54-40 or Fight | Page 5

Ward.
Calhoun continued his walk. "I do not say so," he made answer; "but, if
there must be war, we may reflect that war is at its best when woman is
in the field!"
CHAPTER II
BY SPECIAL DESPATCH
In all eras and all climes a woman of great genius or beauty has done
what she chose.--Ouido.
"Nicholas," said Calhoun, turning to me suddenly, but with his
invariable kindliness of tone, "oblige me to-night. I have written a
message here. You will see the address--"
"I have unavoidably heard this lady's name," I hesitated.
"You will find the lady's name above the seal. Take her this message
from me. Yes, your errand is to bring the least known and most talked
of woman in Washington, alone, unattended save by yourself, to a
gentleman's apartments, to his house, at a time past the hour of
midnight! That gentleman is myself! You must not take any answer in
the negative."
As I sat dumbly, holding this sealed document in my hand, he turned to
Doctor Ward, with a nod toward myself.
"I choose my young aide, Mr. Trist here, for good reasons. He is just
back from six months in the wilderness, and may be shy; but once he
had a way with women, so they tell me--and you know, in approaching
the question ad feminam we operate per hominem."
Doctor Ward took snuff with violence as he regarded me critically.
"I do not doubt the young man's sincerity and faithfulness," said he. "I
was only questioning one thing."

"Yes?"
"His age."
Calhoun rubbed his chin. "Nicholas," said he, "you heard me. I have no
wish to encumber you with useless instructions. Your errand is before
you. Very much depends upon it, as you have heard. All I can say is,
keep your head, keep your feet, and keep your heart!"
The two older men both turned now, and smiled at me in a manner not
wholly to my liking. Neither was this errand to my liking.
It was true, I was hardly arrived home after many months in the West;
but I had certain plans of my own for that very night, and although as
yet I had made no definite engagement with my fiancée, Miss Elisabeth
Churchill, of Elmhurst Farm, for meeting her at the great ball this night,
such certainly was my desire and my intention. Why, I had scarce seen
Elisabeth twice in the last year.
"How now, Nick, my son?" began my chief. "Have staff and scrip been
your portion so long that you are wholly wedded to them? Come, I
think the night might promise you something of interest. I assure you of
one thing--you will receive no willing answer from the fair baroness.
She will scoff at you, and perhaps bid you farewell. See to it, then; do
what you like, but bring her with you, and bring her here.
"You will realize the importance of all this when I tell you that my
answer to Mr. Tyler must be in before noon to-morrow. That answer
will depend upon the answer the Baroness von Ritz makes to me, here,
to-night! I can not go to her, so she must come to me. You have often
served me well, my son. Serve me to-night. My time is short; I have no
moves to lose. It is you who will decide before morning whether or not
John Calhoun is the next secretary of state. And that will decide
whether or not Texas is to be a state." I had never seen Mr. Calhoun so
intent, so absorbed.
We all three now sat silent in the little room where the candles guttered
in the great glass cylindres on the mantel--an apartment scarce better

lighted by the further aid of lamps fed by oil.
"He might be older," said Calhoun at length, speaking of me as though
I were not present. "And 'tis a hard game to play, if once my lady
Helena takes it into her merry head to make it so for him. But if I sent
one shorter of stature and uglier of visage and with less art in
approaching a crinoline--why, perhaps he would get no farther than her
door. No; he will serve--he must serve!"
He arose now, and bowed to us both, even as I rose and turned for my
cloak to shield me from the raw drizzle which then was falling in the
streets. Doctor Ward reached down his own shaggy top hat from the
rack.
"To bed with you now, John," said he sternly.
"No, I must write."
"You heard me say, to bed with you! A stiff toddy to make you sleep.
Nicholas here may wake you soon enough with his mysterious
companion. I think to-morrow will be time enough for you