Oil" tactics. He came into the open, issuing a
proclamation over his own signature which gave me the lie, at the same
time tearing off a yard or two of my skin and throwing on a bucket of
brine to remind me I had lost it. This attack was just off the press
when I was out with a rejoinder which he, in after-years, referred to as
quite the hottest thing of its kind he had ever read. In it I calmly,
but in that "chunk English" which those who really wish to convey the
truth naked can always find handy, told him plainly who he was,
explicitly what "Standard Oil" was, and exactly who and what I was. I
opine that about either assault there was nothing dignified, generous,
or refined, but in stock-exchange battles one has not time to scent
shrapnel. The immediate result of this interchange of deckle-edged[7]
insults was to daze the public. "Standard Oil" attacked and actually
replying; Rogers assaulting Lawson and Lawson sending back worse than he
got--almost anything might happen next. It was right here I got to
Rogers' _solar plexus_. I came out with another plain public talk, and
gave him the choice of haling me into court--in which event I pledged
him my word I would send him and his associates to jail for bribery and
other crimes--or of acknowledging to the world he was licked and on the
run. He was silent and I loudly claimed victory. The price of Addicks
stocks quickly emphasized our success by a further advance.

Thus far the campaign appeared to be working smoothly, and I turned my
attention next to my rear attack. I began negotiations with Mayor
Matthews for the withdrawal of his support from Rogers. It was a
difficult task, but after much manoeuvring I landed my big fish. I
promised him the presidency of the Boston, South Boston, Roxbury, and
Bay State gas companies for the term of three years, at a salary of
$25,000 per annum, with the explicit understanding that he was to allow
me, as his vice-president, to see that the bargain between us was lived
up to. When the trade was made it was understood that the fact of
Matthews' change of base should be kept secret, and that he should not
assume the office until the end of his term as mayor of Boston. With
that agreement the deal was clinched, signed, sealed, and delivered.

In order that my readers may comprehend the events that follow, it is
necessary that they understand something of the complications in which
Addicks' manipulations had involved that corporation.