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Show H A Novel of the American Spirit E I I 1 f iff iM 11 Clf ll i By Emerson Hough 3 .- If Hjr feBBl,H T f W I" S B ill' N Author of "The Mississippi Bubble'-' Copyright 1009 by Tho Bobba-Morrlll Co. . bP .J3L. iBU. ,er S - &- . Wfe II . . CHAPTER XVII. A Hunter of Butterflies. I lovo men. not because- they arc men, hut because they are not women- Queen I'hiisllnu. There was nt that time In Montreal a, sort of news room and public exchange, which made a. place of general meeting. K was supplied with newspapers and l ho like, and kept up by suuseriptlons of I he town merchants a spacious room made out of tho old aiethodlst chapel on HI. .Joseph street. L know thla for a place of town gossip, and hoped I rnlpht hll upon something to aid mo in my errand, er-rand, which was no more than beprun. It seemed. ICnlerltik' the place shortly before be-fore noon. I made pretense of reading:, all the while with an eye and an ear out for anything that mlsht happen. As 1 stared In pretense at the page before me. I fumbled Idly in a pocket, with unthinking- hand, and brought out to place before me on tho table an ob-Jut ob-Jut of which at first r was unconscious - -tho little Indian blanket clasp. As It Inv before mo I felt seized of a sudden hatcd for It. and' lot fall on It a heavy hand. As I did so. I heard a voice at my ear. .... "Moln Gott, man, do not! T.ou break It, surely." . , , I started at tills, r lad not heard any one approach. T discovered now that tho speaker had taken a seat near mo nt the table and could not fail to sec this object which lay before nie. "t beg pardon." he said, in a broken speech "which showed his foreign birth; "hut It Is so beautiful; to break it Jss wrong." Something in ills appearance and speech fixed my attention. lie was a tail, bent man. perhaps sixty years of age. of gray hair and beard, with the glasses and the unmistakable air of the student. Ills stooped shoulders, his weakened eve, his thin, blue-vclned hnnd. tho Iron-gray hair standing like a ruff above Ills forehead, marked him not as one acquainted with a wild life, but better lilted for other days and scenes. I pushed the trinklet along the table towards hlni. " "Tls of little value." I said, "and Is always in tho way when I would find IaiiMhlng in my poeKct. "But once sonio one has made it; once it bass had-valuo. Toll inc. where ou gel. it." "North 'of the Platte. In our western u nitorles." I said. 'T once traded ;n that country." "You aro American?" "Yes." "So," he. ' said thoughtfully. "So. A great country, a very great country. , Me, 1 also live In It." "Indeed?" I said. "In what part?" "It Iss live years since I cross the Rockies." "You havo crossed the Rockies? I envy you." "You mecsundcrstnnd me. I live west of ihein for live years. I am now come ' ast ." "You have been at Fort Vancouver?" nodded. "Also to Fort Colvllle, far rorth. also to what they coll California, f.tr south; and again to what Uioy may yet call Fort Victoria, I haf seen many posit? of Hi's Hudron L'.ay company." I was afraid my eyes showed my interest; in-terest; but he went on. "1 haf been In the Columbia country, and In tho Willamette country, where mosL of your Americans aro settled. I know somewhat of California. Mr. Howard of the Hudson Bay company knows also of I his country o California. Califor-nia. He said to those English gentle-mans gentle-mans at our meeting last night that Kngland should haf something to offset California on the 'west coast; because, though Mexico claims California, tho " ankecs roallv rule there, and will rule there yet more. He Jss right; but they laughed at him." ' "Oh. I think litllo will come of all this talk," J 'sold carelessly. "U is very far, out to Oregon." Yet nil the timo my heart was leaping. So lie had been there, at that very meeting of which I could learn nothing! "You know not what, you say. A thousand men came into Oregon last fiir. It Iss like one of the great migrations mi-grations of the peoples of Asia, of Europe. Eu-rope. I say lo you, it iss a great epoch. There Iss a folk-movement such as wc haf not seen since tho days of the Huns, the Cloths, the Vandals, since the Clmrl movement. It Iss an epoch, my friend! It iss fate that Iss in it." "So, then, It is a great country?" I asked. - j. "It Iss so great, these traders do not wish it known. They wish only that It may be savage; also that their posts and I heir harems may be undisturbed. That Iss what they wish. These Scots go wild ngaln. In I ho wilderness. Thpy "trade and they travel, but It Iss not homes they build. Sir Ueorge Simpson wants steel traps and not ploughs west of tho Rockies. That Iss all!" "Tliey do not spenk so of Dr. McLaughlin." McLaugh-lin." 1 began tentatively. "My friend, a grout man. McLaughlin, McLaugh-lin, believe me! Tint he Iss not McKay; lie Iss not Simpson; lie iss not Rehrens; ho Iss not -.ilVllle; he Iss not Douglas. And I say to you. as T learned last night you see. they asked me also to tell what I knew of Oregon--! say lo you that last nlchl McLaughlin was deposed. Ho Iss in charge no more -so soon as they can get word 10 him, he loses his place at Vancouver." "After a lifetime In tho service!" 1 commented. "Yess, after a lifetime; and McLaughlin McLaugh-lin had brain and heart, loo. If England Eng-land would listen to him. she would learn samplings. Tie plants, he plows, he hass pardons and mills and houses and herds. Yess, If they let McLaughlin McLaugh-lin alone, they would haf a civilisation on the Columbia, and not a fur-trading post. Then they could opposo your civilization civ-ilization there. That iss what ho preaches. Simpson preaches otherwise, Simpson loses Oregon to England, it may be." "Then you think there is a chance of I rouble between our country and England, Eng-land, out thonJ-?" lie smiled. "It Iss not a chance, but a ccrtalntv," he said. ' It wass only agreed last nlghl. England will march this summer 700 men up the Peace rlvor. In the fall they will be acros3 tho Rockies. So! They can lake boats easilv down the streams' to Oregon. You ask If thero will bo troubles. 1 tell you, 5'ess." "What time can England make with her bricades. west -bound, my friend" I asked 'him casually. He answered with gratifying scientific precision. From Edmonton to Fort Colvllle, west of the Rockies, It has been done In six weeks and live days, by Sir George himself. From Fort Colvllle 1 11 1... lm.:o II t'llrKU lllft uowii it i."r ' -.jj 'i imj.iisj. ... iu,- vovngeur three months to cross, or four months. It would tako troops twleo that long, or more. For you In tho states, voii can go faster. And ah! my friend, it Iss worth the race, that Oregon.. Believe Be-lieve me It Iss full of bugs of now hugs; twelve new species J haf discovered discov-ered and hamcd. It Iss sonictlngr. of honor. Iss It not?" "What vou say Interests me very much, sir," I said. "I am ouiy an American Amer-ican trader, knocking n round to sec tho world a hll. You soem to have been engaged In some seicnllllc pursuit in that country" "Yess," he said. "Meln own government govern-ment and nieln own university, they send-nie to this country to do what liuss not been done. 1 am lnsectologcr. Shall I show vou my bugs of Oregon? You shall see them, yess? Come with me to my hotel. You shall ace. many bugs, such as seiciico bass not yet known." I was willing enough to go with hhn; and true to his word ho did show mo such quantities of carefully prepared and classified Insects as I had not dreamed our own country offered. "Twelve new species!" he said, -with pride. "Meln own country will glf me honor for this. Five years I spend. Now 1 go back home. "1 shall not tell you what nickname they glf me In Oregon.", he added, smil-lntr; smil-lntr; "but my real name iss Wolfram. von Rlttenhofen. Berlin It wass laat my home. Tell me, you go soon to Oregon?" Ore-gon?" "That is very possible," I answered; and this lime at least I .spoke tho truth,. "We-, are bound In opposite directions, but if you are sailing- for; Europe this spring, you would save 'timo and gain comfort by starting from New York. It would give us groat pleasure If wc could welcome so distinguished a scientist in Washington." "No, I am not yet distinguished. Only shall I be distinguished when I have shown my twelvo new species to meln own university." "But it would give . mo pleasure also to show you Washington. You should see also the government of those backwoodsmen back-woodsmen who are crowding ou't-to Oregon Ore-gon Would you not like to travel with me In America so fur as that?" le shook his head doubtfully. "Perhaps "Per-haps T make mistake lo come by the St. Lawrence? It would be shorter to go by New York? Well. I hat no hurry. 1 think It over, yess." "But tell me, where did you get that lectio thing?" ho asked me again presently, pres-ently, taking up in his hand the Indian clasp. 'I traded for It among the Crow Indians." In-dians." "You know what it Iss, eir;" vN'o. except that it Is Indian made."" lie scanned the round discs carefully. "Wall!" ho exclaimed. "I show you sometings." He reached for my pencil, drew toward to-ward III nt a piece of paper, talcing from his pocket meantime a bit of string. I'slng the latter for a radius, he drew a circle on the piece of paper. Now look whnt 1 do!' ho said, an J bent, over ouiiotiply. "See, I draw a straight lino through tho circle. I divide di-vide It In half. so. T divide It in hulf oneo more, and make a point, Kow I shorten by string, one-naif. On each aide of my long lino I mako mo a half circle only half way round on tho op-posit op-posit o sides. So. now. what I got, oh? You undersland him?" 1 shook my head. He pointed in turn to tho rudo ornamentation in tho shell clasp. I declare, that then T could seo a resemblance between the two designs! "It Is curious." 1 said. "Mciii Gott1 It Iss more than curious. It Iss vonderfulJ T haf two Amuzonlas colleetod by my own bauds, and twelve species of . m.v own discovery, yess. In butterflies alone. That Iss much? Listen. It Iss notings! Hero Iss tho discovery!" He took a. paco or two excitedly, and camo back to thump with his forcllngcr on the little desk. "What you see befdrc you Iss tho sign the the Groat Monad! It. Is.s known In China, hi Burmah, In all Asia, In all Japan. It Iss sign of tho great One, of the great. Two. In your hand iss the Tab Gook the Oriental symbol for llfo, for sex. Myself, I haf seen that In Sitka on Chinese brasses: J haf seen It on Japanese signs. In one land and in another an-other land. But here you show it to mo made by tho hand of some Ignorant aborigine abor-igine of thin continent! On this continent, contin-ent, where it did not originate and does not belong! It iss a discovery! Science shall bear of It. Jt iss the link of Asia to America. It brings mo fame!" Ho put his hand Into a pocket, and drew It. out half tilled with gold pieces and with raw gold in tho form of nuggets, nug-gets, as though ho would offer exohango. I waved him back. "No," said I; "yon are welcome to one of these disks. If you please. Tf you wish. I will take ono little bit of these. But tell me, where did you find those pieces of raw gold?" "Those? They aro notings. I recollect mo I found these ono day up on the Roguo liver, not far from my cabin. I am pursuing a most beautiful moth, such an I haf not In all my collection. So I fall on a log; J skin my leg. In the moss I find some bits of rock. I recollect mo not where, but believe It was somewhero there. But what T find now, here, by a stranger It iss worth moro than gold! My friend. I thank you, I ombraco you! 1 am favored by fate to meet you. Go with you lo Washington? Yess, yess, I go"' ' CHAPTER XVIII. The Missiiig Slipper. There will always remain somothing lo be said of woman as long as thcro Is ono on earth. Bauflers. Wo passed tho luncheon hour at tho hostelry of 'my friend Jacques Bortillon; after which I suggested a stroll about the town for a time. Before we started, J' asked him to step to my room, where. I had left my pipe. My eye fell on tho commode's top, casual casu-al ly 1 saw that it was bare. I recalled the strange warping of the baroness the evening prevlbus. I was watched! My apartment hail been entered In my ab-scenec. ab-scenec. Property of mine had been taken. My" "perturbation must have, boon discoverable dis-coverable in m.v, , face. "What Iss it?" asked tho old man. '"You forget sonic-thing?" sonic-thing?" "No." said I, stammering. "It is nothing."' noth-ing."' Ho looked at rnc dubiously. ' "Well, then," I admitted; "I miss something from my commodo hero. Somo ono has taken it.' "It Iss of value, perhaps?" he inquired politely. "Well, no; not of Intrinsic value. 'Twas only a slipper of white satin, made by Braun of Paris." "Ono slipper? Of what use? " "It. belonged to a lady 1 was about lo return it," I said; but I fear my face showed mo none too calm. "Each man studies for himself bis own spcclall," mused tho old man. "You huf perhaps studied tho .ipeciea of woman. Unco, also .1." . . . Wc walked, my frjend musing and babbling, myself still anxious and uneasy. un-easy. We turned out of narrow Noire Hame street, and into St. Lawrence Main street. As wc .sli'olled 1 noted with much Interest the motley llfo about me. picturesque new with tho activities of tho advancing spring. Presently, however, how-ever, my idle guzo was drawn to two young Englishmen whoso bearing In somo way gave mo the Impression that they belonged In official or military life, although al-though they were in civilian garb. Presontly tho two halted, and separated. Tho taller kept on to tho east, to the old French town. At length f saw hhn Joined, an though by appointment, by another gentleman, ono whoso appenr-anco appenr-anco at once gave mo reason for a second sec-ond look. He accostod my young Englishman, Eng-lishman, and without hesitation tho two slarlod off togolhcr. Ah they did ao I gave an Involuntary exclamation. Tho taller man I had seen once before, the shorter, very many times in Washington! Washing-ton! "Yess," commented my old scientist calmly; "so strange! They go together. ' "Ah. you know them!" 1 almost fell upon him. "Yess last nlghl. Tho tall ono Iss Mr. Peel. ;i young Englishman: the other Is Mexican, they said Senor Yturrlo of Mexico. Ho spoko much. Me. 1 wass sleopy then. But also that other tall one wo saw go back that wass Captain Tarke. also of tho British navy. His ship Iss tho war boat Modesto a flno ono. 1 see nor often when I walk on the rlffer front, thcro." 1 turned to him and mado some excuse, saying that, presently I would join him again at tho hotel. Dreamily as ever, he smiled and took his leave. For myself, my-self, J walked on rapidly after tho two figures, then a block or so ahead of me. I saw them turn Into a street which was familiar to myself. They passed on. turning from time lo time among the old houses of tho French quarter. Presently Pres-ently thov entered the short side slroot which I myself had soon for tho first time tho previous night. I protended to busy myself with my pipo lis they turned In at tho very gate -which I knew, and knocked at Ihu door which I had entered wllh my mysterious companion! Tho door opened without delay; they both entered. So. then. Helena von Rltz had other visitors! England and Mexico wore Indeed In-deed conferring hero In Montreal. There were matters going forward here In which my government was concerned. At tho moment nothing better occurred oc-curred to mo than to return to my room and wait for a time, it would servo no purpose for mo to disclose myself, either In or out of tho apartments of the baroness, and It would not aid mc to bo seen Idling about the neighborhood In a city where thure was so much reason rea-son to suppouo strangers wcro watched. T resolved to wait until the next morning morn-ing ancl to take my friend Von Rlltcn-hofon Rlltcn-hofon with me. llo need not know oil that I knew, yet in euso of any accident lo myself or any suddon controtemps, ho would servo both as a witness and as an excuse for disarming any suspicion which might be entertained regai-dlng myself. The next day ho readily enough fell In with inyr suggestion of a morning stroll, and again wo sallied forth, at about 9 o'clock, having by that time finished a dejeuner a la fourchctto with Jacques Bortillon. which to my mind compared unfavorably with ono certain olher I had shared. A sense of uneasiness began to oppress op-press me. I knew not why, beforo I had gone half way clown the little street from tho corner whero wo turned. It was gloomy and dismal enough at tho best, and on this morning an unusual apathy seemed to sll upon It. for few of the shuttors were down, although tho hour was now mid-morning. Something said to me that it would be as well for me to turn back. I might as well ha.vo done so. Wo passed up tho Jltllo walk, and I raised tho knocker at tho door; -but even as It sounded I knew what would happen. There came to me that, curious fooling which one experiences when one knocks at the door of a house which lacks human hu-man occupancy. Even more strongly I had that strange fooling now, because this sound was not merely that of unoccupied un-occupied rooms It came from rooms empty and echoing! 1 tried the. door. It was not locked. I Ihing It wide, and alepped within. At ilrat 1 could not adjust my eyc to tha dimness. Absolute sliein-o reigned. 1 pushed .open a nhultr ami looked about inc. The rooms were nor only unoccupied. unoccu-pied. . but unfurnished! The walla and Moors were utterly bate! Not a sign of human occupancy existed. I hastened out to the little walk and looked up and down the rUrect, lo satisfy myself that I had made no mistake. No. this was tho number this wao the place. Followed rny my wondering companion, compan-ion, 1 made such inquiry an I could In the little neighborhood. I could learn nothing. "Sir." snld 7 to mv friend, at Inst: "I do not understand h. 1 have pursued, but It seems the butterfly has flown." So, both sllonl, inyaelf morosely so. wo turned and mado our way back across tho town. Half an hour later wo were on the docks at I ho river front, whero wo could look out over the varied shipping which lay there. My sclontlllc friend counted ono vcsycl after another, and at last pointed to a gap in tlio line "Yesterday 1 wass here," ho said, "and I counted all the phlps and their names. Tho steamer Modesto she lay there. Now she is.s gone." I pulled up suddenly. This was the ship which carried Captain Parke and his friend JJoulenant Peel, of the British Brit-ish navy. Tho secret council at Montreal Mon-treal was, thoreforo, apparently ended! Thcro would be an English land expedition, expe-dition, across Canada to Oregon. Would thcro bo also an expedition by sea? At least my errand la Montreal, now finished. fin-ished. hal not been In vain, even though It ended in a mystery and a query. CHAPTER XIX. The Gcutloman From Tennessee, Women distrust men too much In general, gen-eral, and not enough In particular Phill-bcrt Phill-bcrt Commcrson. Now all tho more it was necessary for me and my friend from Oregon to hafcten on to Washington. .Rumors abounded, I found as soon us I struck tho first cities below tho Canadian line It was in tho air now that under Calhoun thero would bo put beforo congress a distinct and doflnllo attempt at tho annexation an-nexation of Texas. Stories of "all sorts wore on tho streets; rumora of tho wrath of Mr. Clay; yet other rumors of interesting inter-esting possibilities at the coming Whig and Democratic conventions. Everywhere Every-where was that strange, ominous, inde-sctibablo inde-sctibablo tension of the atmosphero which exists when ' a great people Is moved deeply. Eutc as it was when I reached "Washington, "Wash-ington, I did not hesitate to repair ;it once to tho resiuence of Mr. Calhoun; and T took with mo as m.v best adjutant my strange friend Von Rltlenhofen. who, I fancied, might add detailed information, informa-tion, which Mr. Calhoun would tlnd of value. Wo were admitted to Mr. Calhoun, Cal-houn, and after tho llrst greetings he signified that bo would hear my report. Ho sat. his long, thin hands on his chair arm. as I went on with my story, his eyes scanning also my old companion as J spoko. I explained what tho latter know regarding Oregon. T saw Mr. Calhoun's Cal-houn's eyes kindle. As usual, he did not lack decision. "Sir," said be to Von Rlttenhofen presontly, pres-ontly, "wo ourselves aro youncr, yet I trust, not lacking in great nation's Interest Inter-est in tho arts and sciences. It occurs to mo now that in yourself wc have opportunity op-portunity lo add lo our store of knowledge knowl-edge in respect lo. certain biological features. fea-tures. Tho old gentleman rose and bowed. "I thank you - for the honor of your flattery, flat-tery, sir." ho began; but Calhoun raised a gentlo hand. "If It would please you. sir. to defer your visit to your own country for a timo, I can secure for you a situation in our department in biology, whero your services serv-ices would be of extreme worth to us. Tho salary would also allow you to continue con-tinue your private researches into the life of our native tribes." Von Rltlenhofen posit ively glowed at this. "A eh, what an honor!" ho began again. "Meantime." resumed Calhoun, not to mention the value which that research would have for us, wc could also llnd use. nt proper remuneration, for your private aid In making up a set of maps of that western .ountry which you know so well, ami of which oven I myself am so ignornnt. 1 want to know tho distances, dis-tances, tho topography, the means of travel. J want to know the peculiarities of that country of Oregon." Few could resist v the persuasiveness of Mr. Calhoun's speech, certalnlv not Von Rlttenhofen. who thus found offered him precisely what ho would have desired. de-sired. I van plcasd to see him so happily hap-pily situated so r-oon- Presently we despatched de-spatched him down to my hotel, whera I promised later to make him more at homo. In his elation over tho prospect he now :aw before hlvn, tho old mnn fairly babbled. Germany seomM farthest from hlfi mind. After his departure. Cul-houn Cul-houn again turned to mc. "I want you to remain. Nicholas," said he. "because I havo an appointment with a gentleman who will soon be preaont." "Rather a Into hour, sir," I ventured. "Aro you keeping faith with Doctor Ward?" "I have no timo for bobbles." he exclaimed, ex-claimed, half petulantly. "What 1 must do Is this work. Tho man wo nro lo nieel tonight Is Mr. Polk. It 5s Important." Impor-tant." Perhaps hair an hour later. Mr. Calhoun's Cal-houn's old negro man ushered in this awaited guct, and wc three found ourselves our-selves alone In ono of those midnight conclaves which wen to on In Washington even llien as they do today. Mr. J 'oik was serious ns usual: his Indecisive features fea-tures wearing i lie mask of solemnity, which with so many passes as wisdom. "I havo come. Mr. Calhoun." said he when the. latter had assured hlni that my presence would entail no risk to him "Mo talk over this Texas situation. How do you stand in case war should bo declared against Mexico? That ought to bo a popular measure. The Toans havo captured tho popular Imagination. The Alamo rankles In our nation's memory. mem-ory. What would you say lo a stiff demand de-mand there, with a strong show of military mili-tary force behind It?" "I should say nothing as to a strong I showing in any ca.se. t should only say that if war cunie legitimately not otherwise oth-erwise I should back It with all my tnlgljt. I feel tho aatno In regard lo war With England." 1 "With England? What chance would wo have with so powerful a nation as thai?" "There is a god of battles," said John Calhoun. The ohln of James IC. Polk of Ten-ncsseo Ten-ncsseo sank down into his stock. His staring even went half shut. At last bo spoke, tentatively, as was alwavs bis way until ho got the drift of things. "Well, now, perhaps Ju the. case of England that is good politics." bo began. be-gan. "It is very possible that (he people halo England ar. much a they do Mexico. Mexi-co. Do you not think so?" "I think they fear her more." "But I was only thinking of Iho popular pop-ular Imagination:" , "You arc always thinking of Iho popular pop-ular Imagination. Jim". You havo boon thinking of lhal. for some lime In Ten-nossoe. Ten-nossoe. All that outcry about tho,v,Tiolo of Oregon Is ill-timed today." "Fifty-four Forty or- Fight; - that sounds well!" exclaimed Polk; "ch?" "Trippingly on the tongue, yes!" said John Calhoun. "But how would It sound to the inno of cannon lire? How would it look written in the smoko of musketry?" mus-ketry?" "It might not come to that," said J'olk, shifting In his seat. "I was thinking of it only as a rallying cry for tho campaign. cam-paign. Dash me I bog pardon " lie looked around to sec If there wore any Mothodlsfc; present "but I believe- "l could go into tho convention with that war cry behind mc and swoop the boards of all opposition!" "And afterwards?" "But England may back down." argued ar-gued Mr. Polk. "A strong allowing In the southwest and northwest might do wonders for its." "But what would be behind that strong showing, Mr. Polk?" demanded John Calhoun, "We would win Iho combat with Mexico, of course, if that iniquitous measure should tako the form of' war. But not 'Oregon wo might as well or bettor light In Africa than Oregon. Ore-gon. It Is not yet time. In God's najno. Jim Polk, ho careful of what you do! Cease this cry of taking nil of Oregon. You will plunge this country not Into one Tvar, but two. Wait! Only wait, and wo will own all this ' continent to the Saskatchewan or even further north." "Well," said tho other, "have you not said there Is a God of Battles?" "The Lord God of Hoslt, yes!" half screamed old John Calhoun; "yes. the God of Bnttle-s for nations, for principlesbut princi-plesbut not for parties! For the principle prin-ciple of Democracy, Jim Pollu yes, yes, but for the Democratic party, or tho Whig parly, or for any demise irks to o;,d either, no, no"" J The florid ra,.' 0V pfllu Si' Sir." said he, vra-hlng for n , east 1 have lonmod Hwjlt VJ learn. 1 know how vou wlll'l tho Moor of tho convention IIt will divide this parly 1 onM aro a traitor to ihoVmSSk I chareo It lo your mc... !lorVr t I canio to auk of y01l your'0 f liul yon only talking of prnc1 fi losS?,,IJoft(I15r ills own thin, bloodless hands? C Hinbs. Then he v,rned S cd his arms on thr, t-inb. 1,$ h Ins In his hands. "My God!" f C gioan. To (see my chief abused v&i not In my nature to rndurc?n myself. I committed an nctiiu suits pursued mo for many ai "Mr. rotk, sir." nald i, rmlnatli mg nlm, "uiimn you. ir. vou Ja io umie Mr. (.ah.otin'B uhoe! m oe you oner mm ono wordT11 uiuarrei wun mo if you llku'l'-gain llku'l'-gain no votes here no v.- m anyfc in mire!" 'Jk Utterly horrlflod at ihlalfx fumbleci with tim nat and catieM roil In the lace, boweu iilmucjfef' niumnllng. iir. Cainoun nsiinrlf. tnfi ins uuleux. -tj1, My chier dropped Into his cSV For a moment no looked at rrrtJ "Nick." sain In, at length sloS' havo dhiaou tne JJcmucraiic. t3 split mac party, right tnen anf? MM.'ver! ' I proicsied; "buzV twas ready enoiigu mp tho aivlf It split, tnen, or any partylj-that partylj-that is what must nolu It ton will not stay In tuts work, Mr and h'.-ar you lllflcd iJiatfoit "Platforms!" cenood my ;? white nana dropped on tho tif still sat looking at nu-. t'Bifc get you some nine. Nicholas!"!; Jim folk will not forgot." if- "Let. turn come at inu as htff fumed. At last, seeing nio so wrougb Calhoun rose, and, smiling,.? heartily by the hand Tfl- "Of course, thla had to comae or another," said ho. "The sw tho wood of their proposed pf bluff and insincerity. "What df plo say?' asks Jim Polk. 'Wlii mink'.'' asks John Calhoun, jx now, in God's providence, choT somo thinking for them. 1 havif Ho turned to tho table aniln long, folded document, whlclvjfi dono In his cramped hundl many interlineations. "Copy fair for mo tonight, Nicholas, "This is our answer to thftjt note. You have already 1 tenor, the time wo met Mr.w with Mr. Tyler at the White? 1 grinned. "Shall we not tal' direct lo Mr. Blair for pub' his Globe?" 3 Mr. Calhoun smiled rather! Ibis Jest. The hostility of Bl Tylor administration was a ii moro than well known. 3Sf '"Twill all get Into Mr. Poll paper fast enough," comment! last, "llo gets all the news of'J can ministry!" m "Ah. you think he cultlvatosl Luorezla, rather than adoroK?! "1 know It! One-third ofi may be human, but tho otheril Is politician. Ho will flatterll Into confidences. She Is wcljll Iracted at best, theau daysvn the fickleness of her husbandf yet harder abandonment by' hM mlrcr. Pakcnhani; so Polk wIUTt Into disclosures, never fear. B when tho time comes, he wilr army of occupation Into hcrj And all the while, on Iho once the other, ho will appear toil as a moral and lofty-minded mf "If wo temporarily lack the! von Itltx to add zest to omw hazarded, 'we still have thojjs cro.ia and her little jealousies? Calhoun turned quickly uporr a sharp glance, as though selzej sudden thought. "By tho Lo? boy. you give mo an Idea. -TP for a moment. Do you go on copvlng there, and excuso time." An instant later bo passed room, his tall ffguro bentw clasped behind his back, aw wrlnkl-d in a frown, as wa when occupied with somo pre To Be Continued |