第72章

Jane stood silently by, listening with a feeling of depression which she could not have accounted for, if she would--and would not if she could.Not that she wished her father to die; simply that Charlton's confidence in his long life forced her to face the only alternative--bringing him round to accept Victor Dorn.

At her father's next remark she began to listen with a high beating heart.He said to Charlton:

``How about that there friend of yours--that young Dorn? You ain't talked about him to-day as much as usual.''

``The last time we talked about him we quarreled,'' said Charlton.``It's irritating to see a man of your intelligence a slave to silly prejudices.''

``I like Victor Dorn,'' replied Hastings in a most conciliatory tone.``I think he's a fine young man.Didn't I have him up here at my house not long ago? Jane'll tell you that I like him.

She likes him, too.But the trouble with him--and with you, too--is that you're dreaming all the time.You don't recognize facts.And, so, you make a lot of trouble for us conservative men.''

``Please don't use that word conservative,'' said Charlton.``It gags me to hear it.YOU'RE not a conservative.If you had been you'd still be a farm hand.You've been a radical all your life--changing things round and round, always according to your idea of what was to your advantage.The only difference between radicals like you robber financiers and radicals like Victor and me is that our ideas of what's to our advantage differ.To you life means money; to us it means health and comfort and happiness.You want the world changed--laws upset, liberty destroyed, wages lowered, and so on--so that you can get all the money.We want the world changed so that we can be healthy and comfortable and happy--securely so--which we can't be unless everybody is, or is in the way to being.''

Jane was surprised to see that her father, instead of being offended, was amused and pleased.He liked his new doctor so well that he liked everything he said and did.Jane looked at Charlton in her friendliest way.Here might be an ally, and a valuable ally.

``Human nature doesn't change,'' said Hastings in the tone of a man who is stating that which cannot be disputed.

``The mischief it doesn't,'' said Charlton in prompt and vigorous dissent.``When conditions change, human nature has to change, has to adapt itself.What you mean is that human nature doesn't change itself.But conditions change it.They've been changing it very rapidly these last few years.Science--steam, electricity, a thousand inventions and discoveries, crowding one upon another--science has brought about entirely new and unprecedented conditions so rapidly that the changes in human nature now making and that must be made in the next few years are resulting in a series of convulsions.You old-fashioned fellows--and the political parties and the politicians--are in danger of being stranded.Leaders like Victor Dorn--movements like our Workingmen's League--they seem new and radical to-day.

By to-morrow they'll be the commonplace thing, found everywhere--and administering the public affairs.''

Jane was not surprised to see an expression of at least partial admission upon her father's face.Charlton's words were of the kind that set the imagination to work, that remind those who hear of a thousand and one familiar related facts bearing upon the same points.``Well,'' said Hastings, ``I don't expect to see any radical changes in my time.''

``Then you'll not live as long as I think,'' said Charlton.``We Americans advance very slowly because this is a big country and undeveloped, and because we shift about so much that no one stays in one place long enough to build up a citizenship and get an education in politics--which is nothing more or less than an education in the art of living.But slow though we are, we do advance.You'll soon see the last of Boss Kelly and Boss House--and of such gentle, amiable frauds as our friend Davy Hull.''

Jane laughed merrily.``Why do you call him a fraud?'' she asked.

``Because he is a fraud,'' said Charlton.``He is trying to confuse the issue.He says the whole trouble is petty dishonesty in public life.Bosh! The trouble is that the upper and middle classes are milking the lower class--both with and without the aid of the various governments, local, state and national.

THAT'S the issue.And the reason it is being forced is because the lower class, the working class, is slowly awakening to the truth.When it completely awakens----'' Charlton made a large gesture and laughed.

``What then?'' said Hastings.

``The end of the upper and the middle classes.Everybody will have to work for a living.''

``Who's going to be elected this fall?'' asked Jane.``Your man?''

``Yes,'' said Doctor Charlton.``Victor Dorn thinks not.But he always takes the gloomy view.And he doesn't meet and talk with the fellows on the other side, as I do.''

Hastings was looking out from under the vizor of his cap with a peculiar grin.It changed to a look of startled inquiry as Charlton went on to say:

``Yes, we'll win.But the Davy Hull gang will get the offices.''

``Why do you think that?'' asked old Hastings sharply.

Charlton eyed his patient with a mocking smile.``You didn't think any one knew but you and Kelly-- did you?'' laughed he.

``Knew what?'' demanded Hastings, with a blank stare.

``No matter,'' said Charlton.``I know what you intend to do.

Well, you'll get away with the goods.But you'll wish you hadn't.You old-fashioned fellows, as I've been telling you, don't realize that times have changed.''

``Do you mean, Doctor, that the election is to be stolen away from you?'' inquired Jane.

``Was that what I meant, Mr.Hastings?'' said Charlton.

``The side that loses always shouts thief at the side that wins,'' said the old man indifferently.``I don't take any interest in politics.''

``Why should you?'' said the Doctor audaciously.``You own both sides.So, it's heads you win, tails I lose.''