The Mystery of the Sycamore. Wells Carolyn

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СКАЧАТЬ said Keefe; but Appleby said, “No; I won’t tell you the condition of the pardon. But the two men haven’t been friends since, and won’t be, unless the condition is removed. Of course, dad can’t do it, but the present governor can make the pardon complete, and would do so in a minute, if dad asked him to. So, though he hasn’t said so, the assumption is, that father expects to trade a full pardon of Friend Wheeler for his help in my campaign.”

      “And a good plan,” Keefe nodded his satisfaction.

      “But,” Sam went on, “the trouble is that the very same points and principles that made Wheeler oppose my father’s election will make him oppose mine. The party is the same, the platform is the same, and I can’t hope that the man Wheeler is not the same stubborn, adamant, unbreakable old hickory knot he was the other time.”

      “And so, you want me to soften him by persuading his daughter to line up on our side?”

      “Just that, Keefe. And you can do it, I am sure.”

      “I’ll try, of course; but I doubt if even a favorite daughter could influence the man you describe.”

      “Let me help,” broke in the irrepressible Genevieve. “I can do lots with a girl. I can do more than Curt could. I’ll chum up with her and – ”

      “Now, Miss Lane, you keep out of this. I don’t believe in mixing women and politics.”

      “But Miss Wheeler’s a woman.”

      “And I don’t want her troubled with politics. Keefe here can persuade her to coax her father just through her affections – I don’t want her enlightened as to any of the political details. And I can’t think your influence would work half as well as that of a man. Moreover, Keefe has discernment, and if it isn’t a good plan, after all, he’ll know enough to discard it – while you’d blunder ahead blindly, and queer the whole game!”

      “Oh, well,” and bridling with offended pride, Genevieve sought refuge in her little mirror.

      “Now, don’t get huffy,” and Sam smiled at her; “you’ll probably find that Miss Wheeler’s complexion is finer than yours, anyway, and then you’ll hate her and won’t want to speak to her at all.”

      Miss Lane flashed an indignant glance and then proceeded to go on with her work.

      “Hasn’t Wheeler tried for a pardon all this time?” Keefe asked.

      “Indeed he has,” Sam returned, “many times. But you see, though successive governors were willing to grant it, father always managed to prevent it. Dad can pull lots of wires, as you know, and since he doesn’t want Wheeler fully pardoned, why, he doesn’t get fully pardoned.”

      “And he lives under the stigma.”

      “Lots of people don’t know about the thing at all. He lives – well – he lives in Connecticut – and – oh, of course, there is a certain stigma.”

      “And your father will bring about his full pardon if he promises – ”

      “Let up, Keefe; I’ve said I can’t tell you that part – you’ll get your instructions in good time. And, look here, I don’t mean for you to make love to the girl. In fact, I’m told she has a suitor. But you’re just to give her a little song and dance about my suitability for the election, and then adroitly persuade her to use her powers of persuasion with her stubborn father. For he will be stubborn – I know it! And there’s the mother of the girl.. tackle Mrs. Wheeler. Make her see that my father was justified in the course he took – and besides, he was more or less accountable to others – and use as an argument that years have dulled the old feud and that bygones ought to be bygones and all that.

      “Try to make her see that a full pardon now will be as much, and in a way more, to Wheeler’s credit, than if it had been given him at first – ”

      “I can’t see that,” and Keefe looked quizzical

      “Neither can I,” Sam confessed, frankly, “but you can make a woman swallow anything.”

      “Depends on what sort of woman Mrs. Wheeler is,” Keefe mused.

      “I know it. I haven’t seen her for years, and as I remember, she’s pretty keen, but I’m banking on you to put over some of your clever work. Not three men in Boston have your ingenuity, Keefe, when it comes to sizing up a situation and knowing just how to handle it. Now, don’t tell father all I’ve said, for he doesn’t especially hold with such small measures. He’s all for the one big slam game, and he may be right. But I’m right, too, and you just go ahead.”

      “All right,” Keefe agreed. “I see what you mean, and I’ll do all I can that doesn’t in any way interfere with your father’s directions to me. There’s a possibility of turning the trick through the women folks, and if I can do it, you may count on me.”

      “Good! And as for you, Miss Lane, you keep in the background, and make as little mischief as you can.”

      “I’m not a mischief-maker,” said the girl, pouting playfully, for she was not at all afraid of Sam Appleby.

      “Your blue eyes and pink cheeks make mischief wherever you go,” he returned; “but don’t try them on old Dan Wheeler. He’s a morose old chap – ”

      “I should think he would be!” defended Genevieve; “living all these years under a ban which may, after all, be undeserved! I’ve heard that he was entirely innocent of the forgery!”

      “Have you, indeed?” Appleby’s tone was unpleasantly sarcastic. “Other people have also heard that – from the Wheeler family! Those better informed believe the man guilty, and believe, too, that my father was too lenient when he granted even a conditional pardon.”

      “But just think – if he was innocent – how awful his life has been all these years! You bet he’ll accept the full pardon and give all his effort and influence and any possible help in return.”

      “Hear the child orate!” exclaimed Sam, gazing at the enthusiastic little face, as Genevieve voiced her views.

      “I think he’ll be ready to make the bargain, too,” declared Keefe. “Your father has a strong argument. I fancy Wheeler’s jump at the chance.”

      “Maybe – maybe so. But you don’t know how opposed he is to our principles. And he’s a man of immovable convictions. In fact, he and dad are two mighty strong forces. One or the other must win out – but I’ve no idea which it will be.”

      “How exciting!” Genevieve’s eyes danced. “I’m so glad I’m to go. It’s a pretty place, you say?”

      “Wonderful. A great sweep of rolling country, a big, long, rambling sort of house, and a splendid hospitality. You’ll enjoy the experience, but remember, I told you to be good.”

      “I will remember,” and Genevieve pretended to took cherubic.

      CHAPTER II

      NORTH DOOR AND SOUTH DOOR

      For Samuel Appleby to pay a visit to Daniel Wheeler was of itself an astounding occurrence. The two men had not seen each other since the day, fifteen years ago, when Governor Appleby had pardoned the convicted Wheeler, with a condition, which, though harsh, had been strictly adhered to.

      They СКАЧАТЬ