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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Machine, by Upton Sinclair
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Machine
+
+Author: Upton Sinclair
+
+Posting Date: February 28, 2009 [EBook #3304]
+Release Date: July, 2002
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MACHINE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading team
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MACHINE
+
+By Upton Sinclair
+
+
+
+
+CHARACTERS
+
+     (In order of appearance)
+
+     JULIA PATTERSON: a magazine writer.
+     JACK BULLEN: a parlor Socialist.
+     LAURA HEGAN: Hegan's daughter.
+     ALLAN MONTAGUE: a lawyer.
+     JIM HEGAN: the traction king.
+     ANNIE ROBERTS: a girl of the slums.
+     ROBERT GRIMES: the boss.
+     ANDREWS: Hegan's secretary.
+     PARKER: a clerk.
+
+                              ACT I
+
+ Julia Patterson's apartments in a model tenement on the lower East
+ Side.
+
+                             ACT II
+
+ Library at "The Towers," Hegan's country place on Long Island, two
+ weeks later.
+
+                             ACT III
+
+ Hegan's private office in Wall street, the next morning.
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MACHINE
+
+
+
+
+ACT I
+
+
+[JULIA PATTERSON'S apartments in a model tenement on the lower East
+Side. The scene shows the living-room, furnished very plainly, but in
+the newest taste; "arts and crafts" furniture, portraits of Morris and
+Ruskin on the walls; a centre table, a couple of easy-chairs, a divan
+and many book-shelves. The entrance from the outer hall is at centre;
+entrance to the other rooms right and left.]
+
+[At rise: JULIA has pushed back the lamp from the table and is having a
+light supper, with a cup of tea; and at the same time trying to read a
+magazine, which obstinately refuses to remain open at the right place.
+She is an attractive and intelligent woman of thirty. The doorbell
+rings.]
+
+JULIA. Ah, Jack! [Presses button, then goes to the door.]
+
+JACK. [Enters, having come upstairs at a run. He is a college graduate
+and volunteer revolutionist, one of the organizers of the "Society of
+the Friends of Russian Freedom"; handsome and ardent, eager in manner,
+and a great talker.] Hello, Julia. All alone?
+
+JULIA. Yes. I expected a friend, but she can't come until later.
+
+JACK. Just eating?
+
+JULIA. I've been on the go all day. Have something.
+
+JACK. No; I had dinner. [As she starts to clear things away.] Don't stop
+on my account.
+
+JULIA. I was just finishing up. [As he begins to help.] No; sit down.
+
+JACK. Nonsense. Let the men be of some use in the world.
+
+JULIA. What have you been up to to-day?
+
+JACK. We're organizing a demonstration for the Swedish strikers.
+
+JULIA. It's marvelous how those Swedes hold on, isn't it?
+
+JACK. The people are getting their eyes open. And when they're once
+open, they stay open.
+
+JULIA. Yes. Did you see my article?
+
+JACK. I should think I did! Julia, that was a dandy!
+
+JULIA. Do you think so?
+
+JACK. I do, indeed. You've made a hit. I heard a dozen people talking
+about it.
+
+JULIA. Indeed?
+
+JACK. You've come to be the champion female muck-raker of the country, I
+think.
+
+[JULIA laughs.]
+
+JACK. Why did you want to see me so specially tonight?
+
+JULIA. I've a friend I want you to meet. Somebody I'm engaged in
+educating.
+
+JACK. You seem to have chosen me for your favorite proselytizer.
+
+JULIA. You've seen things with your own eyes, Jack.
+
+JACK. Yes; I suppose so.
+
+JULIA. And you know how to tell about them. And you've such an engaging
+way about you...nobody could help but take to you.
+
+JACK. Cut out the taffy. Who's your friend?
+
+JULIA. Her name's Hegan.
+
+JACK. A woman?
+
+JULIA. A girl, yes. And she's coming right along, Jack. You must take a
+little trouble with her, for if we can only bring her through, she can
+do a lot for us. She's got no end of money.
+
+JACK. No relative of Jim Hegan, I hope?
+
+JULIA. She's his daughter.
+
+JACK. [With a bound.] What!
+
+JULIA. His only daughter.
+
+JACK. Good God, Julia!
+
+JULIA. What's the matter?
+
+JACK. You know I don't want to meet people like that.
+
+JULIA. Why not?
+
+JACK. I don't care to mix with them. I've nothing to say to them.
+
+JULIA. My dear Jack, the girl can't help her father.
+
+JACK. I know that, and I'm sorry for her. But, meantime, I've got my
+work to do...
+
+JULIA. You couldn't be doing any better work than this. If we can make a
+Socialist of Laura Hegan...
+
+JACK. Oh, stuff, Julia! I've given up chasing after will-o'-the-wisps
+like that.
+
+JULIA.--But think what she could do!
+
+JACK. Yes. I used to think what a whole lot of people could do. You
+might as well ask me to think what her father could do... if he only
+wanted to do it, instead of poisoning the life-blood of the city, and
+piling up his dirty millions. Go about this town and see the misery and
+horror... and think that it's Jim Hegan who sits at the top and reaps
+the profit of it all! It's Jim Hegan who is back of the organization...
+he's the real power behind Boss Grimes. It's he who puts up the money
+and makes possible this whole regime of vice and graft...
+
+JULIA. My dear boy, don't be silly.
+
+JACK. How do you mean? Isn't it true?
+
+JULIA. Of course it's true... but why declaim to me about it? You forget
+you are talking to the champion female muckraker of the country.
+
+JACK. Yes, that's right. But I don't want to meet these people socially.
+They mean well, a lot of them, I suppose; but they've been accustomed
+all their lives to being people of importance... to have everybody stand
+in awe of them, because of their stolen money, and all the wonderful
+things they might do with it if they only would.
+
+JULIA. My dear Jack, did you ever observe anything of the tuft-hunter in
+me?
+
+JACK. No, I don't know that I have. But it's never too late.
+
+JULIA. [Laughing.] Well, until you do, have a little faith in me! Meet
+Laura Hegan, and judge for yourself.
+
+JACK. [Grumbling.] All right, I'll meet her. But let me tell you, I
+don't propose to spare her feelings. She'll get things straight from me.
+
+JULIA. That's all right, my boy. Give her the class war and the
+Revolution with a capital R! Tell her you're the only original
+representative of the disinherited proletariat, and that some day,
+before long, you intend to plant the red flag over her daddy's palace.
+[Seriously.] Of course, what you'll actually do is meet her like a
+gentleman, and tell her of some of your adventures in Russia, and give
+her some idea of what's going on outside of her little Fifth avenue set.
+J ACK. Where did you run on to her?
+
+JULIA. I met her at the settlement.
+
+JACK. Good Lord! Jim Hegan's daughter! [Laughs.] They were toadying to
+her there, I'll wager.
+
+JULIA. Well, you know what settlement people are. She's been coming
+there for quite a while, and seems to be interested. She's given them
+quite a lot of money.
+
+JACK. No doubt.
+
+JULIA. I had a little talk with her one afternoon. She's a quiet,
+self-contained girl, but she gave me a peculiar impression. She seemed
+to be unhappy; there was a kind of troubled note in what she said. I had
+felt uncomfortable about meeting her... you can imagine, after my study
+of "Tammany and the Traction Trust."
+
+JACK. Did she mention that?
+
+JULIA. No, she never has. But I've several times had the feeling that
+she was trying to get up the courage to do it. I've thought, somehow,
+that she must be suffering about her father.
+
+JACK. My God! Wouldn't it be a joke if Nemesis were to get at Jim Hegan
+through his daughter?
+
+JULIA. Yes; wouldn't it!
+
+JACK. How do you suppose he takes her reform activities?
+
+JULIA. I don't know, but I fancy they must have had it out. She's not
+the sort of person to let herself be turned back when her mind's made
+up.
+
+JACK. A sort of chip of the old block. [After a pause.] If I'd known
+what was up, I wouldn't have suggested asking anybody else to come.. .
+
+JULIA. Oh, that's all right; it won't make any difference.
+
+JACK. This chap, Montague, that I 'phoned to you about... he's a sort of
+a convert of my own.
+
+JULIA. I see. We'll reciprocate.
+
+JACK. I think I've got Montague pretty well landed. You'll be interested
+in him... it's quite a story. It was last election day...
+
+[The bell rings.]
+
+JULIA. Ah, there's somebody. [She goes to the door; calls.] Is that you,
+Miss Hegan?
+
+LAURA. [Off.] Yes, it's I.
+
+JULIA. You found your way, did you?
+
+LAURA. Oh, no trouble at all. [Enters, a tall, stately girl, about
+twenty-three; simply but elegantly clad.] How do you do?
+
+JULIA. I am so glad to see you. Jack, this is Miss Hegan. Mr. Bullen.
+
+LAURA. How do you do, Mr. Bullen?
+
+JACK. I am very glad to meet you, Miss Hegan.
+
+JULIA. Let me take your things.
+
+LAURA. [Looking about.] Oh, what a cozy place! I think these model
+tenements are delightful.
+
+JULIA. They're indispensable to us agitators... an oasis in a desert.
+
+JACK. Built for the proletariat, and inhabited by cranks.
+
+LAURA. Is that the truth?
+
+JULIA. It's certainly the truth about this one. Below me are two
+painters and a settlement worker, and next door is a blind Anarchist and
+a Yiddish poet.
+
+LAURA. What's the reason for it?
+
+JULIA. [Going to room off left with LAURA's things.] The places are
+clean and cheap; and whenever the poor can't pay their rent, we take
+their homes.
+
+JACK. The elimination of the unfit.
+
+LAURA. It sounds like a tragic explanation; but I guess it's true.
+[Looking at Jack.] And so this is Mr. Bullen. For such a famous
+revolutionist, I expected to find some one more dangerous-looking.
+
+JULIA. [Returning.] Don't make up your mind too soon about Jack. He's
+liable to startle you.
+
+LAURA. I'm not easily startled any more. I'm getting quite used to
+meeting revolutionists.
+
+JACK. You don't call them revolutionists that you meet at the
+settlement, I hope?
+
+LAURA. No; but all sorts of people come there.
+
+JULIA. By the way, Jack 'phoned me this afternoon, and said he'd invited
+a friend here. I hope you don't mind.
+
+LAURA. Why, no; not at all. Is it one of your Russian friends?
+
+JACK. Oh, no; he's an American. His name is Montague. I was just
+starting to tell Julia about him when you came in.
+
+LAURA. Go ahead.
+
+JACK. It was quite an adventure. I don't know that I've ever had one
+that was more exciting. And I've had quite some, you know.
+
+LAURA. Yes; I've been told so.
+
+JACK. It was last election day, in a polling place on the Bowery. I was
+a watcher for the Socialists, and this Montague was one of the watchers
+for the reform crowd. The other one was drunk, and so he had the work
+all to himself. It was in the heart of Leary's district, and the crowd
+there was a tough one, I can tell you. It was a close election.
+
+LAURA. Yes; I know.
+
+JACK. There'd been all kinds of monkey-work going on, and the box was
+full of marked and defective ballots, and Montague set to work to make
+them throw them out. I didn't pay much attention at first. I was only
+there to see that our own ballots were counted; but pretty soon I began
+to take interest. He had every one in the place against him. There was
+a Tammany inspector of elections and four tally clerks... all in with
+Tammany, of course. There were three or four Tammany policemen, and,
+outside of the railing, the worst crowd of toughs that ever you laid
+eyes on. To make matters worse, there were several men inside who had
+no business to be there... one of them a Judge of the City Court, and
+another a State's attorney... and all of them storming at Montague.
+
+JULIA. What did he do?
+
+JACK. He just made them throw out the marked ballots. They were willing
+enough to put them to one side, but wanted to count them in on the tally
+sheets. And, of course, Montague knew perfectly well that if they ever
+counted them in they'd close up at the end, and that would be all there
+was to it. He had the law with him, of course. He's a lawyer himself,
+and he seemed to know it all by heart; and he'd quote it to them,
+paragraph by paragraph, and they'd look it up and find that he was
+right, and, of course, that only made them madder. The old Judge
+would start up in his seat. "Officer!" he'd shout (he was a red-faced,
+ignorant fellow... a typical barroom politician), "I demand that you put
+that man out of here." And the cop actually laid his hand on Montague's
+shoulder; if he'd ever been landed on the other side of that railing
+the crowd would have torn him to pieces. But the man stayed as cool as
+a cucumber. "Officer," he said, "you are aware that I am an election
+official, here under the protection of the law; and if you refuse me
+that protection you are liable to a sentence in State's prison." Then
+he'd quote another paragraph.
+
+JULIA. It's a wonder he ever held them.
+
+JACK. He did it; he made them throw out forty-seven ballots... and
+thirty-eight of them were Tammany ballots, too. There was one time
+when I thought the gang was going to break loose, and I sneaked out and
+telephoned for help. Then I came back and spoke up for him. I wanted
+them to know there'd be one witness. You should have seen the grateful
+look that Montague gave me.
+
+LAURA. I can imagine it.
+
+JULIA. And how did it end?
+
+JACK. Why, you see, we kept them there till eleven o'clock at night, and
+by that time everybody knew that Tammany had won, and the ballots were
+not needed. So the old Judge patted us on the back and told us we were
+heroes, and invited us out to get drunk with him. Montague and I walked
+home together through the election din, and got acquainted. I don't know
+that I ever met a man I took to more quickly.
+
+LAURA. You are making a Socialist out of him, of course?
+
+JACK. Oh, he's coming on. But he is not the sort of man to take his
+ideas from any one else... he wants to see for himself. He hasn't
+been in New York long, you know... he comes from the South... from
+Mississippi.
+
+LAURA. [Startled.] From Mississippi! What's his first name?
+
+JACK. Allan.
+
+LAURA. [Betraying emotion.] Allan Montague!
+
+JACK. Do you know him?
+
+LAURA. Yes; I know him very well, indeed. Oh... I didn't... that is... I
+have not seen him for a long time. [Recovering her poise.] Is he surely
+coming?
+
+JACK. He generally keeps his engagements.
+
+JULIA. How did you come to know him?
+
+LAURA. He's Ollie Montague's brother.
+
+JACK. Who's Ollie Montague?
+
+LAURA. He's one of those pretty boys that everybody knows in society; he
+brought his brother up from the South to introduce him. He was in some
+business deal or other with my father. Then he seemed to drop out of
+everything, and nobody sees him any more. I don't know why.
+
+JACK. I think he was disgusted with his experiences.
+
+LAURA. Oh!
+
+JACK. [Realizing that he had said something awkward.] I think I was
+the first Socialist he'd ever met. He had just gotten to the stage of
+despair. He'd started out with a long program of reforms... and he was
+going to educate the people to them... one by one, until he'd made them
+all effective. I said to him: "By the time you've got the attention
+of the public on reform number thirty... what do you suppose the
+politicians will have been doing with reform number one?"
+
+JULIA. We all have to go through that stage. I can remember just as
+well... [A ring upon the bell.] Ah, there he is.
+
+JACK. [Rises and goes to the door.] But I think he's most through
+butting his head against the stone wall! [Calls.] Are you there, old
+man?
+
+MONTAGUE. [Off.] I'm here!
+
+JACK. How are you?
+
+MONTAGUE. Fine!
+
+JACK. Come right in.
+
+MONTAGUE. [Enters; a tall, handsome man of thirty; self-contained and
+slow of speech; the dark type of a Southerner.] I'm a trifle late.
+[Sees LAURA; starts.] Miss Hegan! You! [Recovers himself.] Why... an
+unexpected pleasure!
+
+LAURA. Unexpected on both sides, Mr. Montague.
+
+MONTAGUE. I'm delighted to meet you, really!
+
+[They shake hands.]
+
+JACK. Julia, my friend, Mr. Montague. Miss Patterson.
+
+MONTAGUE. I'm very glad to meet you, Miss Patterson.
+
+JULIA. We had no idea we were bringing old friends together.
+
+MONTAGUE. No; it was certainly a coincidence.
+
+LAURA. It's been... let me see... a year since we've met.
+
+MONTAGUE. It must be fully that.
+
+LAURA. Where do you keep yourself these days?
+
+MONTAGUE. Oh, I'm studying, in a quiet way.
+
+LAURA. And none of your old friends ever see you?
+
+MONTAGUE. I don't get about much.
+
+LAURA. [Earnestly.] And friendship means so little to you as that?
+
+MONTAGUE. I... it would be hard to explain. I have been busy with
+politics...
+
+[A pause of embarrassment.]
+
+JULIA. Mr. Bullen has just been telling us about your heroism.
+
+MONTAGUE. My heroism? Where?
+
+JULIA. At the polling place.
+
+MONTAGUE. Oh, that! It was nothing.
+
+LAURA. It seemed like a good deal to us.
+
+MONTAGUE. Make him tell you about some of his own adventures.
+
+JULIA. Would you ever think, to look at his innocent countenance,
+that he had helped to hold a building for six hours against Russian
+artillery?
+
+LAURA. Good heavens! Where was this?
+
+JULIA. During the St. Petersburg uprising.
+
+LAURA. And weren't you frightened to death?
+
+JACK. [Laughing.] No; we were too busy taking pot-shots at the Cossacks.
+It was like the hunting season in the Adirondacks.
+
+LAURA. And how did it turn out?
+
+JACK. Oh, they were too much for us in the end. I got away, across the
+ice of the Neva... I had the heel of one shoe shot off. And yet people
+tell us romance is dead! Anybody who is looking for romance, and knows
+what it is, can find all he wants in Russia.
+
+[Pause.]
+
+LAURA. [To MONTAGUE.] Have you seen my father lately?
+
+MONTAGUE. No; not for some time.
+
+LAURA. You may see him this evening. He promised to call for me.
+
+MONTAGUE. Indeed!
+
+JACK. Oh, by the way, Julia, I forgot! How's Annie?
+
+LAURA. Oh, yes; how is she?
+
+JULIA. She's doing well, I think. Better every day.
+
+LAURA. Is she still violent?
+
+JULIA. Not so much. I can always handle her now.
+
+LAURA. Is she in the next room?
+
+[Looking to the right.]
+
+JULIA. Yes. She's been asleep since afternoon.
+
+LAURA. And you still won't let me send her to a hospital?
+
+JULIA. Oh, no. Truly, it would kill the poor girl.
+
+LAURA. But you... with all your work, and your engagements?
+
+JULIA. She's very quiet. And the neighbors come in and help when I'm
+out. They all sympathize.
+
+LAURA. Talking about heroism... it seems to me that you are entitled to
+mention.
+
+JULIA. Why, nonsense!... the girl was simply thrown into my arms.
+
+LAURA. Most people would have managed to step out of the way, just the
+same. You've heard the story, have you, Mr. Montague?
+
+MONTAGUE. Bullen has told it to me. You haven't been able to get any
+justice?
+
+JACK. From the police? Hardly! But we're keeping at it, to make the
+story complete. I went to see Captain Quinn to-day. "What's this?" says
+he. "Annie Rogers again? Didn't your lady frien' get her pitcher 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 to LAURA.] My dear, I finished up
+downtown sooner than I expected, and I have another conference at the
+house. I stopped off to see if you cared to come now, or if I should
+send back the car for you.
+
+LAURA. I think you'd best send it back.
+
+JULIA. Why, yes... she only just got here.
+
+HEGAN. Very well.
+
+JULIA. Won't you stop a minute?
+
+HEGAN. No. I really can't. Mr. Grimes is waiting for me downstairs.
+
+LAURA. [Involuntarily.] Mr. Grimes!
+
+HEGAN. Yes.
+
+LAURA. Robert Grimes?
+
+HEGAN. [Surprised.] Yes. Why?
+
+LAURA. Nothing; only we happened to be just talking about him.
+
+HEGAN. I see.
+
+JACK. [Aggressively.] We happen to have one of his victims in the next
+room.
+
+HEGAN. [Perplexed.] One of his victims?
+
+JULIA. [Protesting.] Jack!
+
+JACK. A daughter of the slums. One of the helpless girls who have to pay
+the tribute that he...
+
+[A piercing and terrifying scream is heard off right.]
+
+JULIA. Annie!
+
+[Runs off.]
+
+HEGAN. What's that?
+
+[The screams continue.]
+
+JULIA. [Off.] Help! Help!
+
+[Jack, who is nearest, leaps toward the door; but, before he can reach
+it, it is flung violently open.]
+
+ANNIE. [Enters, delirious, her bare arms and throat covered with
+bruises, her hair loose, and her aspect wild; an Irish peasant girl,
+aged twenty.] No! No! Let me go!
+
+[Rushes into the opposite corner, and cowers in terror.]
+
+JULIA. [Following her.] Annie! Annie!
+
+ANNIE. [Flings her off, and stretches out her arms.] What do you want
+with me? Help! Help! I won't do it! I won't stay! Let me alone!
+
+[Wild and frantic sobbing.]
+
+JULIA. Annie, dear! Annie! Look at me! Don't you know me? I'm Julia!
+Your own Julia! No one shall hurt you... no one!
+
+ANNIE. [Stares at her wildly.] He's after me still! He'll follow me
+here! He won't let me get away from him! Oh, save me!
+
+JULIA. [Embracing her.] Listen to me, dear. Don't think of things like
+that. You are in my home... nothing can hurt you. Don't let these evil
+dreams take hold of you.
+
+ANNIE. [Stares, as if coming out of a trance.] Why didn't you help me
+before?
+
+JULIA. Come, dear... come.
+
+ANNIE. It's too late... too late! Oh... I can't forget about it!
+
+JULIA. Yes, dear. I know...
+
+ANNIE. [Seeing the others.] Who?...
+
+JULIA. They are all friends; they will help you. Come, dear... lie down
+again.
+
+ANNIE. Oh, what shall I do?
+
+[Is led off, sobbing.]
+
+JULIA. It will be all right, dear.
+
+[Exit; a pause.]
+
+HEGAN. What does this mean?
+
+JACK. [Promptly and ruthlessly.] It means that you have been seeing the
+white-slave traffic in action.
+
+HEGAN. I don't understand.
+
+JACK. [Quietly, but with suppressed passion.] Tens of thousands of girl
+slaves are needed for the markets of our great cities... for the lumber
+camps of the North, the mining camps of the West, the ditches of Panama.
+And every four or five years the supply must be renewed, and so the
+business of gathering these girl-slaves from our slums is one of the
+great industries of the city. This girl, Annie Rogers, a decent girl
+from the North of Ireland, was lured into a dance hall and drugged, and
+then taken to a brothel and locked in a third-story room. They took her
+clothing away from her, but she broke down her door at night and fled to
+the street in her wrapper and flung herself into Miss Patterson's arms.
+Two men were pursuing her... they tried to carry her off. Miss Patterson
+called a policeman... but he said the girl was insane. Only by making a
+disturbance and drawing a crowd was my friend able to save her. And now,
+we have been the rounds... from the sergeant at the station, and the
+police captain, to the Chief of Police and the Mayor himself; we have
+been to the Tammany leader of the district... the real boss of the
+neighborhood... and there is no justice to be had anywhere for Annie
+Rogers!
+
+HEGAN. Impossible!
+
+JACK. You have my word for it, sir. And the reason for it is that this
+hideous traffic is one of the main cogs in our political machine. The
+pimps and the panders, the cadets and maquereaux... they vote the ticket
+of the organization; they contribute to the campaign funds; they serve
+as colonizers and repeaters at the polls. The tribute that they pay
+amounts to millions; and it is shared from the lowest to the highest
+in the organization... from the ward man on the street and the police
+captain, up to the inner circle of the chiefs of Tammany Hall... yes,
+even to your friend, Mr. Robert Grimes, himself! A thousand times, sir,
+has the truth about this monstrous infamy been put before the people
+of your city; and that they have not long ago risen in their wrath and
+driven its agents from their midst is due to but one single fact... that
+this infamous organization of crime and graft is backed at each election
+time by the millions of the great public service corporations. It is
+they...
+
+MONTAGUE. [Interfering.] Bullen!
+
+JACK. Let me go on! It is they, sir, who finance the thugs and repeaters
+who desecrate our polls. It is they who suborn our press and blind the
+eyes of our people. It is they who are responsible for this traffic in
+the flesh of our women. It is they who have to answer for the tottering
+reason of that poor peasant girl in the next room!
+
+LAURA. [Has been listening to this speech, white with horror; as the
+indictment proceeds, she covers her face with her hands; at this point
+she breaks into uncontrollable weeping.] Oh! I can't stand it!
+
+HEGAN. [Springing to her side.] My dear!
+
+LAURA. [Clasping him.] Father! Father!
+
+HEGAN. My child! I have begged you not to come to these places! Why
+should you see such things?
+
+LAURA. [Wildly.] Why should I not see them, so long as they exist?
+
+HEGAN. [Angrily.] I won't have it. This is the end of it! I mean what I
+say! Come home with me!... Come home at once!
+
+LAURA. With Grimes? I won't meet that man!
+
+HEGAN. Very well, then. You need not meet him. I'll call a cab, and take
+you myself. Where are your things?
+
+LAURA. [Looking to the left.] In that room.
+
+HEGAN. Come, then.
+
+[Takes her off.]
+
+JACK. [Turns to MONTAGUE, and to JULIA, who appears in doorway at
+right.] We gave it to them straight that time, all right!
+
+[CURTAIN]
+
+
+
+
+ACT II
+
+Library of "The Towers," HEGAN's Long Island country place. A spacious
+room, furnished luxuriously, but with good taste. A large table, with
+lamp and books in the centre, and easy-chairs beside it. Up stage are
+French windows leading to a veranda, with drive below; a writing desk
+between the windows. Entrance right and left. A telephone stand left,
+and a clock on wall right. [At rise: ANDREWS, standing by the table,
+opening some letters.]
+
+LAURA. [Enters from veranda.] Good afternoon, Mr. Andrews.
+
+ANDREWS. Good afternoon, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. Has father come yet?
+
+ANDREWS. No; he said he'd he back about five.
+
+LAURA. Is he surely coming?
+
+ANDREWS. Oh, yes. He has an important engagement here.
+
+LAURA. He's working very hard these days.
+
+ANDREWS. He has a good deal on his mind just now.
+
+LAURA. It's this Grand Avenue Railroad business.
+
+ANDREWS. Yes. If it should go against him, it would confuse his plans
+very much.
+
+LAURA. Is the matter never going to be decided?
+
+ANDREWS. We're expecting the decision any day now. That's why he's so
+much concerned. He has to hold the market, you see...
+
+LAURA. The decision's liable to affect the market?
+
+ANDREWS. Oh, yes... very much, indeed.
+
+LAURA. I see. And then...
+
+'Phone rings.
+
+ANDREWS. Excuse me. Hello! Yes, this is Mr. Hegan's place. Mr. Montague?
+Why, yes; I believe he's to be here this afternoon. Yes.. . wait a
+moment... [To LAURA.] It's some one asking for Mr. Montague.
+
+LAURA. Who is it?
+
+ANDREWS. Hello! Who is this, please? [TO LAURA.] It's Mr. Bullen.
+
+LAURA. Mr. Bullen? I'll speak to him. [Takes 'phone.] Hello, Mr. Bullen!
+This is Miss Hegan. I'm glad to hear from you. How are you? Why, yes,
+Mr. Montague is coming out... I expect him here any time. He was to take
+the three-five... just a moment. [Looks at clock.] If the train's on
+time, he's due here now. We sent to meet him. Call up again in about
+five minutes. Oh, you have to see him? As soon as that? Nothing wrong,
+I hope. Well, he couldn't get back to the city until after six. Oh, then
+you're right near us. Why don't you come over?... That's the quickest
+way. No; take the trolley and come right across. I'll be delighted to
+see you. What's that? Why, Mr. Bullen! How perfectly preposterous! My
+father doesn't blame you for what happened. Don't think of it. Come
+right along. I'll take it ill of you if you don't... truly I will. Yes;
+please do. You'll just have time to get the next trolley. Get off at the
+Merrick road, and I'll see there's an auto there to meet you. Very well.
+Good-bye. [TO ANDREWS.] Mr. Andrews, will you see there's a car sent
+down to the trolley to meet Mr. Bullen?
+
+ANDREWS. All right.
+
+[Exit.]
+
+LAURA. [Stands by table, in deep thought, takes a note from table and
+studies it; shakes her head.] He didn't want to come. He doesn't want to
+talk to me. But he must! Ah, there he is. [Sound of a motor heard. She
+waits, then goes to the window.] Ah, Mr. Montague!
+
+MONTAGUE. [Enters centre.] Good afternoon, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. You managed to catch the train, I see.
+
+MONTAGUE. Yes. I just did.
+
+LAURA. It is so good of you to come.
+
+MONTAGUE. Not at all. I am glad to be here.
+
+LAURA. I just had a telephone call from Mr. Bullen.
+
+MONTAGUE. [Starting.] From Bullen?
+
+LAURA. Yes. He said he had to see you about something.
+
+MONTAGUE. [Eagerly.] Where was he?
+
+LAURA. He was at his brother's place. I told him to come here.
+
+MONTAGUE. Oh! Is he coming?
+
+LAURA. Yes; he'll be here soon.
+
+MONTAGUE. Thank you very much.
+
+LAURA. He said it was something quite urgent.
+
+MONTAGUE. Yes. He has some important papers for me.
+
+LAURA. I see he made a speech last night that stirred up the press.
+
+MONTAGUE. [Smiling.] Yes.
+
+LAURA. He is surely a tireless fighter.
+
+MONTAGUE. It's such men as Bullen who keep the world moving.
+
+LAURA. And do you agree with him, Mr. Montague?
+
+MONTAGUE. In what way?
+
+LAURA. That the end of it all is to be a revolution.
+
+MONTAGUE. I don't know, Miss Hegan. I find I am moving that way. I used
+to think we could control capital. Now I am beginning to suspect that it
+is in the nature of capital to have its way, and that if the people wish
+to rule they must own the capital.
+
+LAURA. [After a pause.] Mr. Montague, I had to ask you to come out and
+see me, because I'd promised my father I would not go into the city
+again for a while. I've not been altogether well since that evening at
+Julia's.
+
+MONTAGUE. I am sorry to hear that, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. It's nothing, but it worries my father, you know. [pause.] I
+thought we should be alone this afternoon, but I find that my father is
+coming and... and Mr. Baker is coming also. So I mayn't have time to say
+all I wished to say to you. But I must thank you for coming.
+
+MONTAGUE. I was very glad to come, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. I can appreciate your embarrassment at being asked to...
+
+MONTAGUE. No!
+
+LAURA. We must deal frankly with each other. I know that you did
+not want to come. I know that you have tried to put an end to our
+friendship.
+
+MONTAGUE. [Hesitates.] Miss Hegan, let me explain my position.
+
+LAURA. I think I understand it already. You have found evil conditions
+which you wish to oppose, and you were afraid that our friendship might
+stand in the way.
+
+MONTAGUE. [In a low voice.] Miss Hegan, I came to New York an entire
+stranger two years ago, and my brother introduced me to his rich
+friends. By one of them I was asked to take charge of a law case. It was
+a case of very great importance, which served to give me an opening into
+the inner life of the city. I discovered that, in their blind struggle
+for power, our great capitalists had lost all sense of the difference
+between honesty and crime. I found that trust funds were being abused...
+that courts and legislatures were being corrupted... the very financial
+stability of the country was being wrecked. The thing shocked me to the
+bottom of my soul, and I set to work to give the public some light
+on the situation. Then, what happened, Miss Hegan? My newly made rich
+friends cut me a deal; they began to circulate vile slanders about me...
+they insulted me openly, on more than one occasion. So, don't you see?
+
+LAURA. Yes. I see. But could you not have trusted a friendship such as
+ours?
+
+MONTAGUE. I did not dare.
+
+LAURA. You saw that you had to fight my father, and you thought that I
+would blindly take his side.
+
+MONTAGUE. [Hesitating.] I... I couldn't suppose...
+
+LAURA. Listen. You have told me your situation; now imagine mine.
+Imagine a girl brought up in luxury, with a father whom she loves
+very dearly, and who loves her more than any one else in the world.
+Everything is done to make her happy... to keep her contented and
+peaceful. But as she grows up, she reads and listens... and, little by
+little, it dawns upon her that her father is one of the leaders in this
+terrible struggle that you have spoken of. She hears about wrongdoing;
+she is told that her father's enemies have slandered him. At first,
+perhaps, she believes that. But time goes on... she sees suffering and
+oppression... she begins to realize a little of cause and effect. She
+wants to help, she wants to do right, but there is no way for her to
+know. She goes to one person after another, and no one will deal frankly
+with her. No one will tell her the truth... absolutely no one! [Leaning
+forward with intensity.] No one! No one!
+
+MONTAGUE. I see.
+
+LAURA. So it was with you... and with our friendship. I knew that
+you had broken it off for such reasons. I knew that there was nothing
+personal... it was nothing that I had done...
+
+MONTAGUE. No! Surely not!
+
+LAURA. [Gazes about nervously.] And then the other night... you told
+me you were investigating the traction companies of New York.. . their
+connection with politics, and so on. Ever since then I have felt that
+you were the one person I must talk with. Don't you see?
+
+MONTAGUE. Yes; I see.
+
+LAURA. I have sought for some one who will tell me the truth. Will you?
+
+MONTAGUE. [In a low voice.] You must realize what you are asking of me,
+Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. I have not brought you here without realizing that. You must help
+me!
+
+MONTAGUE. Very well. I will do what I can.
+
+LAURA. [Leaning forward.] I wish to know about my father. I wish to know
+to what extent he is involved in these evils that you speak of.
+
+MONTAGUE. Your father is in the game, and he has played it the way the
+game is played.
+
+LAURA. Has he been better than the others, or worse?
+
+MONTAGUE. About the same, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. He has been more successful than they.
+
+MONTAGUE. He has been very successful.
+
+LAURA. You were concerned in some important deal with my father, were
+you not?
+
+MONTAGUE. I was.
+
+LAURA. Then you withdrew. Was that because there was something wrong in
+it?
+
+MONTAGUE. It was, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. There were corrupt things done?
+
+MONTAGUE. There were many kinds of corrupt things done.
+
+LAURA. And was my father responsible for them?
+
+MONTAGUE. Yes.
+
+LAURA. Directly?
+
+MONTAGUE. Yes; directly.
+
+LAURA. Then my father is a bad man? MONTAGUE. [After a pause.] Your
+father finds himself in the midst of an evil system. He is the victim of
+conditions which he did not create.
+
+LAURA. Ah, now you are trying to spare me!
+
+MONTAGUE. No. I should say that to any one. I am at war with the
+system... not with individuals. It is the old story of hating the sin
+and loving the sinner. Your father's rivals are just as reckless as
+he take Murdock, for instance, the man who is behind this Grand Avenue
+Railroad matter. It is hard for a woman to understand that situation.
+
+LAURA. I can understand some things very clearly. I go down into the
+slums and I see all that welter of misery. I see the forces of evil that
+exist there, defiant and hateful... the saloons and the gambling-houses,
+and that ghastly white-slave traffic, of which Annie Rogers is the
+victim. And there is the political organization, taking its toll from
+all these, and using it to keep itself in power. And there is Boss
+Grimes, who is at the head of all... and he is one of my father's
+intimate associates. I ask about it, and I am told that it is a matter
+of "business." But why should my father do business with a man whose
+chief source of income is vice?
+
+MONTAGUE. That is not quite the case, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. Doesn't the vice tribute go to him?
+
+MONTAGUE. Part of it does, I have no doubt. But it would be a very small
+part of his income.
+
+LAURA. What then?
+
+MONTAGUE. The vice graft serves for the police and the district leaders
+and the little men; what really pays nowadays is what has come to be
+called "honest graft."
+
+LAURA. What is that?
+
+MONTAGUE. The business deals that are trade with the public service
+corporations.
+
+LAURA. Ah! That is what I wish to know about!
+
+MONTAGUE. For instance, I am running a street railway...
+
+LAURA. [Quickly.] My father is running them all!
+
+MONTAGUE. Very well. Your father is in alliance with the organization;
+he is given franchises and public privileges for practically nothing;
+and in return he gives the contracts for constructing the subways
+and street-car lines to companies organized by the politicians. These
+companies are simply paper companies... they farm out the contracts to
+the real builders, skimming off a profit of twenty or thirty per cent.
+One of these companies received contracts last year to the value of
+thirty million dollars.
+
+LAURA. And so that is how Grimes gets his money?
+
+MONTAGUE. Grimes' brother is the president of the company I have
+reference to.
+
+LAURA. I see; it is a regular system.
+
+MONTAGUE. It is a business, and there is no way to punish it... it does
+not violate any law...
+
+LAURA. And yet it is quite as bad!
+
+MONTAGUE. It is far worse, because of its vast scope. It carries every
+form of corruption in its train. It means the prostitution of our whole
+system of government... the subsidizing of our newspapers, and of the
+great political parties. It means that judges are chosen who will decide
+in favor of the corporations; that legislators are nominated who will
+protect them against attack. It means everywhere the enthronement of
+ignorance and incompetence, of injustice and fraud.
+
+LAURA. And in the end the public pays for it?
+
+MONTAGUE. In the end the public pays for everything. The stolen
+franchises are unloaded on the market for ten times what they cost, and
+the people pay their nickels for a wretched, broken-down service. They
+pay for it in the form of rent and taxes for a dishonest administration.
+Every struggling unfortunate in the city pays for it, when he comes into
+contact with the system... when he seeks for help, or even for justice.
+It was that side of it that shocked me most of all... I being a lawyer,
+you see. The corrupting of our courts...
+
+LAURA. The judges are bought, Mr. Montague?
+
+MONTAGUE. The judges are selected, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. Selected! I see.
+
+MONTAGUE. And that system prevails from the Supreme Court of the State
+down to the petty Police Magistrates, before whom the poor come to
+plead.
+
+LAURA. And that is why the white-slave traffic goes unpunished!
+
+MONTAGUE. That is why.
+
+LAURA. And why no one would move a hand for Annie Rogers!
+
+MONTAGUE. That is why.
+
+LAURA. And my father is responsible for it!
+
+MONTAGUE. [Gravely.] Yes; I think he is, Miss Hegan.
+
+A PAUSE.
+
+LAURA. Have you seen Julia Patterson lately?
+
+MONTAGUE. I saw her last night.
+
+LAURA. And how is Annie?
+
+MONTAGUE. She... [Hesitates.] She is dead.
+
+LAURA. [Starting.] Oh!
+
+MONTAGUE. She died the night before last.
+
+LAURA. [Stares at him, then gives a wild start, and cries] She... she...
+
+MONTAGUE. She killed herself.
+
+LAURA. Oh!
+
+MONTAGUE. She cut her throat.
+
+LAURA. [Hides her face and sinks against the table, shuddering and
+overcome.] Oh, the poor girl! The poor, poor girl! [Suddenly she springs
+up.] Can't you see? Can't you see? It is things like that that are
+driving me to distraction!
+
+MONTAGUE. [Starting toward her.] Miss Hegan...
+
+LAURA. [Covering her face again.] Oh! oh! It is horrible! I can't stand
+it! I...
+
+[Sound of motor heard; they listen.]
+
+LAURA. That is my father's car... Mr. Montague, will you excuse me? I
+must have a talk with my father...
+
+MONTAGUE. Certainly. Let me go away...
+
+LAURA. No; please wait. Just take a little stroll. I...
+
+MONTAGUE. Certainly, I understand.
+
+[Exit right.]
+
+LAURA. [Seeks to compose herself; then goes to window.] Father!
+
+HEGAN. [Off.] Yes, dear.
+
+LAURA. Come here.
+
+HEGAN. [Enters.] What is it?
+
+LAURA. Father, I have just had dreadful news..
+
+HEGAN. What?
+
+LAURA. Annie Rogers... that poor girl, you know...
+
+HEGAN. Yes.
+
+LAURA. She has killed herself.
+
+HEGAN. No!
+
+LAURA. She cut her own throat.
+
+HEGAN. Oh, my dear! [Starts toward her.] I am so sorry...
+
+LAURA. [Quickly.] No, father! Listen! You must talk to me... you must
+talk to me this time!
+
+HEGAN. My child...
+
+LAURA. You cannot put me off. You cannot, I tell you!
+
+HEGAN. Laura, dear, you are upset...
+
+LAURA. No! That is not so! I have perfect control of myself. There is
+no use crying... the girl is dead. That can't be helped. But I mean to
+understand about it. I mean to know who is responsible for her death.
+
+HEGAN. My dear, these evils are hard to know of...
+
+LAURA. That house to which that girl was taken... there is a law against
+such places, is there not?
+
+HEGAN. Yes, my dear.
+
+LAURA. And why is not the law enforced?
+
+HEGAN. It has not been found possible to enforce such laws.
+
+LAURA. But why not?
+
+HEGAN. Why, my dear, this evil...
+
+LAURA. These people pay money to the police, do they not?
+
+HEGAN. Why, yes; I imagine...
+
+LAURA. Don't tell me what you imagine... tell me what you know! They pay
+money to the police, don't they?
+
+HEGAN. Yes.
+
+LAURA. Then why should the police not be punished? Do those who control
+the police get some of the money?
+
+HEGAN. Some of them, my dear.
+
+LAURA. That is, the leaders of Tammany.
+
+HEGAN. Possibly... yes.
+
+LAURA. And Mr. Grimes... he gets some of it?
+
+HEGAN. Why, my dear...
+
+LAURA. Tell me!
+
+HEGAN. But really, Laura, I never asked him what he gets.
+
+LAURA. [With intensity.] Father, you must understand me! I will not be
+trifled with... I am in desperate earnest! I am determined to get to the
+bottom of this thing! I am no longer a child, and you must not try to
+deceive me! Mr. Grimes must get some of that money!
+
+HEGAN. I think it possible, my dear.
+
+LAURA. And do you get any?
+
+HEGAN. Good God, Laura!
+
+LAURA. Then what is the nature of your relationship with Grimes?
+
+HEGAN. Really, my child, this is not fair of you. I have business
+connections which you cannot possibly understand...
+
+LAURA. I can understand everything that you are willing for me to
+understand! I want to know why you must have business connections with a
+man like Boss Grimes.
+
+HEGAN. My dear, I think you might take your father's word in such a
+case. It has nothing to do with vice, I can assure you. Grimes is a
+business ally of mine. He is a rich man, a great power in New York...
+
+LAURA. Do you help to keep him a power in New York?
+
+HEGAN. Why, I don't know...
+
+LAURA. Do you contribute to his campaign funds?
+
+HEGAN. Why, Laura! I am a Democrat. Surely I have a right to support my
+party!
+
+LAURA. [Quickly.] Have you ever contributed to the Republican campaign
+funds?
+
+HEGAN. [Disconcerted; laughs.] Why... really...
+
+LAURA. Please answer me.
+
+HEGAN. I am a Gold Democrat, my dear.
+
+LAURA. I see. [She Pauses.] You put Mr. Grimes in the way of making a
+great deal of money, do you not?
+
+HEGAN. I do that.
+
+LAURA. He is interested in companies that you give contracts to?
+
+HEGAN. Really! You seem to be informed about my affairs!
+
+LAURA. I have taken some trouble to inform myself. Father, don't you
+realize what it means to corrupt the government of the city in this way?
+
+HEGAN. Corrupt the government, my dear?
+
+LAURA. Does not Grimes have the nominating of judges and legislators?
+
+HEGAN. Why, yes... in a way...
+
+LAURA. And does he not consult with you?
+
+HEGAN. Why, my dear...
+
+LAURA. Please tell me.
+
+HEGAN. [Realizing that he cannot make any more admissions.] No, my dear.
+
+LAURA. Never?
+
+HEGAN. Absolutely never.
+
+LAURA. He has never made any attempt to influence the courts in your
+favor?
+
+HEGAN. Never.
+
+LAURA. Not in any way, father?
+
+HEGAN. Not in any way.
+
+LAURA. Nor in favor of your companies?
+
+HEGAN. No, my dear.
+
+LAURA. You mean, you can give me your word of honor that that is the
+truth?
+
+HEGAN. I can, my dear.
+
+LAURA. And that none of your lawyers do it? Do you mean that the courts
+escape your influence...
+
+HEGAN. [Laughing disconcertedly.] Really, my dear, this is as bad as
+a Government investigation! I shall have to take refuge in a lapse of
+memory.
+
+LAURA. [Intensely.] Father! Is it nothing to you that I have the blood
+of that poor girl on my conscience?
+
+HEGAN. My child!
+
+LAURA. Yes; just that! She was caught in the grip of this ruthless
+system; it held her fast and crushed her life out. And we maintain this
+system! I profit by it... all this luxury and power that I enjoy comes
+from it directly! Can't you see what I mean?
+
+HEGAN. I see, my dear, that you are frightfully overwrought, and that
+you are making yourself ill. Can't you imagine what it means to me to
+have you acting in this way? Here I am at one of the gravest crises of
+my life; I am working day and night, under frightful strain... I have
+hardly slept six hours in the past three days. And here, when I get a
+chance for a moment's rest, you come and put me through such an ordeal!
+You never think of that!
+
+LAURA. It's just what I do think of! Why must you torture yourself so?
+Why...
+
+HEGAN. My dear, I, too, am in the grip of the system you speak of.
+
+LAURA. But why? Why stay in it? Haven't we money enough yet?
+
+HEGAN. I have duties by which I am bound... interests that I must
+protect. How can I... [A knock.] Come in!
+
+ANDREWS. [Enters.] Here are the papers, Mr. Hegan. They must be signed
+now if they're to catch this mail.
+
+HEGAN. All right.
+
+[Sits at desk up stage and writes.]
+
+LAURA. [Stands by table, staring before her; picks up book carelessly
+from table.] "Ivanhoe"... [Fingers it idly and a slip of paper falls to
+floor. She picks it up, glances at it, then starts.] Oh!.. . [Reads.]
+"Memo to G., two hundred thousand on Court deal. GRIMES." Two hundred
+thousand on Court deal! [Glances back at her father; then replaces slip
+and lays book on table.] Father, have you read "Ivanhoe"?
+
+HEGAN. [Without looking up.] I'm reading it now. Why? Do you want it?
+
+LAURA. No; I just happened to notice it here.
+
+HEGAN. [Looks up sharply, watches her, then finishes writing.] There!
+[Rises; the sound of a motor heard.] What's that?
+
+ANDREWS. [Near window.] It's Mr. Grimes.
+
+LAURA. [Starting.] Grimes!
+
+HEGAN. [TO ANDREWS.] Bring him in.
+
+[ANDREWS exit.]
+
+LAURA. Father! Why do you bring that man here?
+
+HEGAN. I'll not do it again, dear. I didn't realize. He happened to be
+in the neighborhood...
+
+LAURA. I won't meet him!
+
+HEGAN. [Putting his arm about her.] Very well, dear; come away. Try to
+stop worrying yourself now, for the love of me...
+
+[Leads her off left.]
+
+ANDREWS. [At window.] This way, Mr. Grimes.
+
+[GRIMES enters; a powerfully built, broad-shouldered man of about fifty,
+with a massive jaw, covered with a scrubby beard; the face of a bulldog;
+a grim, masterful man, who never speaks except when he has to. He enters
+and seats himself in a chair by the table.] Will you have a cigar?
+[Grimes takes a cigar, without comment, and chews on it; sits, staring
+in front of him.] Mr. Hegan will be here directly, Sir.
+
+[He nods, and ANDREWS exit. GRIMES continues to chew and stare in front
+of him. He is not under the necessity of making superfluous motions.]
+
+HEGAN. [Enters left.] Hello, Grimes!
+
+GRIMES. Hello!
+
+HEGAN. [Betraying anxiety.] Well?
+
+GRIMES. It's done.
+
+HEGAN. What?
+
+GRIMES. It's done.
+
+HEGAN. Good! [Grimes nods.] How did you manage it?
+
+GRIMES. [Grimly.] I put my hand on 'em!
+
+HEGAN. Which one? Porter? [GRIMES nods.] Oh, the old hypocrite! What did
+you offer him? Cash? [GRIMES shakes his head slowly.] What?
+
+GRIMES. Discipline!
+
+HEGAN. [Perplexed.] But... a judge!
+
+GRIMES. When a man's once mine, he stays mine... no matter if it's a
+life job I give him.
+
+MEGAN. But are you sure it's safe?
+
+GRIMES. The decision comes tomorrow.
+
+HEGAN. [Starting.] What?
+
+GRIMES. Tomorrow noon.
+
+HEGAN. But how can they write the decision?
+
+GRIMES. They'll adopt the minority opinion.
+
+HEGAN. Oh! I see!
+
+[Chuckles.]
+
+GRIMES. You be ready.
+
+MEGAN. Trust me! I'll have to go in now.
+
+GRIMES. It'll be a great killing. Old Murdock has plunged up to his
+neck!
+
+HEGAN. I know! We'll lay them flat. I'll get ready. [Rises.] Old Porter!
+Think of it! When did you see him?
+
+GRIMES. Last night.
+
+HEGAN. I see. I'll be with you.
+
+GRIMES. Just a moment. I'll take the money.
+
+HEGAN. Oh, yes. Why don't you let me hold it and buy for you?
+
+GRIMES. I'll buy for myself.
+
+HEGAN. Very well.
+
+[Sits at desk.]
+
+GRIMES. It's two hundred thousand.
+
+HEGAN. That's right. [Writes a check, rises and gives it to Grimes.]
+There.
+
+GRIMES. [Studies the check, nods, and puts it away carefully.] When's
+the next train?
+
+HEGAN. In about ten minutes. [Rings bell.] Andrews!
+
+ANDREWS. [Enters left.] Yes, Sir.
+
+HEGAN. I'm going into town at once. Telephone orders to the house.
+
+ANDREWS. Yes, sir. And shall I come in this evening?
+
+HEGAN. Yes; you'd better. And telephone Mr. Isaacson and Mr. Henry
+Sterns to meet me at eight o'clock for an important conference at.. .
+let me see, where?
+
+GRIMES. At my rooms.
+
+HEGAN. Very good. And they're not to fail on any account. It's urgent.
+
+ANDREWS. Yes, sir.
+
+[HEGAN and GRIMES go off centre. ANDREWS remains sorting papers. A
+knock, right.]
+
+ANDREWS. Come in!
+
+[MONTAGUE enters.]
+
+ANDREWS. Oh, good afternoon. I was looking for you, Mr. Montague. Mr.
+Bullen has come.
+
+MONTAGUE. Oh! Where is he?
+
+ANDREWS. He's waiting. I'll tell him you're here.
+
+[Exit right.]
+
+MONTAGUE. [Stands at window and sees motor departing.] Grimes! I wonder
+what that means? [Turns away.] And what a coincidence, that I should be
+here! Humph! Well, it's not my doings. Ah! Bullen!
+
+JACK. [Enters, right, in great excitement.] Montague!
+
+MONTAGUE. Yes.
+
+JACK. I've got 'em!
+
+MONTAGUE. What?
+
+JACK. I've got 'em!
+
+MONTAGUE. You don't mean it!
+
+JACK. Got 'em dead! Got everything! There's never been a case like it!
+
+MONTAGUE. [Gazing about.] Ssh! Where was it?
+
+JACK. At Judge Porter's house.
+
+MONTAGUE. What?
+
+JACK. Yes.... Grimes came there.
+
+MONTAGUE. When?
+
+JACK. Last night. My friend was in the next room... he heard everything!
+
+MONTAGUE. And what are they going to do?
+
+JACK. Porter is to switch over, and sign the minority opinion, and
+that's to come out as the decision of the Court.
+
+MONTAGUE. Good God! When?
+
+JACK. Tomorrow.
+
+MONTAGUE. Impossible!
+
+JACK. There's to be a meeting of the judges this afternoon. See...
+here's the decision! [Takes paper from pocket.] The one they mean to
+kill!
+
+MONTAGUE. [Looks at paper.] Merciful heavens!
+
+JACK. And look here! [Unfolds a paper, which has pasted on it bits of
+a torn and charred note.] He threw this in the fireplace, and it didn't
+burn.
+
+MONTAGUE. Bullen!
+
+JACK. In Grimes' own handwriting: "My Dear Porter--I will call"... you
+can see what that word was... "at eight-thirty. Very urgent." How's
+that?
+
+MONTAGUE. Man, it's ghastly! [A pause.] How did you manage to get these?
+
+JACK. It's a long story.
+
+MONTAGUE. How did Grimes work it? Money?
+
+JACK. Not a dollar.
+
+MONTAGUE. What then?
+
+JACK. Just bluffed him. Party loyalty! What was he named for?
+
+MONTAGUE. But in a suit like this!
+
+JACK. Never was a better test! If Hegan lost this case, he'd be wiped
+off the slate, and the organization might go down at the next election.
+And what were you put in for, judge Porter? Don't you see?
+
+MONTAGUE. I see! It takes my breath away!
+
+JACK. [Looking about.] And what a place for us to meet in! Did you see
+Grimes?
+
+MONTAGUE. Yes.
+
+JACK. I'll wager he came to tell Hegan about it.
+
+MONTAGUE. No doubt of it.
+
+JACK. God! I'd give one hand to have heard them!
+
+MONTAGUE. Don't wish that! It's embarrassing enough as it is!
+
+JACK. [Staring at him.] You'll see it through? You won't back out?
+
+MONTAGUE. Oh, I'll see it through... trust me for that. But it's
+devilish awkward!
+
+JACK. Why did you come here?
+
+MONTAGUE. I tried not to. But Miss Hegan insisted.
+
+JACK. [Laughing.] The same here! I was fair caught!
+
+MONTAGUE. And now she'll think we learned it here. I'll have to explain
+to her...
+
+JACK. What?
+
+MONTAGUE. I Must!
+
+JACK. No! [LAURA appears at windows, centre, and hears the rest, which
+is in excited tones.] It is not to be thought of!
+
+MONTAGUE. But I can't help it, man! Miss Hegan will think I've been
+eavesdropping!
+
+JACK. Do you realize what you're proposing, man? You'll ruin everything!
+We've got Grimes dead... we can land him in jail! But if Hegan heard any
+whisper of it, they'd balk everything!
+
+MONTAGUE. But how?
+
+JACK. They'd hold up the decision of the Court...
+
+MONTAGUE. Nonsense! With all that they'd stand to lose...
+
+LAURA. [Coming forward.] I beg pardon, Mr. Bullen.
+
+JACK. Oh!
+
+LAURA. I didn't wish to hear what you were saying. But I couldn't
+help it. I was caught unawares. [The three stare at each other.] It is
+something that involves my father. [Looking at the papers in BULLEN's
+hands.] Mr. Bullen has brought you some evidence. Is that so, Mr.
+Montague?
+
+MONTAGUE. [In a low voice.] Yes, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. And you wished to take me into your confidence?
+
+MONTAGUE. I wished to make it impossible for you to think we had
+obtained this evidence in your home.
+
+LAURA. I See.
+
+MONTAGUE. You will do us the justice to recognize that we did not seek
+admission here.
+
+LAURA. Yes; I do that. [A pause.] All that I can say is, that if you
+think it best to take me into your confidence, you may trust me to the
+bitter end.
+
+MONTAGUE. Miss Hegan, Mr. Bullen has brought me evidence which proves
+that the decision of the Court, which is to be made known tomorrow, has
+been... improperly affected.
+
+LAURA. [Quickly.] By whom?
+
+MONTAGUE. By Robert Grimes.
+
+LAURA. [Starts wildly.] And the evidence involves my father?
+
+MONTAGUE. Your father will be the chief one to profit from the change.
+
+LAURA. [Sinks back against the table; stares away from them,
+whispering.] To Grimes... two hundred thousand on Court deal! I see! I
+see! [Faces them, weakly.] And what... what do you mean to do?
+
+MONTAGUE. I intend to wait until the decision has been announced, which
+will be tomorrow, and then to call a public meeting and present the
+evidence.
+
+LAURA. [Starts to implore him; then controls herself.] Yes, yes... that
+is just. But then... see! It hasn't been done yet!
+
+MONTAGUE. How do you mean?
+
+LAURA. The decision hasn't come out. It could be stopped!
+
+JACK. Why stop it?
+
+LAURA. That would prevent the wrong! I would... oh, I see! You want to
+expose Grimes! You'd rather it happened!
+
+JACK. The crime has already been committed.
+
+LAURA. And you, Mr. Montague... you prefer it so?
+
+MONTAGUE. I had never thought of any other possibility.
+
+LAURA. Listen! I don't understand the matter very clearly. The Grand
+Avenue Railroad case...
+
+MONTAGUE. It is an effort to annul a franchise which was obtained by
+proven bribery.
+
+LAURA. Then, if the public could win, it would be worth while, would it
+not?
+
+MONTAGUE. It would establish a precedent of vast importance. But how
+could that be done?
+
+LAURA. We have a hold upon these men... we could compel them to give
+way!
+
+MONTAGUE. They would never do it, Miss Hegan... they have too much at
+stake.
+
+LAURA. But... the evidence you have! Mr. Bullen said you could send
+Grimes to jail.
+
+MONTAGUE. That was just wild talk. Grimes has the district attorney and
+the courts. He could never be punished for anything.
+
+LAURA. But the exposure!
+
+JACK. He's been exposed a hundred times. What does that matter to him?
+
+LAURA. But then... my father is involved.
+
+JACK. Quite true, Miss Hegan...
+
+LAURA. And I can make him see how wrong it is.
+
+JACK. You can make him see it! But you can't make him do anything!
+
+LAURA. Ah, but you don't know my father... truly, you don't. He does
+these evil things, but at heart he's a kind and loyal man! And he loves
+me... I am his only daughter... and I can help him to see what is right.
+We have always understood each other; he will listen to me as he would
+not to any one else in the world.
+
+JACK. But what can you say to him? We can't put our evidence in your
+hands...
+
+LAURA. I don't need your evidence. I must tell you that I, too, have
+found out something about this case. I know that my father paid Mr.
+Grimes to influence the decision of that Court. And I know how much he
+paid him.
+
+MONTAGUE. Miss Hegan!
+
+JACK. Good God!
+
+LAURA. You see, I am not afraid to trust you.... [A pause.] What is the
+nature of your evidence against Grimes?
+
+MONTAGUE. It comes from an eye-witness of his interview with the judge.
+
+LAURA. And it is some one you can trust?
+
+MONTAGUE. It's for Bullen to tell you.
+
+JACK. The judge has a nephew, a dissipated chap, whose inheritance he is
+holding back... and who hates him in consequence. The nephew happens to
+be a college chum of mine. He witnessed the interview and he brought me
+the evidence.
+
+LAURA. I see. Then, certainly, I have a case. And don't you see what a
+hold that gives me upon my father?
+
+JACK. Miss Hegan, you are a brave woman, and I would like to give way to
+you. But you could accomplish nothing. This suit, which is nominally in
+the public interest, is really backed by Murdock and his crowd, who are
+fighting your father; you must realize his position.. . the thousand
+ties that bind him... all the habits of a lifetime! Think of the friends
+he has to protect; you don't know...
+
+LAURA. I know it all. And, on the other hand, I know some things that
+you do not know. I know that my father is not a happy man. There is a
+canker eating at his heart... the fruit of life has turned to ashes
+on his lips. And he has one person in all this world that he loves.. .
+myself. He has toiled and fought for me... all these years he has told
+himself that he was making his money for me. And now he finds that it
+brings me only misery and grief... it is as useless to me as it is to
+him! And now, suppose I should go to him and say: "Father, you have
+committed a crime. And I cannot stand it another hour. You must choose
+here and now... you must give up this fight against the people... you
+must give up this career, and come with me and help me to do good in the
+world. Or else"... [her voice breaking.]... "I shall have to leave you!
+I shall refuse to touch a dollar of your money; I shall refuse in any
+way to share your guilt!" Don't you see? He will know that I am speaking
+the truth... and that I mean every word of it. Oh, gentlemen, believe
+me... my father would be as strong to atone for his injustices as he
+has been to commit them! Surely, you can't refuse me this chance to save
+him?
+
+JACK. Miss Hegan...
+
+MONTAGUE. For God's sake, Jack...
+
+JACK. Excuse me, Montague. How long would you expect us to wait, Miss
+Hegan?
+
+LAURA. You need not wait at all. You could go right ahead with your own
+plans. Meantime, I can go to my father... I will have tonight to plead
+with him, and tomorrow morning you will know if I have succeeded.
+
+JACK. Very well... I will consent to that.
+
+LAURA. Let Mr. Montague come to my father's office tomorrow morning at
+ten o'clock. I shall not give him up... even if I have to follow him
+there! And now... good-bye... [Starts toward the door, breaks down and
+cries.] Thank you! Thank you!
+
+[Stretches out her hands to them.]
+
+MONTAGUE. [Springing toward her.] Miss Hegan!
+
+LAURA. Give me a little courage! Tell me you think I shall succeed!
+
+MONTAGUE. [Seizing her hand.] I believe you will, Miss Hegan!
+
+LAURA. Ah! Thank you!
+
+MONTAGUE. [Kisses her hand; tries to speak; overcome.] Good-bye!
+
+LAURA. [Exit.] Ah, God!
+
+JACK. I understand, old man! If only she weren't so rich!
+
+MONTAGUE. If only she weren't...
+
+JACK. Yes, yes, dear boy; I know how it is. You're troubled with a
+conscience, and yours must be strictly a cottage affair! But forget it
+just now, old fellow... we've got work before us. Play ball!
+
+[Takes him by the shoulder; they go off.]
+
+[CURTAIN]
+
+
+
+
+ACT III
+
+HEGAN'S office in Wall street. A large room, furnished with severe
+simplicity. At the left a large table, with half a dozen chairs about
+it, and a "ticker" near the wall; at the right, a flat-topped desk and a
+telephone. Entrance centre.
+
+[At rise: ANDREWS stands by desk; takes some papers, looks them over,
+makes note and replaces them.]
+
+PARKER. [Enters.] Say, Andrews, what's the reply to these letters of the
+Fourth National?
+
+ANDREWS. Give them here; I'll see to them.
+
+PARKER. Any orders for the brokers this morning?
+
+ANDREWS. I'm writing them myself.
+
+PARKER. Something special, eh? All right. [Looks at ticker.] Hello!
+Listen to this: "There is a rumor, widely current, that the decision of
+the Court of Appeals in the matter of the Public vs. the Grand Avenue
+Railroad Company will be handed down to-day!" Gee whiz, I wonder if
+that's so?
+
+ANDREWS. I have heard the rumor.
+
+PARKER. There was a reporter here yesterday, trying to pump me. I'll bet
+they're watching the boss.
+
+ANDREWS. Yes; no doubt of that.
+
+PARKER. Cracky! I'd like to know which way it'll go!
+
+ANDREWS. A good many others would like to know, I've no doubt.
+
+PARKER. I'll bet my hat the boss knows!
+
+ANDREWS. It may be.
+
+[A pause; PARKER continues to read ticker.]
+
+PARKER. I don't suppose you've heard anything, have you?
+
+ANDREWS. I never hear, Parker.
+
+PARKER. Oh, say... come off. Why don't you drop a fellow a hint now and
+then?
+
+ANDREWS. I can't afford to.
+
+PARKER. It would never go beyond me. [A pause.] Say, Andrews.
+
+ANDREWS. Well?
+
+PARKER. Would you like to invest a bit for me now and then?
+
+ANDREWS. I'm not hankering to, especially.
+
+PARKER. I'll go halves with you on the profits.
+
+ANDREWS. And how about the losses?
+
+PARKER. There wouldn't be any losses.
+
+ANDREWS. Cut it out, Parker... we don't want that kind of a thing in the
+office. [Handing him paper.] Here... I want three copies of this. And
+take my advice and live on your salary.
+
+PARKER. Thanks. I wish the salary increased as fast as the bills do!
+[Starts to door; sees LAURA.] Oh! Good morning, Miss Hegan!
+
+LAURA. [Enters hurriedly.] Good morning.
+
+ANDREWS. Good morning, Miss Hegan.
+
+PARKER exit.
+
+LAURA. Mr. Andrews, where was my father last night?
+
+ANDREWS. He had an important conference...
+
+LAURA. He did not come to the house.
+
+ANDREWS. No, Miss Hegan; it was too late. He stayed downtown...
+
+LAURA. And you were not home, either.
+
+ANDREWS. I was with him.
+
+LAURA. It is too bad! I have been trying all night to find either of
+you.
+
+ANDREWS. Why... your father had no idea when he left...
+
+LAURA. I know. Something has turned up...
+
+ANDREWS. Nothing wrong, I hope.
+
+LAURA. I must see my father as soon as possible. Ile will be here this
+morning?
+
+ANDREWS. Any minute, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. He will surely come?
+
+ANDREWS. Not the slightest doubt of it. Nothing could keep him away.
+
+LAURA. I wish to see him the moment he comes. And if he should call up
+or send word...
+
+ANDREWS. I will see that he is informed, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. Thank you. [A pause.] The Court decision is expected to-day, is
+it not, Mr. Andrews?
+
+ANDREWS. [Hesitates.] There has been a rumor, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. And so there will be considerable disturbance of the market?
+
+ANDREWS. Presumably.
+
+LAURA. And my father has made preparations?
+
+ANDREWS. Yes.
+
+LAURA. That is what the conference was about?
+
+ANDREWS. I presume so, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. By the way, Mr. Andrews, I expect Mr. Montague here at ten
+o'clock. Please let me know when he comes.
+
+ANDREWS. Yes, Miss Hegan. [Goes to the door, then turns.] Here is Mr.
+Hegan now.
+
+LAURA. [Starting up.] Ah!
+
+ANDREWS. [Holding open door.] Good morning, Mr. Hegan.
+
+HEGAN. [Enters.] Good morning.
+
+LAURA. Father!
+
+HEGAN. Why, Laura! [ANDREWS exit.] What are you doing here?
+
+LAURA. I've come to have a talk with you.
+
+HEGAN. To have a talk with me?
+
+LAURA. Come in, please, father. Shut the door.
+
+HEGAN. Yes, my dear; but...
+
+LAURA. I came into the city on the next train after you. I have been
+hunting for you ever since... I have been up all night. I have something
+of the utmost urgency to talk with you about.
+
+HEGAN. What is it?
+
+LAURA. Come and sit down, please.
+
+HEGAN. Yes, my dear.
+
+LAURA. Listen, father. Yesterday afternoon, when we were talking, you
+told me that you had never done anything to influence the courts in
+their decisions.
+
+HEGAN. Yes, Laura.
+
+LAURA. And you told me that nobody else ever did it, either for you or
+for your companies.
+
+HEGAN. Yes, but...
+
+LAURA. And, father, you told me a falsehood.
+
+HEGAN. Laura!
+
+LAURA. I am very sorry, but I have to say it. It was a falsehood; and it
+is but one of many falsehoods that you have told me. I understand just
+why you did it you think I ought not to ask about these things, because
+it will make me unhappy; and so, for my own good, you do not hesitate to
+tell me things that are not true.
+
+HEGAN. My child, it is your father that you are talking to!
+
+LAURA. It is my father, and a father who knows that I love him very
+dearly, and who will realize it hurts me to say these things, fully as
+much as it hurts him to hear them. But they must be said... and said
+now.
+
+HEGAN. Why now? Just at this moment...
+
+LAURA. I know what you are going to say. At this moment you are very
+busy...
+
+HEGAN. My dear, the Exchange will open in an hour. And I am in the midst
+of a big campaign. I have important orders for my brokers, and a hundred
+other matters to attend to. And I expect Grimes here any minute...
+
+LAURA. Grimes?
+
+HEGAN. Yes, my dear.
+
+LAURA. You are not through with him yet, then?
+
+HEGAN. No, Laura...
+
+LAURA. Well, even so! Mr. Grimes must wait until I have said what I have
+to say to you.
+
+HEGAN. What is it, Laura?
+
+LAURA. You are expecting the decision of the Court of Appeals on the
+Grand Avenue Railroad case at noon today.
+
+HEGAN. Why, yes...
+
+LAURA. The decision will be in your favor. And you and Grimes are
+planning to gamble on it, and to make a great deal of money.
+
+HEGAN. Yes, my dear.
+
+LAURA. And you paid Grimes two hundred thousand dollars to fix the
+decision of the Court.
+
+HEGAN. [Starting violently.] Laura!
+
+LAURA. Grimes went to judge Porter's house the night before last and
+induced him to change his vote on the case.
+
+HEGAN. Laura!
+
+LAURA. And so, what was to have been the minority opinion of the Court
+is to be given out today as the Court's decision.
+
+HEGAN. My God!
+
+LAURA. You do not deny that this is the truth?
+
+HEGAN. You overheard us at the house!
+
+LAURA. Not one word, father.
+
+HEGAN. But you must have!
+
+LAURA. Father, throughout this conversation, you may honor me by
+assuming that I am telling you the absolute truth. And I will be glad
+when you will give me the same privilege.
+
+HEGAN. Then, how did you learn it?
+
+LAURA. That, unfortunately, I am not at liberty to tell you.
+
+HEGAN. Then other people know it?
+
+LAURA. They do.
+
+HEGAN. Good God! [Stares at her, dumbfounded.] Who are these people?
+
+LAURA. I cannot tell you that.
+
+HEGAN. But, Laura... you must!
+
+LAURA. It is impossible.
+
+HEGAN. But... how can that be?
+
+LAURA. I cannot discuss the matter.
+
+HEGAN. But think... my dear! I am your father, and you must trust me...
+you must help me...
+
+LAURA. Please do not ask me. I have given my word.
+
+HEGAN. Your word! [Gazes about, distracted.] You take the part of others
+against your own flesh and blood!
+
+LAURA. Listen, father! Think of me for a minute, and how it seems to me.
+Do not be so ignoble as to think only of the exposure...
+
+HEGAN. But, my child, realize what it will mean if this comes out! Are
+these people among my enemies?
+
+LAURA. That depends upon circumstances.
+
+HEGAN. I don't understand you.
+
+LAURA. I will try to explain, if you will be patient with me.
+
+HEGAN. Go on! Go on!
+
+LAURA. Father, you know what has been happening to me during the past
+few months. You know how unhappy I have been. And now you have committed
+a crime... a dreadful, dreadful crime!
+
+HEGAN. My dear!
+
+LAURA. I wish to make it clear to you... I am in desperate earnest. I
+have taken all night to think it over, and I am not making any mistake.
+I have made up my mind that, come what will, and cost what it may, I
+must clear myself of the responsibility for these evils.
+
+HEGAN. In what way are you responsible?
+
+LAURA. In every way imaginable. My whole life is based upon them...
+everything that I have and enjoy is stained with the guilt of them...
+the house in which I live, the clothing that I wear, the food that I
+eat. And I shall never again know what it is to be happy, while I have
+that fact upon my conscience. Don't you see?
+
+HEGAN. I see.
+
+LAURA. I tried all night to find you. I wanted to have a chance to talk
+with you, quietly. And, now, instead, I have to do it here, amid all the
+rush and strain of this dreadful Wall Street. But so it is.. . I must
+say it here. Father, I have come to plead with you, to plead with you
+upon my knees. Listen to me... don't turn me away!
+
+HEGAN. What do you wish me to do?
+
+LAURA. First of all, I wish you to give up this illegal advantage that
+you have gained. I wish you to stop this decision, and give the people
+the victory to which they are entitled.
+
+HEGAN. But, my dear, that is madness! How can I...
+
+LAURA. You compelled Grimes to do this thing... you can compel him to
+undo it!
+
+HEGAN. But, my dear, it would ruin me!
+
+LAURA. If you do what I ask you to do, ruin will not matter.
+
+HEGAN. What do you ask me?
+
+LAURA. I wish you to stop this mad career... to give up this money
+game... to drop it utterly! To stop selling stocks and manipulating
+markets; to stop buying politicians and franchises... to sell out
+everything... to withdraw. I want you to do it now... today.. . this
+very hour!
+
+HEGAN. But, my dear...
+
+LAURA. I want you to come with me, and help me to find happiness again,
+by doing some good in the world. I want you to use your power and your
+talents to help people, instead of to destroy them.
+
+HEGAN. My child! That is something very easy to talk about, but not so
+easy to do!
+
+LAURA. We will work together, and find ways to do it.
+
+HEGAN. It seems possible, from your point of view... with your noble
+ideals, and your sheltered life...
+
+LAURA. My sheltered life! That is just what I can no longer endure! That
+I should have ease and comfort, while others suffer... that my father
+should take part in this mad struggle for money and power, in order
+to give me a sheltered life! I must make it impossible for that to
+continue! I must make you understand that all your money is powerless to
+bring me happiness... that it is poisoning my life as well as your own!
+
+HEGAN. [Gravely.] Laura, I have tried to protect you... that is the
+natural instinct of a father... to keep evil things from his daughter's
+knowledge. If I have told you untruths, as you say, that has been the
+one reason. But since you will not have it so... since you must face the
+facts of the world...
+
+LAURA. I Must!
+
+HEGAN. Very well, then... you shall face them. You tell me to give up
+this case... to change back the Court's decision, so that the public
+may reap the advantage. Do you realize that the public has nothing to do
+with this suit?... That it is a covert attack upon me by an unscrupulous
+enemy?
+
+LAURA. You mean Murdock?
+
+HEGAN. Murdock. You know something of his career, perhaps... something
+of his private life, too. And if I should turn back, as you ask, the
+public would gain nothing... he would be the only one to profit. He
+would raid my securities; he would throw my companies into bankruptcy;
+he would draw my associates away from me... in the end, he would take my
+place in the traction field. Is that what you wish to bring about?
+
+LAURA. It is not that that I am thinking of. It is the corrupting of the
+Court...
+
+HEGAN. The Court! Do you know why Grimes and I had to do what we did?
+
+LAURA. No.
+
+HEGAN. And yet you have judged me! What would you say if I told you that
+we had information that one of the judges had received a thousand shares
+of Grand Avenue stock from Murdock? And that another had been promised a
+seat in the United States Supreme Court by that eminent Republican?
+
+LAURA. Oh! Horrible!
+
+HEGAN. You see what the game is?
+
+LAURA. But, father! The buying and selling of the powers of the
+Government...
+
+HEGAN. The "Government" consisting of politicians who have gotten
+themselves elected for the purpose of selling out to the highest bidder.
+For ten years now I have been in charge of these properties. .. I have
+had the interests of thousands of investors in my keeping... and all
+the while I have been like a man surrounded by a pack of wolves. I
+defended myself as I could... in the end, I found that the best way to
+defend was by attacking. In other words, I had to go into politics, to
+make the control of the "Government" a part of my business. Don't you
+see?
+
+LAURA. Yes, I see. But why play such a game?
+
+HEGAN. Why? Because it is the only game I have ever known... the only
+game there is to play. That is the way I have lived my life... the way
+I have risen to power and command. I played it for myself, and for my
+friends, and for those I loved.
+
+LAURA. You played it for me! And, oh! father! father!... Can't you see
+what that means to me? To realize that all my life has been based upon
+such things! Don't you see how I can't let it go on... how, if you
+refuse to do what I ask you to, it will be impossible for me to touch a
+dollar of your money?
+
+HEGAN. Laura!
+
+LAURA. Just that, father! I should never again be able to face my
+conscience!
+
+HEGAN. [After a pause.] Listen to me, dear. You know that I have always
+meant to withdraw...
+
+LAURA. I know that. And that has been a confession! You know that you
+are wrecking your life-wrecking everything! And if you mean to stop, why
+not stop?
+
+HEGAN. But, my dear, at this moment... in the midst of the battle. ..
+
+LAURA. At this moment you are on the point of doing something that will
+put a brand upon your conscience for the balance of your career. And at
+this moment you are confronted with the realization that you are ruining
+your daughter's life. You see her before you, desperate... frantic with
+shame and grief. And you have to make up your mind, either to drive her
+from you, heart-broken... or else to turn your face from these evils,
+and to take up a new way of life.
+
+HEGAN. [Broken and crushed, sits staring at her.] Laura!
+
+LAURA. [Stretching out her arms to him.] Father! A knock at the door;
+they start.
+
+GRIMES. [Enters.] Oh! Beg pardon!
+
+HEGAN. Come in.
+
+LAURA. [Starting up.] No!
+
+HEGAN. Come in! You must know it!
+
+GRIMES. What is it?
+
+HEGAN. Shut the door! Grimes, the game is up!
+
+GRIMES. How d'ye mean?
+
+HEGAN. We've been betrayed. Somebody knows all about the Court
+decision... about what passed between you and Porter, and between you
+and me!
+
+GRIMES. The hell you say!
+
+HEGAN. We're threatened with exposure!
+
+GRIMES. Who is it?
+
+HEGAN. I don't know.
+
+GRIMES. But, then...
+
+HEGAN. My daughter tells me. But she is not at liberty to give the
+names.
+
+GRIMES. Well, I'll be damned! [He stares from HEGAN to LAURA; then comes
+and sits, very deliberately, where he can gaze at them. A long pause;
+then, nodding toward them.] What's her game?
+
+HEGAN. [Weakly.] She will tell you.
+
+GRIMES. [Looking at her.] Well?
+
+LAURA. I am here to plead with my father to turn back from this
+wickedness.
+
+GRIMES. [Stares.] And do what, ma'am?
+
+LAURA. Quit Wall Street, and devote himself to some useful work.
+
+GRIMES. [After a pause.] And if he won't?
+
+LAURA. I have told him he must choose between his present career and his
+daughter's love.
+
+GRIMES. [Gazes at LAURA, then in front of him; slowly shakes his head.]
+I can't make out our young people. When I was a boy, young women looked
+up to their parents. What's your father done to you, that you should
+turn against him?
+
+LAURA. I have not turned against him, Mr. Grimes.
+
+GRIMES. [Indicating HEGAN, who sits in an attitude of despair.] Look at
+him!
+
+[A pause.]
+
+LAURA. I am pleading with him for his own good... to give up this cruel
+struggle...
+
+GRIMES. To turn tail and run from his enemies?
+
+LAURA. It is of my duty to the public that I am thinking, Mr. Grimes.
+
+GRIMES. You owe no duty to this world higher than your duty to your
+father.
+
+LAURA. You think that?
+
+GRIMES. I think it.
+
+LAURA. [Hesitates a moment, then turns.] Father! What do you say? Is
+that true?
+
+HEGAN. [Crushed.] I don't know, my dear.
+
+GRIMES. God Almighty! And this is Jim Hegan! [To LAURA.] Where'd you get
+onto these ideas, ma'am?
+
+LAURA. [In a low voice.] I think, Mr. Grimes, it might be best if you
+did not ask me to discuss this question. Our points of view are too
+different.
+
+GRIMES. [Shrugs his shoulders.] As you please, ma'am. But you needn't
+mind me... I ain't easy to offend. And I'm only trying to understand
+you.
+
+LAURA. [After a silence.] Mr. Grimes, I had the good fortune to be
+brought up in a beautiful and luxurious home; but not long ago I began
+to go down into the slums and see the homes of the people. I saw sights
+that made me sick with horror.
+
+GRIMES. No doubt, ma'am.
+
+LAURA. I found the people in the grip of a predatory organization that
+had bound them hand and foot, and was devouring them alive.
+
+GRIMES. You've been listening to tales, ma'am. We do a lot for the
+people.
+
+LAURA. You treat them to free coal and free picnics and free beer, and
+so you get their votes; and then you sell them out to capitalists like
+my father.
+
+GRIMES. Humph!
+
+LAURA. You sell them out to any one, high or low, who will pay for the
+privilege of exploiting them. You sell them to the rum-dealer and the
+dive-keeper and the gambler. You sell them to the white-slave trader.
+
+GRIMES. There's no such person, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. You offer an insult to my intelligence, Mr. Grimes. I have met
+with him and his work. There was a girl of the slums... her name was
+Annie Rogers. She was a decent girl; and she was lured into a dive and
+drugged and shut up in a brothel, a prisoner. She escaped to the street,
+pursued, and a friend of mine saved her. And, high and low, among the
+authorities of this city, we sought for justice for that girl, and there
+was no justice to be had. Yesterday afternoon I learned that she cut her
+own throat.
+
+GRIMES. I see.
+
+LAURA. And that happened, Mr. Grimes! It happened in the City of New
+York! I saw it with my own eyes!
+
+GRIMES. Such things have been, ma'am.
+
+LAURA. And you permit them.
+
+GRIMES. I?
+
+LAURA. You permit them
+
+GRIMES. I can't attempt to discuss prostitution with a lady. Such things
+existed long before I was born.
+
+LAURA. You could use your power to drive the traffic from the city.
+
+GRIMES. Yes, ma'am; I suppose I could. But if I'd been that sort of a
+man, do you think I'd ever had the power?
+
+LAURA. How neatly parried! What sort of a man are you, anyway?
+
+GRIMES. [Looks at hey fixedly.] I'll tell you the sort of man I am,
+ma'am. [A pause.] I wasn't brought up in a beautiful, luxurious home.
+I was brought up with five brothers, in two rooms on the top floor of a
+rear tenement on Avenue B; I was a little street "mick," and then I was
+a prize "scrapper," and the leader of a gang. When a policeman chased
+me upstairs, my mother stood at the head and fought him off with a
+rolling-pin. That was the way we stood by our children, ma'am; and we
+looked to them to stand by us. Once, when I was older, my enemies tried
+to do me... they charged me with a murder that I never done, ma'am. But
+d'ye think my old father ever stopped to ask if I done it or not, ma'am?
+Not much. "Don't mention that, Bob, my boy," says he... "it's all part
+of the fight, an' we're wid yer." [A pause.] I looked about me at the
+world, ma'am, and I found it was full of all sorts of pleasant things,
+that I'd never had, and never stood a chance of havin'. They were for
+the rich... the people on top. And they looked on with scorn... I was
+poor and I was low, and I wasn't fit for anything. And so I set to
+climb, ma'am. I shouldered my way up. I met men that fought me; I fought
+them back, and I won out. That's the sort of man I am.
+
+LAURA. I see. A selfish man, bent upon power at any price! A brutal man,
+profiting by the weakness of others! An unscrupulous man, trading upon
+fear and greed! A man who has stopped at no evil to gain his purpose!
+
+GRIMES. I am what the game has made me.
+
+LAURA. Not so! Not so! Many another man has been born to a fate like
+yours, and has fought his way up from the pit... to be a tower of
+strength for goodness and service, an honor to his people and himself.
+
+GRIMES. I've not met any such, ma'am.
+
+LAURA. No; you've not sought for them. You did not need them in your
+business. The men you needed were the thugs and the criminals, who could
+stuff ballot-boxes for you... the dive-keepers and the vice-sellers, who
+would contribute to your campaign funds! And you have dealt with them...
+you have built up the power they gave you into a mighty engine of
+corruption and wrong! And you are master of it... you use it to
+wring tribute from high and low! Selling immunity to dive-keepers and
+betraying helpless young girls! Naming legislators and judges, and
+receiving bribes to corrupt the highest Court in the State.
+
+HEGAN. Laura...
+
+LAURA. Father, I did not seek this discussion! He challenged me... and
+he shall hear the truth! For all these months the thing that has been
+driving me to desperation has been the knowledge that my father was the
+business associate and ally of a master of infamy like Robert Grimes!
+
+GRIMES. Thanks, ma'am! And so now he's to break with me!
+
+[A knock at the door.]
+
+ANDREWS. [Enters, centre.] Mr. Hegan, these orders for your brokers must
+be signed.
+
+HEGAN. I won't sign them!
+
+ANDREWS. Sir?
+
+HEGAN. Never mind them.
+
+GRIMES. [Springing to his feet.] Jim Hegan, you're mad! [TO ANDREWS.] Go
+out, will you? [ANDREWS exit.] Hegan, man... surely you don't mean this?
+
+HEGAN. Yes... I'm sick of it!
+
+GRIMES. But, man, think of the rest of us!... What are we to do?
+
+HEGAN. You can buy just the same.
+
+GRIMES. But without you? Why, we won't be able to corner Murdock! And if
+he gets out of this hole, it'll be worse than ever! There'll be hell to
+pay!
+
+HEGAN. I don't care.
+
+GRIMES. But, man, you've pledged yourself! Look at what Harris has
+done!... What excuse will you be able to make to him? And what will you
+tell Henry Stevens?
+
+HEGAN. I'll tell them I've quit.
+
+GRIMES. But you told them last night you were going in with every dollar
+you could raise! You told Isaacson he could break with Murdock! And now
+you'll tell them you've turned tail and run! Why, Hegan, it's treason!
+
+HEGAN. Listen to me...
+
+GRIMES. I don't want to listen to you! Half an hour from now you'll
+be ashamed of yourself... wishing that nobody had heard you! You'll be
+begging me not to mention it! You... Jim Hegan... the traction king!
+To lose your nerve over a little thing like this! What's come over you,
+anyhow... after all the things we've been through together? Why, man...
+
+[The 'phone rings.]
+
+HEGAN. Hello! Who is it? Oh, Isaacson. Yes; I'll speak with him. Hello,
+Isaacson! Yes. No; I've not forgotten. I'll do whatever I said I'd do.
+Er... yes; that's all right. I've been delayed. Yes. I'll get the
+money to you. Right away. Oh, certainly, that's all right. [Hangs up
+receiver.] Ah, God!
+
+GRIMES. Hegan, listen here. You're in the midst of a battle. And you're
+the general. Everything depends on you this morning. And you've a right
+to be afraid.. but you've no right to let others see it. You've no
+right... do you understand me? And, by God, I won't let you!... I'll be
+a man for two of you! Shake yourself together now! [Seizes him.] Come,
+man! Shake yourself together!
+
+HEGAN. But think of the exposure!
+
+GRIMES. The exposure! And this is Jim Hegan talking! How many times have
+you been exposed already? And how many times have I been?
+
+HEGAN. But this is different.
+
+GRIMES. How different? We've got the police, and we've got the district
+attorney, and we've got the courts. What more do we want? What can they
+do but talk in the newspapers? And is there anything they haven't said
+about us already? [Takes HEGAN by the arm, and laughs.] Come, old man!
+As my friend Leary says: "Dis is a nine-day town. If yez kin stand de
+gaff for nine days, ye're all right!" We'll stand the gaff!
+
+HEGAN. I'm tired of standing it.
+
+GRIMES. Yes, we all get tired now and then. But this afternoon it'll be
+Murdock that's tired. Think of him, Hegan... try to realize him a bit!
+You've got him where you want him at last! Remember what he did to you
+in the Brooklyn Ferry case! Remember how he lied to you in the Third
+Avenue case! And he told Isaacson, only last week, that he'd never let
+up on you till he'd driven you out of the traction field!
+
+HEGAN. Did he say that?
+
+GRIMES. He did that! And only yesterday he said he was getting ready to
+finish you! He's as sure of this Court decision as I am of the sunrise!
+I'm told he's short already over a quarter of a million shares!
+
+HEGAN. But his judges'll get word to him... he'll buy!
+
+GRIMES. Of course! But that's just why you ought to be busy! Buy first,
+and make him pay... damn his soul!
+
+ANDREWS. [Knocks and enters.] Mr. Stevens is here, Mr. Hegan.
+
+GRIMES. Henry Stevens? We'll see him. [ANDREWS exit.] Come on, man!
+We'll go over to your brokers and take the orders. It'll give you a
+smell of the powder smoke.
+
+LAURA. [AS HEGAN Starts to follow.] Father, you are going with him?
+
+HEGAN. My dear child, what can I do?
+
+LAURA. But think of the disgrace... the shame of it! You will carry it
+with you all your life!
+
+HEGAN. I can't help it. I am bound hand and foot.
+
+LAURA. Father! [She rushes to him, and flings her arms about him.] Do
+you realize what you are doing? You are driving me away from you!.. .
+You are casting me off! And all for a few more dollars!
+
+HEGAN. My dear, it is not that. My word is pledged.
+
+LAURA. You are trampling me in the dust. You are spurning all that is
+best in your life!
+
+GRIMES. Come, come, man! The game is called
+
+HEGAN. Let me go, my dear.
+
+LAURA. Father!
+
+HEGAN. No! No! [He gently, but firmly, puts her arms from him.]
+Good-bye, dear.
+
+LAURA. Father! [HEGAN and GRIMES go out centre; she sinks by the
+table, and buries her face in her arms, sobbing; after a considerable,
+interval, a knock on the door, centre.] Come in!
+
+MONTAGUE. [Enters.] Well?
+
+LAURA. I have failed. [Rises and stretches out her arms.] Failed! He has
+gone with Grimes!
+
+MONTAGUE. I saw him go, Miss Hegan.
+
+LAURA. [Swiftly.] And yet... I have not failed utterly. I have failed
+to turn back the decision... to save him from this disgrace. But that is
+not all.
+
+MONTAGUE: How do you mean?
+
+LAURA. I shall not give him up... and, in the end, I shall have my way;
+I can see that quite clearly. Ah, how I hurt him! I almost broke his
+heart! And just now he is in the midst of the battle... the rage of it
+is on him. But, afterwards, he will recollect... he will be overwhelmed
+with grief! And then he will see! He will do what I have begged him to!
+
+MONTAGUE. Yes... perhaps that is so.
+
+LAURA. I know what my love means to him! I know what he is at heart! And
+when he sees that I mean to carry out my threat, to go by myself and
+to refuse to touch his money... that will be more than he can bear, Mr.
+Montague!
+
+MONTAGUE. You mean to do that?
+
+LAURA. I mean to do it! I mean to do it today; and I will never yield to
+him... never until he has atoned for this wrong he has done! And don't
+you see that I will win in the end?
+
+MONTAGUE. Yes; I see.
+
+LAURA. [Quickly.] Understand, that has nothing to do with your course.
+I am not asking you to spare him. You must go ahead and do your duty...
+you must do just what you would have done if I had never stood in the
+way.
+
+MONTAGUE. It is a terrible thing to me, Miss Hegan. I cannot turn
+back...
+
+LAURA. You must not! You must not think of it! It will be a part of my
+father's punishment... and he has deserved it. He has prepared that cup,
+and he must drink it... to the dregs!
+
+MONTAGUE. You can bear it?
+
+LAURA. It is not any question of what I can bear. It is a question of
+the rights of the people. I saw that quite clearly, as my father talked
+with me. Whether it is he who wins, or whether it is Murdock, it is
+always the people that lose. And, let it hurt whom it may, the people
+must have the truth!
+
+MONTAGUE. And then... you will be able to forgive me! Ah, what a weight
+you lift from me! I hardly dared to face the thought of what I had to
+do! [Hesitating.] And then, the thought that you mean to renounce your
+father's wealth... that you are going out into the world... alone...
+
+LAURA. It will not be hard for me. You cannot know how I have hated my
+past life. To know that my father has plundered the public... and then
+to give his money, and call it charity. To be flattered and fawned
+upon... to be celebrated and admired... and never for anything that I
+am, but always for my money!
+
+MONTAGUE. I understand what you feel! And see what your decision means
+to me... it sets me free at last!
+
+LAURA. Free!
+
+MONTAGUE. Free to speak! Miss Hegan, I came to New York, and I met these
+rich people, and I saw how their fortunes were poisoning their lives. I
+saw men who could not have a real friend in the world, because of their
+money. I saw young girls whose souls were utterly dead in them
+because they had been brought up to think of themselves as keepers of
+money-bags, and to guard against men who sought to prey upon them. I
+hated the thing... I fled from it as I would from a plague. In that
+world I had met a woman I might have loved... a woman who was noble and
+beautiful and true; and yet I dared not speak to her... I dared not even
+permit myself to know her... because I was a poor man, and she was rich.
+But now she is to be poor also! And so I may speak!
+
+LAURA. [Starting.] Oh!
+
+MONTAGUE. Miss Hegan, from the first time I met you I felt that you were
+the woman I should love. But then, as fate would have it, I found myself
+preparing to attack your father; so I said that we must never meet
+again. But now you see how it has happened. I have come to know you as I
+never hoped to know you, and I know that I love you.
+
+LAURA. I had no idea...
+
+MONTAGUE. You say that you are going away alone. Let us go together. We
+have the same purpose... we have the same battle to fight. We can go out
+to the people and help to teach them.
+
+LAURA. You... you know that you love me?
+
+MONTAGUE. I love you! I want nothing so much as the chance to serve you
+and help you. The chance to tell you so is more than I had ever ventured
+to hope for. To find you free and alone... to be able to speak to you,
+with no thought of wealth or position! To tell you that I love you...
+just you! You!
+
+LAURA. I hardly dare to think of it... now... here...
+
+MONTAGUE. We can put all the past behind us... we can take a new start
+and win our own way. If only you love me!
+
+LAURA. Ah, to let myself be happy again. How can I?
+
+MONTAGUE. If you love me, then we have the key to happiness... then
+everything is clear before us. We can face the world together! Do you
+love me? [Stretches out his arms to her.] Laura!
+
+LAURA. [Sways toward him.] I love you.
+
+MONTAGUE. [Embraces her.] My love!
+
+CURTAIN
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Machine, by Upton Sinclair
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