I
think you let it hit you too hard, Huntingdon."
Enoch lifted sad eyes to the chief executive. His lips were painfully
compressed and the President said, huskily:
"I know, my boy! I sensed long ago that you were a man who had drunk
of a bitter cup. I wish I could have helped you bear it!" There was
silence for a moment, then the President went on:
"What are you going to do to Brown, Huntingdon?"
"I haven't decided yet," replied Enoch slowly. "But I shall not let
him go unpunished."
The President shook his head and sighed. "You must feel that way, of
course, but before we talk about that let's review the political
situation. I'm ending my second term. For years, as you know, a large
portion of the party has had its eye on you to succeed me. In fact, as
the head of the party, I may modestly claim to have been your first
endorser! Long ago I recognized the fact that unless youth and
virility and sane idealism were injected into the old machine, it would
fall apart and radicalism would take its place."
"Or Tammanyism!" interjected Enoch.
"They are equally menacing in my mind," said the older man. "As you
know, too, Huntingdon, there has been a quiet but very active minority
very much against you.
Pages:
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423