按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
at was now coming。 When the news finally leaked out that applications for franchises had been made to the several corporate village bodies each old company suspected the other of invasion； treachery； robbery。 Pettifogging lawyers were sent； one by each company； to the village council in each particular territory involved； but no one of the companies had as yet the slightest idea who was back of it all or of the general plan of operations。 Before any one of them could reasonably protest； before it could decide that it was willing to pay a very great deal to have the suburb adjacent to its particular territory left free； before it could organize a legal fight； councilmanic ordinances were introduced giving the applying company what it sought； and after a single reading in each case and one open hearing； as the law compelled； they were almost unanimously passed。 There were loud cries of dismay from minor suburban papers which had almost been forgotten in the arrangement of rewards。 The large city newspapers cared little at first； seeing these were outlying districts； they merely made the comment that the villages were beginning well； following in the steps of the city council in its distinguished career of crime。
Cowperwood smiled as he saw in the morning papers the announcement of the passage of each ordinance granting him a franchise。 He listened with comfort thereafter on many a day to accounts by Laughlin； Sippens； McKibben； and Van Sickle of overtures made to buy them out； or to take over their franchises。 He worked on plans with Sippens looking to the actual introduction of gas…plants。 There were bond issues now to float； stock to be marketed； contracts for supplies to be awarded； actual reservoirs and tanks to be built； and pipes to be laid。 A pumped…up public opposition had to be smoothed over。 In all this De Soto Sippens proved a trump。 With Van Sickle； McKibben； and Stimson as his advisers in different sections of the city he would present tabloid propositions to Cowperwood； to which the latter had merely to bow his head in assent or say no。 Then De Soto would buy； build； and excavate。 Cowperwood was so pleased that he was determined to keep De Soto with him permanently。 De Soto was pleased to think that he was being given a chance to pay up old scores and to do large things； he was really grateful。
〃We're not through with those sharpers；〃 he declared to Cowperwood； triumphantly； one day。 〃They'll fight us with suits。 They may join hands later。 They blew up my gas…plant。 They may blow up ours。〃
〃Let them blow；〃 said Cowperwood。 〃We can blow； too； and sue also。 I like lawsuits。 We'll tie them up so that they'll beg for quarter。〃 His eyes twinkled cheerfully。
Chapter IX
In Search of Victory
In the mean time the social affairs of Aileen had been prospering in a small way； for while it was plain that they were not to be taken up at oncethat was not to be expectedit was also plain that they were not to be ignored entirely。 One thing that helped in providing a nice harmonious working atmosphere was the obvious warm affection of Cowperwood for his wife。 While many might consider Aileen a little brash or crude； still in the hands of so strong and capable a man as Cowperwood she might prove available。 So thought Mrs。 Addison； for instance； and Mrs。 Rambaud。 McKibben and Lord felt the same way。 If Cowperwood loved her； as he seemed to do； he would probably 〃put her through〃 successfully。 And he really did love her； after his fashion。 He could never forget how splendid she had been to him in those old days when； knowing full well the circumstances of his home； his wife； his children； the probable opposition of her own family； she had thrown over convention and sought his love。 How freely she had given of hers！ No petty； squeamish bickering and dickering here。 He had been 〃her Frank〃 from the start； and he still felt keenly that longing in her to be with him； to be his； which had produced those first wonderful； almost terrible days。 She might quarrel； fret； fuss； argue； suspect； and accuse him of flirtation with other women； but slight variations from the norm in his case did not trouble herat least she argued that they wouldn't。 She had never had any evidence。 She was ready to forgive him anything； she said； and she was； too； if only he would love her。
〃You devil；〃 she used to say to him； playfully。 〃I know you。 I can see you looking around。 That's a nice stenographer you have in the office。 I suppose it's her。〃
〃Don't be silly； Aileen；〃 he would reply。 〃Don't be coarse。 You know I wouldn't take up with a stenographer。 An office isn't the place for that sort of thing。〃
〃Oh； isn't it？ Don't silly me。 I know you。 Any old place is good enough for you。
He laughed； and so did she。 She could not help it。 She loved him so。 There was no particular bitterness in her assaults。 She loved him； and very often he would take her in his arms； kiss her tenderly； and coo： 〃Are you my fine big baby？ Are you my red…headed doll？ Do you really love me so much？ Kiss me； then。〃 Frankly； pagan passion in these two ran high。 So long as they were not alienated by extraneous things he could never hope for more delicious human contact。 There was no reaction either； to speak of； no gloomy disgust。 She was physically acceptable to him。 He could always talk to her in a genial； teasing way； even tender； for she did not offend his intellectuality with prudish or conventional notions。 Loving and foolish as she was in some ways； she would stand blunt reproof or correction。 She could suggest in a nebulous； blundering way things that would be good for them to do。 Most of all at present their thoughts centered upon Chicago society； the new house； which by now had been contracted for； and what it would do to facilitate their introduction and standing。 Never did a woman's life look more rosy； Aileen thought。 It was almost too good to be true。 Her Frank was so handsome； so loving； so generous。 There was not a small idea about him。 What if he did stray from her at times？ He remained faithful to her spiritually； and she knew as yet of no single instance in which he had failed her。 She little knew； as much as she knew； how blandly he could lie and protest in these matters。 But he was fond of her just the same； and he really had not strayed to any extent。
By now also； Cowperwood had invested about one hundred thousand dollars in his gas…company speculations； and he was jubilant over his prospects； the franchises were good for twenty years。 By that time he would be nearly sixty； and he would probably have bought； combined with； or sold out to the older companies at a great profit。 The future of Chicago was all in his favor。 He decided to invest as much as thirty thousand dollars in pictures； if he could find the right ones； and to have Aileen's portrait painted while she was still so beautiful。 This matter of art was again beginning to interest him immensely。 Addison had four or five good pictures a Rousseau； a Greuze； a Wouverman； and one Lawrencepicked up Heaven knows where。 A hotel…man by the name of Collard； a dry…goods and real…estate merchant； was said to have a very striking collection。 Addison had told him of one Davis Trask； a hardware prince； who was now collecting。 There were many homes； he knew where art was beginning to be assembled。 He must begin； too。
Cowperwood； once the franchises had been secured； had installed Sippens in his own office； giving him charge for the time being。 Small rented offices and clerks were maintained in the region where practical plant…building was going on。 All sorts of suits to enjoin； annul； and restrain had been begun by the various old companies； but McKibben； Stimson； and old General Van Sickle were fighting these with Trojan vigor and complacency。 It was a pleasant scene。 Still no one knew very much of Cowperwood's entrance into Chicago as yet。 He was a very minor figure。 His name had not even appeared in connection with this work。 Other men were being celebrated daily； a little to his envy。 When would he begin to shine？ Soon； now； surely。 So off they went in June； comfortable； rich； gay； in the best of health and spirits； intent upon enjoying to the full their first holiday abroad。
It was a wonderful trip。 Addison was good enough to telegraph flowers to New York for Mrs。 Cowperwood to be delivered on shipboard。 McKibben sent books of travel。 Cowperwood； uncertain whether anybody would send flowers； ordered them himselftwo amazing baskets； which with Addison's made threeand these； with attached cards； awaited them in the lobby of the main deck。 Several at the captain's table took pains to seek out the Cowperwoods。 They were invited to join several card…parties and to attend informal concerts。 It was a rough passage； however； and Aileen was sick。 It was hard to make herself look just nice enough； and so she kept to her room。 She was very haughty； distant to all but a few； and to these careful of her conversation。 She felt herself coming to be a very important person。
Before leaving she had almost exhausted the resources of the Donovan establishment in Chicago。 Lingerie； boudoir costumes； walking…costumes； riding…co