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Melcher?
You know him, of course at least, who he is. He spends the steel money here in
Washington to keep the building program going on. Simple thing to do. The Navy helps
him. Tell the public about the Japanese menace, the English menace, all the other menaces,
and the public coughs up for bigger guns and better ships. Run em till they rust and nobody
ever really knows what good they could do.
And Melcher does that?
The Congressman chuckled. His pay-roll would make your eyes bulge. But you can t
touch him.
Hugo nodded thoughtfully. Don t you think any one around here works purely for an
idea?
How s that? Oh I understand. Sure. The cranks! And his laughter ended the
discussion.
Hugo began. He walked up the brick steps of Melcher s residence and pulled the
glittering brass knob. A servant came to the door.
Mr. Danner to see Mr. Melcher. Just a moment.
A wait in the hall. The servant returned. Sorry but he s not in.
Hugo s mouth was firm. Please tell him that I saw him come in.
I m sorry, sir, but he is going right out.
Tell him that he will see me.
The servant raised his voice. Harry! A heavy person with a flattened nose and
cauliflower ears stepped into the hall. This gentleman wishes to see Mr. Melcher, and Mr.
Melcher is not in to him. Take care of him, Harry. The servant withdrew. Run along,
fellow.
Hugo smiled. Mr. Melcher keeps a bouncer?
An evil light flickered in the other s eyes. Yeah, fellow. And I came up from the
Pennsy mines. I m a tough guy, so beat it.
Not so tough your ears and nose aren t a sight, Hugo said lightly.
The man advanced. His voice was throaty. Git!
You go to the devil. I came here to see Melcher and I m going to see him.
Yeah?
The tough one drew back his fist, but he never understood afterwards what had taken
place. He came to in the kitchen an hour later. Mr. Melcher heard him rumble to the floor and
emerged from the library. He was a huge man, bigger than this bouncer; his face was hard
and sinister and it lighted with an unpleasant smile when he saw the unconscious thug and
measured the size of Hugo. Pulled a fast one on Harry, eh?
I came to see you, Melcher.
Well, might as well come in now. I worked up from the mines myself, and I m a
hard egg. If you got funny with me, you d get killed. Wha daya want?
Hugo sat down in a leather chair and lit a cigarette. He was comparatively without
emotion. This was his appointed task and he would make short shift of it. I came here,
Melcher, he began, to talk about your part in the arms conferences. It happens that I
disagree with you and your propaganda. It happens that I have a method of enforcing my
opinion. Disarmament is a great thing for the world, and putting the idea across is the first
step toward even bigger things. I know the relative truths of what you say about America s
peril and what you get from saying it. Am I clear?
Melcher had reddened. He nodded. Perfectly.
I have nothing to add. Get out of town. Melcher s eyes narrowed. Do you really
believe that sending me out of town would do any good? Do you have the conceit to think
that one nutty shrimp like you can buck the will and ideas of millions of people?
Hugo did not permit his convictions to be shaken. There happen to be extenuating
circumstances, Melcher.
Really? You surprise me. The broad sarcasm was shaken like a weapon. And do
you honestly think you could chase me me out of here?
I am sure of it.
How?
Hugo extinguished his cigarette. I happen to be more than a man. I am he
hesitated, seeking words let us say, a devil, or an angel, or a scourge. I detest you and what
you stand for. If you do not leave I can ruin your house and destroy you. And I will. He
finished his words almost gently.
Melcher appeared to hesitate. All right. I ll go. Immediately. This afternoon.
Hugo was astonished. You will go?
I promise. Good afternoon, Mr. Danner.
Hugo rose and walked toward the door. He was seething with surprise and suspicion.
Had he actually intimidated Melcher so easily? His hand touched the knob. At that instant
Melcher hit him on the head with a chair. It broke in pieces. Hugo turned around slowly.
I understand. You mistook me for a dangerous lunatic, I was puzzled for a moment.
Now
Melcher s jaw sagged in amazement when Hugo did not fall. An instant later he threw
himself forward, arms out head drawn between his shoulders. With one hand Hugo
imprisoned his wrists. He lifted Melcher from the floor and shook him. I meant it, Melcher.
And I will give you a sign. Rotten politics, graft, bad government, are doomed. Melcher
watched with staring eyes while Hugo, with his free hand, rapidly demolished the room. He
picked up the great desk and smashed it; he tore the stone mantelpiece from its roots; he
kicked the fireplace apart; he burst a hole in the brick wall dragging the bulk of a man [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
Melcher?
You know him, of course at least, who he is. He spends the steel money here in
Washington to keep the building program going on. Simple thing to do. The Navy helps
him. Tell the public about the Japanese menace, the English menace, all the other menaces,
and the public coughs up for bigger guns and better ships. Run em till they rust and nobody
ever really knows what good they could do.
And Melcher does that?
The Congressman chuckled. His pay-roll would make your eyes bulge. But you can t
touch him.
Hugo nodded thoughtfully. Don t you think any one around here works purely for an
idea?
How s that? Oh I understand. Sure. The cranks! And his laughter ended the
discussion.
Hugo began. He walked up the brick steps of Melcher s residence and pulled the
glittering brass knob. A servant came to the door.
Mr. Danner to see Mr. Melcher. Just a moment.
A wait in the hall. The servant returned. Sorry but he s not in.
Hugo s mouth was firm. Please tell him that I saw him come in.
I m sorry, sir, but he is going right out.
Tell him that he will see me.
The servant raised his voice. Harry! A heavy person with a flattened nose and
cauliflower ears stepped into the hall. This gentleman wishes to see Mr. Melcher, and Mr.
Melcher is not in to him. Take care of him, Harry. The servant withdrew. Run along,
fellow.
Hugo smiled. Mr. Melcher keeps a bouncer?
An evil light flickered in the other s eyes. Yeah, fellow. And I came up from the
Pennsy mines. I m a tough guy, so beat it.
Not so tough your ears and nose aren t a sight, Hugo said lightly.
The man advanced. His voice was throaty. Git!
You go to the devil. I came here to see Melcher and I m going to see him.
Yeah?
The tough one drew back his fist, but he never understood afterwards what had taken
place. He came to in the kitchen an hour later. Mr. Melcher heard him rumble to the floor and
emerged from the library. He was a huge man, bigger than this bouncer; his face was hard
and sinister and it lighted with an unpleasant smile when he saw the unconscious thug and
measured the size of Hugo. Pulled a fast one on Harry, eh?
I came to see you, Melcher.
Well, might as well come in now. I worked up from the mines myself, and I m a
hard egg. If you got funny with me, you d get killed. Wha daya want?
Hugo sat down in a leather chair and lit a cigarette. He was comparatively without
emotion. This was his appointed task and he would make short shift of it. I came here,
Melcher, he began, to talk about your part in the arms conferences. It happens that I
disagree with you and your propaganda. It happens that I have a method of enforcing my
opinion. Disarmament is a great thing for the world, and putting the idea across is the first
step toward even bigger things. I know the relative truths of what you say about America s
peril and what you get from saying it. Am I clear?
Melcher had reddened. He nodded. Perfectly.
I have nothing to add. Get out of town. Melcher s eyes narrowed. Do you really
believe that sending me out of town would do any good? Do you have the conceit to think
that one nutty shrimp like you can buck the will and ideas of millions of people?
Hugo did not permit his convictions to be shaken. There happen to be extenuating
circumstances, Melcher.
Really? You surprise me. The broad sarcasm was shaken like a weapon. And do
you honestly think you could chase me me out of here?
I am sure of it.
How?
Hugo extinguished his cigarette. I happen to be more than a man. I am he
hesitated, seeking words let us say, a devil, or an angel, or a scourge. I detest you and what
you stand for. If you do not leave I can ruin your house and destroy you. And I will. He
finished his words almost gently.
Melcher appeared to hesitate. All right. I ll go. Immediately. This afternoon.
Hugo was astonished. You will go?
I promise. Good afternoon, Mr. Danner.
Hugo rose and walked toward the door. He was seething with surprise and suspicion.
Had he actually intimidated Melcher so easily? His hand touched the knob. At that instant
Melcher hit him on the head with a chair. It broke in pieces. Hugo turned around slowly.
I understand. You mistook me for a dangerous lunatic, I was puzzled for a moment.
Now
Melcher s jaw sagged in amazement when Hugo did not fall. An instant later he threw
himself forward, arms out head drawn between his shoulders. With one hand Hugo
imprisoned his wrists. He lifted Melcher from the floor and shook him. I meant it, Melcher.
And I will give you a sign. Rotten politics, graft, bad government, are doomed. Melcher
watched with staring eyes while Hugo, with his free hand, rapidly demolished the room. He
picked up the great desk and smashed it; he tore the stone mantelpiece from its roots; he
kicked the fireplace apart; he burst a hole in the brick wall dragging the bulk of a man [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]