Arizona -- Fiction; Grand Canyon (Ariz.) -- Fiction; Western stories
"Dear Mr. Secretary," it ran, "it is twenty-two years since I took a
red-headed New York boy down Bright Angel trail. You and I have never
heard from each other since, but, naturally I have followed your career
with interest. And now I'm going to ask a favor of you. My daughter
Diana wants a job in the Indian Bureau and she's coming to Washington
to see you. Don't give her a job! She doesn't have to work. I can
take care of her. I'm an old man and selfish and I don't like to be
deprived of my daughter for my few remaining years.
"With heart-felt congratulations on your great career,
"I am yours most respectfully,
"FRANK ALLEN."
Enoch drew a deep breath and took up his fountain pen. He signed with
a rapid, illegible scrawl that toward the end of the pile became a mere
hieroglyphic. Jonas put his black face in at the door just as he
finished the last.
"Coming, Jonas!" said the Secretary. "By the way, Abbott, I'll answer
that letter from Frank Allen the first thing in the morning. Good
night, old man! Rather a lighter day than yesterday, eh?"
"Yes, indeed, Mr. Secretary!" agreed Abbott, as Enoch picked up his hat
and went hastily out the door Jonas held open for him.
It was seven twenty when Enoch reached home. His house was small, with
a lawn about the size of a saucer in front, and a back yard entirely
monopolized by a tiny magnolia tree. Enoch rented the house furnished
and it was full of the home atmosphere created by the former diplomat's
wife from whom he leased it. Jonas was his steward and his valet.
While other servants came and went, Jonas was there forever. He
followed Enoch upstairs and turned on the bath water, then hurried to
lay out evening clothes. During the entire process of dressing the two
men did not exchange a word but Jonas heaved a sigh of satisfaction
when at ten minutes before eight he opened the hall door. Enoch
smiled, patted him on the shoulders and ran down the stairs.
A dinner at the British Ambassador's was always exceedingly formal as
to food and service, exceedingly informal as to conversation. Enoch
took in a woman novelist, a woman a little past middle age who was very
small and very famous.
"Well," she said, as she pulled off her gloves, "I've been wanting to
meet you for a long time."
"I'm not difficult to meet," returned Enoch, with a smile.
"As to that I've had no personal experience but three; several friends
of mine have been trampled upon by your secretary. They all were
women, of course."
"Why, of course?" demanded Enoch.
"One of the qualities that is said to make you so attractive to my sex
is that you are a woman hater. Now just why do you hate us?"
"I don't hate women." Enoch spoke with simple sincerity. "I'm afraid
of them."
"Why?"
"I don't think I really know. Do you like men?"
"Yes, I do," replied Mrs. Rotherick promptly.
"Why?" asked Enoch.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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