"
Her manner left no opportunity for further appeal.
He bowed. He did not offer his arm. They walked together up the stairway.
With side-glances she surveyed his countenance wonderingly; in his
expression true distress was mingled with apprehensiveness. He had the air
of an unwilling guide detailed to conduct an unsuspecting innocent to be
shocked by the revelations of a chamber of horrors; she put it that way to
herself in jesting hyperbole.
The newspaper men, who had followed Mayor Morrison into the State House,
had been holding aloof, politely, from a conference which seemed to have
no bearing on the political situation. They hurried behind and overtook
Stewart and the young lady at the head of the stairway; their spokesman
asked for a statement.
"I made it! Out there a few minutes ago! Boys, you heard what I said,
didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Well, I talked more than I intended to! Boil it down to a few lines and
let it go at that!"
"We want to get the matter just right, Mister Mayor, and give credit where
it's due."
"I covered the matter of credit. There's nothing more to say," replied
Stewart, curtly.
The reporters surveyed him with considerable wonderment; his manner in
times past had always been distinguished by frank graciousness.
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