“I don’t see much use in that, when he’ll get the letter first thing to-morrow,” Ardmore suggested. “It costs money to telegraph, and you must have an economical administration.”
“The good of it would be to keep him worried and make him very angry. And if he told Barbara Osborne about it, it would make her angry, too, and maybe she wouldn’t sleep any all night, the haughty thing! Hand me one of those telegraph blanks.”
The message, slowly thumped out on the typewriter, and several times altered and copied, finally read:
Raleigh, N. C.
The Honourable Charles Osborne,
Governor of South Carolina,
Columbia, S. C.:
Have written by to-night’s mail in Appleweight matter. Your vacillating course not understood.
William Dangerfield,
Governor of North Carolina.
“I reckon that will make him take notice,” and Miss Jerry viewed her work with approval. “And now, Mr. Ardmore, here’s a telegram from Mr. Billings which I don’t understand. See if you know what it means.”
Ardmore chuckled delightedly as he read:
Cannot understand your outrageous conduct in bond matter. If payment is not made June first your state’s credit is ruined. Where is Foster? Answer to Atlanta.