the titan-第9部分

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　　His　offer　to　buy　outright　at　three　or　four　for　one　they　refused　absolutely。　　The　stock　in　each　case　was　selling　from　one　hundred　and　seventy　to　two　hundred　and　ten；　and　intrinsically　was　worth　more　every　year；　as　the　city　was　growing　larger　and　its　need　of　gas　greater。　　At　the　same　time　they　were　suspiciousone　and　allof　any　combination　scheme　by　an　outsider。　　Who　was　he？　Whom　did　he　represent？　He　could　make　it　clear　that　he　had　ample　capital；　but　not　who　his　backers　were。　　The　old　officers　and　directors　fancied　that　it　was　a　scheme　on　the　part　of　some　of　the　officers　and　directors　of　one　of　the　other　companies　to　get　control　and　oust　them。　　Why　should　they　sell？　Why　be　tempted　by　greater　profits　from　their　stock　when　they　were　doing　very　well　as　it　was？　Because　of　his　newness　to　Chicago　and　his　lack　of　connection　as　yet　with　large　affairs　Cowperwood　was　eventually　compelled　to　turn　to　another　schemethat　of　organizing　new　companies　in　the　suburbs　as　an　entering…wedge　of　attack　upon　the　city　proper。　　Suburbs　such　as　Lake　View　and　Hyde　Park；　having　town　or　village　councils　of　their　own；　were　permitted　to　grant　franchises　to　water；　gas；　and　street…railway　companies　duly　incorporated　under　the　laws　of　the　state。　　Cowperwood　calculated　that　if　he　could　form　separate　and　seemingly　distinct　companies　for　each　of　the　villages　and　towns；　and　one　general　company　for　the　city　later；　he　would　be　in　a　position　to　dictate　terms　to　the　older　organizations。　　It　was　simply　a　question　of　obtaining　his　charters　and　franchises　before　his　rivals　had　awakened　to　the　situation。

The　one　difficulty　was　that　he　knew　absolutely　nothing　of　the　business　of　gasits　practical　manufacture　and　distributionand　had　never　been　particularly　interested　init。　　Street…railroading；　his　favorite　form　of　municipal　profit…seeking；　and　one　upon　which　he　had　acquired　an　almost　endless　fund　of　specialized　information；　offered　no　present　practical　opportunity　for　him　here　in　Chicago。　He　meditated　on　the　situation；　did　some　reading　on　the　manufacture　of　gas；　and　then　suddenly；　as　was　his　luck；　found　an　implement　ready　to　his　hand。

It　appeared　that　in　the　course　of　the　life　and　growth　of　the　South　Side　company　there　had　once　been　a　smaller　organization　founded　by　a　man　by　the　name　of　SippensHenry　De　Soto　Sippenswho　had　entered　and　actually　secured；　by　some　hocus…pocus；　a　franchise　to　manufacture　and　sell　gas　in　the　down…town　districts；　but　who　had　been　annoyed　by　all　sorts　of　legal　processes　until　he　had　finally　been　driven　out　or　persuaded　to　get　out。　　He　was　now　in　the　real…estate　business　in　Lake　View。　　Old　Peter　Laughlin　knew　him。

〃He's　a　smart　little　cuss；〃　Laughlin　told　Cowperwood。　　〃I　thort　onct　he'd　make　a　go　of　it；　but　they　ketched　him　where　his　hair　was　short；　and　he　had　to　let　go。　　There　was　an　explosion　in　his　tank　over　here　near　the　river　onct；　an　I　think　he　thort　them　fellers　blew　him　up。　　Anyhow；　he　got　out。　　I　ain't　seen　ner　heard　sight　of　him　fer　years。〃

Cowperwood　sent　old　Peter　to　look　up　Mr。　Sippens　and　find　out　what　he　was　really　doing；　and　whether　he　would　be　interested　to　get　back　in　the　gas　business。　　Enter；　then；　a　few　days　later　into　the　office　of　Peter　Laughlin　&　Co。　Henry　De　Soto　Sippens。　　He　was　a　very　little　man；　about　fifty　years　of　age；　he　wore　a　high；　four…cornered；　stiff　felt　hat；　with　a　short　brown　business　coat　（which　in　summer　became　seersucker）　and　square…toed　shoes；　he　looked　for　all　the　world　like　a　country　drug　or　book　store　owner；　with　perhaps　the　air　of　a　country　doctor　or　lawyer　superadded。　　His　cuffs　protruded　too　far　from　his　coat…sleeves；　his　necktie　bulged　too　far　out　of　his　vest；　and　his　high　hat　was　set　a　little　too　far　back　on　his　forehead；　otherwise　he　was　acceptable；　pleasant；　and　interesting。　　He　had　short　side…burnsreddish　brownwhich　stuck　out　quite　defiantly；　and　his　eyebrows　were　heavy。

〃Mr。　Sippens；〃　said　Cowperwood；　blandly；　〃you　were　once　in　the　gas　manufacturing　and　distributing　business　here　in　Chicago；　weren't　you？〃

〃I　think　I　know　as　much　about　the　manufacture　of　gas　as　any　one；〃　replied　Sippens；　almost　contentiously。　　〃I　worked　at　it　for　a　number　of　years。〃

〃Well；　now；　Mr。　Sippens；　I　was　thinking　that　it　might　be　interesting　to　start　a　little　gas　company　in　one　of　these　outlying　villages　that　are　growing　so　fast　and　see　if　we　couldn't　make　some　money　out　of　it。　　I'm　not　a　practical　gas　man　myself；　but　I　thought　I　might　interest　some　one　who　was。〃　He　looked　at　Sippens　in　a　friendly；　estimating　way。　　〃I　have　heard　of　you　as　some　one　who　has　had　considerable　experience　in　this　field　here　in　Chicago。　　If　I　should　get　up　a　company　of　this　kind；　with　considerable　backing；　do　you　think　you　might　be　willing　to　take　the　management　of　it？〃

〃Oh；　I　know　all　about　this　gas　field；〃　Mr。　Sippens　was　about　to　say。　　〃It　can't　be　done。〃　But　he　changed　his　mind　before　opening　his　lips。　　〃If　I　were　paid　enough；〃　he　said；　cautiously。　　〃I　suppose　you　know　what　you　have　to　contend　with？〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　Cowperwood　replied；　smiling。　　〃What　would　you　consider　'paid　enough'　to　mean？〃

〃Oh；　if　I　were　given　six　thousand　a　year　and　a　sufficient　interest　in　the　companysay；　a　half；　or　something　like　thatI　might　consider　it；〃　replied　Sippens；　determined；　as　he　thought；　to　frighten　Cowperwood　off　by　his　exorbitant　demands。　　He　was　making　almost　six　thousand　dollars　a　year　out　of　his　present　business。

〃You　wouldn't　think　that　four　thousand　in　several　companiessay　up　to　fifteen　thousand　dollarsand　an　interest　of　about　a　tenth　in　each　would　be　better？〃

Mr。　Sippens　meditated　carefully　on　this。　　Plainly；　the　man　before　him　was　no　trifling　beginner。　　He　looked　at　Cowperwood　shrewdly　and　saw　at　once；　without　any　additional　explanation　of　any　kind；　that　the　latter　was　preparing　a　big　fight　of　some　sort。　　Ten　years　before　Sippens　had　sensed　the　immense　possibilities　of　the　gas　business。　　He　had　tried　to　〃get　in　on　it；〃　but　had　been　sued；　waylaid；　enjoined；　financially　blockaded；　and　finally　blown　up。　He　had　always　resented　the　treatment　he　had　received；　and　he　had　bitterly　regretted　his　inability　to　retaliate。　　He　had　thought　his　days　of　financial　effort　were　over；　but　here　was　a　man　who　was　subtly　suggesting　a　stirring　fight；　and　who　was　calling　him；　like　a　hunter　with　horn；　to　the　chase。

〃Well；　Mr。　Cowperwood；〃　he　replied；　with　less　defiance　and　more　camaraderie；　〃if　you　could　show　me　that　you　have　a　legitimate　proposition　in　hand　I　am　a　practical　gas　man。　　I　know　all　about　mains；　franchise　contracts；　and　gas…machinery。　　I　organized　and　installed　the　plant　at　Dayton；　Ohio；　and　Rochester；　New　York。　　I　would　have　been　rich　if　I　had　got　here　a　little　earlier。〃　The　echo　of　regret　was　in　his　voice。

〃Well；　now；　here's　your　chance；　Mr。　Sippens；〃　urged　Cowperwood；　subtly。　　〃Between　you　and　me　there's　going　to　be　a　big　new　gas　company　in　the　field。　　We'll　make　these　old　fellows　step　up　and　see　us　quickly。　　Doesn't　that　interest　you？　There'll　be　plenty　of　money。　　It　isn't　that　that's　wantingit's　an　organizer；　a　fighter；　a　practical　gas　man　to　build　the　plant；　lay　the　mains；　and　so　on。〃　Cowperwood　rose　suddenly；　straight　and　determineda　trick　with　him　when　he　wanted　to　really　impress　any　one。　　He　seemed　to　radiate　force；　conquest；　victory。　　〃Do　you　want　to　come　in？〃

〃Yes；　I　do；　Mr。　Cowperwood！〃　exclaimed　Sippens；　jumping　to　his　feet；　putting　on　his　hat　and　shoving　it　far　back　on　his　head。　　He　looked　like　a　chest…swollen　bantam　rooster。

Cowperwood　took　his　extended　hand。

〃Get　your　real…estate　affairs　in　order。　　I'll　want　you　to　get　me　a　franchise　in　Lake　View　shortly　and　build　me　a　plant。　　I'll　give　you　all　the　help　you　need。　　I'll　arrange　everything　to　your　satisfaction　within　a　week　or　so。　　We　will　want　a　good　lawyer　or　two。〃

Sippens　smiled　ecstatically　as　he　left　the　office。　　Oh；　the　wonder　of　this；　and　after　ten　years！　Now　he　would　show　those　crooks。　　Now　he　had　a　real　fighter　behind　hima　man　like　himself。　　Now；　by　George；　the　fur　would　begin　to　fly！　Who　was　this　man；　anyhow？　What　a　wonder！　He　would　look　him　up。　　He　knew　that　from　now　on　he　would　do　almost　anything　Cowperwood　wanted　him　to　do。




Chapter　VIII



Now　This　is　Fighting

When　Cowperwood；　after　failing　in　his　overtures　to　the　three　city　gas　companies；　confided　to　Addison　his　plan　of　organizing　rival　companies　in　the　suburbs；　the　banker　glared　at　him　appreciatively。　〃You're　a　smart　one！〃　he　finally　exclaimed。　　〃You'll　do！　I　back　you　to　win！〃　He　went　on　to　advise　Cowperwood　that　he　would　need　the　assistance　of　some　of　the　strong　men　on　the　various　village　councils。　　〃They're　all　as　crooked　as　eels'　teeth；〃　he　went　on。　　〃But　there　are　one　or　two　that　are　more　crooked　than　others　and　saferbell…wethers。　　Have　you　got　your　lawyer？〃

〃I　haven't　picked　one　yet；　but　I　will。　　I'm　looking　around　for　the　right　man　now。

〃Well；　of　course；　I　needn't　tell　you　how　important　that　is。　　There　is　one　man；　old　General　Van　Sickle；　who　has　had　considerable　training　in　these　matters。　　He's　fairly　reliable。〃

The　entrance　of　Gen。　Judson　P。　Van　Sickle　threw　at　the　very　outset　a　suggestive　light　on　the　whole　situation。　　The　old　soldier；　over　fifty；　had　been　a　general　of　division　during　the　Civil　War；　and　had　got　his　real　start　in　life　by　filing　false　titles　to　property　in　southern　Illinois；　and　then　bringing　suits　to　substantiate　his　fraudulent　claims　before　friendly　associates。　　He　was　now　a　prosperous　go…between；　requiring　heavy　retainers；　and　yet　not　over…prosperous。　There　was　only　one　kind　of　business　that　came　to　the　Generalthis　kind；　and　one　instinctively　compared　him　to　that　decoy　sheep　at　the　stock…yards　that　had　been　trained　to　go　forth　into　nervous；　frightened　flocks　ofits　fellow…sheep；　balking　at　being　driven　into　the　slaughtering…pens；　and　lead　them　peacefully　into　the　shambles；　knowing　enough　always　to　make　his　own　way　quietly　to　the　rear　during　the　onward　progress　and　thus　escape。　　A　dusty　old　lawyer；　this；　with　Heaven　knows　what　welter　of　altered　wills；　broken　promises；　suborned　juries；　influenced　judges；　bribed　councilmen　and　legislators；　double…intentioned　agreements　and　contracts；　and　a　whole　world　of　shifty　legal　calculations　and　false　pretenses　floating　around　in　his　brain。　　Among　the　politicians；　judges；　and　lawyers　generally；　by　reason　of　past　useful　serv