Arizona -- Fiction; Grand Canyon (Ariz.) -- Fiction; Western stories
When the envelope was in his hands, Enoch tore the flap up and began to
read the close written pages. When he had finished, he put the
manuscript back with steady hands. "Most of the letter," he said
quietly, "is taken up by the recital of Brown's shady moral career in
Mexico. At the end he speaks of a Mexican woman with red hair and
violet eyes who lived with Brown for some months. She left to act as
nurse to little Hunt Post. Some time after the railroad accident,
Curly was the unsuspected witness to a secret meeting between this
Anita and Brown. The woman demanded money and Brown demanded proof
that little Hunt was dead. The conference ended only when Anita
produced a box containing the child's body. Curly did not know how
much Brown paid her or where she went."
Ames gave an ugly laugh. "Hoist with his own petard! Think of him
starting me after the Luigi scandal!"
"Tell Abbott what you've just told me," said Enoch.
He did not stir while Ames repeated the story. Charley's eyes blazed.
When Ames finished, Charley started to speak but the young reporter
interrupted.
"Mr. Secretary, I want you to let me tie up the loose ends for you.
We've got to put the screws on Luigi and I'll take another trip West."
"Wait a bit!" exclaimed Charley. "Mr. Secretary, I'm going to claim
that long deferred vacation. Let me spend it with Ames clearing this
matter up for you."
Enoch drew a quick breath. "When could you begin, you two?"
"Now!" the two young men said together.
Enoch smiled. "Wait until to-morrow. I've more important work
to-night, and I want to go over every detail with you before you start
out. In the meantime, Abbott, guard this envelope as you would your
life."
"What won't we do to Brown!" exclaimed Charley.
"I've punished Brown," said Enoch. "He'll never hurt me again. As
soon as this thing is cleared, we'll forget him."
Again Ames laughed. "Believe me, he's going to be good the rest of his
life. Think of your reading that stuff about little Hunt, Mr.
Secretary, and never realizing its import!"
"God knows, I didn't want to read the story of another man's ignominy!"
said Enoch, earnestly, "and I never would have, had not--" he paused,
then said as if to himself, "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders
to perform!"
The two younger men stood in silence. Then Enoch said, "Thank you,
Ames, I'll see you at nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Abbott, get the
White House for me and then go home to dinner."
A few minutes later Enoch was speaking to the President. "I have to
report victory, Mr. President, all along the line. . . . Yes, sir,
it's a long story and I want to tell it to you to-morrow, not to-night.
Mr. President, I'm going to find Miss Allen and dine with her,
to-night, if I have to take her from a state function. . . . Yes, you
may chuckle if you wish. I thought you'd understand. . . . Thank you!
Good night, Mr. President."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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