railroads were the strategic links。 With these in hand； certain favoured
industrial concerns could be fed； and others starved into submission。
Adolf Scherer might be said to represent a transitional type。 For he was
not only an iron…master who knew every detail of his business； who kept
it ahead of the times； he was also a strategist； wise in his generation；
making friends with the Railroad while there had yet been time； at length
securing rebates and favours。 And when that Railroad （which had been
constructed through the enterprise and courage of such men as Nathaniel
Durrett） had passed under the control of the banker…personality to whom I
have referred； and had become part of a system； Adolf Scherer remained in
alliance； and continued to receive favours。。。。 I can well remember the
time when the ultimate authority of our Railroad was transferred；
quietly； to Wall Street。 Alexander Barbour； its president； had been a
great man； but after that he bowed； in certain matters； to a greater one。
I have digressed。。。。 Mr。 Scherer unfolded his scheme； talking about
〃units〃 as calmly as though they were checkers on a board instead of
huge； fiery； reverberating mills where thousands and thousands of human
beings toiled day and nightbeings with families； and hopes and fears；
whose destinies were to be dominated by the will of the man who sat
opposite me。 Butdid not he in his own person represent the triumph of
that American creed of opportunity？ He； too； had been through the fire；
had sweated beside the blasts； had handled the ingots of steel。 He was
one of the 〃fittest〃 who had survived； and looked it。 Had he no memories
of the terrors of that struggle？。。。 Adolf Scherer had grown to be a
giant。 And yet without me； without my profession he was a helpless
giant； at the mercy of those alert and vindictive lawmakers who sought to
restrain and hamper him； to check his growth with their webs。 How
stimulating the idea of his dependence！ How exhilarating too； the
thought that that vision which had first possessed me as an
undergraduateon my visit to Jerry Kymewas at last to be realized！ I
had now become the indispensable associate of the few who divided the
spoils； I was to have a share in these myself。
〃You're young； Paret；〃 Mr。 Scherer concluded。 〃But Watling has
confidence in you； and you will consult him frequently。 I believe in the
young men； and I have alreadyseen something of youso？〃。。。
When I returned to the office I wrote Theodore Watling a letter
expressing my gratitude for the position he had； so to speak； willed me；
of confidential legal adviser to Adolf Scherer。 Though the opportunity
had thrust itself upon me suddenly； and sooner than I expected it； I was
determined to prove myself worthy of it。 I worked as I had never worked
before； making trips to New York to consult leading members of this new
branch of my profession there； trips to Washington to see my former
chief。 There were； too； numerous conferences with local personages； with
Mr。 Dickinson and Mr。 Grierson； and Judah B。 Tallant；whose newspaper
was most useful； there were consultations and negotiations of a delicate
nature with the owners and lawyers of other companies to be 〃taken in。〃
Nor was it all legal work； in the older and narrower sense。 Men who are
playing for principalities are making war。 Some of our operations had
all the excitement of war。 There was information to be got； and it was
gotsomehow。 Modern war involves a spy system； and a friendly telephone
company is not to be despised。 And all of this work from first to last
had to be done with extreme caution。 Moribund distinctions of right and
wrong did not trouble me； for the modern man labours religiously when he
knows that Evolution is on his side。
For all of these operations a corps of counsel had been employed；
including the firm of Harrington and Bowes next to Theodore Watling； Joel
Harrington was deemed the ablest lawyer in the city。 We organized in due
time the corporation known as the Boyne Iron Works； Limited； a trust
agreement was drawn up that was a masterpiece of its kind； one that
caused； first and last； meddling officials in the Department of Justice
at Washington no little trouble and perplexity。 I was proud of the fact
that I had taken no small part in its composition。。。。 In short； in
addition to certain emoluments and opportunities for investment； I
emerged from the affair firmly established in the good graces of Adolf
Scherer； and with a reputation practically made。
A year or so after the Boyne Company； Ltd。； came into existence I chanced
one morning to go down to the new Ashuela Hotel to meet a New Yorker of
some prominence； and was awaiting him in the lobby； when I overheard a
conversation between two commercial travellers who were sitting with
their backs to me。
〃Did you notice that fellow who went up to the desk a moment ago？〃 asked
one。
〃The young fellow in the grey suit？ Sure。 Who is he？ He looks as if he
was pretty well fixed。〃
〃I guess he is；〃 replied the first。 〃That's Paret。 He's Scherer's
confidential counsel。 He used to be Senator Watling's partner； but they
say he's even got something on the old man。〃
In spite of the feverish life I led； I was still undoubtedly young…
looking； and in this I was true to the incoming type of successful man。
Our fathers appeared staid at six and thirty。 Clothes； of course； made
some difference； and my class and generation did not wear the sombre and
cumbersome kind； with skirts and tails； I patronized a tailor in New
York。 My chestnut hair； a little darker than my father's had been；
showed no signs of turning grey； although it was thinning a little at the
crown of the forehead； and I wore a small moustache； clipped in a
straight line above the mouth。 This made me look less like a college
youth。 Thanks to a strong pigment in my skin； derived probably from
Scotch…Irish ancestors； my colour was fresh。 I have spoken of my life as
feverish； and yet I am not so sure that this word completely describes
it。 It was full to overflowingone side of it； and I did not miss （save
vaguely； in rare moments of weariness） any other side that might have
been developed。 I was busy all day long； engaged in affairs I deemed to
be alone of vital importance in the universe。 I was convinced that the
welfare of the city demanded that supreme financial power should remain
in the hands of the group of men with whom I was associated； and whose
battles I fought in the courts； in the legislature； in the city council；
and sometimes in Washington；although they were well cared for there。
By every means ingenuity could devise； their enemies were to be driven
from the field； and they were to be protected from blackmail。
A sense of importance sustained me； and I remember in that first flush of
a success for which I had not waited too longwhat a secret satisfaction
it was to pick up the Era and see my name embedded in certain dignified
notices of board meetings； transactions of weight； or cases known to the
initiated as significant。 〃Mr。 Scherer's interests were taken care of by
Mr。 Hugh Paret。〃 The fact that my triumphs were modestly set forth gave
me more pleasure than if they had been trumpeted in headlines。 Although
I might have started out in practice for myself； my affection and regard
for Mr。 Watling kept me in the firm； which became Watling； Fowndes and
Paret； and a new； arrangement was entered into： Mr。 Ripon retired on
account of ill health。
There were instances； however； when a certain amount of annoying
publicity was inevitable。 Such was the famous Galligan case； which
occurred some three or four years after my marriage。 Aloysius Galligan
was a brakeman； and his legs had become paralyzed as the result of an
accident that was the result of defective sills on a freight car。 He had
sued； and been awarded damages of 15；000。 To the amazement and
indignation of Miller Gorse； the Supreme Court； to which the Railroad had
appealed； affirmed the decision。 It wasn't the single payment of 15；000
that the Railroad cared about； of course； a precedent might be
established for compensating maimed employees which would be expensive in
the long run。 Carelessness could not be proved in this instance。 Gorse
sent for me。 I had been away with Maude at the sea for two months； and
had not followed the case。
〃You've got to take charge； Paret； and get a rehearing。 See Bering； and
find out who in the deuce is to blame for this。 Chesley's one； of
course。 We ought never to have permitted his nomination for the Supreme
Bench。 It was against my judgment； but Varney and Gill assured me that
he was all right。〃
I saw Judge Bering that evening。 We sat on a plush sofa in the parlour
of his house in Baker Street。
〃I had a notion Gorse'd be mad；〃 he said； 〃but it looked to me as if they
had it on us； Paret。 I didn't see how we could do anything else but
affirm without being too rank。 Of course； if he feels that way； and you
want to make a motion for a rehearing； I'll see what can be done。〃
〃Something's got to be done；〃 I replied。 〃Can't you see what such a
decision lets them in for？〃
〃All right；