The Lion and the Mouse

The Lion and the Mouse, by
Charles Klein

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Title: The Lion and the Mouse A Story of an American Life
Author: Charles Klein
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The Lion and the Mouse
by
Charles Klein
A Story of an American Life

Novelized from the play by
Arthur Hornblow

"Judges and Senates have been bought for gold; Love and esteem have
never been sold." POPE

CONTENTS
Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

THE LION AND THE MOUSE
CHAPTER I
There was unwonted bustle in the usually sleepy and dignified New
York offices of the Southern and Transcontinental Railroad Company
in lower Broadway. The supercilious, well-groomed clerks who, on
ordinary days, are far too preoccupied with their own personal affairs to
betray the slightest interest in anything not immediately concerning
them, now condescended to bestir themselves and, gathered in little
groups, conversed in subdued, eager tones. The slim, nervous fingers of
half a dozen haughty stenographers, representing as many different
types of business femininity, were busily rattling the keys of clicking

typewriters, each of their owners intent on reducing with all possible
despatch the mass of letters which lay piled up in front of her. Through
the heavy plate-glass swinging doors, leading to the elevators and
thence to the street, came and went an army of messengers and
telegraph boys, noisy and insolent. Through the open windows the
hoarse shouting of news-venders, the rushing of elevated trains, the
clanging of street cars, with the occasional feverish dash of an
ambulance--all these familiar noises of a great city had the far- away
sound peculiar to top floors of the modern sky-scraper. The day was
warm and sticky, as is not uncommon in early May, and the overcast
sky and a distant rumbling of thunder promised rain before night.
The big express elevators, running smoothly and swiftly, unloaded
every few moments a number of prosperous-looking men who, chatting
volubly and affably, made their way immediately through the outer
offices towards another and larger inner office on the glass door of
which was the legend "Directors Room. Private." Each comer gave a
patronizing nod in recognition of the deferential salutation of the clerks.
Earlier arrivals had preceded them, and as they opened the door there
issued from the Directors Room a confused murmur of voices, each
different in pitch and tone, some deep and deliberate, others shrill and
nervous, but all talking earnestly and with animation as men do when
the subject under discussion is of common interest. Now and again a
voice was heard high above the others, denoting anger in the speaker,
followed by the pleading accents of the peace-maker, who was arguing
his irate colleague into calmness. At intervals the door opened to admit
other arrivals, and through the crack was caught a glimpse of a dozen
directors, some seated, some standing near a long table covered with
green baize.
It was the regular quarterly meeting of the directors of the Southern and
Transcontinental Railroad Company, but it was something more than
mere routine that had called out a quorum of such strength and which
made to-day's gathering one of extraordinary importance in the history
of the road. That the business on hand was of the greatest significance
was easily to be inferred from the concerned and anxious expression on
the directors'