up early and had 
 read every scrap in every paper. 
 
 " I hope you'll excuse me, Mr. Gormly, sir," he 
 began; " but I really think it'll add to your appe- 
 tite if you will at least look over The Planet, sir." 
 
 Gormly shook his head and frowned a little. 
 
 " That will do, Somes ! " he said somewhat 
 shortly. " I will see the papers later." 
 
 After this somewhat peremptory remark, the 
 man naturally subsided, though his interest and 
 excitement were plainly visible in his nervous 
 movements. He was usually the most delight- 
 fully cool and imperturbable of attendants. 
 
 " You mustn't take this thing so greatly to 
 heart, Somes," said Gormly at last. 
 
 " Indeed, sir," returned the man, " we're all so 
 set on having you elected, and other things, sir, 
 that" 
 
 What he was going to say remained unsaid, for 
 with that delightful opportuneness which can 
 easily be compassed by chroniclers of such vera- 
 cious tales, I now am pleased to record that the 
 bell of the door of the apartment cut across the 
 further revelations of Somes with a loud, clear 
 ring. 
 
 " See who it is, Somes," said Gormly indif- 
 ferently.
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 353 
 
 " It's been ringing all morning, sir," said the 
 man, turning to leave the room. " There's been 
 the greatest crowd of people here, reporters and 
 newspaper men, and Mr. Watson, and a number 
 of gentlemen who are campaigning for you, and 
 the street's packed with people outside too." 
 
 " Is my friend the Chief of Police there? " 
 
 " No, sir. But there's a squad of officers un- 
 der a Sergeant, and they're making people that 
 haven't any business go on." 
 
 " Well, see who it is this time," said Gormly 
 as the bell rang again. 
 
 Somes was back in a few minutes. 
 
 " It's the janitor, sir. He says the reception 
 room down stairs and the hall's filled with peo- 
 ple asking to see you. He says the tenants of 
 the building can't get in or out, and he wants to 
 know what to do." 
 
 Gormly glanced at the clock. It was half-past 
 nine. 
 
 " Tell them that I will see them all at the store 
 in the auditorium at half-past ten," he replied. 
 " Tell them it's useless to wait here now ; that I 
 can't see anybody at present." 
 
 " Very good, sir," answered the man, depart- 
 ing again. 
 
 Gormly heaved a deep sight as he finished his 
 breakfast. " Well," he thought, " I have to face 
 them, and perhaps the sooner the better. Now, 
 for the papers." 
 
 He looked around for Somes; but that func-
 
 354 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 tionary had not yet appeared. He pushed back 
 his chair, rose, walked over to the buffet, and 
 picked up the first one. Somes had been careful 
 to see that the top of the pile and the place of 
 honor was occupied by The New York Planet. 
 From the headlines, Gormly saw, as he supposed 
 he would, that his letter and the accompanying 
 story covered the entire first page. He had 
 scarcely glanced at it when Somes re-entered 
 the room, if possible in greater agitation than 
 ever. 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir," he began, his usual method 
 of address. 
 
 "Well, what is it?" 
 
 " There's two people in the drawing room ask- 
 ing to see you." 
 
 " But I thought I gave you orders not to ad- 
 mit anybody, to tell everybody that I would see 
 them at the auditorium in the store at half-past 
 ten?" 
 
 " Yes, sir, you did, sir. But I couldn't very 
 well keep these people out." 
 
 "Who are they?" 
 
 Somes hesitated, looking very miserable. 
 " They they didn't give their names, sir." 
 
 " Well, do you know who they are? " 
 
 " I have an idea, sir; but " 
 
 " Well, who are they then? " 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir. I think I'd rather not say." 
 
 "What's all this mystery about?" asked 
 Gormly somewhat indignantly.
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 355 
 
 " I think it'll be disclosed, sir, if you will see 
 the people." 
 
 ' Tell them I am busy, n said Gormly. " I 
 have no time for anonymous callers." 
 
 "Beg pardon, sir," said Somes again; "but 
 really, Mr. Gormly, if you'll excuse me, sir, this 
 presumption, you must see them." 
 
 " Are you mad? " asked Gormly. 
 
 " Nearly, sir," answered the valet truthfully. 
 
 Gormly looked at him curiously. There was 
 so much excitement and nervousness in the man's 
 manner, and yet it seemed to be a rather cheer- 
 ful excitement too, that it seemed to presage some- 
 thing of importance. At any rate, after a mo- 
 ment's reflection; the merchant decided from the 
 strangeness of the situation that he would see the 
 people mentioned. Still holding the paper in 
 his hand, he stalked out of the dining room, 
 walked rapidly down the hall, and entered the 
 drawing room. If he had looked backward, or if 
 his eyes had possessed the power of the X ray, he 
 might have seen the dignified, self contained Somes 
 dancing something like a cross between a hornpipe 
 and a highland fling in exuberant joy in the dining 
 room. 
 
 As Gormly entered the sunny, cheerful draw- 
 ing room, the occupants rose to greet him. One 
 was young Haldane, the other was his sister. 
 Haldane was intensely excited. He rushed at 
 Gormly with the enthusiasm of a boy; grasped his 
 hand, and wrung it frantically.
 
 356 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " It's all right," fie shouted. " It's turned out 
 better than anybody could have expected. It's 
 killed the opposition dead. Everybody is for 
 you now." He was wearing a big Gormly but- 
 ton and Gormly colors on the outside of his auto- 
 mobile coat. " Whenever anybody caught sight 
 of this," he pointed, " as I was coming down 
 town, if there were two or three together, they 
 stopped and cheered for you. It's all right." 
 
 Gormly heard him as in a dream. He allowed 
 him to shake his hand as he might have shaken 
 a pump handle, could that ancient and useful ar- 
 ticle have been found in New York. He was 
 looking with all his soul in his glance at Eleanor 
 Haldane, who had not come forward, but stood 
 by the chair in which she had sat, her hands 
 tightly clasping the low back of it. The color 
 that had flooded her face when she first saw him 
 had subsided almost as quickly as it had come. 
 She was very pale and trembling. She had a 
 nervous, almost frightened look which made 
 Gormly want to rush to her, comfort her, protect 
 her, and take her in his arms. Indeed, his first 
 involuntary movement had been toward her. 
 That movement Haldane's impetuous dash at him 
 had checked. 
 
 Thoughts, strange, bewildering, rushed through 
 Gormly's mind. What could Miss Haldane be 
 doing there? What did she want? Why had 
 she come? She had heard of the incident. He 
 remembered that her brother had taken her one
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 357 
 
 copy of his letter last night. What did her pres- 
 ence mean? 
 
 " I just came down here," continued young 
 Haldane, " to tell you these things to relieve your 
 anxiety, and to bring Eleanor. She wanted to 
 see you about Well, you know about what, 
 of course, and " 
 
 Gormly did not know at all; but he nodded 
 vaguely. 
 
 "And we should have been down early; but 
 I rather thought you'd be up late. In fact, I 
 telephoned Somes early this morning, and just as 
 soon as you signaled him he came out and called 
 me on the telephone. I believe if we had con- 
 sulted our own inclinations without considering 
 you, we should have come down last night, 
 wouldn't we, sis? " 
 
 The woman nodded. She could not command 
 herself to speak. 
 
 " Of course, by this time you've read all about 
 it in The Planet. That old miner came in like 
 a scene in a play. It was perfectly splendid, and 
 I suppose," he looked meaningly at his sister, his 
 glance calling the color once more to her cheek, 
 " that you have read the other communication, 
 which is scarcely less important." 
 
 Gormly stared at him in utter amazement. 
 
 " I must say," he continued mischievously, 
 " that for a man who is getting everything he 
 wants as you are, you are singularly undemon- 
 strative about it."
 
 358 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " Haldane," said Gormly at last, " from what 
 you say, it appears that the episode of last night 
 has not had the unfavorable bearing on my can- 
 didacy that we expected, and it may be possible 
 after all for me to win; but dearly as I should 
 prize that success, to be elected would not be giv- 
 ing me everything I want by a long shot." 
 
 " I know it wouldn't," returned the young man 
 promptly; "but " 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," interposed the woman, " I 
 don't believe that you have read the morning 
 papers? " 
 
 " Not yet, Miss Haldane." 
 
 " Oh! " cried the girl in great dismay. 
 
 "By Jove!" exclaimed the young man, "to 
 think of it! I should have had the first copy 
 from the press brought to me if I had been in 
 your place. Well then, I'll tell you the whole 
 story. Or you've got it in The Planet and you 
 can read it yourself. We'll excuse you while you 
 glance over it; won't we sis? " 
 
 " I don't understand," said Gormly, lifting the 
 paper slowly. He had not yet taken his eyes off 
 Miss Haldane. 
 
 " On second thoughts," said the young man, " I 
 guess Eleanor had better tell you herself. If 
 you'll excuse me, you two, for a few moments, 
 I'll go into the library." 
 
 " Livingstone! " cried the girl imploringly; but 
 her brother only laughed as he left the room, 
 carefully closing the door behind him.
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 359 
 
 " What is it that I am to be told, Miss Hal- 
 dane?" asked Gormly, stepping toward her, pa- 
 per still in hand. 
 
 Miss Haldane was in a dilemma. She had 
 been surprised when he had entered the room that 
 Gormly had not greeted her differently. Her 
 position was a tremendously difficult one at best, 
 and his failure to read the paper had rendered it 
 almost insupportable. 
 
 " I think," she faltered at last, " that I had 
 better go. You can see me later in the day, 
 and" 
 
 " No," said Gormly resolutely, " you must not 
 go yet. You came down here for some purpose. 
 That fact that I have not read the papers seems 
 to have affected you strangely. If you will give 
 me five minutes, I can look them over and per- 
 haps obtain some clue to your conduct; but I 
 would rather you would tell me what it is, do 
 what you were going to do, say what you were 
 going to say when you came in, than try to find 
 out from the newspapers." 
 
 " Don't you want to hear what they say about 
 you?" 
 
 " I had rather hear what you have to say than 
 anything in the world, and I want to tell you first 
 of all what comfort, what pride, what satisfaction, 
 I take in your presence here. I know you read 
 the miserable story. Your brother had my per- 
 mission to tell it to you last night, if you were 
 awake."
 
 360 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 " I was awake and waiting for him." 
 ' Your interest does me much honor," con- 
 tinued the man, " and that you have come to me 
 now this morning is, as I say, the greatest thing 
 that could happen to me. I don't really care now 
 what the world thinks. You have given me evi- 
 dence enough that you still respect me." 
 
 " You don't know all the evidence yet," said 
 the woman faintly. 
 
 She forced herself to look at him. If she had 
 consulted her inclinations, she would have run 
 away; but that could not be. 
 
 " Yes," said Gormly vaguely, scarcely noting 
 her low voiced statement. " Now that it is all 
 over and now that I have lost you, if indeed it is 
 proper to say I had lost what I had never pos- 
 sessed and never could have possessed, you will 
 understand that it was this incident to which I 
 alluded when you said you respected me because 
 I had been a perfectly straight, square man. 
 Your words cut me to the heart; not because I 
 wasn't straight or square now or that I had not 
 made what amends I could for the actions of a 
 boy and a fool since I had become a man, but 
 because after this I could never persuade you or 
 any one that I had not always been so, and be- 
 cause I could not bear to have even your respect 
 on a false pretense. I wanted to tell you many 
 times, and you know of course that if things had 
 shaped themselves differently and you could have 
 cared for me, I should have told you the whole
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 361 
 
 story before I allowed you to say you would be- 
 come my wife." 
 
 " I am sure that you would have done so, Mr. 
 Gormly," said the girl. 
 
 " And that you have come here to give me that 
 assurance, to show me that you have not lost con- 
 fidence in me in spite of the frightful tangle in 
 our affairs, my antagonism to your to the 
 Gotham Freight Traction Company and then 
 this. That I take it was your purpose in com- 
 ing? " 
 
 "Yes," faltered the girl, "that, and" 
 
 " What more ? " asked the man. " Is there 
 anything I can do for you, anything you want? " 
 he burst out eagerly. " We haven't given much 
 thought to the settlement house lately." 
 
 " There is something I want very much indeed, 
 Mr. Gormly." 
 
 She was trembling now in every limb. Her 
 knees actually smote together. 
 
 " You are nervous, excited, not well, Miss Hal- 
 dane," said Gormly, observing her agitation. 
 " Won't you sit down ? Let me get you some- 
 thing, or " 
 
 " No. And I won't sit down, thank you. I 
 can tell you better standing up. As I said, I do 
 want something." 
 
 " Whatever it is, if it is in my power to give it, 
 it is yours. What is it that you want? " 
 
 He smiled kindly at her. It was a strange 
 time to make a request, he thought ; but the queen
 
 362 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 could do no wrong, and if she chose to ask him 
 for anything now she should have it. Therefore, 
 he waited with eager interest for her reply. 
 
 The woman opened her mouth to speak. She 
 moistened her lips. Words apparently were diffi- 
 cult, perhaps impossible. 
 
 "What is it that you want, Miss Haldane?" 
 asked Gormly again. 
 
 The girl summoned all her courage and resolu- 
 tion. She straightened herself visibly, the 
 trembling stopped; for a moment she looked at 
 him fairly in the face. There was no color in 
 her own. Emotions in her heart lay too deep 
 for such outward emphasis. 
 
 " I want you ! " she said in her low, clear voice. 
 
 Gormly lifted his hand and stared at her. 
 
 " You want me! " he faltered. " What do 
 you mean? " 
 
 " I mean to be your wife," was the direct an- 
 swer. 
 
 "My wife!" 
 
 " Yes. That is, if you still want me." 
 
 Gormly started at her in amazement. 
 
 " You do, don't you? " burst out the girl sud- 
 denly. " Oh! what have I done? " 
 
 " I don't know what you have done," said 
 Gormly, trembling in his turn. " I hardly know 
 what you mean." 
 
 " I mean just what I said, and you you said 
 you loved me. Don't you? "
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 363 
 
 " Do I understand aright? " said the man, shut- 
 ting his teeth together. " After all that is in the 
 paper this morning, do you mean to say that you 
 will marry me? " 
 
 " I do mean just that," was the answer. 
 
 " But," said the man, " you said you did not 
 love me, and " 
 
 " Must I do all the wooing? " cried the girl pas- 
 sionately. 
 
 ' You offered yourself to me once before," went 
 on Gormly relentlessly. 
 
 " And you refused me. Will you do so 
 again? " 
 
 " Why do you come to me now? " 
 
 " Can't you think of the reason? " 
 
 " I don't want to think; I want to hear." 
 
 " I love you then," said the girl resolutely. 
 " You are the bravest, noblest, most splendid man 
 on earth. If you will take me, I will be the hap- 
 piest, proudest, thankfullest woman that the sun 
 shines on." 
 
 " Take you ! " repeated Gormly. " But I can't 
 understand " 
 
 " Will you understand this? " asked the girl. 
 
 She walked slowly toward him. She laid her 
 hand on his shoulder. She lifted her face to his. 
 His arm went around her waist. What she had 
 begun, he finished. He swept her to him. She 
 gave herself up yieldingly to his embrace. When 
 his lips sought hers, there was no avoidance. Her
 
 364 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 arm slipped round his neck and tightened there. 
 And then at last he understood. After awhile she 
 drew away from him. 
 
 'You don't ask me what I have done?" she 
 said. 
 
 ; ' I neither know nor care since you are here and 
 you are mine." 
 
 " Perhaps I should not have been here," she re- 
 turned, " if we had not been already engaged and 
 the engagement already announced." 
 
 " I am very stupid this morning," said Gormly 
 in some bewilderment. 
 
 ' You certainly are," was the answer. " For a 
 man who aspires to be Mayor of New York, you 
 are quite the stupidest and dearest person imagin- 
 able." 
 
 " I have wit enough at least to know where I 
 can get correct information upon all points." 
 
 "And where is that?" 
 
 " Here! " said Gormly, pressing with his own 
 the loveliest lips in the world, which smiled at him 
 and were not refused his touch. " What have you 
 done and how has our engagement, which, so far 
 as I know, was not entered into until a moment 
 since, been announced?" 
 
 "Would you make me a storyteller?" asked 
 the girl, laughing. 
 
 "A storyteller!" 
 
 " Oh, foolish man and blind," said she, " who 
 knows so much of men and so little of woman ! 
 You did not realize that there was a side to the sex
 
 AND THEN AT LAST HE UNDERSTOOD.
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 365 
 
 that was not comprehended in fashions and furbe- 
 lows, did you ? " 
 
 He shook his head, his bewilderment growing. 
 
 " Read that ! " she cried, releasing herself from 
 his grasp and handing him the neglected copy of 
 The Planet. 
 
 She turned to the editorial page and pointed to 
 a postscript to the leader of the morning, which 
 was a discussion highly eulogistic of Gormly's ac- 
 tion and character. The postscript was in the 
 form of a belated communication which had been 
 received at the office of The Planet at the last 
 moment, and had been forced into the paper 
 because it furnished the final and completing touch 
 to the other revelations it contained. It had been 
 printed in heavy black capitals, double spaced. 
 Coming closer to her, so that he held her with one 
 arm, Gormly took the paper with the other and 
 read: 
 
 The engagement of Mr. George Gormly to 
 Miss Eleanor Haldane is authoritatively an- 
 nounced. The future Mayor of New York is to 
 be congratulated upon having won for his prom- 
 ised wife the young woman, who not only from her 
 beauty of mind and person but because of her lively 
 and practical interest in the poor, the oppressed 
 and suffering, is easily first among the daughters 
 of our great city. The Planet feels that this 
 announcement supplies the completing touch to the 
 other admirable qualifications which Mr. Gormly
 
 366 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 possesses for the great office to which he has as- 
 pired and to which the people mean to see him 
 elected to-morrow. 
 
 ' " Who did it? " asked Gormly. 
 
 " I did." 
 
 "But why?" 
 
 " First of all, because I found out that I loved 
 you." 
 
 " Why did you do it last night? " 
 
 " Because I believed that such an announcement 
 this morning, with its implication of trust, and 
 honor, and affection, would do more to establish 
 you in the public confidence than almost anything 
 that could be imagined." 
 
 ' You have made my election certain. But 
 whether you have or not, I could almost believe 
 that winning you, I don't care." 
 
 " Don't say that," interrupted the woman, de- 
 lighted nevertheless at this splendid declaration. 
 
 " Your father and mother, do they know ? " 
 
 " Certainly. I told them at breakfast this 
 morning." 
 
 "How did they take it?" 
 
 " You can imagine what my mother thought 
 and said," answered the girl, smiling faintly. 
 
 "And your father?" 
 
 She sighed deeply. 
 
 " My father, I imagine, is not unwilling to have 
 a friend at court. What are you going to do 
 when you are elected? "
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 36? 
 
 " Marry you the first thing." 
 
 " I mean after that." 
 
 " Live to make you happy." 
 
 " Do be reasonable ! I mean what are you go- 
 ing to do with the opposition." 
 
 " I am going to do justly and fairly by all men, 
 whoever they are, whatever they may have done. 
 Mine shall be no policy of ruin. Some things 
 must be broken down ; but my aim shall be to up- 
 build." 
 
 " I thought so," returned the girl. " And what 
 are you going to do with the one woman? " 
 
 " I am going to love her as no woman was ever 
 loved before in this world." 
 
 How long this might have continued can never 
 be told. Young Haldane interrupted them. 
 
 " Mr. Gormly," he said, " I see you have heard 
 the news." 
 
 " I have heard the essential part of it from your 
 
 sister." 
 
 " Do you mean to tell me that you haven't read 
 the paper yet ? Well, sit down and read it, or I'll 
 withdraw my influence and vote against you. I 
 suppose all Eleanor told you was the news of her 
 engagement? " 
 
 " Well, wasn't that enough? " 
 
 " Enough ! " cried the young man. ' Why, 
 you want to read the interview with Colonel Bill 
 Hamilton. It's the finest thing that ever ap- 
 peared. Everybody knows that you didn't shoot 
 the man, but that the woman did. They know
 
 368 THE RING AND THE MAN 
 
 too that you gave her your horse in the snow and 
 that she abandoned you. Why, man, you're a 
 hero!" 
 
 ' To be perfectly frank with you, Haldane, this 
 is all most interesting and gratifying. How on 
 earth Bill Hamilton turned up at the right moment 
 and told the truth, I don't know ; but as a matter of 
 fact, I do truly care more for your sister's action 
 and I get more satisfaction out of the fact that I 
 am going to be married to her immediately after 
 the election than I will in winning, if we win." 
 
 " You are sure to win," said Haldane. 
 
 " I told you not to say that," said the girl to her 
 lover. 
 
 " Now read the paper, and then we'll go up- 
 town." 
 
 What more is there to tell? Miss Haldane, in 
 view of the new relationship between them, boldly 
 rode up to the auditorium in the great store by the 
 side of Gormly in the tonneau of her brother's big 
 car. The enormous crowd that filled the great 
 hall to overflowing, that packed the streets outside, 
 that suspended all traffic; the addresses that 
 Gormly made; the frantic cheering that greeted 
 him as he stood overlooking the greatest multitude 
 that had ever filled that section of Broadway, Miss 
 Haldane on one side and his old friend of a quar- 
 ter of a century back, Colonel Bill Hamilton on the 
 other, with Haldane, Whitefield, and a great 
 galaxy of supporters in the background, including 
 Abbott the cub reporter, scribbling like mad on the
 
 SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO 369 
 
 greatest story of the day, these have all passed 
 into history. The result of the election, which 
 occurred next day, is of course known to every- 
 body. 
 
 Gormly was overwhelmingly voted in and the 
 votes cast were fairly counted. He received bulle- 
 tins in his private office in the great store. Those 
 who had stood overlooking the crowd the night be- 
 fore were with him. This time young Haldane, 
 whose engagement was also announced, had 
 brought Miss Stewart to keep his sister company. 
 After the final bulletin came in, which assured him 
 that he had won, the others congratulated him and 
 withdrew a space and left him to Miss Haldane. 
 " It is over," he said, " and we have won! " 
 " Yes. No one congratulates you as I." 
 " I have a great deal to live up to," was the 
 slow answer. 
 
 "As Mayor of New York?" she questioned 
 
 softly. 
 
 " As your husband," he replied. 
 
 THE END
 
 BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY 
 
 The Adventures of Lady Susan 
 
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 outraged by what she supposes the infidelity of her hus- 
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 With Frontispiece in Colors, byWeber-Ditzler. 12mo. $1.50 
 
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 Illustrated in Colors by George Gibbs. 12mo. $1.50 
 
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 Oethsemane and After 
 
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 WHAT THE BOOK IS 
 
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