And he says, “But why not?” and I says, “Because it will not do.” And he says, “Well Miss Riggs but you cannot do business with the Spokesman that way because you would never be able to say nothing because He will never do nothing.”
But I says, “If He says He won’t allow the strike and then He does allow it, what will people think of Him?” And he says, “It will be like it has always been and when the time comes people will of forgot it.” “But that is nonsense,” I says, “it will be quoted against Him what He said at the beginning.” And Mr. Edgerton says, “By who? A bunch of cranks here and there? The newspapers will not say nothing because we have got them and what else does it matter?”
Well of course I don’t like that but I have learned that it is what you have got to do with the Spokesman so I says “All right.” But I have forgot about Walter and my God all of a sudden what do I see his face is got red and he is rose up and he says, “Do the pair of you really think I am going to stand for this?” “Why Walter what do you mean?” I says, and he says, “You are playing me for a sucker,” he says, “but you have got the wrong one.”
“Why Walter,” I says, “what on earth? You think this is not the Spokesman’s Secretary?” “I don’t know who it is,” he says, “but you cannot make me believe that the Spokesman is no such poor fish as this.” “But,” I says “look at the papers to-morrow afternoon,” I says, “and you will see it all just as I have said it.”
And says Walter, “You want me to think that the American people is a bunch of boobs that you can string along like this?” I says, “Walter, I have told Mr. Edgerton that you are a patriot and a lover of your country and that you can be trusted with these great state secrets,” I says, “And now are you going to throw me down?”
But he looks at me and his eyes is flashing and his fists is clenched and I think he is going to hit me or Mr. Edgerton I aint sure which and he says with his voice trembling furious, “Mamie Riggs,” he says, “I thought you was a decent girl but I see you have took the easy road,” he says. “But it was enough to insult our love,” he says, “you needn’t of insulted my brains too. I leave you to your new gentleman and I hope he keeps you good and that’s all.” And with that he turns and walks off quick and I lets out a yell that scares the whole dining room and I runs to grab him but he is gone out the door and lost in the crowd and there I am standing and crying like Lucy Lonesome in “The Broken Love.”
Your miserable
Mame.
LETTER XVI
IN WHICH I AM MADE A GRAMMARIAN