It was Mr. Meredith himself, as smiling as the spring, with a bunch of violets in the lapel of his new light coat. Jamie sprang at him.
“Oh, Mr. Meredith,” he exclaimed, raising his clasped hands almost appealingly, “come—quick! Come quick!”
“Why, what’s the matter?” said Mr. Meredith, halting in surprise.
“They’ve got senate bill 578 up!”
Mr. Meredith’s eyes opened; his face lost its mild expression.
“What do you know about senate bill 578?”
Jamie took him by the coat—he dared at last to lay hands on his sacred person—and tugged as he said:
“Oh, honest—Mr. Meredith—honest—cross my heart they have—you’ll be too late!”
Mr. Meredith looked at the pleading lad closely, and then suddenly exclaimed:
“Oh, yes! You’re one of the page boys.” And then he ran as fast as he could through the lobby, down the steps and across the sidewalk, Jamie after him.