E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 18572-h.htm or 18572-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/5/7/18572/18572-h/18572-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/5/7/18572/18572-h.zip) THE PRESIDENT A Novel by ALFRED HENRY LEWIS Author of "The Boss," "Wolfville Days," Etc. New York A. S. Barnes and Company MDCCCCIV _To ETHEL OVIATT LEWIS_ [Illustration: Across the Senator's Desk] CONTENTS I. How Richard Began to Woo II. How a President is Bred III. How Mr. Gwynn Dined with the Harleys IV. How a Speakership was Fought for V. How Richard was Taught Many Things VI. How Storri Had a Vivid Imagination VII. How Richard Gained in Knowledge VIII. How Storri Wooed Mrs. Hanway-Harley IX. How Storri Made an Offer of His Love X. How Storri Plotted a Vengeance XI. How Mr. Harley Found Himself a Forger XII. How Mr. Fopling was Inspired XIII. How the San Reve Gave Storri Warning XIV. How They Talked Politics at Mr. Gwynn's XV. How Richard Met Inspector Val XVI. How Richard Received a Letter XVII. How Northern Consolidated was Sold XVIII. How Storri Explored for Gold XIX. How London Bill Took a Pal XX. How Storri Foolishly Wrote a Message XXI. How the Gold Came Down XXII. How the San Reve Kept Her Storri XXIII. How Richard and Dorothy Sailed Away ILLUSTRATIONS Across the Senator's Desk One of the Most Reverend of the Senate Walruses At the Door of the Caucus Room It was a Kind of Prodigy That Artist of Pursuit "Sit Down!" Thundered Mr. Harley He Held Her Close "It'll Take Two Months to Dig that Tunnel" THE PRESIDENT CHAPTER I HOW RICHARD BEGAN TO WOO On this far-away November morning, it being ten by every steeple clock and an hour utterly chaste, there could have existed no impropriety in one's having had a look into the rooms of Mr. Richard Storms, said rooms being second-floor front of the superfashionable house of Mr. Lorimer Gwynn, Washington, North West. Richard, wrapped to the chin in a bathrobe, was sitting much at his ease, having just tumbled from the tub. There was ever a recess in Richard's morning programme at this point during which his breakfast arrived. Pending that repast, he had thrown himself into an easy-chair before the blaze which crackled in the deep fireplace. The sudden sharp weather made the fire pleasant enough.