54-40 or Fight

  CHAPTER X

  MIXED DUTIES

  Most women will forgive a liberty, rather than a slight. --_Colton_.

  When I crossed the White House grounds and found my way to the spotwhere I had left my horse, I discovered my darky boy lying on his back,fast asleep under a tree, the bridle reins hooked over his upturnedfoot. I wakened him, took the reins and was about to mount, when at themoment I heard my name called.

  Turning, I saw emerge from the door of Gautier's little cafe, across thestreet, the tall figure of an erstwhile friend of mine, Jack Dandridge,of Tennessee, credited with being the youngest member in the House ofRepresentatives at Washington--and credited with little else.

  Dandridge had been taken up by friends of Jackson and Polk and carriedinto Congress without much plan or objection on either side. Since hisarrival at the capital he had been present at few roll-calls, and hadvoted on fewer measures. His life was given up in the main to onespecialty, to-wit: the compounding of a certain beverage, invented byhimself, the constituent parts of which were Bourbon whiskey, absinthe,square faced gin and a dash of _eau de vie_. This concoction, over whichfew shared his own personal enthusiasm, he had christened theBarn-Burner's Dream; although Mr. Dandridge himself was opposed to thetenets of the political party thus entitled--which, by the way, was toget its whimsical name, possibly from Dandridge himself, at theforthcoming Democratic convention of that year.

  Jack Dandridge, it may be said, was originally possessed of a splendidconstitution. Nearly six feet tall, his full and somewhat protruding eyewas as yet only a trifle watery, his wide lip only a trifle loose, hisstrong figure only a trifle portly. Socially he had been well receivedin our city, and during his stay east of the mountains he had foundoccasion to lay desperate suit to the hand of none other than MissElisabeth Churchill. We had been rivals, although not enemies; for Jack,finding which way the wind sat for him, withdrew like a man, andcherished no ill will. When I saw him now, a sudden idea came to me, sothat I crossed the street at his invitation.

  "Come in," said he. "Come in with me, and have a Dream. I have justinvented a new touch for it; I have, 'pon my word."

  "Jack," I exclaimed, grasping him by the shoulder, "you are the man Iwant. You are the friend that I need--the very one."

  "Certainly, certainly," he said; "but please do not disarrange mycravat. Sir, I move you the previous question. Will you have a Dreamwith me? I construct them now with three additional squirts of theabsinthe." He locked his arm in mine.

  "You may have a Dream," said I; "but for me, I need all my head to-day.In short, I need both our heads as well."

  Jack was already rapping with the head of his cane upon the table, tocall an attendant, but he turned to me. "What is the matter? Lady, thistime?"

  "Two of them."

  "Indeed? One apiece, eh?"

  "None apiece, perhaps. In any case, you lose."

  "Then the names--or at least one?"

  I flushed a bit in spite of myself. "You know Miss Elisabeth Churchill?"

  He nodded gravely. "And about the other lady?"

  "I can not tell you much about her," said I; "I have but littleknowledge myself. I mean the Baroness von Ritz."

  "Oh, ho!" Jack opened his eyes, and gave a long whistle. "State secrets,eh?"

  I nodded, and looked him square in the eye.

  "Well, why should you ask me to help you, then? Calhoun is none too gooda friend of Mr. Polk, of my state. Calhoun is neither Whig nor Democrat.He does not know where he stands. If you train with him, why come to ourcamp for help?"

  "Not that sort, jack," I answered. "The favor I ask is personal."

  "Explain."

  He sipped at the fiery drink, which by this time had been placed beforehim, his face brightening.

  "I must be quick. I have in my possession--on the bureau in my littleroom at my quarters in Brown's Hotel--a slipper which the baroness gaveme last night--a white satin slipper--"

  Jack finished the remainder of his glass at a gulp. "Good God!" heremarked.

  "Quite right," I retorted hotly. "Accuse me Anything you like! But go tomy headquarters, get that slipper, go to this address with it"--Iscrawled on a piece of paper and thrust it at him--"then get a carriageand hasten to Elmhurst drive, where it turns in at the road. Wait for methere, just before six."

  He sat looking at me with amusement and amazement both upon his face, asI went on:

  "Listen to what I am to do in the meantime. First I go post haste to Mr.Calhoun's office. Then I am to take his message, which will send me toCanada, to-night. After I have my orders I hurry back to Brown's anddress for my wedding."

  The glass in his hand dropped to the floor in splinters.

  "Your wedding?"

  "Yes, Miss Elisabeth and I concluded this very morning not to wait. Iwould ask you to help me as my best man, if I dare."

  "You do dare," said he. "You're all a-fluster. Go on; I'll get aparson--how'll Doctor Halford do?--and I'd take care of the license foryou if I could--Gad! sorry it's not my own!"

  "You are the finest fellow in the world, Jack. I have only one thingmore to ask"--I pointed to the splintered glass upon the floor--"Don'tget another."

  "Of course not, of course not!" he expostulated. His voice was just atrifle thickened. We left now together for the license clerk, and Iintrusted the proper document in my friend's hands. An instant later Iwas outside, mounted, and off for Calhoun's office at his residence inGeorgetown.

  At last, as for the fourth time I flung down the narrow walk and lookeddown the street, I saw his well-known form approaching. He walkedslowly, somewhat stooped upon his cane. He raised a hand as I wouldhave begun to speak. His customary reserve and dignity held me back.

  "So you made it out well with the lady," he began.

  "Yes," I answered, flushing. "Not so badly for the time that offered."

  "A remarkable woman," he said. "Most remarkable!" Then he went on: "Nowas to your own intended, I congratulate you. But I suggest that you keepMiss Elisabeth Churchill and the Baroness von Ritz pretty wellseparated, if that be possible."

  "Sir," I stammered; "that certainly is my personal intent. But now, mayI ask--"

  "You start to Canada to-night," said Calhoun sharply--all softness gonefrom his voice.

  "I can not well do that," I began. His hand tapped with decision.

  "I have no time to choose another messenger," he said. "Time will notwait. You must not fail me. You will take the railway train at eight.You will be joined by Doctor Samuel Ward, who will give you a sealedpaper, which will contain your instructions, and the proper moneys. Hegoes as far as Baltimore."

  "You would be the better agent," he added presently, "if this lovesilliness were out of your head. It is not myself you are serving, andnot my party. It is this country you are serving."

  "But, sir--" I began.

  His long thin hand was imperative. "Go on, then, with your wedding, ifyou will, and if you can; but see that you do not miss the train ateight!"

  Half in a daze, I left him; nor did I see him again that day, nor formany after.