The President sank back in his chair greatly relieved.
“I thought you were a dynamiter,” he said. “Let me see; Texas! Texas!” He walked to a large wall map of the United States, and placing his finger thereon at about the location of Idaho, ran it down in a zigzag, doubtful way until he reached Texas.
“Oh, yes, here it is. I have so many things on my mind, I sometimes forget what I should know well.
“Let’s see; Texas? Oh, yes, that’s the State where Ida Wells and a lot of colored people lynched a socialist named Hogg for raising a riot at a camp-meeting. So you are from Texas. I know a man from Texas named Dave Culberson. How is Dave and his family? Has Dave got any children?”
“He has a boy in Austin,” I said, “working around the Capitol.”
“Who is President of Texas now?”
“I don’t exactly—”
“Oh, excuse me. I forgot again. I thought I heard some talk of its having been made a Republic again.”
“Now, Mr. Cleveland,” I said, “you answer some of my questions.”
A curious film came over the President’s eyes. He sat stiffly in his chair like an automaton.