Page:The unhallowed harvest (1917).djvu/159

154 "That depends on how far you could bleed him for funds."

"Steve, you're as cold-blooded as a shark."

"I admit it; in everything but my admiration for you. But I don't care to have you setting up friendly relations with such people as this preacher and the crowd that was here to see you to-day. It won't do any good, and may do a good deal of harm."

"Do you propose to control my social conduct?"

"I've been your friend, haven't I?"

"That's very true."

"And I've landed a good job for you?"

"That's true also."

"Then be reasonable; and understand what I have in store for you."

"What have you in store for me?"

"This. Listen! In the new social régime women will be on a par with men. That's a part of the socialist creed. It's going to be a question of brains, not sex. You can be as much of a leader as I can. Working together we can control a following that will give us almost unlimited power, almost unlimited opportunity. There's going to be a rich harvest for some one. It may as well be ours as any one's. Do you understand?"

"I think I do. But that lies pretty well in the future, doesn't it?"

"One can't tell just how near or how far away it may be."

"Well, there's something I want here and now that will give me more pleasure and satisfaction than all the future glory you can predict for me."

"What is it?"

"Revenge."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll explain." She sat with her elbows resting on the table, her hands covering her ears, her eyes dominating him as he sat across from her, taking in her words.