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
‚ÄúLike it? Why, great Jehoshaphat! I‚Äôd marry Carrie‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut how can I help you?‚Äù
“This way. I want to be better known among influential Negroes. You introduce me and let me make myself solid. Especially I must get in Miss Wynn’s set so that both of us can watch her and Alwyn, and make her friends ours.”
‚ÄúI‚Äôll do it‚ÅÝ‚Äîshake!‚Äù And Stillings put his oily hand into Teerswell‚Äôs nervous grip.
“Now, here,” Stillings went on, “you stow all that jealousy and heavy tragedy. Treat Alwyn well and call on Miss Wynn as