hrough the medium of this
veracious chronicle began now to adjust itself to the changes that have
been recorded. Mr. Harley and Senator Hanway, for their parts, gave
themselves wholly to that winning of a White House; their ardor, if it
were possible, had been promoted by the reverse in Northern
Consolidated, and Senator Hanway's anxiety to be President appeared to
brighten as his money-fortunes dimmed. And, as though Fate meditated
amends for those disasters of stocks, from every angle of politics there
came flattering reports. Senator Hanway was sure, so said the reports,
to write himself "President Hanway"; politicians were shouldering one
another to secure seats in the bandwagon of that statesman's prospects.
True, for all their preoccupation, Mr. Harley and Senator Hanway would
now and then glance up from those details of practical politics over
which they were employed, to wonder why the hidden one of that "corner"
did not close the transaction by peeling off their fiscal pelts. So far
there had come neither word nor sign of him.

The old gray buccaneer exhorted them in no wise to be uneasy.

"You needn't fret," said the old gray buccaneer; "he's got us as fast as
two and two make four. For us to be wondering why he doesn't come around
is as though a coop full of turkeys went wondering why the poulterer
didn't come around. No; I can't tell you why he--whoever he is--so
leaves us in protracted peace. Perhaps he's fattening us," and the old
gray buccaneer cheered the conversation with a laugh as strident as
saw-filing.

Richard and Dorothy, following the selfish fashion of lovers, thought on
nothing but themselves. Our young journalist's contributions to the
_Daily Tory_ fell away in both quantity and quality, and the editor
commented thereon sarcastically, saying they were becoming "baggy at the
knee." Richard did not resent the criticism; he cheered himself with the
theory that when he had recovered from his happiness he would do better.
Meanwhile, he and Dorothy privily appointed their nuptials for the first
of June, taking Bess into the secret.

Dorothy asked Richard how he had rescued her father from beneath the
hand of Storri; which natural inquisition Richard avoided in right
man-fashion by kissing the questioning lips and saying that Dorothy
wouldn't understand.

Mrs. Hanway-Harley was different from Dorothy. With a wifely experience
of many years to guide her, she did not ask Mr. Harley why he had gone