sion Abel had made upon him, had
seriously alarmed him.

While he was busily looking at the portrait of General Jackson, General
Belch stepped up to him and put out his hand.

"Good-night, my dear Ele! Thank you! thank you! These things will not be
forgotten. Good-night! good-night!" And he backed the Honorable B. Jawley
Ele out of the room into the hall.

"This is your coat, I think," said he, taking up a garment and helping
Mr. Ele to get it on. "Ah, you luxurious dog! you're a pretty friend of
the people, with such a splendid coat as this. Good-night! good-night!"
he added, helping his guest toward the door.

"Hallo, Condor!" he shouted up the street. "Here's Ele--don't leave him
behind; wait for him!"

He put him put of the door. "There, my dear fellow, Condor's waiting for
you! Good-night! Ten thousand thanks! A pretty friend of the people, hey?
Oh, you cunning dog! Good-night!"

General Belch closed the door and returned to the drawing-room. Abel Newt
was sitting with one leg over the back of the chair, and a tumbler of
brandy before him, smoking.

"God!" said Abel, laughing, as the General returned, "I wouldn't treat a
dog as you do that man."

"My dear Mr. Representative," returned Belch, "you, as a legislator and
public man, ought to know that Order is Heaven's first law."

CHAPTER LXVI.

MENTOR AND TELEMACHUS.

Drawing his chair near to Abel's, General Belch lighted a cigar, and
said:

"You see it's not so very hard."

Abel looked inquiringly.

"To go to Congress," answered Belch.

"Yes, but I'm not elected yet, thank you."

General Arcularius Belch blew a long, slow cloud, and gazed at his
companion with a kind of fond superiority.

"What do you mean by looking so?" asked Abel.

"My dear Newt, I was not aware that you had such a soft spot. No,
positively, I did not know that you had so much to learn. It is
inconceivable."

The General smiled, and smoked, and looked blandly at his companion.

"You're not elected yet, hey?" asked the General, with an amused laugh.

"Not that I am aware of," said Abel.

"Why, my dear fellow, who on earth do you suppose does the electing?"

"I thought the people were the source of power," replied Abel, gravely.

The General looked for a moment doubtfully at his companion.

"Hallo! I see you're gumming. However, there's one thing. You know you'll
have to speak after the election. Did you ever speak?"

"Not since school," replied Abel.

"