The San Francisco call., 1910-03-06
The San Francisco Sunday Call

SeSSed nlIl
..Wer If you're really interested, Jim, with
smile that was a trihe forced g" think can show you
that I'm not quite out of my The road IS IN
perfectly rotten state and I've found 1t out ItS Oee~
crooked all the way through | don't propose 70 ie'
that chance get away from me. When the facts are
made public the bottom will drop out, OF course
propose to profit by it while exposing It, 1here you
have the situation and it's enough
Good Lordp exclaimed Hope. leaning back IN
utter amazement. "You-you going to expose III
You find it's rottenl You propose to proht- ne
silently apostrophized the ceiling with one limp hand
Eyes" said Carter, warming to his case / know
I've been through the documents I've got the proofs
tell you that millions of dollars have dropped out OF
sight Where are they3 Personally don't care
rap but l stir up a fine rumpus by asking
"A rumpusl Yes. And one that will squash you
like fly the pane"
Carter produced another smile
''Now look here" said Hope, Strengthening himself
with sudden energy Il won't waste time telling you
what forsaken lunatic you But II you're StII
amcnable to reason, listen
81 know your position in this town better than any
one else but yourself | guess. You've done we'll,
You've made place for yourself You're favorabiy
known. If I've got you listed right that's exactly
what you've been striving and planning for all this
time. But, my dear boy, your success has turned
your head. This is impossible. You'll be torn llmD
from limb Cutten won't stop with taking every cent
l.
drive you out OF New York. Oh you don't know.
You haven't an idea He pull strings every
one you've met. Every Yes, even me You'll
be ostraezed besides failing mserably IN the very
thing you count on doing It's than madness.
It's simply chaos" The visitors vehemence brought
him pause.
But have proof" Carter put in eagerly. Il can't
fail The stock will go under like lead
Wrong Hope went on. Dead wrong. You're
the only thing that will go under Why, man. Cutten
and his ring any security any way they Ike
as you would that matchbox. Do you think men like
that would let you bother them? Like enough they'd
have you in Isp by night. But what's the use? I'm
here and I'll keep you from going any further.
By force if necessary
"On the contrary" said Carter, with a sudden
sinking You're too late. l sent the story to the
newspapers by special messenger an hour ago
CARTER LEARNS THE LESSON
What" shrieked Hope, bouncing in his seat
The Virgnian nodded and lighted cigarette. He
handed the other one of the mimeographed copies
the table Jimmy" glanced it through
Then it's all over" he groaned. "Goodby old
man. I'm sorry. did my best" He got up with
an effort and held his hand. Let us hear from
you some time. My wife will regret this"
Carter stared at him. Was the situation really
serious? Was it possible that he had made des-
perate mspay? He was conscious, now, that he
knew very very little OF the part he had chosen
"Si down, Jim.7 he said laughing uneasiy. Eek
plain your meaning 1t seems TO me you're little
previous.
Hope returned to the chair and took up the con-
versation with the conscientious air of who lays
simple proposition before a child "Carteret my
boy you're thousand miles at sea. What possible
business is it of yours how Cutten manpulates the
-th avenue? The things he has done are done
every day like you has chance to
stand in the way of them than he has stop 90
mile train by getting in front OF it.
With all your cleverness you've overlooked
primal facts. If you want to get on, you absolutely
must not pry into affairs that don't concern you It's
ruin if you do. Certain things mentioned
or discussed in society You've committed the un-
pardonabe crime of aligning yourself with attack
upon the institutions that wealth That's all
can say l hope you understand
And Carter did understand. He had been blind;
worse than that traitor to his own purposes. Hope
was right, of What call had he to interfere
with the way this class made its money? His proper
part hang upon the class, humor it, know
it for what it was but to keep that knowledge him
SELF to its weaknesses and its vanities, but not
to seek standup fights with it. His advantage must
come at second hand. He not built equipped
to wrest it in the arena. His battlefield was social
not financial He saw his mistake now, too late he
reflected bitterly
We'll you've done it now" said Hope gloomily
81 suppose it's late call back that messenger"
"Yes The story is in every Office by this time
"And with your name on it, of course
NO l just going to start telephoning when
you came in l going explain to each city>-
editor"-
Hold Do you that knows yet
where the story comes from?"
No But what difference does that make? They
have the story"
Hope had yanked him of his chair and was
watzing him grotesquey about the room. "Still
crazy, he yelled. You're saved and don't know itl
Not sheet will dare touch line without some one
to stand for it. They'll shun it as they would the
plague You poor dodderng imbecile you don't see