Sharon caroled, "Why, Mrs. Goudeket, you've forgiven your naughty
little girl!"
So full of energy and joy! Mrs. Goudeket muttered angrily to herself,
but all she said out loud was, "Well, yes or no?"
Artie Chesbro said cheerfully, "That's very nice of you, Mrs. Goudeket.
I think I'd better stay in Hebertown, though--some important things to
take care of. There's a radio truck around somewhere and I want to--"
Sharon interrupted loudly, with a warning look, "Mr. Chesbro means
Congressman Akslund has left him some work to do. Anyway, Mrs.
Goudeket--"
Oh, she was arch! And no sleep, marveled Mrs. Goudeket--"much as I'd
_love_ to join your little party and share the finest of accommodations
for which your hotel is noted, there are big things to be done. So
thanks, but no thanks."
"Fine," said Mrs. Goudeket. "Stay here with your big things. Now before
somebody steals my car, we better go." She folded the trip ticket from
the motor pool and put it down on the table next to Dick McCue. Mickey
Groff said, "Wait a minute, Mrs. Goudeket. What are these 'big things?'"
Chesbro laughed. "Groff, does Macy's tell Gimbel's? I tell you what.
You want the Swanscomb place, right?" He shrugged generously. "It's
yours. I won't buck you."
"If you won't buck me it's because you don't want it any more," Groff
said. "You're after bigger game. What would that be, Chesbro? A finger
in a billion-dollar pie? A chance to spread federal funds around the
way you want to? Maybe the break you've been waiting for?"
Chesbro said fretfully, "Now Mickey, _please_. Why can't you be
reasonable? You're an outlander here, you've got nothing to do with the
community. You want to move in with your nickel factory? Go ahead. I
won't stand in your way. I'll even help you. But you can't do anything
with the federal grants, because you don't have the connections,
because you don't have the information about who needs what, because
you aren't local and wouldn't be allowed to come within smelling
distance of it in the first place. Why not live and let live?"
He was open and honest, Groff saw--as open and honest as the likes of
Artie Chesbro ever knew how to be. You work your side of the street,
he was saying, and I'll work mine. Under the ethical stands of Artie
Chesbro he had made an honorable proposal. It would never have occurred
to him to entertain propositions like--