"Judge, I ran up to talk to you a few minutes, if you are not busy."
"Sit down, Harold. I am not too busy to talk with you. Anything of importance?"
"Yes, Judge, there is. Something very important. There's a leak. Somebody is giving out inside Klan information."
"Is that so? What has been given out?"
"Someone told Stover that I am a member and that they would fix me. Stover suggested that I be given one chance. I don't know what that chance is to be nor how Stover's informant meant to fix me."
"Do you know who Stover's informant was?" Judge Rider asked.
"Not positively1. I am of the opinion that it was McBryan."
"How did you get your information?"
"I am not at liberty to tell you that, Judge. It would be betraying a confidence."
"By all means don't tell it, then, but are you sure that it is correct?"
"Yes, there is no question about the truthfulness2 of the report."
"You say that this man whom you think is McBryan said that they would fix you?"
"Yes."
"He was going to get you because you are a Klansman?"
"He told Stover that I was a Klansman and that they would fix me, and naturally the inference is that being a Klansman is the reason for the desire to fix me."
"Was that all that was said?"
"Stover's informant said that he was sure of his information as they have a man on the inside!"
"What! A man on the inside!" The judge sprang to his feet.
"Yes, and when he parted from Stover he said, 'I will keep you informed.'"
"We must look after this at once. It is serious. Just keep it as quiet as possible and we will undertake an investigation3. As this is the first leak we have heard of, it is quite likely that the traitor4 is someone who has recently been taken in."
It was the middle of the afternoon of the same day that this conversation took place that Harold received a 'phone call from the Wilford Central State Bank requesting him to call there for a few minutes. When he arrived he was told by the teller5 that the president wished to see him in the office. When he entered Stover shook hands with him and asked him to be seated. The door was open into Ruth's office and she had seen Harold enter. Stover stepped to this door and closed it. Ruth was writing on the typewriter.
"Mr. King," said the banker, "I had the teller 'phone you to come down because I wished to have a little private conversation with you. You know, Mr. King, I have been keeping my eye on you since you designed Simpson's cottage. That is an artistic6 and well arranged home. I said when I looked through that house that you had ability. I have been expecting ever since to see some big building constructed that you had designed, but I have been disappointed. Of course I recognize that a man in your profession needs more than ability—he needs some influential7 friends."
"One must have the ability if he makes good, but I realize the value of influential friends," Harold remarked.
"Yes, you must have them if you get on in this world, especially if you are short on capital. I think that you realize, Mr. King, that I have influence with the city administration."
"I am sure that you have."
"Yes, what I say usually goes. Now, Mr. King, I would like to see you get the contract to do the architectural work for the new city building."
Ruth, writing on the typewriter in the other room, heard the sound of the men's voices. She was anxious for Harold. She wondered if Mr. Stover was going to give him the chance today. If so, she hoped the terms would be such that he would accept. She did not want to hear, and pounded unusually hard on the typewriter.
"I thank you, Mr. Stover. To be sure I want the job."
"I have already talked to the mayor and commissioners8 in your interest."
"I certainly appreciate it."
"I thought you would. If there is anything that gives me pleasure it is to help a young man get a start. I'm a self-made man, Mr. King. I started to work in a bank at thirty-five dollars a month. It took me a long time to get a start. If I had had a few influential friends to back me I might have established myself ten years sooner than I did. Whenever I think of those long years of hard struggle I make a new resolution to help some young fellow to get a start. Harold, I have helped lots of them along the road to success. What I am going to say to you is in the spirit of a father to a son." (He placed his hand on Harold's shoulder and smiled on him affectionately.) "I want to give you a little advice."
"I am willing to hear it."
"The city officials like your perspective drawing, but they say that you have had very little practical experience."
"I have not had a great deal of experience since I opened an office of my own, but before coming here I was employed in an architect's office and worked on drawings for expensive buildings. I drew up most of the plans and specifications9 for one building that cost a million dollars."
"Understand, I am not doubting your ability, but the mayor and commissioners must be convinced or influenced. I am quite sure I can overcome this objection without any trouble, but there is a more serious matter."
"What is it?"
"They know that you are a Ku Kluxer." The banker had partially10 turned his face from Harold as he made this statement but gave him a side glance for the purpose of noting the effect and was disappointed that Harold did not appear surprised or alarmed.
"How do they know that?" he asked with apparent unconcern.
"It doesn't make any difference how they found out. The fact is they know it."
"If it be true, what has that to do with this architectural work?"
"It may not have anything to do with doing the work, but it has a lot to do with getting the job. You see they don't want to give this fine job to a man who is identified with an organization that is so highly objectionable."
"You are personally opposed to the Klan?"
"Yes, very much. You see, I am going to advise you the same as I would if you were my son."
"What are your objections to the Klan?"
"They are many; but one of the principal ones is that they hide behind masks. If they want an organization let them take off those masks and come out in the open. It's cowardly for men to hide behind masks, besides there are too many of them who take advantage of their concealed11 identity to get out and whip somebody."
"You are mistaken, Mr. Stover, the members of the Klan are not permitted to wear their masks except in the lodge12 or Klan meetings for the purpose of doing guard duty or putting on ritualistic work, when doing deeds of charity or in peaceful parades."
"Well, if they want to put themselves right before the public let them publish a list of their members."
"That would destroy the value of the organization as a law enforcement body. How would it do, Mr. Stover, for the secret service men of the government to publish their names when they come into a community and let everyone know just who they are?"
"We don't need the Klan to enforce the laws. We have officers for that purpose. The Klan has no right to take the law into its own hands."
"The Klan does not take the law into its own hands. The Klan assists the officers in enforcing the law by furnishing evidence. If the officers refuse to act it is the purpose of the Klan to have them recalled or voted out at the election and others put in who will act. It is the duty of all good citizens to help enforce the laws."
"Our officers enforce the laws—we don't need the Klan."
"Our officers enforce the laws in Wilford Springs against the uninfluential violator, but fellows like Hennesy are permitted to operate."
"Well, young man, you had better not line up with a bunch who are in disfavor with the public. The last election showed what the people of Wilford Springs thinks of your Klan organization. Now to get down to business. It's of a great deal of importance to you that you get this city building job. If you will follow my suggestions I will get it for you. You know that, don't you?" Ruth had finished her typewriting and the men were speaking so loudly that she could not help but hear now.
"I have every reason to believe that you can."
"Very well." The banker began to rub his hands together. "What I have to propose is this, you withdraw from the Klan and make a public statement that you have done so because it is a lawless organization, and I will see that you get the city job."
"Would you have me make this statement in spite of the fact that all I personally know of the Klan is to the contrary?"
"Well, you have read of enough outrages13 being committed by the Klan other places that you could conscientiously14 make that statement even though you do not have personal knowledge of law violations15 by Klansmen."
A fifteen thousand dollar job was at stake. He wanted it as he had never desired anything before, but his virtue16 never wavered. In a flash he remembered the parting admonition of his mountain mother when he left the mountain home to make a place for himself in the world. She had said, "Son, when you are sorely tempted17 to do wrong say, like your Master, 'Get thee behind me Satan.'" He also remembered his obligation as a Klansman.
He sprang to his feet and towered like a Hercules over Stover who sat at the table rubbing his hands nervously18. "Stover," he said, "if you think for a minute that you can bribe19 me with a fifteen thousand dollar job to betray the best interests of my country and community and violate my sacred obligation as a Klansman you have another think coming. I tell you and you can repeat it to your henchmen that you can take the job with which you have attempted to bribe me and go straight to hell with it." King turned on his heels and left the room. When he had finished this speech Ruth clasped her hands together in joyful20 admiration21 and exclaimed, "Good, good!"
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1
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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2
truthfulness
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| n. 符合实际 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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4
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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teller
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| n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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7
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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8
commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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9
specifications
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| n.规格；载明；详述；（产品等的）说明书；说明书( specification的名词复数 )；详细的计划书；载明；详述 | |
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10
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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11
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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12
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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13
outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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15
violations
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| 违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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18
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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19
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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20
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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