But I didn't! I had been in the Canyon
long enough to have forgotten what could be made of my adventure by bad
minds. I was a cursed fool, moving in a fool's paradise and I must
take my punishment. If ever--"
Jonas opened the door from the outer office. "The President, Mr.
Secretary," he said.
Enoch started toward the telephone, but Jonas spoke impatiently--"No!
No! not that."
"The President of what, Jonas!" asked Abbott.
Jonas lifted his chest and flung the door wide. "The President of the
United States of America," he announced, and the President came in.
Enoch rose. "Don't let me disturb you, Mr. Secretary. I can wait,"
said the chief executive.
"We were quite finished, Mr. President. May I, I wonder, introduce Mr.
Milton to you, the geologist whom Brown said headed the drunken
expedition down the Colorado."
The President looked keenly at Milton as they shook hands. "Mr.
Huntingdon took great pains to deny that story, publicly," he said.
"Can't you persuade him, Mr. Milton, to do as much for himself, to-day."
"That's exactly why I'm here, Mr. President!" exclaimed Milton. "But
he's absolutely obdurate!"
Jonas came into the room and spoke to Enoch softly. "Mr. Fowler's
office is on the outside wire, Mr.
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