The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life Read online

  CHAPTER II.

  A QUARTETTE OF SCHEMERS.

  Saratoga was alive with a brilliant throng of pleasure-seekers, gay withbeauty and dress. Handsome equipages dashed along its shaded avenueswith horses gaily caparisoned, the carriage occupants being decked withholiday splendor. The grand hotels overflowed with beauty and fashion;the parks, where artistic bands filled the air with music, were perfectbowers of loveliness. The hotel piazzas were crowded with visitors;the handiwork of Worth was everywhere present, and nature's minescontributed sparkling gems to adorn fair wearers.

  All was not beauty however, for the presence of shoddy was perceptible,and listeners were amused or disgusted when lovely exteriors shatteredhopes as stately matrons uttered words coarse and illiterate. "Allis not gold that glitters" is fully realized while spending a day atAmerica's famous watering-place and beholding the shams and deceptionsof the fashionable world.

  Saratoga is not merely a watering-place; it is also a mart where goodsare painted and varnished to sell--in fact where many mothers introducetheir daughters, expecting to dispose of them to the highest bidder.Politicians gather there to make and unmake men; "slates" are made orbroken according to the amount of cash or patronage controlled by themanipulators.

  As the afternoon train arrived from the north, on the piazza ofthe "Grand Union" sat three men anxiously awaiting the arrival ofanother. A few moments later a carriage was driven up, and the threegentlemen--none other than Cyrus Hart Miller, Editor Rawlings, andGeorge Horton, chairman of a county committee--arose to greet theHon. Darius Hamblin. The greeting scarcely ceased when several othergentlemen leaving their seats quickly moved forward to welcome thenew arrival. Passing into the hotel, Senator Hamblin met otheracquaintances, and it was readily seen that he was a lion among the mengathered at the great spa to discuss politics and "lay pipe" for thegrasping of power and distribution of patronage.

  After dinner four men met in Senator Hamblin's parlor. The reader bythis time being acquainted with the leading spirit of the party, we willdescribe the others.

  Cyrus Hart Miller, familiarly known as a local politician of the trueAmerican type, held a position in the Customs Department of the nation,having been appointed through the influence of his senator. One ofthose bold and adventurous spirits, who know so well how to control acaucus, he possessed a commanding presence, and when "button-holing" aman would produce convincing arguments that the cause espoused by himwas apparently right. He always rallied the "boys" at a caucus, and whenunable to win by the preferable method of moral suasion, was abundantlyable to resort to bulldozing or "solid" methods. Just the man to takecare of Senator Hamblin's interest, he was a standing delegate toall conventions where he could be of service to his chief. Althoughprepossessing in personal appearance, his hands were ever ready toperform any dirty work consistent with the average ward politician.

  Editor Rawlings, another tool of Senator Hamblin, had been under theprotection of his chief for a long time. His paper, like many countryjournals, was financially weak, but the purse-strings of the Senator,drawn about the editor's neck, enabled him to eke out an existence.When the Senator wished an article to appear in the _Investigator_, hewas such a liberal paymaster that Editor Rawlings never hesitated tothrow out paying advertisements to please him. The _Investigator_ wasHamblin's organ, and Rawlings the superserviceable monkey. Every timethe "boss" desired the crank turned, the monkey danced to the uttermostlimit of the string, but if the string had broken the monkey could nothave been controlled. Rawlings was one of those detestable creatures whohave done so much to destroy the influence of respectable journalism. Hewas of that breed of rodents which sneak into an honorable professionand gnaw only where there is cheese.

  George Horton, chairman of the county committee, another lieutenant ofthe same general, held the office of County Clerk, and although not aswilling to perform dirty work as his companions, was an able adviser,with a mind prolific of deep-laid schemes. Being a zealous partisan ofthe "boss," in all advisory councils he was an important factor.

  The quartette was a true type of the American political clique; theirdeliberations a fair sample of such conferences.

  "Well, gentlemen," said the Senator, "help yourselves to cigars, and letus proceed to business. Miller, what is your opinion of my chance forrenomination? Speak out--let us be frank with each other. What is Daleyabout, and does he intend to make us trouble?"

  "Well--y-e-s," drawled out Miller, "he intends to beat you if possible.Approaching Rawlings on Sunday, he began working on him, even offeringto help sustain the paper if Rawlings would not be tied to any oneindividual. If I am not mistaken he actually offered to advance the cashto buy a new press and engine for the office. Eh, Rawlings?"

  The latter, turning red, was somewhat embarrassed, but soon regaininghis composure, replied:

  "Yes, the cuss _did_ make a pretty good bid for my influence. You see,he knows he can't get along without a newspaper, and knowing the Senatorwould do as well as the next man I just dropped him--yes, dropped himlike a hot potato, so to speak. When I go for a man I'm always solid.I'm a thoroughbred, and no man knows that better than our honorablefriend, the next Governor of the State BY THUNDER!" and heemphasized the remark by bringing his closed hand down upon the table.

  "Never mind that, Rawlings; I know you are all right, but we musthead off Daley. That quarrel with my clerk on the Canal Committee wasunfortunate, but the young rascal can have nothing to use against meunless he resorts to slander and lies, which unscrupulous enemies mayput him up to. We must first get Daley out of the way. He has a littlemoney, but not much; although he claims, you say, that the railroadinterest are backing him against me. See here, Horton, what can yousuggest? let me hear from you. First we will take a glass of wine.Rawlings, touch that bell. There; a waiter will soon be here. Lightfresh cigars, gentlemen; by the by, Rawlings, did you ever visit LakeGeorge?"

  "No, sir."

  "No? Well, you must go up there. I shall return soon and you must be myguest."

  "All very nice, Senator, but where are the 'spons' to liquidate theminutiae, eh? You millionaires think newspaper men can scoop in all theplums, by thunder! The only time we can enjoy an excursion is whensomebody's old steamboat wants puffing up. Now look here, Senator, ifthe door of heaven could be entered for a cent I couldn't afford to evenpeek under the canvas."

  "Well, well, Rawlings," Hamblin replied laughingly, "we will look afterthe press, for if we do not keep this great lever of the world in orderthe world will suffer. Now, gentlemen, let us indulge in a littlechampagne. Here, waiter, fill up. Gentlemen, your health." And theSenator raised a glass to his lips.

  "Drink quick," exclaimed Rawlings, "for Daleys are dangerous."

  It was a poor pun, but the point seen by the party the Senator said:

  "Ah, Rawlings, you are a cool fellow. The mighty men of the FourthEstate are the literary and social princes of the day. Another cigar,Rawlings, and then I move the previous question with additional power ofdebate."

  Thus did Senator Hamblin touch the weak points of his fellow-men. Wellknowing flattery and wine were twin demons, attractive and seductive,with their assistance he enticed many men into his net. He had littleconfidence in Rawlings, well aware that if his antagonist Daley shouldoffer more than he to obtain the influence of the _Investigator_,Rawlings would not hesitate to desert him. Perceiving his embarrassmentwhen Miller mentioned the Daley matter, and well aware he had givenDaley to understand the _Investigator_ was in the market, SenatorHamblin threw out the Lake George invitation, for Rawlings wassusceptible to flattery, and liking the flesh-pots well filled withmilk and honey, when approached through the stomach, the gateway to hisaffection, was at the command of the man desiring to enter. A week offeasting at the "Lakeside" and such private attention as the Senatorcould show Rawlings would apparently hold him.

  "Horton, let us hear from you. What shall we do to force Daley from thecourse? You must have something to say on the subject?"

  "I ca
n tell you where Daley left a bar down, when elected to theAssembly last year," replied Horton. "I know a man who will swearhe received two hundred and fifty dollars from him, with which tobuy votes. This might be worked up and Rawlings can help us, the_Investigator_ sounding the key-note in the editor's well chosen wordsand--"

  "But see here, Horton, I can't run the risk of being sued for libel.Remember, Senator, I am not a millionaire, although I may put on amillion airs," quickly replied the editor.

  "Here is my plan," Horton continued, as if not noticing the remark."Rawlings in his next issue must write a powerful leader advocating yourrenomination, hinting there is to be another candidate, and say in wordslike this:

  "'At this time there must be no change of horses, for Senator Hamblinhas served his constituency faithfully, his hands being free from anytaint of corruption. If the voters of this district wish to bring out anew candidate, it must be one who has never placed himself in positionto be indicted for committing perjury, by taking the ironclad oath as acertain Assemblyman has done.'

  "There, how does that strike you, Senator, and how does it hit you,Rawlings?"

  The latter, hesitating, looked toward Senator Hamblin, who arose,took him by the arm, and walking toward the window stepped out on thebalcony. They were absent about five minutes, and on re-entering theroom, Rawlings approaching Horton, extended his hand and said:

  "All right, Horton, old fellow; put it there. The thing shall be done ormy name isn't Joe Rawlings. I must go to the telegraph office at once."

  Seizing his hat he passed out as a telegraph messenger entered.

  "A telegram for Cyrus Hart Miller."

  "Here, boy!" replied that individual, and seizing the dispatch quicklytore open the envelope. The telegram being in cipher, Miller took fromhis pocket a memorandum, dismissed the boy, and making out the contentshis face turned red with excitement, and he said:

  "Just as I feared. Rawlings has really sold out to Daley. His paperappears on Tuesday, and unless he wires the boys immediately, we'reeuchred! Did you make any arrangement with him, Senator?"

  "Yes, I 'fixed' him, and he has gone to telegraph his foreman. Anarticle left at his office, he said, covered the whole ground and hewould wire the boys to put it in type. To-morrow evening we will go toCleverdale and be on the ground to cut off any attempt of Daley to beatus. Go at once, Miller, and secure a copy of Rawlings's dispatch--moneywill do it."

  A few moments later Miller came in, privately handing the Senator a copyof the dispatch, which read as follows:

  SARATOGA.

  FOREMAN _Investigator_, Cleverdale, N. Y.

  Kill double-leaded leader, "A Change of Candidates Must be Made," and substitute article on sanctum copy-hook, entitled, "Senator Hamblin's Great Public Services."

  (Signed) J. RAWLINGS.

  Senator Hamblin stepping into his bedroom read the message; returning, apleasant smile illumined his countenance. Touching the bell, he orderedanother bottle of wine.