The chief of police had distributed his officers to posts of duty and was
patrolling the rotunda.
He saluted the mayor when Morrison came hurrying in through the main
entrance.
"All is fine, Chief! I thank you for your work. I don't look for anything
out of the way, after this. But keep your men on till further orders."
At the foot of the grand stairway Stewart's self-possession left him.
Lana Corson was standing half-way up the stairs. Her furs were thrown
back, revealing her festival attire. Her beauty was heightened by the
flush on her cheeks and by the vivid animation in her luminous eyes.
He paused for a moment, his gaze meeting hers, and then he hastened to
her.
"How did it happen--that you're here, Lana?"
"I'm here--let that be an answer for now. But this, Stewart--this what I
have been seeing and hearing! Does it mean what it seems to mean?"
"I'll have to admit that I don't know exactly how it does show up from the
side-lines. Suppose you say!"
"I heard you talk to General Totten. I heard you talk to that mob. I saw
what you did. But I heard you give all the credit to my father." She
searched Stewart's face with more earnest stare. "You have saved the state
from disgracing itself, haven't you? Isn't that what you have done--you
yourself?"
"Oh, nonsense! Tell me! How did you get in and who came with you?"
"I'm here alone, Stewart, and it's of no importance how I got in. The
question I have asked you is the important one just now."
Her insistence was disconcerting; he had not recovered from the
astonishment of the sudden meeting; he felt that he ought to lie to that
daughter, in the interests of her family pride, but he was conscious of
his inability to lie glibly just then.
"Where is your car?"
"Waiting for me in the little park."
"Lana, there'll be no more excitement here--not a bit. Nothing to see!
Suppose you allow me to take you to the car. Come!" He put out his arm.
"Certainly not! Not till I see my father! He is in danger!"
"I assure you he is not. I left him with the Governor only a few minutes
ago, and the Senator was never better in his life--nor safer!" In spite of
his best endeavor to be consolatory and matter-of-fact he was not able to
keep a certain significance out of his tone.
From where she stood she could look across the rotunda and down into the
square. The glare of the lights made all movements visible. The crowd was
melting away.
"Stewart, brains and tact have accomplished wonders here to-night. I want
to know all the truth. Why shouldn't you be as candid to me as you seemed
to be with those men when you were talking to them? I want to give my
gratitude to somebody! The name of our good state has been kept clean.
You're not fair to me if you leave me in the dark any longer."
"I did my little bit, that's all! I'm only one of the cogs!"
"I know how I'll make you tell. I propose to give you all the credit. And
I never knew you to keep anything that didn't belong to you."
"Now you're not fair yourself, Lana! We just put our heads together--the
whole of us--that's all! Put our heads together! You know! As men will!"
His stammering eagerness did not satisfy her feminine penetration. Her
daughterly interest in the Senator's political standing was stirred as she
reflected.
"My father is down here to see that his fences are in good shape," she
declared, with true Washington sapience. "I think it was his duty and
privilege to step out there and make the speech. I'm surprised because he
let such an opportunity slip. With all due respect to the mayor of Marion,
you were not at all dignified, Stewart. They laughed at you--and I didn't
blame them!"
"I can't blame 'em, either," he confessed. "I--I--I guess I lost my head.
I'm not used to making speeches. I have made two since supper, and both of
'em have seemed to stir up a lot of trouble for me."
"I think, myself, that you're rather unfortunate as a speechmaker," she
returned, dryly. "I suppose you're going back to report to father. I'll go
with you." In her manner there was implied promise that she would proceed
to learn more definitely in what quarters her especial gratitude ought to
be expended.
"Lana," he urged, "I wish you'd go home and wait for your talk with your
father when he comes. He'll be coming right along. I'll see that he does.
There's nothing--not much of anything to keep him here. But I need to have
a little private confab with him."
"So private that I mustn't listen? I hope that we're still old friends,
Stewart, you and I, though your attitude in regard to father's affairs has
made all else between us impossible."
He did not pursue the topic she had broached. There was a certain finality
about her deliverance of the statement, a decisiveness that afforded no
hint that she would consider any compromise or reconsideration. His face
was very grave. "I have a little business--a few loose ends to take up
with the Senator. Once more I beg that you will defer--"
"I will go with you to the Executive Chamber. I'll be grateful for your
escort. If you don't care to have me go along with you, I can easily find
my way there alone."
Her manner left no opportunity for further appeal.
He bowed. He did not offer his arm. They walked together up the stairway.
With side-glances she surveyed his countenance wonderingly; in his
expression true distress was mingled with apprehensiveness. He had the air
of an unwilling guide detailed to conduct an unsuspecting innocent to be
shocked by the revelations of a chamber of horrors; she put it that way to
herself in jesting hyperbole.
The newspaper men, who had followed Mayor Morrison into the State House,
had been holding aloof, politely, from a conference which seemed to have
no bearing on the political situation. They hurried behind and overtook
Stewart and the young lady at the head of the stairway; their spokesman
asked for a statement.
"I made it! Out there a few minutes ago! Boys, you heard what I said,
didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Well, I talked more than I intended to! Boil it down to a few lines and
let it go at that!"
"We want to get the matter just right, Mister Mayor, and give credit where
it's due."
"I covered the matter of credit. There's nothing more to say," replied
Stewart, curtly.
The reporters surveyed him with considerable wonderment; his manner in
times past had always been distinguished by frank graciousness.
"We'd like to see Senator Corson and Governor North."
That request seemed to provoke the mayor's irritability still more. "I'm
not the guardian of those gentlemen or of this State House!" He turned on
his heel abruptly. "Miss Corson!" She was waiting a few paces away. He
rejoined her and by a gesture invited her to walk along. "I'm sorry! I did
not mean to delay you!"
The newspaper men followed on as far as the door of the Executive Chamber.
Morrison faced them there. "I don't mean to interfere with you, boys, in
any way. And you mustn't interfere with me. As soon as the Senator and the
Governor finish with me they'll give you all the time you want, no doubt!
Please wait outside!" He tapped on the door and gave his name. Rellihan
opened. Morrison seized the officer's arm and pulled him outside. "Keep
everybody away from the door for a few moments--till further orders."
Stewart escorted Miss Corson into the chamber with almost as much celerity
as he had employed in escorting Rellihan out; and he promptly banged the
door. He walked slowly across the room toward the big table, following
Lana, who hastened toward her father. The Senator was standing behind the
table, flanked by North and Daunt. The three of them formed a portentous
battery. Morrison did not speak. His expression indicated humility. He
drooped his shoulders. There was appeal in his eyes. "Here I am!" the eyes
informed the glowering Senator. But a side-glance hinted: "Here is your
daughter, too. Use judgment!"
Lana was manifestly perplexed by what she saw. Three distinguished
gentlemen were presenting the visages of masculine Furies. She looked away
from them and received a little comfort from the placid countenances of
Andrew Mac Tavish and Delora Bunker, but their presence in that place and
at that hour only made her mystification more complete.
She had been allowing her imagination to paint pictures before she stepped
into the Executive Chamber; she had expected to find her father virtuously
triumphant, serenely a successful molder of pacific plans. His scowl was
so forbidding that she stopped short.
"Father, it's wonderful--perfectly wonderful, isn't it?" She tried to
speak joyously, but she faltered. "I saw it all! I saw how your plan
succeeded."
"Damn you, Morrison! What has happened?" The Senator did not merely
demand--he exploded.
The silence which followed became oppressive. Miss Corson was too
thoroughly horrified to proceed. Apparently Governor North and Daunt had
selected their spokesman and had nothing to say for themselves. Morrison
seemed to be especially helpless as an informant; he wagged his head and
pointed to Lana.
"Answer my question, Morrison!"
"I think Miss Corson better tell you, sir. She was an impartial observer."
"Perhaps she _had_ better tell me! You're right! After this night I
wouldn't take your word as to the wetness of water. Lana, speak out!"
"I don't know what I can tell you--you have been right here all the time
in the State House--"
The Senator jammed a retort between the links of her stammering speech.
"Yes, I have been right here! What has happened below, I ask you?"
"Why, the troops marched out. They went away! Right through the mob! And
it's all calm and quiet."
Governor North stamped his way a half-dozen paces to the rear, and whirled
and marched back into line.
"Morrison, have you--have you--" Senator Corson choked. Not knowing
exactly what to say, he shook his fist.
"Father, what's the matter? It was only carrying out your orders."
"Orders--my orders?"
"Stewart Morrison, why don't you say something?" she demanded.
"I'm sure your father prefers to hear from you."
"Confound it! I do want to hear, and hear immediately!"
Lana displayed some of the paternal ire. "Stewart, I asked you to be
candid with me. You're leaving me to flounder around disgracefully in this
matter."
The Senator advanced on his daughter and seized her arm. "I don't want
that renegade to say another word to me as long as I live--and he knows
it. I'll tell you later what has been going on here. But now tell me to
what orders of mine you are referring! Quick and short!"
"Mayor Morrison made a little speech to the mob and said that you thought
it was best to send away the troops to prevent bad feelings and
misunderstanding, and said you were backed up by the Governor."
The Senator swapped looks with the goggling North over Lana's head.
"And the mob has gone home, and the State House is thrown wide open, and
the policemen are on duty, and I say again that it's wonderful," insisted
the girl.
"Morrison, did you say that? Have you done that?"
Stewart was fully aware that he had allowed the men in the square to draw
an inference from a compliment that he had paid to Senator Corson's
sagacity, and had refrained from making a direct declaration. But he was
not minded to embarrass the girl any further. He bowed. "I thank Miss
Corson for giving the gist of the thing so neatly."
"I know I don't understand it all yet, father!" Lana was both frightened
and wistful. The Senator had turned from her and was striding to and fro,
scuffing his feet hard on the carpet. "If you're blaming Mayor Morrison
for revealing confidences, I'm sorry. But you can't help being proud when
it is spread abroad how your handling of the dreadful affair prevented
bloodshed and shame in this state."
"Spread abroad!" Senator Corson brought down his feet more violently.
The situation, if it remained bottled up there in the Executive Chamber
any longer, threatened to explode in still more damaging fashion, was
Stewart's uncomfortable thought. The Senator's remark suggested a
diversion in the way of topics, at any rate.
"That reminds me that the newspaper boys are waiting outside in the
corridor, Senator Corson. I asked them to be patient for a few minutes.
Please allow me to say that I have added no statement to what I said to
the crowd in the square. I shall not add any."
"I don't see how you could add anything!" retorted the Senator with venom.
He continued his promenade.
Again the silence in the room became oppressive.
Morrison was scrutinizing Governor North with especial intentness.
His Excellency was giving unmistakable evidence that he was surcharged. He
was working his elbows and was whispering to himself with a fizzling
sound. He had turned his back on Lana Corson as if he were resolved to
ignore the fact of her presence.
Stewart, exhibiting deference while a United States Senator was pondering,
strolled leisurely across the room to North and fondled the lapel of the
Governor's coat. "I beg your pardon, and I hope you'll excuse curiosity in
a chap who makes cloth, Governor. But this is as fine a piece of worsted
as I've seen in many a day."
North lifted his arm as if to knock the presumptuous hand away; but
Stewart slowly clenched his fist, holding the fabric in his close clutch,
exerting a strength that dominated the man upon whom his hold was
fastened. The mayor went on in an undertone, as if anxious to show
additional deference in the presence of the senatorial ponderings.
"Governor, petty politics haven't been allowed to make a bad mess of what
has been turned into an open proposition. Now don't allow your tongue to
make a mess of this new development as it stands right now. Humor Miss
Corson's notions! And let me tell you! My policemen are going to stay on
the job until after the legislature assembles."
"Morrison, you're a coward!" grated North. "You brought Corson's girl here
so that you can sneak behind her petticoats."
Stewart released his hold, clapped His Excellency on the shoulder, raised
his voice, and cried, heartily:
"Thank you. Governor! You're right. You have an excellent idea of a piece
of goods, yourself."
Senator Corson arrived at a decision which he did not confide to anybody.
He spoke to Daunt and the two of them went to the divan and dragged on the
overcoats which they had discarded when Rellihan's obstinacy had been
found to be unassailable.
Lana, studying the faces of the men, drew her furs about her.
"The car is waiting near the west portico, father," she ventured to say.
Corson took his time about buttoning his coat. Lana had her heritage of
dark eyes from her father; his wrath had settled into cold malevolence and
his eyes above his white cheeks were not pleasant objects. He surveyed the
various persons in the room. He took his time in that process, too!
"For the present--for now--for to-night," he said, quietly, elaborating
his mention of the moment with significance, "we seem to have cleaned up
all the business before us. In view of that interregnum, Governor, of
which you have been so kindly reminded, I suppose you feel that you can go
to your hotel and rest for the remainder of the night so as to be in good
trim for the inaugural ceremonies. Allow me to offer you a lift in my
car."
The Governor trudged toward, a massive wardrobe in a corner of the
chamber.
"I do not presume to offer you the convenience of my car, Mayor Morrison,"
the Senator went on.
"I take it that your recent oath as supreme Executive during the aforesaid
interregnum obliges you to stay on the job. Ah--er--do we require a
countersign in order to get out of the building?"
The mayor was walking toward the private door. "No, sir!" he said, mildly.
"I hope you hear that, Governor North! I was compelled to give
countersigns to your soldiers--quite emphatic countersigns. The new regime
is to be complimented."