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You'd make more of it than I do." "That reminds me," said Pen. "Jim, that man Fleckenstein is going to run for United States Senator. He's going to promise the ranchers that he'll get the government to remit the building charges on the dam. Will that hurt you?" "Where did you hear this?" asked Jim. "Fleckenstein and Oscar came up this morning and they talked it over with Oscar.
The next afternoon, while Oscar joined Murphy and Jim, who were having a long talk in Jim's living room, Pen and Mrs. Ames and Mrs. Flynn went up onto the Elephant's back. Pen's plan was simple. It was merely that she and Jane go among the farmers' wives and campaign against Fleckenstein. "Women's opinions do count, you know," she said. "Mine didn't use to," said Jane, "but they do now.
Then Jim went into his room and closed the door. When he had gone, Murphy said in a low voice: "It's too late to lick Fleckenstein. Are we going to lie down on the Boss losing his job, boys?" "Not till I've beaten the face off Fleckenstein," said Henderson, softly. "I want to get in touch with Mrs. Pen," said Oscar Ames. "Aw, forget it, Ames!" said Murphy.
"Jim'll never trouble himself to kick the jackal!" said Uncle Denny. "Huh! You don't know that boy. There was a look in his eye this morning God help Fleckenstein if he meets the Big Boss but he'll avoid the Boss like poison." Uncle Denny shook his head. "What kind is Fleckenstein?" "What kind of a man would be countenancing a letter like that?" Then Murphy laughed.
"How long have you known Mr. Saradokis?" "Met him for the first time last night," replied the ex-saloonkeeper. Jim eyed the man skeptically and Murphy spoke with sudden heat. "That's on the level. I heard he was backing Fleckenstein and so I thought he'd help me get back at you. But he cursed me as I'll stand from no man because Underwood made a monkey of me by lugging me up there before you.
The next morning, when Penelope climbed regretfully onto the front seat of the automobile, Oscar came hurriedly from the corral with a dark-mustached young man in a business suit. "This is Mr. Fleckenstein, Mrs. Sardox," he said. "He's a lawyer and him and I are going up to the dam with you. He just stopped here on his way. I'm leaving his horse in the corral, Jane."
The Boss showed me that letter. I suppose you know how a man like Mr. Manning would take to a fellow like Fleckenstein?" "Know!" snorted Uncle Denny. "Why, young fellow, I'd know Jim's disembodied soul if I met it in an uninhabited desert." Murphy raised his eyebrows. "You're Irish, I take it." "You take it right." "I was born in Dublin myself." The two men shook hands and Murphy went on.
Jim, coming home from the office at ten o'clock that night, found Murphy and Henderson and Oscar awaiting him with Uncle Denny as master of ceremonies. "Me boy," said Uncle Denny, "there's going to be a landslide for Fleckenstein." Jim nodded. "I think so. Well, anyhow, I've made one or two friends below who'll remember after I'm gone some of the things I've wanted for the Project."
I was running a saloon just off the Reserve and Big Boss Manning jumped me and made me clean out my own joint. I was mad and I went up to the Greek there, who since is dead, for I heard the Greek was backed by Big Money with which he backed Fleckenstein to do the Service. Says I to myself, I'll help the Greek to do Manning. "But the Greek cursed me out as I'll stand from no man.
"The first time I ever saw Fleckenstein he was riding in the stage that ran west from Cabillo. Bill Evans was driving and Fleckenstein got to knocking this country and telling about the real folks back East. Bill stood it for an hour, then he turned round and said: 'Why, damn your soul, we make better men than you in this country out of binding wire!
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