For a few seconds no one answered. Then, Annixter, moving abruptly and uneasily in his place, muttered:
I spoke upon provocation. If you like, well consider it unsaid. I dont know whats going to become of usgo out of business, I presume.
I understand Magnus all right, put in Osterman. He dont have to go into this thing, if its against his conscience. Thats all right. Magnus can stay out if he wants to, but that wont prevent us going ahead and seeing what we can do. Only theres this about it. He turned again to Magnus, speaking with every degree of earnestness, every appearance of conviction. I did not deny, Governor, from the very start that this would mean bribery. But you dont suppose that I like the idea either. If there was one legitimate hope that was yet left untried, no matter how forlorn it was, I would try it. But theres not. It is literally and soberly true that every means of helpevery honest meanshas been attempted. Shelgrim is going to cinch us. Grain rates are increasing, while, on the other hand, the price of wheat is sagging lower and lower all the time. If we dont do something we are ruined.
Osterman paused for a moment, allowing precisely the right number of seconds to elapse, then altering and lowering his voice, added:
I respect the Governors principles. I admire them. They do him every degree of credit. Then, turning directly to Magnus, he concluded with, But I only want you to ask yourself, sir, if, at such a crisis, one ought to think of oneself, to consider purely personal motives in such a desperate situation as this? Now, we want you with us, Governor; perhaps not openly, if you dont wish it, but tacitly, at least. I wont ask you for an answer to-night, but what I do ask of you is to consider this matter seriously and think over the whole business. Will you do it?
Osterman ceased definitely to speak, leaning forward across the table, his eyes fixed on Magnuss face. There was a silence. Outside, the rain fell continually with an even, monotonous murmur. In the group of men around the table no one stirred nor spoke. They looked steadily at Magnus, who, for the moment, kept his glance fixed thoughtfully upon the table before him. In another moment he raised his head and looked from face to face around the group. After all, these were his neighbours, his friends, men with whom he had been upon the closest terms of association. In a way they represented what now had come to be his world. His single swift glance took in the men, one after another. Annixter, rugged, crude, sitting awkwardly and uncomfortably in his chair, his unhandsome face, with its outthrust lower lip and deeply cleft masculine chin, flushed and eager, his yellow hair disordered, the one tuft on the crown standing stiffly forth like the feather in an Indians scalp lock; Broderson, vaguely combing at his long beard with a persistent maniacal gesture, distressed, troubled and uneasy; Osterman, with his comedy face, the face of a music-hall singer, his head bald and set off by his great red ears, leaning back in his place, softly cracking the knuckle of a forefinger, and, last of all and close to his elbow, his son, his support, his confidant and companion, Harran, so like himself, with his own erect, fine carriage, his thin, beak-like nose and his blond hair, with its tendency to curl in a forward direction in front of the ears, young, strong, courageous, full of the promise of the future years. His blue eyes looked straight into his fathers with what Magnus could fancy a glance of appeal. Magnus could see that expression in the faces of the others very plainly. They looked to him as their natural leader, their chief who was to bring them out from this abominable trouble which was closing in upon them, and in them all he saw many types. Theythese men around his table on that night of the first rain of a coming seasonseemed to stand in his imagination for many othersall the farmers, ranchers, and wheat growers of the great San Joaquin. Their words were the words of a whole community; their distress, the distress of an entire State, harried beyond the bounds of endurance, driven to the wall, coerced, exploited, harassed to the limits of exasperation. I will think of it, he said, then hastened to add, but I can tell you beforehand that you may expect only a refusal.
After Magnus had spoken, there was a prolonged silence. The conference seemed of itself to have come to an end for that evening. Presley lighted another cigarette from the butt of the one he had been smoking, and the cat, Princess Nathalie, disturbed by his movement and by a whiff of drifting smoke, jumped from his knee to the floor and picking her way across the room to Annixter, rubbed gently against his legs, her tail in the air, her back delicately arched. No doubt she thought it time to settle herself for the night, and as Annixter gave no indication of vacating his chair, she chose this way of cajoling him into ceding his place to her. But Annixter was irritated at the Princesss attentions, misunderstanding their motive.
Get out! he exclaimed, lifting his feet to the rung of the chair. Lord love me, but I sure do hate a cat.
By the way, observed Osterman, I passed Genslinger by the gate as I came in to-night. Had he been here?
Yes, he was here, said Harran, and but Annixter took the words out of his mouth.
He says theres some talk of the railroad selling us their sections this winter.
Oh, he did, did he? exclaimed Osterman, interested at once. Where did he hear that?
Where does a railroad paper get its news? From the General Office, I suppose.
I hope he didnt get it straight from headquarters that the land was to be graded at twenty dollars an acre, murmured Broderson.
Whats that? demanded Osterman. Twenty dollars! Here, put me on, somebody. Whats all up? What did Genslinger say?
Oh, you neednt get scared, said Annixter. Genslinger dont know, thats all. He thinks there was no understanding that the price of the land should not be advanced when the P. and S. W. came to sell to us.
Oh, muttered Osterman relieved. Magnus, who had gone out into the office on the other side of the glass-roofed hallway, returned with a long, yellow envelope in his hand, stuffed with newspaper clippings and thin, closely printed pamphlets.
Here is the circular, he remarked, drawing out one of the pamphlets. The conditions of settlement to which the railroad obligated itself are very explicit.
He ran over the pages of the circular, then read aloud:
The Company invites settlers to go upon its lands before patents are issued or the road is completed, and intends in such cases to sell to them in preference to any other applicants and at a price based upon the value of the land without improvements, and on the other page here, he remarked, they refer to this again. In ascertaining the value of the lands, any improvements that a settler or any other person may have on the lands will not be taken into consideration, neither will the price be increased in consequence thereof.... Settlers are thus insured that in addition to being accorded the first privilege of purchase, at the graded price, they will also be protected in their improvements. And here, he commented, in Section IX. it reads, The lands are not uniform in price, but are offered at various figures from $2.50 upward per acre. Usually land covered with tall timber is held at $5.00 per acre, and that with pine at $10.00. Most is for sale at $2.50 and $5.00.
When you come to read that carefully, hazarded old Broderson, itits not so VERY REASSURING. MOST is for sale at two-fifty an acre, it says. That dont mean ALL, that only means SOME. I wish now that I had secured a more iron-clad agreement from the P. and S. W. when I took up its sections on my ranch, andand Genslinger is in a position to know the intentions of the railroad. At least, hehehe is in TOUCH with them. All newspaper men are. Those, I mean, who are subsidised by the General Office. But, perhaps, Genslinger isnt subsidised, I dont know. II am not sure. Maybeperhaps