And abruptly the discussion began.Gradually Osterman, by dint of his clamour, his strident reiteration, the plausibility of his glib, ready assertions, the ease with which he extricated himself when apparently driven to a corner, completely won over old Broderson to his way of thinking.Osterman bewildered him with his volubility, the lightning rapidity with which he leaped from one subject to another, garrulous, witty, flamboyant, terrifying the old man with pictures of the swift approach of ruin, the imminence of danger.
Annixter, who led the argument against him--loving argument though he did--appeared to poor advantage, unable to present his side effectively.He called Osterman a fool, a goat, a senseless, crazy-headed jackass, but was unable to refute his assertions.His debate was the clumsy heaving of brickbats, brutal, direct.He contradicted everything Osterman said as a matter of principle, made conflicting assertions, declarations that were absolutely inconsistent, and when Osterman or Harran used these against him, could only exclaim:
"Well, in a way it's so, and then again in a way it isn't."But suddenly Osterman discovered a new argument."If we swing this deal," he cried, "we've got old jelly-belly Behrman right where we want him.""He's the man that does us every time," cried Harran."If there is dirty work to be done in which the railroad doesn't wish to appear, it is S.Behrman who does it.If the freight rates are to be 'adjusted' to squeeze us a little harder, it is S.Behrman who regulates what we can stand.If there's a judge to be bought, it is S.Behrman who does the bargaining.If there is a jury to be bribed, it is S.Behrman who handles the money.If there is an election to be jobbed, it is S.Behrman who manipulates it.It's Behrman here and Behrman there.It is Behrman we come against every time we make a move.It is Behrman who has the grip of us and will never let go till he has squeezed us bone dry.Why, when I think of it all sometimes I wonder Ikeep my hands off the man."
Osterman got on his feet; leaning across the table, gesturing wildly with his right hand, his serio-comic face, with its bald forehead and stiff, red ears, was inflamed with excitement.He took the floor, creating an impression, attracting all attention to himself, playing to the gallery, gesticulating, clamourous, full of noise.
"Well, now is your chance to get even," he vociferated."It is now or never.You can take it and save the situation for yourselves and all California or you can leave it and rot on your own ranches.Buck, I know you.I know you're not afraid of anything that wears skin.I know you've got sand all through you, and I know if I showed you how we could put our deal through and seat a Commission of our own, you wouldn't hang back.
Governor, you're a brave man.You know the advantage of prompt and fearless action.You are not the sort to shrink from taking chances.To play for big stakes is just your game--to stake a fortune on the turn of a card.You didn't get the reputation of being the strongest poker player in El Dorado County for nothing.
Now, here's the biggest gamble that ever came your way.If we stand up to it like men with guts in us, we'll win out.If we hesitate, we're lost.""I don't suppose you can help playing the goat, Osterman,"remarked Annixter, "but what's your idea? What do you think we can do? I'm not saying," he hastened to interpose, "that you've anyways convinced me by all this cackling.I know as well as you that we are in a hole.But I knew that before I came here to-night.YOU'VE not done anything to make me change my mind.But just what do you propose? Let's hear it.""Well, I say the first thing to do is to see Disbrow.He's the political boss of the Denver, Pueblo, and Mojave road.We will have to get in with the machine some way and that's particularly why I want Magnus with us.He knows politics better than any of us and if we don't want to get sold again we will have to have some one that's in the know to steer us.""The only politics I understand, Mr.Osterman," answered Magnus sternly, "are honest politics.You must look elsewhere for your political manager.I refuse to have any part in this matter.If the Railroad Commission can be nominated legitimately, if your arrangements can be made without bribery, I am with you to the last iota of my ability.""Well, you can't get what you want without paying for it,"contradicted Annixter.
Broderson was about to speak when Osterman kicked his foot under the table.He, himself, held his peace.He was quick to see that if he could involve Magnus and Annixter in an argument, Annixter, for the mere love of contention, would oppose the Governor and, without knowing it, would commit himself to his--Osterman's--scheme.
This was precisely what happened.In a few moments Annixter was declaring at top voice his readiness to mortgage the crop of Quien Sabe, if necessary, for the sake of "busting S.Behrman."He could see no great obstacle in the way of controlling the nominating convention so far as securing the naming of two Railroad Commissioners was concerned.Two was all they needed.
Probably it WOULD cost money.You didn't get something for nothing.It would cost them all a good deal more if they sat like lumps on a log and played tiddledy-winks while Shelgrim sold out from under them.Then there was this, too: the P.and S.W.
were hard up just then.The shortage on the State's wheat crop for the last two years had affected them, too.They were retrenching in expenditures all along the line.Hadn't they just cut wages in all departments? There was this affair of Dyke's to prove it.The railroad didn't always act as a unit, either.
