“Yes––about the girl, you––”
“Damn the girl!” almost shouted Ames. “I’ve got proofs that will ruin her, and you too––and, by God, I’ll use ’em, if you drive me to it! You seem to forget that you were elected to do our bidding, my friend!”
The President again lapsed into silence. For a long time he sat staring at the floor. Then he looked up. “It was wonderful,” he said, “wonderful the way she faced you, like David before Goliath! There isn’t a vestige of fear in her make-up. I––we’ll talk this matter over some other time, Mr. Ames,” he finished, rising abruptly.
“We’ll talk it over now!” roared Ames, his self-control flying to the winds. “I can ruin you––make your administration a laughing-stock––and plunge this country into financial panic! Do you do as I say, or not?”
The President looked the angry man squarely in the eyes. “I do not,” he answered quietly. “Good morning.”
CHAPTER 13
“It’s corking! Simply corking!” cried Haynerd, when he and Hitt had finished reading Carmen’s report on her first few days in Washington. “Makes a fellow feel as if the best thing Congress could do would be to adjourn for about fifty years, eh? Such freak legislation! But she’s a wonder, Hitt! And she’s booming the Express to the skies! Say, do you know? she’s in love, that girl is! That’s why she is so––as the Mexicans say––simpático.”
“Eh? In love!” exclaimed Hitt. “Well, not with you, I hope!”