Is it your
opinion, Mr. Saul, that I should move in this matter?"
"I advise you didn't," said Mr. Saul, with disappointing
alacrity.
The judge looked at him fixedly.
"Am I wrong in supposing, Mr. Saul, that if I determine to act as
I have outlined I shall have your indorsement?" he demanded. Mr.
Saul looked extremely uncomfortable; he was finding the judge's
effulgent personality rather compelling. "There is no gentleman
whose support I should value in quite the same sense that I
should value yours, Mr. Saul; I should like to feel my course met
with your full approval," pursued the judge, with charming
deference.
"You'll get yourself shot full of holes," said Mr. Saul.
"What causes me to hesitate is this: my name is unfamiliar to
your citizens. You know their prejudices, Mr. Saul; how would
they regard me if I put myself forward?"
"Can't say how they would take it," rejoined Mr. Saul.
Again the judge gave him a fixed scrutiny. Then ha shook him
warmly by the hand.
"Think of what I have said; ponder it, sir, and let me have your
answer at another time." And he backed from Mr. Saul's presence
with spectacular politeness.
"A cheap mind!" thought the judge, as he hurried up the street.
He broached the subject to Mr. Wesley the postmaster, to Mr.
Ellison the gunsmith, to Mr. Pegloe, employing much the same
formula he had used with Mr. Saul, and with results almost
identical. He imagined there must be some conspiracy afoot to
keep him out of the public eye, and in the end he managed to lose
his temper.
Pages:
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284