Gulmore, The Boss | Page 8

into the
heads of illiterate Irishmen. You'll find, too, that five Americans out of
every ten take no interest in ordinary politics, and the five who do are
of the lowest class--a Boss is their natural master. Our party politics,
my friend, resembles a game of faro--the card that happens to be in the
box against the same card outside--and the banker holding the box
usually manages to win. Let me once get power and Gulmore'll find his

labour unremunerative. If it hadn't been for him I'd have been in
Congress long ago. But now I'll have to leave you. Talk it over with
May and--you see that Gulmore challenges you to prove the corruption
or else withdraw the imputation? What do you mean to do?"
"I'll prove it, of course. Long before I spoke I had gone into that paving
contract; it was clearly a fraud."
"Well, I'd think, if I were you, before I acted, though you're a great help
to me; your last speech was very powerful."
"Unfortunately I'm no speaker, but I'll do as well as I can, and you may
rely on me to go on to the end. The rich at least must be forced to
refrain from robbing the poor.... That malicious sneer at my father hurts
me. It can only mean that he owed money in Kentucky. He was always
careless in money matters, too careless, but he's very generous at heart.
I owe him everything. I'll find out about it at once, and if it is as I fear,
the debt shall be paid. That'll be one good result of Mr. Gul-more's
malice. As for me, let him do his worst. At any rate I'm forewarned."
"A poor satisfaction in case--but here's May, and I must go. I've stayed
too long already. You should look through our ticket; it's strong, the
men are all good, I think--anyway, they're the best we can get. Teach
him to be careful, May; he's too bold."
"I will, father," replied a clear, girlish voice; "it's mother who spoils
him," and then, as the door shut, she moved to her lover, and holding
out both her hands, with a little air of dignity, added, "He tries to spoil
me. But, dear, what's the matter? You seem annoyed."
"It's nothing. An article in that paper strikes at my father, and hurts me;
but it can be made right, and to look at you is a cure for pain."
"Let me read it--no, please! I want to help you, and how can I do that if
I don't know what pains you?" The girl took the "Herald "and sat down
to read it.
May Hutchings was more than good-looking, were it only by reason of

a complexion such as is seldom given even to blondes. The inside of a
sea-shell has the same lustre and delicacy, but it does not pale and flush
as did May's cheeks in quick response to her emotions. Waves of
maize-coloured hair with a sheen of its own went with the fairness of
the skin, and the pretty features were redeemed from a suspicion of
insipidity by large violet eyes. She was of good height and lissom, with
small feet and hands, but the outlines of her figure were Southern in
grace and fulness.
After reading the article, she put down the paper without saying a word
"Why, May, you seem to take it as seriously as your father does. It's
nothing so very terrible, is it?"
"What did father say?"
"That it was inspired by Gulmore, and that he was a dangerous man;
but I don't see much in it. If my father owed money in Kentucky it shall
be repaid, and there the matter ends."
"'Tisn't that I'm troubling about; it's that lecture of yours. Oh, it was
wonderful! but I sat trembling all the time. You don't know the people.
If they had understood it better, they'd have made a big fuss about it.
I'm frightened now."
"But what fuss can they make? I've surely a right to my own opinions,
and I didn't criticise any creed offensively."
"That's it--that's what saved you. Oh, I wish you'd see it as I do! You
spoke so enthusiastically about Jesus, that you confused them. A lot of
them thought, and think still, that you're a Christian. But if it's brought
up again and made clear to them--Won't you understand? If it's made
quite clear that Jesus to you was only a man, and not superior even to
all other men, and that you believe Christianity has served its purpose,
and is now doing harm rather than good in the world, why, they'd not
want to have you in the University. Don't you know that?"
"Perhaps you're right," returned the Professor thoughtfully. "You see I

wasn't