"Much! a woman!" replied the stranger.
The astute Gashwiler, waiting further information, concluded to receive
this fact gaily and gallantly. "A woman?--my dear Mr. Wiles,--of course!
The dear creatures," he continued, with a fat, offensive chuckle,
"somehow are always making their charming presence felt. Ha! ha! A man,
sir, in public life becomes accustomed to that sort of thing, and
knows when he must be agreeable,--agreeable, sir, but firm! I've had my
experience, sir,--my OWN experience,"--and the Congressman leaned back
in his chair, not unlike a robust St. Anthony who had withstood one
temptation to thrive on another.
"Yes," said Wiles impatiently, "but d--n it, she's on the OTHER SIDE."
"The other side!" repeated Gashwiler vacantly.
"Yes, she's a niece of Garcia's. A little she devil."
"But Garcia's on our side," rejoined Gashwiler.
"Yes, but she is bought by the Ring."
"A woman!" sneered Mr. Gashwiler; "what can she do with men who won't be
made fools of? Is she so handsome?"
"I never saw any great beauty in her," said Wiles shortly, "although
they say that she's rather caught that d----d Thatcher, in spite of
his coldness.
Pages:
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117