Part 92 (2/2)
”Why nothing, dear,” he protested, ”nothing! I'm simply going to ask the President whose power is supreme to give my father a fair trial or release him--that's all--you needn't stay longer--the carriage is waiting. I can introduce myself and plead my own cause. If he's the fair, great-hearted man you believe, he'll see that justice is done----”
”You are going to kill the President!” Betty gasped.
”Nonsense--but if I were--what is the death of one man if thousands live? I saw sixty thousand men in blue fall in thirty days--two thousand a day--besides those who wore the grey. At Cold Harbor I saw ten thousand of my brethren fall in twenty minutes. Why should you gasp over the idea that one man may die whose death would stop this slaughter?”
”John, you're mad!” she cried, clinging to him desperately. ”You're mad, I tell you. You've lost your reason. Come with me, dear--come at once----”
”No. I was never more sane than now,” he answered firmly.
”Then I'll warn the President----”
He held her with cruel force:
”You understand that if it's true, my arrest, court-martial and death follow?”
”No. I'll warn him not to come. I alone know----”
She broke his grip on her arm and started toward the door. He lifted his hand in quick commanding gesture:
”Wait! my men are in that hall--it's his life or mine now. You can take your choice----”
The girl's figure suddenly straightened:
”Take your men out and go with them at once!”
”No. If he does justice, I may spare his life. If he does not----”
”You shall not see him----”
”It's my life or his--I warn you----”
”Then it's yours--I choose my country!”
She walked with quick, firm step to the door leading into the family apartments of the President. On the threshold her feet faltered. She grasped the door facing, turned, and saw him standing with folded arms watching her--with the eyes of a madman. Her face went white. She lifted her hand to her heart and slowly stumbled back into his arms.
”G.o.d have mercy!” she sobbed. ”I'm just a woman--my love--my darling--I--I--can't--kill you----”
Her arms relaxed and she would have fallen to the floor had he not caught the fainting form and carried her into the hall.
Two men were at his side instantly.
”Take Miss Winter downstairs,” he whispered. ”There's a carriage at the gate. Bring it quietly to the door--one of you take her to the Senator's home. The other must return here immediately and wait my orders. There's no guard in this outer hall at night. The one inside is with the boy.
Keep out of sight if any one pa.s.ses.”
The men obeyed without a word and John Vaughan stepped quickly back into the Executive office, drew the short curtains across the window, turned the lights on full, examined his revolver, and sat down in careless att.i.tude beside the President's desk. He could hear his heavy step already approaching the door.
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