It was Mr. Meredith himself, as smiling as the spring, with a bunch of violets in the lapel of his new light coat. Jamie sprang at him. “Oh, Mr. Meredith,” he exclaimed, raising his clasped hands almost appealingly, “come--quick! Come quick!” “Why, what’s the matter?” said Mr. Meredith, halting in surprise. “They’ve got senate bill 578 up!” Mr. Meredith’s eyes opened; his face lost its mild expression. “What do you know about senate bill 578?” Jamie took him by the coat--he dared at last to lay hands on his sacred person--and tugged as he said: “Oh, honest--Mr. Meredith--honest--cross my heart they have--you’ll be too late!” Mr. Meredith looked at the pleading lad closely, and then suddenly exclaimed: “Oh, yes! You’re one of the page boys.” And then he ran as fast as he could through the lobby, down the steps and across the sidewalk, Jamie after him. “Come on!” cried Mr. Meredith, as he stooped to plunge into a carriage at the curb, dragging Jamie in after him, and shouting to the driver: “The state house--fast as you can drive!” The driver whirled his carriage about in Sixth Street, and as Mr. Meredith drew in his head and slammed the heavy door he shouted: “Faster there--I’ll double your fare!” The carriage lurched around the corner, the lash of the driver’s whip writhed in the air, and the horses went galloping with the rattling old hack down Capitol Avenue. And as the carriage pitched and rocked Jamie was supremely happy--he had done what he could, and, better than all, he was sitting beside Mr. Meredith and actually riding in the same hack with him! Mr. Meredith was silent until the carriage whirled into the state house grounds and the horses, breathing heavily, were plunging up the driveway toward the north portico. Then he turned and said: “How’d they know I was in town?” Jamie looked up in surprise. “Who?” he said. “Why,” replied Mr. Meredith, “whoever sent you.” Jamie felt hurt. “But no one sent me, Mr. Meredith,” he said; “I just came.” “And how did you know I was here?” “I guessed.” Mr. Meredith was thoughtful for an instant and then said: “But why did you come?” Jamie blushed. “I--I--I--now--” he stammered. “I don’t like to tell.” And he hid his face against Mr. Meredith’s sleeve. The carriage stopped, the driver leaped from his box and flung open the door. Mr. Meredith sprang out, leaped up the stone steps, ran down the corridors, dashed into the elevator and was shot up to the third floor. Jamie had been compelled to run faster than he ever did in his life to keep up with him. He was nearly pinched by the iron door of the elevator as the man slid it shut.