sking Senator Hanway on behalf of his
devoted niece whether or no said niece might count on his escort to the
White House reception New Year's Day, craftily slipped Richard a note.

"Why, she knows she may!"

Senator Hanway was somewhat astonished at Dorothy's forethoughtfulness;
the more since the reception was a week and more away.

"Miss Dory wants to have Miss Bess, from 'cross d' street, go 'long,"
vouchsafed the maid.

"Oh, that's it!" said Senator Hanway, who mistook this for an
explanation.

Richard was on nettles to get at Dorothy's note. Anxiety sharpened his
faculties, and he took from his pocket a clipping, being indeed a _Daily
Tory_ editorial wherein was set forth what should be a proper tariff
policy, and gravely besought Senator Hanway for his views thereon. While
that statesman was donning glasses and running over the excerpt, Richard
made furtive shift to read his note from Dorothy. It said:

Dear:

I am with Bess. Something awful has happened. Don't wait a moment,
but come. D.

Senator Hanway was not a little amazed when, just as he found himself
midstream in those tariff studies to which Richard had invited him, that
volatile individual arose in the utmost excitement and said that he must
go.

"The truth is," said Richard, blundering about for the explanation which
the questioning eye of Senator Hanway appeared to ask, "I forgot a
matter of Mr. Gwynn's."

Senator Hanway waved his satisfied hand in a manner that meant "Say no
more!" Senator Hanway did not doubt that the business was important. Any
business of Mr. Gwynn's must be important. The sheer fact that it was
Mr. Gwynn's business made it important. It bordered dangerously upon the
criminal that Richard should have neglected it. The state of affairs
described accounted most satisfactorily for Richard's breathless haste.
Senator Hanway, when he recalled the assurance of Mr. Harley, made with
bated breath but the evening before, that Mr. Gwynn's income was over
twelve hundred thousand dollars a month, sympathized with Richard's
zeal. Under similar circumstances, Senator Hanway's excitement would
have mounted as high. It is such a privilege to serve the very rich!

Richard found Dorothy in that apartment which was but yesterday the
theater of his great happiness. She was alone; for Bess must play the
housewife, and was at that moment addressing a slattern maid upon the
sin of dust in some far-off, lofty corridor of the