‚ÄúWhen, as a matter of fact,‚Äù drawled Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool, ‚Äúhe was simply honest.‚Äù
“The South won’t stand it,” Cresswell decisively affirmed.
‚ÄúWell‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù began Mr. ¬ÝEasterly.
‚ÄúSee here,‚Äù interrupted Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool. ‚ÄúI‚Äôm interested in Alwyn; in fact, an honest man in politics, even if he is black, piques my curiosity. Give him a chance and I‚Äôll warrant he‚Äôll develop all the desirable traits of a first class officeholder.‚Äù
Easterly hesitated. “We must not offend the South, and we must placate the Negroes,” he said.
‚ÄúThe right sort of Negro‚ÅÝ‚Äîone like Stillings‚ÅÝ‚Äîappointed to a reasonable position, would do both,‚Äù opined Cresswell.
‚ÄúIt evidently didn‚Äôt,‚Äù Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool interjected.
Cresswell arose. ‚ÄúI tell you, Mr. ¬ÝEasterly, I object‚ÅÝ‚Äîit mustn‚Äôt go through.‚Äù He took his leave.
Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool did not readily give up her plea for Alwyn, and bade Zora get Mr. ¬ÝSmith on the telephone for discussion.
“Well,” reported Easterly, hanging up the receiver, “we may land him. It seems that he is engaged to a Washington schoolteacher, and Smith says she has him well in hand. She’s a pretty shrewd proposition, and understands that Alwyn’s only chance now lies in keeping his mouth shut. We may land him,” he repeated.
‚ÄúEngaged!‚Äù gasped Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool.
Zora quietly closed the door.