Chapter 15

by Upton Sinclair

　　Montague went back to his work, but with a heart full of misgivings.He would have liked to persuade himself that that was the end of theepisode, but he could not do it. He foresaw that his job aspresident of a railroad would not be a sinecure.

　　With all his forebodings, however, he was unprepared for thedevelopment which came the next day. Young Curtiss called him up,early in the morning, and asked him to wait at his office. A fewminutes later he came in, with evident agitation upon hiscountenance.

　　"Montague," he said, "I have something important to tell you. Icannot leave you in ignorance about it. But before I begin, you mustunderstand one thing--that I am taking my future in my hands bytelling you. And you must promise me that you will never give theslightest hint that I have spoken to you."

　　"I will promise," said Montague. "What is it?"

　　"You must not even let on that you know," added the other. "Pricewould know that I told you."

　　"Oh, it's Price!" said Montague. "I'll promise to protect you. Whatis it?"

　　"He called up Davenant yesterday afternoon, and told him that youwere not to be elected president of the road."

　　Montague gazed at him in dismay.

　　"He says you are to be dropped entirely," said the other. "Haskinsis to be president. Davenant had to tell me, because I am one of thedirectors."

　　"So that's it," Montague whispered to himself.

　　"Do you know what's the matter?" asked Curtiss.

　　"Yes, I do," said Montague.

　　"What is it?"

　　"It's a long story--just some graft that I wouldn't stand for."

　　"Oh!" cried Curtiss, with sudden light. "Is it the HillManufacturing Company?"

　　"It is," said Montague.

　　It was Curtiss's turn to stare in amazement. "My God!" he gasped."Do you mean that you have thrown up the sponge for that?"

　　"I haven't thrown up the sponge, by any means," was the answer. "Butthat's why Price wants to get rid of me."

　　"But, man!" cried the other. "How perfectly absurd!"

　　Montague fixed his glance upon him.

　　"Would you advise me to stand for it?" he asked.

　　"But, my dear fellow!" said Curtiss. "I've got some stock in thatcompany myself."

　　Montague sat in silence--he could think of nothing to say afterthat.

　　"What in the world do you suppose you have gone into?" protested theother. "A charity enterprise?" Then he stopped, seeing the look ofpain upon his friend's face.

　　He put a hand upon his arm. "See here, old, man," he said, "this istoo bad, honestly. I understand how you feel, and it's a greatcredit to you; but you are living in the world, and you have got tobe practical. You can't expect to take a railroad and run it as ifit were an orphan asylum. You can't expect to do business, if you'regoing to have notions like that. It's really a shame, to give up awork like this for such a reason."

　　Montague stiffened. "I assure you I haven't given up yet," hereplied grimly.

　　"But what are you going to do?" protested the other.

　　"I am going to fight," said he.

　　"Fight?" echoed Curtiss. "But, man, you are perfectly helpless!Price and Ryder own the road, and they will do as they please withit."

　　"You are one of the directors of the road," said Montague. "And youknow the situation. You know the pledges upon which the election ofthe new board was secured. Will you vote for Haskins as president?"

　　"My God, Montague!" protested the other. "What a thing to ask of me!You know perfectly well that I have no power in the road. All thestock I own, Price gave me, and what can I do? Why, my whole careerwould be ruined if I were to oppose him."

　　"In other words," said Montague, "you are a dummy. You are willingto sell your name and your character for a block of stock. You takea position of trust, and you betray it."

　　The other's face hardened. "Oh, well," he said, "if that's the wayyou put it--"

　　"That's not the way I put it!" said Montague. "That is simply thefact."

　　"But," cried the other, "don't you realise that they have amajority, even without me?"

　　"Perhaps they have," said Montague; "but that is no reason why youshould not do what is right."

　　Curtiss arose. "There is nothing more to be said," he remarked. "Iam sorry you take it that way. I tried to do you a service."

　　"I appreciate that," said Montague, promptly. "For that I shallalways be obliged to you."

　　"In this fight that you propose to make," said the other, "you mustnot forget that it is I who have brought you this information--"

　　"Do not trouble about that," said Montague; "I will protect you. Noone shall ever know that I had the information."

　　Montague spent a half an hour pacing up and down his office inthought. Then he called his stenographer, and dictated a letter tohis cousin, Mr. Lee, and to each of the three other persons whom hehad approached in relation to their votes at the stockholders'meeting. "Certain matters have developed," he wrote, "in connectionwith the affairs of the Northern Mississippi Railroad, which make meunwilling to accept the position of president. It is also myintention to resign from the board of directors of the road, inwhich I find myself powerless to prevent the things of which Idisapprove."

　　And then he went on to outline the plan which he intended to carryout, explaining that he offered to those whom he had been the meansof influencing, the opportunity to go in with him upon equal terms.He requested them to communicate their decisions by telegraph; andtwo days later he had heard from them all, and was ready forbusiness.

　　He called up Stanley Ryder, and made an appointment for aninterview.

　　"Mr. Ryder," he said, "a few weeks ago you talked with me in thisoffice, and asked me to assist you in electing your ticket for theNorthern Mississippi Railroad. You said that you wished me to becomepresident of the road, and that the reason for the request was thatyou wanted a man whom you could depend upon for efficient and honestmanagement. I accepted your offer in good faith; and I have made allarrangements, and put in a great deal of hard work at the task offitting myself for the position. Now I have learned from Mr. Price'sown lips that he has organised a company for the purpose ofexploiting the road for his own private benefit. I told him that Iwas unwilling to stand for anything of the sort. Since then I havebeen thinking the matter over, and I have concluded that thissituation will make it impossible for me to cooperate with Mr.Price. I have concluded, therefore, that it would be best for me toresign my position as a member of the board of directors, and alsoto withdraw my candidacy as president."

　　Ryder had avoided Montague's gaze; he sat staring in front of him,and tapping nervously with a pencil upon his desk. It was some timebefore he answered.

　　"Mr. Montague," he said, finally, "I am very sorry indeed to hearyour decision. But taking all the circumstances into consideration,it seems to me that perhaps it is a wise one."

　　Again there was a pause.

　　"You must permit me to thank you for what you have done," Ryderadded. "And I trust that this unfortunate episode will not alter ourpersonal relationship."

　　"Thank you," said Montague, coldly.

　　He had waited to see what Ryder would say. He waited again, havingno mind to help him in his embarrassment.

　　"As I say," Ryder repeated, "I am very much obliged to you."

　　"I have no doubt of it," said Montague. "But I trust that you do notexpect to end our relationship in any such simple way as that."

　　He saw Ryder's expression change. "What do you mean?" he asked.

　　"There is a matter of grave importance which has to be settledbefore we can part. As you know, I am personally the holder of fivehundred shares of Northern Mississippi stock; and to that extent Iam interested in the affairs of the road."

　　"Most certainly," said Ryder, quietly, "but I have nothing to dowith that. As a stockholder of the road, you look to the board ofdirectors."

　　"Besides being a stockholder myself," continued Montague, withoutheeding this remark, "I have also to consider the interests of thethree persons whom I interviewed in your behalf. I was the means ofinducing these people to vote for the board which you named. I wasthe means of inducing them to place themselves in the power of Mr.Price and yourself. This being the case, I consider that my honouris involved, and that I am responsible to them."

　　"What do you expect to do?" asked Ryder.

　　"I have written to them, informing them of my intention to withdraw.I have not told them the circumstances, but have simply indicatedthat I find myself powerless to prevent certain things to which Iobject. I have told them the course I intend to take, and offeredthem the opportunity to get out upon the same terms as myself. Theyhave accepted the offer, and to-morrow I should receive their stockcertificates, and their authorisation to dispose of them. I have myown certificates here; and I have to say that I consider you areunder obligation to purchase this stock at the same price which youpaid for the new stock; namely, fifty dollars a share."

　　Ryder stared at him. "Mr. Montague, you amaze me!" he said.

　　"I am sorry for that," said Montague. His voice was hard, and therewas a grim look upon his face. He fixed his eyes upon Ryder."Nevertheless," he said, "it will be necessary for you to take thestock."

　　"I am sorry to have to say it," said Ryder, "but this seems to meimpertinent."

　　"The total number of shares," said Montague, "is thirty-fivehundred, and the price of them is one hundred and seventy-fivethousand dollars."

　　The two gazed at each other. Ryder saw the look in Montague's eyes,and he did not repeat his sneer.

　　"May I ask," he inquired, in a low voice, "what reason you have tobelieve that I will comply with this extraordinary request?"

　　"I have a very good reason, as I believe you will perceive," saidMontague. "You and Mr. Price have purchased this railroad, and youwish to plunder it. That is your privilege--apparently it is thecustom here in Wall Street to play tricks upon the investing public.But you cannot play them upon me, because I know too much."

　　"May I know what you propose to do?" asked Ryder.

　　"You certainly may," said the other. "I propose to fight. Until youhave purchased my stock and the stock of my friends, I shall remaina director in the railroad, and also a candidate for the position ofpresident. I shall make a contest at the next directors' meeting,and if I fail in my purpose there, I shall carry the fight beforethe public. I flatter myself that my reputation will count forsomething in my old home; you will not be able to carry matters withquite the same high hand in Mississippi as you are accustomed to inNew York. Also, I shall fight you in the courts. I don't happen toknow just what is the law in regard to the plundering of apublic-service corporation by its own directors, but I shall be verymuch surprised if I cannot find some ground upon which to put a stopto it. Also, as you know, I am in possession of facts regarding themeans whereby you got your new privileges from the StateLegislature--"

　　Ryder was glaring at him in rage. "Mr. Montague," he cried, "this isblackmail!"

　　"You may call it that if you please," said the other. "I shall notbe afraid to face the charge, if you should see fit to bring it inthe courts."

　　Ryder started to reply, then caught his breath and gasped. When hespoke again, he had mastered himself. "It seems to me a mostextraordinary thing," he said. "Surely, Mr. Montague, you cannotfeel at liberty to make public what you learned from Mr. Price andmyself while you were acting as our confidential adviser! Surely youcannot have forgotten the pledge of secrecy which you gave me herein this office!"

　　"I have not forgotten it," answered Montague. "And I have consideredthe matter with the greatest care. I consider that it is you whohave violated a pledge. I believe that your violation was adeliberate one--that you had intended it from the very beginning.You assured me that you wished an honest administration of the road.I don't believe that you ever did wish it; I believe that you had nothought whatever except to use me as your tool to secure the controlof the railroad, without buying out the remaining stockholders.Having accomplished that purpose, you are perfectly willing to haveme retire. In fact, I have made up my mind that you never intendedthat I should be president--I have all along been suspicious aboutit. But I can assure you that you have struck the wrong man; youcannot play with me in any such manner. I have no idea whatever ofretiring from the railroad and permitting you and Mr. Price toexploit it, and to deprive me of the value of my holdings--"

　　Montague was going on, but the other interrupted him quickly. "Irecognise the justice of what you say there, Mr. Montague," said he."So far as your own shares are concerned, you are entitled to bebought out. I am sure that that is a fair basis--"

　　"On the contrary," said Montague, "it's a basis the suggestion ofwhich I take as an insult. I have been the means of placing otherpeople at your mercy. My reputation and my promises were used forthat purpose, and to whatever I am entitled, they are entitledequally. There can be no possible settlement except the one which Ihave offered you."

　　Ryder could think of nothing more to say. He sat staring at theother. And Montague, who had no desire to prolong the interview,arose abruptly.

　　"I do not expect you to decide this matter immediately," he said. "Ipresume that you will wish to consult with Mr. Price. I have madeknown my terms to you, and I have nothing more to say. Either youwill accept the terms, or I shall drop everything else, and prepareto fight you at every step. I expect to receive the stock by thisevening's mail, and I am obliged to ask you to favour me with adecision by to-morrow noon, so that we can close the matter upwithout delay."

　　And with that he bowed formally and took his departure.

　　The next morning's mail brought him a letter from William E.Davenant. "My dear Mr. Montague," it read. "It is reported to methat you have thirty-five hundred shares of the stock of theNorthern Mississippi Railroad which you desire to sell at fiftydollars a share. If you will bring the stock to my office to-day, Ishall be glad to purchase it."

　　Having received the letters from the South, Montague wentimmediately. Davenant was formal; but Montague could catch ahumorous twinkle in his eye, which seemed to say, quiteconfidentially, that he appreciated the joke.

　　"That ends the matter," he said, as he blotted the last ofMontague's signatures. "And I trust you will permit me to say, Mr.Montague, that I consider you an exceedingly capable business man."

　　"I appreciate the compliment," replied Montague, drily.