The Machine | Page 8

in the
papers over that case? An' what more does she want?"
JULIA. I went this afternoon to see the Tammany leader of our
district . . .
MONTAGUE. Leary?
JULIA. The same. I went straight into his saloon. "Lady," says he, "the

goil's nutty! You got a bughouse patient on your bands! This here talk
about the white- slave traffic, ma'am . . . it's all the work o' these
magazine muckrakers!" "Meaning myself, Mr. Leary?" said I, and he
looked kind of puzzled. I don't think he knew who I was.
MONTAGUE. All the work of the muckrakers! I see Boss Grimes is
out to that effect also.
JACK. And I see that half a dozen clergymen sat down to a public
banquet with him the other day. That's what we've come to in New
York! Bob Grimes, with his hands on every string of the whole
infamous system . . . with his paws in every filthy graft-pot in the city!
Bob Grimes, the type and symbol of it all! Every time I see a picture of
that bulldog face, it seems to me as if I were confronting all the horrors
that I've ever fought in my life!
JULIA. It's curious to note how much less denunciation of Tammany
one hears now than in the old days.
MONTAGUE. Tammany's getting respectable.
JACK. The big interests have found out how to use it. The traction
gang, especially . . .
[He stops abruptly; a tense pause.]
LAURA. [Leaning toward him, with great earnestness.] Mr. Bullen, is
that really true?
JACK. That is true, Miss Hegan.
LAURA. Mr. Bullen, you will understand what it means to me to hear
that statement made. I hear it made continually, and I ask if it is true,
and I am told that it is a slander. How am I to know? [A pause.] Would
you be able to tell me that you know it of your own personal
knowledge?
JACK. [Weighing the words.] No; I could not say that.

LAURA. Would you say that you could prove it to a jury?
JACK. I would say, that if I had to prove it, I could get the evidence.
LAURA. What would you say, Mr. Montague?
MONTAGUE. I would rather not say, Miss Hegan.
LAURA. Please! Please! I want you to answer me.
MONTAGUE. [After a pause.] I would say that I shall be able to prove
it very shortly.
LAURA. How do you mean?
MONTAGUE. I have been giving most of my time to a study of just
that question, and I think that I shall have the evidence.
LAURA. I see.
[She sinks back, very white; a pause; the bell rings.]
JULIA. Who can that be?
JACK. [Springing up.] Let me answer it. [Presses button; then, to
MONTAGUE.] I had no idea you were going in for that, old man.
MONTAGUE. This is the first time I have ever mentioned it to any
one.
JULIA. [Rising, hoping to relieve an embarrassing situation.] I hope
this isn't any more company.
JACK. [To MONTAGUE, aside.] You must let me tell you a few
things that I know. I've been running down a little story about Grimes
and the traction crowd.
MONTAGUE. Indeed! What is it?

JACK. I can't tell it to you now . . . it would take too long. But, gee! If I
can get the evidence, it'll make your hair stand on end! It has to do with
the Grand Avenue Railroad suit.
MONTAGUE. The one that's pending in the Court of Appeals?
JACK. Yes. You see, Jim Hegan stands to lose a fortune by it, and I've
reason to believe that there's some monkey-work being done with the
Court. It happens that one of the judges has a nephew . . . a dissipated
chap, who hates him. He's an old college friend of mine, and he's trying
to get some evidence for me.
MONTAGUE. Good Lord!
JACK. And think, it concerns Jim Hegan personally.
[A knock at the door.]
JULIA. I'll go.
[Opens the door.]
HEGAN. [Without.] Good evening. Is Miss Hegan here?
LAURA. [Standing up.] Father!
JULIA. Won't you come in?
HEGAN. Thank you. [Enters; a tall, powerfully built man, with a
square jaw, wide, over-arching eyebrows, and keen eyes that peer at
one; a prominent nose, the aspect of the predatory eagle; a man
accustomed to let other people talk and to read their thoughts.] Why,
Mr. Montague, you here?
MONTAGUE. Mr. Hegan! Why, how do you do?
LAURA. We stumbled on each other by chance. Father, this is Miss
Patterson.

HEGAN. I am very pleased to meet you, Miss Patterson.
JULIA. How do you do, Mr. Hegan?
[They shake hands.]
LAURA. And Mr. Bullen.
BULLEN. [Remaining where he is; stiffly.] Good evening, Mr. Hegan.
HEGAN. Good evening, sir. [Turns