Upton Sinclair

“ And you wondered if she was as good as she was beautiful! One day you were thrilled with hope, the next you were cynical and bitter--till at last you gave up in despair, and ran away to work in a coal-mine! ”

“ Suppose there was something out of order in one of the cars--the plumbing, for example?"
"But you couldn't fool the conductor or the porter."
"I might be able to. Let's try it."
There was a pause, while Keating thought. "The truth is," he said, "it doesn't matter whether you succeed or not--it's a story if you even make the attempt. The Coal King's son appealed to by one of his serfs! The hard heart of Plutocracy rejects the cry of Labour!"
"Yes," said Hal, "but I really mean to get to him. Do you suppose he's got back to the train yet?" ”

“ They laughed, and MacKellar and Edstrom joined in. But suddenly Keating became serious again. "I ought to be away on that story!" he exclaimed. "I've got to get something out of that crowd about the disaster. Think what copy it would make!"
"But how can you do it?"
"I don't know; I only know I ought to be trying. I'll hang round the train, and maybe I can get one of the porters to talk."
"Interview with the Coal King's porter!" chuckled Hal. "How it feels to make up a multi-millionaire's bed!" ”