‚ÄúI think they are; but‚ÅÝ‚Äîwell, you know Carrie Wynn better than I do: suppose, now‚ÅÝ‚Äîsuppose he should lose the appointment?‚Äù
“But you say that’s sure.”
“Unless something turns up.”
“But what can turn up?”
“We might turn something.”
‚ÄúWhat‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhat‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI tell you man, I‚Äôd‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôd do anything to down that nigger. I hate him. If you‚Äôll help me I‚Äôll do anything for you.‚Äù
Stillings arose and carefully opening the hall door peered out. Then he came back and, seating himself close to Teerswell, pushed aside the whiskey.
‚ÄúTeerswell,‚Äù he whispered, ‚Äúyou know I was working to be Register of the Treasury. Well, now, when the scheme of making Alwyn Treasurer came up they determined to appoint a Southern white Republican and give me a place under Alwyn. Now, if Alwyn fails to land I‚Äôve got no chance for the bigger place, but I‚Äôve got a good chance to be Register according to the first plan. I helped in the campaign; I‚Äôve got the Negro secret societies backing me and‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI don‚Äôt mind telling you‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe solid Southern Congressional delegation. I‚Äôm trying now ostensibly for a chief-clerkship under Bles, and I‚Äôm pretty sure of it: it pays twenty-five hundred. See here: if we can make Bles do some fool talking and get it into the papers, he‚Äôll be ditched, and I‚Äôll be Register.‚Äù
“Great!” shouted Teerswell.
‚ÄúWait‚ÅÝ‚Äîwait. Now, if I get the job, how would you like to be my assistant?‚Äù