The Americans Part 27

EGERTON.

They're told so.

CHADBOURNE.

Egerton's heel.

EGERTON.

_Old_ Egerton's.

(_They walk toward the automobile_)

CHADBOURNE.

I don't know what the country's coming to.

EGERTON.

Merchants are merchants, Chadbourne.

CHADBOURNE.

I suppose.

Captain, will you get my overcoat?

(_Haskell, who with the Chauffeur has been looking through the gla.s.ses, goes into the mill-yard. A number of militiamen who have been hanging around the gate gather about Anderson and they are soon having a good time together_)

EGERTON.

What do they care for Country or for Art, Or any of the higher things of life?

'Give us this day our daily trade.' We live, We manufacturers, to fill their tills.

CHADBOURNE.

They're sowing dragons' teeth and they don't know it.

EGERTON.

You'll see them to-morrow when I start the mill; They'll tip their hats when I pa.s.s through the streets.

And you could comb the town: they never heard of Any pet.i.tion to the Governor, Nor any contributions, not a one.

They're all staunch friends of mine, and always have been.

'Why, Colonel Egerton, he built this town, Our leading citizen.' I'll get them though.

CHADBOURNE.

If you could shut down for a season, say.

EGERTON.

That's just what I've been wanting to do, Chadbourne.

Unfortunately, just now we're in a place Where we can't do as we would like to do; Or rather Jergens is.

CHADBOURNE.

He told me.

EGERTON.

Yes, He's got to meet his margins.

CHADBOURNE.

It's too bad.

(_The militiamen laugh out at some story Anderson is telling them_)

EGERTON.

So I can't strike them without striking him.

CHADBOURNE.

I hope you'll find the mine.

A MILITIAMAN.

(_Appearing at the gate_)

'Phone, General.

EGERTON.

I'll show them though that J. D. don't forget.

CHADBOURNE.

Pardon me.

(_He starts for the mill-yard. With a wave of his hand he orders the militiamen back through the gate_)

HARVEY ANDERSON.

(_Aloud, as they draw away_)

And we charging up that Hill As if we didn't know what canned beef was, We, when we'd had slow elk[*] out on the plains.

[*] _Stolen cattle_