"I don't need proof, when I'm certain about a thing," gently returned the voice of Blind Charlie. "I've been in politics for forty-eight years--ever since I was nineteen, when I cast my first vote. I've got sharpened up considerable in that time, and while I haven't been in on much in the last ten years, I can still smell a fat deal clean across the state. For the last three months I've been smelling, and smelling it keener every day, that you've got a rich game going."
"And so"--rather sarcastically--"you set Bruce on, to try to run the game down!"
"Well, I would use a little different figure of speech," returned Blind Charlie smoothly. "When I've got a coon up a hollow tree I build a fire in the hollow to bring him down. Bruce is my fire."
"And you think your coon is coming down?"
"I rather think he is. Don't you?"
"Well, I tell you he's not! For there's no coon up the tree!"
"I see I've got to state the thing to you again," said Blind Charlie patiently, and so softly that Katherine had to strain her utmost to get his words. "When I grew sure you had a big deal on about the water-works, I saw that the only way to force you to let me in was to put you in a fix where you would either have to split up or be in danger of losing the whole thing. So I nominated Bruce. He's one of the easiest I ever took in; but, I tell you, he is certainly one hell of a fighter! That's what I nominated him for. You know as well as I do the way he's swinging the voters round. It beats anything I've ever seen. If he keeps this up till election, and if I pull off a couple of good tricks I've got all ready, he'll be a winner, sure! And now"--Blind Charlie's purring voice thrust out its claws--"either I put Bruce in and smash your deal till it's not worth a damn, or else you come across!"
"There's nothing in it, I tell you!" declared Blake.
"There's no use keeping up that pretence," continued Blind Charlie.
"You've had a day to think over my proposition. You know perfectly well what your choice is between: a sure thing if you divide with me, the risk of nothing if you refuse. So let's waste no more time. Come, which is it?"
There was a long silence.
"I understand," commented Blind Charlie, with a soft sympathy that Katherine knew was meant to bite like acid. "It's hard for a respectable man like you to mix up with Charlie Peck. But political business makes strange bed-fellows, and unless you're willing to sleep with almost anybody you'd better keep out of this kind of business altogether. But after all," he added, "I guess it's better to share a good bed than to have no bed at all."
"What do you want?" Blake asked huskily.
"Only my share of the bed," blandly returned Blind Charlie.
"What's that, in plain words?"
"Not much. Only half of what you're going to make."
Blake exploded.
"Damn you, Peck, you're nothing but a damned blackmailer!"
"All right, I agree to that," said Blind Charlie. Then he added in his soft voice: "But if I'm a blackmailer in this affair, then please, Mr.
Blake, what do you call yourself?"
"You--you----" To the crouching figure outside the window Blake seemed to be half-choking. But suddenly he exploded again. "I'll not do it, Peck! I'll not do it--never while God's earth stands!"
"I guess you will, Blake!" Blind Charlie's voice was no longer soft; it had a slow, grating, crunching sound. "Damn your soul, you've been acting toward me with your holier-than-thou reformer's attitude for ten years. D'you think I'm a man to swallow that quietly? D'you think I haven't had it in for you all those ten years? Why, there hasn't been a minute that I haven't been looking for my chance. And at last I've got it! I've not only got a line on this water-works business, but I've found out all about your pretty little deal with Adamson during the last months you were Lieutenant-Governor!"
"Adamson!" ejaculated Blake.
"Yes, Adamson!" went on the harsh voice of Blind Charlie. "That hits you where you live, eh! You didn't know I had it, did you? Well, I didn't till to-day--but I've got it now all right! There, my cards are all on the table. Look 'em over. I don't want Bruce elected any more than you do; but either you do what I say, or by God I turn over to Bruce all I know about the Adamson affair and all I know about this water-works deal! Now I give you just one minute to decide!"
Katherine breathlessly awaited the answer. A space passed. She heard Blind Charlie stand up.
"Time's up! Good night--and to hell with you!"
"Wait! Wait!" Blake cried.
"Then you accept?"
Blake's voice shook. "Before I answer, what do you want?"
"I've already told you. Half of what you get."
"But I'm to get very little."
"Very little!" Blind Charlie's voice was ironical; it had dropped its tone of crushing menace. "Very little! Now I figure that you'll get the water-works for a third, or less, of their value. That'll give you something like half a million at the start-off, not to speak of the regular profits later on. Now as for me," he concluded drily, "I wouldn't call that such a very little sum that I'd kick it out of my way if I saw it lying in the road."
"But no such sum is lying there."
"No? Then what do you get?"
Blake did not answer.
"Come, speak out!"
Blake's voice came with an effort.
"I'm not doing this for myself."
"Then who for?"
Blake hesitated, then again spoke with an effort.
"The National Electric & Water Company."
Blind Charlie swore in his surprise.
"But I reckon you're not doing it for them for charity?"
"No."
"Well, what for?"
Blake again remained silent.
"Come, what for?" impatiently demanded Charlie.
"For a seat in the Senate."
"That's no good to me. What else?"
"Fifty thousand dollars."
"The devil! Is that all?" ejaculated Blind Charlie.