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.