Then he stood disdainfully to one side so that the man
might not touch him as he passed.
Some one in the back of the room broke the tense silence and hissed: "The
damned Judas!" Instantly echoes of "Judas! Judas!" filled the room, and
pursued Eaton to his cab. It would be many years before he could recall
without scalding shame that moment when the finger of public scorn was
pointed at him in execration.
CHAPTER 21. HARLEY SCORES
What Harley had sought in the subornation of Eaton had been as much the
moral effect of his defection as the tangible results themselves. If he
could shake the confidence of the city and State in the freebooter's
victorious star, he would have done a good day's work. He wanted the
impression to spread that Ridgway's success had passed its meridian.
Nor did he fail of his purpose by more than a hair's breadth. The talk of
the street saw the beginning of the end. The common voice ran: "It's 'God
help Ridgway' now. He's down and out."
But Waring Ridgway was never more dangerous than in apparent defeat. If he
were hit hard by Eaton's treachery, no sign of it was apparent in the
jaunty insouciance of his manner.
Pages:
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268