登陆注册
15324100000034

第34章

And abruptly the discussion began.Gradually Osterman, by dint of his clamour, his strident reiteration, the plausibility of his glib, ready assertions, the ease with which he extricated himself when apparently driven to a corner, completely won over old Broderson to his way of thinking.Osterman bewildered him with his volubility, the lightning rapidity with which he leaped from one subject to another, garrulous, witty, flamboyant, terrifying the old man with pictures of the swift approach of ruin, the imminence of danger.

Annixter, who led the argument against him--loving argument though he did--appeared to poor advantage, unable to present his side effectively.He called Osterman a fool, a goat, a senseless, crazy-headed jackass, but was unable to refute his assertions.His debate was the clumsy heaving of brickbats, brutal, direct.He contradicted everything Osterman said as a matter of principle, made conflicting assertions, declarations that were absolutely inconsistent, and when Osterman or Harran used these against him, could only exclaim:

"Well, in a way it's so, and then again in a way it isn't."But suddenly Osterman discovered a new argument."If we swing this deal," he cried, "we've got old jelly-belly Behrman right where we want him.""He's the man that does us every time," cried Harran."If there is dirty work to be done in which the railroad doesn't wish to appear, it is S.Behrman who does it.If the freight rates are to be 'adjusted' to squeeze us a little harder, it is S.Behrman who regulates what we can stand.If there's a judge to be bought, it is S.Behrman who does the bargaining.If there is a jury to be bribed, it is S.Behrman who handles the money.If there is an election to be jobbed, it is S.Behrman who manipulates it.It's Behrman here and Behrman there.It is Behrman we come against every time we make a move.It is Behrman who has the grip of us and will never let go till he has squeezed us bone dry.Why, when I think of it all sometimes I wonder Ikeep my hands off the man."

Osterman got on his feet; leaning across the table, gesturing wildly with his right hand, his serio-comic face, with its bald forehead and stiff, red ears, was inflamed with excitement.He took the floor, creating an impression, attracting all attention to himself, playing to the gallery, gesticulating, clamourous, full of noise.

"Well, now is your chance to get even," he vociferated."It is now or never.You can take it and save the situation for yourselves and all California or you can leave it and rot on your own ranches.Buck, I know you.I know you're not afraid of anything that wears skin.I know you've got sand all through you, and I know if I showed you how we could put our deal through and seat a Commission of our own, you wouldn't hang back.

Governor, you're a brave man.You know the advantage of prompt and fearless action.You are not the sort to shrink from taking chances.To play for big stakes is just your game--to stake a fortune on the turn of a card.You didn't get the reputation of being the strongest poker player in El Dorado County for nothing.

Now, here's the biggest gamble that ever came your way.If we stand up to it like men with guts in us, we'll win out.If we hesitate, we're lost.""I don't suppose you can help playing the goat, Osterman,"remarked Annixter, "but what's your idea? What do you think we can do? I'm not saying," he hastened to interpose, "that you've anyways convinced me by all this cackling.I know as well as you that we are in a hole.But I knew that before I came here to-night.YOU'VE not done anything to make me change my mind.But just what do you propose? Let's hear it.""Well, I say the first thing to do is to see Disbrow.He's the political boss of the Denver, Pueblo, and Mojave road.We will have to get in with the machine some way and that's particularly why I want Magnus with us.He knows politics better than any of us and if we don't want to get sold again we will have to have some one that's in the know to steer us.""The only politics I understand, Mr.Osterman," answered Magnus sternly, "are honest politics.You must look elsewhere for your political manager.I refuse to have any part in this matter.If the Railroad Commission can be nominated legitimately, if your arrangements can be made without bribery, I am with you to the last iota of my ability.""Well, you can't get what you want without paying for it,"contradicted Annixter.

Broderson was about to speak when Osterman kicked his foot under the table.He, himself, held his peace.He was quick to see that if he could involve Magnus and Annixter in an argument, Annixter, for the mere love of contention, would oppose the Governor and, without knowing it, would commit himself to his--Osterman's--scheme.

This was precisely what happened.In a few moments Annixter was declaring at top voice his readiness to mortgage the crop of Quien Sabe, if necessary, for the sake of "busting S.Behrman."He could see no great obstacle in the way of controlling the nominating convention so far as securing the naming of two Railroad Commissioners was concerned.Two was all they needed.

Probably it WOULD cost money.You didn't get something for nothing.It would cost them all a good deal more if they sat like lumps on a log and played tiddledy-winks while Shelgrim sold out from under them.Then there was this, too: the P.and S.W.

were hard up just then.The shortage on the State's wheat crop for the last two years had affected them, too.They were retrenching in expenditures all along the line.Hadn't they just cut wages in all departments? There was this affair of Dyke's to prove it.The railroad didn't always act as a unit, either.

同类推荐
  • 佛说大乘入诸佛境界智光明庄严经

    佛说大乘入诸佛境界智光明庄严经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 左忠毅公集

    左忠毅公集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 得依释序文缘起

    得依释序文缘起

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 养生秘录

    养生秘录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 寓简

    寓简

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 树慕安何夏

    树慕安何夏

    匆匆那年,我们相遇相知,却没想过还未把心中的感情说出口,我们即将离别……“江慕橙,你就没别的想说的了,不说我可走了。”“你……路上小心。”夏常安的眸子黯淡了些,望着江慕橙,一个拥抱后,夏常安拖着行李走进机场。看着那消失在人海里的身影,江慕橙喃喃道“常安,我等你回来”……“安思莞,我们结婚吧”已经交往很久的何莞再次发起了主动攻势。(何莞os:我们怎么办,我也不想的。谁让我追了他那么多年。)安思莞望着面前羞红脸的女孩,嘴角微扬“好。”“啊……不用来个考验啥的,不用见家长啥的么?”“你已经见过了。”……
  • TF情深意暖

    TF情深意暖

    由一次荒缪的摔倒而认识了我的爱豆TFBOYS,我以为我就此和王源展开一段美好的恋情,却不知道王俊凯在角落里伤心,王俊凯,你爱我却不告诉我,为什么?
  • 如果悲伤没有眼泪

    如果悲伤没有眼泪

    “毕业在即,陈慕晴的男友成为远房亲戚的亿万财产继承人,她富太太的梦刚开头,男友立马跟初恋复合,干脆地甩了她。闺蜜叶茜给她介绍工作,她阴差阳错进了前男友的公司,还被上司莫名其妙地缠上了,人家表示这是报复她前男友抢走了自己的前程。——那你怎么不去报复他的现女友呢?她伤心、伤身又伤情,唯一的好事,就是一起长大的向斯晚,和自己的闺蜜叶茜开始交往。然而一夜之间,所有人都介意起陈慕晴和向斯晚的“好哥们”关系。叶茜问她:你真认为这世上存在单纯的男女友情吗?为了所有人,她和他决定就此生分。但突然袭来的阴谋,将他俩围困在一起,无法轻易逃脱……”
  • 末世空间之相守

    末世空间之相守

    两枚戒指,一对男女,是命中注定?还是缘分使然!看末世里他们是如何相爱相扶,一起迎来新的世界—
  • 纨绔神医

    纨绔神医

    医道宗最强者傅青阳,意外身死,附身在都县一名小小的医院实习生身上。从此凭借强绝医术,无上仙术,纵横医界,横扫都市。医针强过判官笔,汤药似若生死薄。傅青阳眯眯眼,“我,掌控你的生死。”读者群:145360078欢迎读者进来催更,作者止步。
  • 九曲轩辕

    九曲轩辕

    苍茫天下,万族林立。人、妖、魔、鬼、怪各分一片天地。自古人、魔二族不两立,征战杀伐不断。此时,距离上一次人魔之战已过去一百五十余年。这样长的和平之期,甚是少见。这样长的岁月,对于山中修道的修士来说,也许不过是弹指一挥间。但是对于凡人来说,早已过了两三代人了。至于魔族,更是只是在戏里和老人的故事中才听闻过,却不曾见过。本非良才,奈何性子纯良,本非雏凤,奈何机缘使然。一个少年厨子,有些滑头又有些爱财,心肠不坏却也偶尔使诈。遇上了毫无高人形象的奇葩师傅,几个护短又凶悍的师兄师姐,一套每次拿出都让人忍不住笑掉大牙的本命法宝。穷小子的仙路,邪不压正。
  • 月影血

    月影血

    他是魔教魔主,武艺独霸天下,他冷漠残忍,为达目的不择手段,他无爱无情却独独爱上卑贱冷漠的她。她是十王爷的月亮,圣上的宝贝,是夜阑国最尊贵的金枝玉叶,却因仇家的追杀使得年幼的她流落民间,在饥饿与寒冷中她遇到了他,他救了她却给了她最卑贱的身份---影卫,这个比烟花之地中的人更卑贱三分的影卫,她在永无光明的黑暗之地生存着,唯一支撑着她信念的是那个在桃花树下朦胧的儿时梦境。他是夜阑国的十王爷,他宠溺着他的小月亮,可他却不知他的这种宠溺之情早在思念她的无数个日夜之中慢慢变质,他不知他宠溺的小月亮早已成为了他心中的所有,他的爱,但是他的小月亮早已不再是属于他一人的了,他只有将这种不伦之恋埋藏在
  • exo之血色梦恋

    exo之血色梦恋

    泪早已成血,为你流的泪,早已让我失血太多,为什莫背后要隐藏那麽多,我只想平平凡凡的爱,我一直在骗自己,为什莫要当着我的面说出口,对不起,我心中有另一个他/她,求你,了结了我,就算死,也不能违背自己的心这一切都是你,你为甚么要这么做,、、、你为甚么也要参与,你是我这个上唯一信任的人了,、、、看,你已是高高在上的凤凰,可却不是我的,【某帅哥的话,】
  • 霸道总裁与暖男

    霸道总裁与暖男

    慕安晴是一个千金和娱乐女明星,辰以澈是辰志集团辰志的大儿子,还有一个小儿子辰以莫,辰以澈和慕安晴从小就定了娃娃亲,辰以澈留学回来,第一次见到慕安晴就一见钟情……还有明星之间的爱情······作者QQ群:609367994
  • 华夏最强修

    华夏最强修

    本该入轮回的苏小晴,因黑白无常的大意下,不仅没有进入轮回,反而得到了黑白无常的修炼法诀,她以鬼的形态活在了阳间。杨君笑与苏小晴是青梅竹马,苏小晴虽身死,魂却放不下杨君笑,好心之下,为杨君笑打通经脉,却引来逆天雷劫。渡劫之后的杨君笑改了命,在地球开始了打黑拳、杀丧尸、屠吸血鬼等,最后他顺利救出女友,并踏上前往诸天万界的变强之路。他能否在诸天万界顺利成长,能否救出他的师尊,让我们一起拭目以待……