He reflected that Henry Morlein was accustomed to the sound of the acting governor’s voice every day, and should be able to detect an imitation where many others might fail.
But Morlein did not appear to observe anything unusual in the accent and inflection, and Rayne went on calmly:
“It’s just as well that I didn’t go. Did you know that Senator Micah Garnford was in to see me a little while ago?”
“Senator Garnford?” ejaculated Morlein, in surprise. “Why, I thought he was in Washington. Seems to me I was reading in the paper that he made a great speech on the tariff the day before yesterday.”
“That was last week,” declared Rayne. “He’s in San Juan now. Do you know the senator personally, Morlein?”
“Never saw him in my life,” was the prompt reply. “I never even saw his picture. Rather a fine man, I’ve been told.”
“I think so. But that isn’t the point. I’ve got to go to Washington right away—on official business.”
Henry Morlein threw the end of his cigar into a cuspidor and looked up in astonishment.
“Geewhillikins! That’s sudden, isn’t it?”
“Government business is often sudden, Morlein,” replied Rayne gravely. “I wish you would telephone the wharf where the steamer Spangled Star lies, and tell the agent to hold a deck stateroom for Mr. Portersham, will you?”