Part 27 (1/2)
”I should scarcely be the candidate of that party if I did not.”
”I ain't interested in no oratory. Are ye or are ye not goin' to keep yer hands off the prosperity of Whitewater?” demanded Noonan angrily.
”Look here, Noonan, I am the candidate for this office--you're not. I intend to do as my conscience dictates. I will not be hampered at every turn, nor told what to say and what to think. I must get to these things in my own way.”
”Don't ye fergit that ye're _our_ candidate, that ye are to express the opinion of the people who will elect ye, and not any dam' theories of yer own----”
”I think I get your meaning, Noonan.”
George spoke with a smile which for some reason disconcerted Noonan. He sensed with considerable irritation the social and cla.s.s breach between himself and Remington, and while he did not understand it he resented it. He called him ”slick” to Wes' and Doolittle and loudly bewailed their choice of him as candidate.
”Then there's that P.L. bizness, Pat--don't fergit that,” urged Wes'.
”I ain't fergittin' it. There's too much nosin' round Kentwood district by the women, George. Too much talkin'. Ye'd better call that off right now. Property owners down there is satisfied, an' they got _their_ rights, ye know.” ”I suppose you know what the conditions down there are?”
”Sure we know, George, and we want to clean it up down there just as much as you do,” said the pacific Doolittle; ”but what we're sayin' is, this ain't the time to do it. Later, mebbe, when the conditions is jest right----”
”Somebody has got the women stirred up fer fair. It's up to you to call 'em off, George,” said Mr. Norton.
”How can I call them off?”--tartly.
”Ye can put the brakes on Mrs. Remington and that there Sheridan girl, can't ye?”
”Miss Sheridan is no longer in my employ. As for Mrs. Remington, if she is not one in spirit with me, I cannot force her to be. Every human being has a right to----”
”Some change sence ye last expressed yerself, George. Seems like I recall ye sayin', 'I'll settle that!'” remarked Doolittle coldly.
”We will leave my wife's name out of the discussion, please,” said George with tardy but n.o.ble loyalty. ”Well, them two I mentioned can stir up some trouble; but they ain't the brains of their gang, by a long shot. It's this E. Eliot we gotta deal with. She's as smart, if not smarter, than any man in this town. She's smarter than you, George--or me, either,” he added consolingly.
”I've seen her about, but I've never talked to her. What sort of woman is she?”
”Quiet, sensible kind. Ye keep thinking, 'How reasonable that woman is,'
till ye wake up and find she's got ye hooked on one of the horns of yer own damfoolishness! Slick as they make 'em and straight as a string--that's E. Eliot.”
”What do you want me to do about it?”--impatiently.
”Are ye aimin' to answer them voiceless questions?” Pat inquired.
Silence.
”Plannin' to tear down Kentwood and enforce them factory laws?” demanded Wes' Norton.
Still no answer.
”I'm jest callin' yer attention to the fact that this election is gittin' nearer every day.” ”What am I to do with her? I can't afford to show we're afraid of her.”
”Huh.”
”I can't bribe her to stop.”
”I'd like to see the fella that would try to bribe E. Eliot,” Doolittle chuckled. ”Wouldn't be enough of him left to put in a teacup.”