They fell upon his neck and begged his forgiveness.
"Don't mention it," he said, quietly; "these things must and will
happen under our present system of government. My story is brief.
Obtaining political influence through caucuses, I became at last
Page in the Senate. Through the exertions of political friends I
was appointed clerk to the commissioner whose functions I now
represent. Knowing through political spies in your own camp who
you were, I acted upon the physical fears of the commissioner, who
was an ex-clergyman, and easily induced him to deputize me to
consult with you. In doing so, I have lost my scalp, but as the
hirsute signs of juvenility have worked against my political
progress I do not regret it. As a partially bald young man I shall
have more power. The terms that I have to offer are simply this:
you can do everything you want, go anywhere you choose, if you will
only leave this place. I have a hundred thousand-dollar draft on
the United States Treasury in my pocket at your immediate
disposal."
"But what's to become of me?" asked Chitterlings.
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