“How so?”
“Why, I tell you I've made a senatorial appointment—a matter of some slight importance—and you rush off never asking whom I've appointed.”
The reporter gave a forced laugh. He wished the Governor would not detain him with a joke now when every second counted.
“That's right,” he said, with strained pleasantness. “Well, who's the man?”
The Governor raised his head. “Huntington,” he said quietly, and resumed his work.
“What?” gasped the reporter. “What?”
Then he stopped in embarrassment, as if ashamed of being so easily taken in. “Guess you're trying to jolly me a little, aren't you, Governor?”
“Jolly you, Mr. Markham? I'm not given to 'jollying' newspaper reporters. Here's a copy of the telegram I sent this morning, if you are still sceptical. Really, I don't see why you think it so impossible. Don't you consider Mr. Huntington a fit man for the place?”
But for the minute the reporter seemed unable to speak. “May I ask,” he fumbled at last, “why you did it?”
“I had but one motive, Mr. Markham. I thought the matter over and it seemed to me the people should have the man they wanted. I am with them in believing Huntington the best man for the place.” He said it simply, and went quietly back to his work.