Part 59 (1/2)

And he left the hotel, walking rapidly in the direction of the Capitol.

Once or twice he stopped to speak to an acquaintance who wanted his opinion of Burr's chances, and to such inquiries his response was invariably an expression of perfect conviction. But when alone his uncertainty appeared--and he acknowledged to himself that he was afraid of Rann's last card. What it was he did not know, but he knew that when the time came it would be well played. Ba.s.sett was right--it was not party bitterness that moved Rann, it was personal hatred.

The square was flooded with suns.h.i.+ne, and down the green slopes gray squirrels were feeding from the hands of children. Overhead the elms were russet from a sharp frost, and the golden leaves of the sycamores shone against the leprous whiteness of the branches.

Near a fountain he came upon his own small daughter building huts of pebbles. As she saw him she gave a shrill scream and caught his knees in a tight embrace. He raised her in his arms for a kiss, and then spoke cordially to the old negro janitor of the Capitol, who was watching him.

”Is that you, Carter? Good-morning!”

”Well, I declar, boss, I ain' seen you fur a mont' er Sundays.”

”You must have been looking at the clouds, Carter.”

”Naw, suh, I'se been lookin' right out yer, an' I ain' seen you. Is you gwine ter 'lect de gov'nor?”

Galt was holding his daughter high enough to reach the branches of an elm. ”I'm trying to, Carter,” he returned good-humouredly, ”but I can't do it by myself. Won't you lend a hand?”

”I'll len' 'em bofe, if you want 'em, boss. I'se been stedyin' 'bout dis bizness, an' I'se got a plan all laid out in my haid. Dey's a lot er coloured folks in dis State, suh.”

”That's so, man.”

”An' dey's all got a vote des de same es de white?”

Galt laughed. ”Sure's you live,” he replied.

”Well, I'se gwine ter git my friend Bob Viars ter git up er meetin' er all de coloured folks roun' in c.u.mberland County, an' I'se gwine ter put on de bes' I'se got an' git up on de platform an' Bob's gwine tell 'em I'se de janitor er de Capitol dat knows all de ways de laws are made--an' when Bob says dat, I'se gwine ter bow an' flirt my hank'chif.”

Galt nodded. ”Oh, I see,” he said.

”Den I'se gwine say I'se come ter tell 'em ter 'lect de gov'nor 'case he's de bes' man in de State an' de greates' gent-man dey's ever lay eyes on--an' I'se gwine flirt my hank'chif some mo'.”

”What else?” said Galt.

”I'se gwine tell 'em I kin prove de gov'nor's de bes' man in de State by'splainin' er de tarif--dat I kin prove it by'splainin' er de tarif so dey'll unnerstan' it ev'y word--an' when I flirt my hank'chif dat time, Bob's gwine call out 'Yo' time's up, boss!' an' I'se gwine answer back, 'Naw 'tain't, Bob, des lemme 'splain de tarif. I'se got de 'splanification er de tarif right on de tip er my tongue,' an' Bob's gwine holler out, 'Not anudderword, boss, not anudder word!' an' he gwine shuffle me right spang out.”

Galt put down his daughter and shook Carter's hand. ”If you ever get out of a job, my man,” he said, ”go into politics. Is the governor in his office?”

”I'se des dis minit seen him come out fer dinner.”

”All right, I'll find him,” and he went on to the governor's house.

Nicholas was in his library, a law-book open before him. When he saw Galt he turned from his desk and motioned to a chair beside him. ”Come in, Ben, and sit down. I'm glad to see you.”

Galt threw himself into the chair. ”I've just seen Ryan,” he said, ”and I never met a more sanguine man. He doesn't give Webb a chance.”

”Ah, is that so?” asked the governor; his tone was almost indifferent, but in a moment he leaned forward and spoke rapidly:

”I fear there's trouble in Kingsborough, Ben. They've brought a negro there to the gaol from' Hagersville, where there were threats of a lynching.”

”The devil! Well, you aren't afraid that Kingsborough will turn lawless?

My dear friend, there isn't enough vitality down there to make one first-cla.s.s savage.”

Nicholas fell back again, his vivid hair drawings the superb outline of his head on the worn leather against which he leaned.