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Show book. Why did you ask me to come here? You certainly cant tease me into believing I am a likely prospect to write a best-selle- r. Dont worry about your writing ability. Its good enough. Besides, we have editors that can help. Please tell me what you have in mind. Henry Sears puffed on the cigar, looking into Carolines face, still not saying anything. She was beginning to get nervous, but was determined not to let it show. Youre a beautiful woman, Miss Logan, was his first comment. Thank you, she responded, trying to be nice, but annoyed that he wasnt getting to the point of the visit. In fact, he continued, I think you are the most beautiful writer I have ever met. You didnt bring me all the way over here to tell me that. Your good looks have a lot to do with me inviting you here. Im a writer, not a mistress, said Caroline, getting up to leave. Let me assure you, my intentions are honorable, he said with a burst of sincerity that pulled her back. I have only business to discuss with you, nothing else. Then lets talk about business, said Caroline with a boldness that surprised her. Why did you invite me here? Mr. Sears snubbed out the cigar and leaned forward, placing both forearms on the mahogany desk, his hands clenched into fists. For several months now, our company has been looking for someone to take on a very exciting writing project. We think you might be that per- son. He paused to let his words sink in. Caroline remained silent. There was nothing for her to do but listen. We have been looking for a woman writer, one with good looks and courage. I was beginning to think that such a woman did not exist in Philadelphia. Then I saw your interview with that rascal Sean OConnor. That took courage. Thank you, responded Caroline, choosing not to tell him that her meeting with the Irish rebel was accidental. How much do they pay you for those articles you write for the Inquirer? As much as five dollars each, usually less. How would you like to write a book that would sell thousands of copies, with you receiving a fifty-ceroyalty on each copy sold? Of course I would like that," responded Caroline. But you know as well as I do that Im just a beginning writer. I have never even started a nt We want you to write a book about the Mormons. Ridiculous. I dont know anything about the Mormons. Mr. Sears placed a black, cloth-boun- d book on the desk and pushed it over to Caroline. Caroline picked it up and opened to the title page. She read, The History of the Saints; Or, An Expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism, by John C. Bennett, Boston, 1842. That book has sold nearly 10,000 copies, explained Sears, making Mr. Bennett a nice little fortune in royalties. It could very well become g the expose ever written on the Mormons. The reason this book has sold so well, he continued, is because Bennett got inside. He was one of them for a while, found out what was really going on. The thing in this book that really has people excited, he continued, is this polygamy business. Also, the political talk about the Mormon plan to conquer the whole world, overthrow governments, and that kind of thing. What is it you want me to do? asked Caroline. A few months ago we got to thinking that if we could get an attractive female writer to go to Nau-vo- o the Mormon city on the Misin disguise, as a schoolsissippi best-sellin- teacher, or something, and live among the Mormons, she just might get a marriage proposal to become a plural wife to one of the Mormon leaders. Caroline was speechless, finding it hard to believe Mr. Sears was serious. Naturally the woman would be curious, wanting lots of questions answered before entering such a relationship. She would get the whole story, not only the polygamy stuff, but the revolutionary information too, and who knows what else. Is that what you want me to do? Yes, he responded in a matter-of-famanner. I see a first-perso- n ct story, you telling every detail of your adventure, climaxed with your escape just before the plural ceremony is to take place. You would be a national heroine. You would make a fortune in royalties. dont know, said Caroline. "Sounds like a dirty job, not something I'd be proud to write home to I Mother about. "Dirty!" he exploded, standing up. Those Mormons with their plural wifery are striking a vital blow at the very institution that made this country great, the family. And they would overthrow our government, too, with their Kinedom nf By exposing the Mormons you would be exposing a great evil, he continued. You would be a heroine, a patriot. What do you think? Sounds kind of risky, responded Caroline, wishing Mr. Sears had proposed something else for her to write. Youre asking me to be a spy, to make friends under false pretenses, to deceive people who have never done anything to me. I dont know. ' I dont want you to do it if you dont feel good about it, said Mr. Sears. But should you decide to do it, we are prepared to give you a $250 cash advance and a 10 percent royalty on every book sold., Caroline had never seen $250 at one time in her life. She had not made that much money her whole first year at the Inquirer. Maybe the project wasnt so bad after all. She decided to ask another question. It could be dangerous, dont you think? I agree. The Mormons probably wouldnt take kindly to discovering a journalist spy. In order to insure your secrecy, he continued, I have arranged a contact for you across the Mississippi in Iowa. A plantation owner with a strong dislike for Mormons. You cant trust the mails in Nauvoo. When you need to get a message to me, or send some of the manuscript, you can do it through this contact. He sat down in his chair, leaned forward, and looked into Carolines eyes. Will you do it? For your country? For the sacred institution of the family? To further your career as a writer? For the money? He made it sound so appealing, so easy, so right. Still, Caroline felt uneasy. So many unknowns, so risky. But would she ever get an opportunity like this again? And a $250 advance! She could buy her own carriage, make a down payment on a new house or a farm. . . She caught a brief glimpse of herself, disguised as a schoolteacher, interviewing Brigham Young himself. By comparison, the Sean OConnor interview was childs play. Could she take such a big step and not stumble? "Could I have a few days to think it over? she asked. Why dont you stop in day after tomorrow, same time, said Mr. Sears as he stood up to escort Caroline out of the building to her waiting carriage. Is there anything else you would like to know? asked Mr. Sears as he helped Caroline into the carriage. No, I cant think of. . . yes, there is one thing, asked Caroline. Who is this contact I would be working with? Are you sure he can be trusted, that he wont betray me to the Mormons? You wont have any worry there, laughed Sears. I know the fellow personally. He would never willingly aid the Mormons. Ills name is Boggs. Dick Boggs. on the fabled Mormon temple, an event expected to attract thousands of spectators. Circulating among the passengthe The capstone ceremony meant that the walls were completed up to the square, but the roof and spire still needed to be built, as well as all the inside woodwork and plastering. Being a handsome woman, some of the male passengers went out of their way to make conversation with Caroline. She took full advantage of the situation to learn all she could about Nauvoo and the Mormons. ers, Caroline heard gossip that temple would never be finished. One fellow said the Mormons would be expelled or exterminated before the temple could be completed. An- other suggested that a single match could settle the temple question once and for all. Some of the passengers scoffed at the Mormon belief that once the temple was completed the Saints would receive supernatural powers through the mystical bestowal of endowments. It soon became apparent to Caroline that the protests were too vehement, too loud. The gentiles were reacting too strongly to the upcom- completion of the temple. She concluded that they really were afraid the Mormons might receive ing some magical powers. Nevertheless, most of the pas- sengers were in agreement that the Mormons wouldnt be around long enough to finish their temple. There were rumors that was going to lead Brigham Young his people west, possibly to California. The thing that seemed to bother people most about Nauvoo and the Mormons was the lawlessness in the area. They felt Nauvoo was a haven for counterfeiters, horse thieves, killers and organized banditti. After Joseph and his brother Hyr-uwere killed the previous summer, the Illinois legislature had revoked the Nauvoo charter. The bigm gest city in Illinois, a frontier city at that, no longer had any legal peaceno police, no keeping machinery courts. It really was a haven for cri- minals. The gentiles in the neighboring towns blamed the Mormons for the lawlessness. The Mormons blamed the state legislature, which had taken away the charter and its power to enforce the law. When the Mormons reorgnized the Nauvoo Legion under the direction of Hosea Stout in an effort to keep the peace and reestablish law and order, the neighboring communities feared the Mormons might be preparing to avenge the death of their prophet. The gap between the Mormons and their neighbors only widened. The Nauvoo Mormons were in a situation. There was talk about a trial going on in Burlington, Iowa, just across the river from Nauvoo. Two Mormons, the Hodge brothers, were on trial for killing and robbing a minister and his The conversation among the passengers was how many other Mormons were engaged in these kinds of acts and not getting caught. When the steamer stopped at Warsaw, only two stops away from Nauvoo, Caroline obtained a copy of the Warsaw Signal, the local newspaper, and retired to her cabin to brief herself on local news. no-wi- n Men-noni- Chapter 3 son-in-la- When Caroline boarded the Osprey at St. Louis for the last leg of her trip to Nauvoo, she was surprised to see the paddle-whesteamer so crowded. It was the el spring of 1845, and she soon learned the reason for the crowd. Her arrival in Nauvoo would coincide with the laying of the capstone te |