"Will you sign these now, Governor?" said a voice behind him.
It was his pardon clerk, a man who knew the affairs of the State well, and whom every one seemed to respect.
"Mr. Haines," he said abruptly, "who do you think is the best man Iowa has for the United States Senate?"
The pardon clerk stepped back in amazement. Then he told himself he must be discreet. Like many of the people about the State House, in his heart Haines was a Boxer.
"Why, I presume," he said, "that the Governor is looked upon as the logical candidate, isn't he?"
"I'm not talking about logical candidates. I want to know who you think is the man who would most conscientiously and creditably represent Iowa in the United States Senate."
"If you put the matter in that way, Governor, Mr. Huntington is the man, of course."
"You think most of the people believe that?"
"I know they do."
"You think, then, if it was a matter of popular vote, that Huntington would be the new Senator from Iowa?"
"I guess they all have to admit that, Governor. The State's strong for Huntington."
"That's all, Mr. Haines. I merely wondered what you thought about it."
Soon after that Governor Berriman rang for a messenger boy, and sent a telegram. Then he settled quietly down to routine work. It was about eleven when one of the newspaper men came in.
"Good morning, Governor," he said briskly; "how's everything to-day?"
"Very nicely, Mr. Markham. I have nothing to tell you to-day, except that I've made the Senatorial appointment."
"Oh," laughed the reporter excitedly, "that's all, is it?"
"Yes," said the Governor, smiling too; "that's all!"
The reporter looked at the clock and gathered himself hastily together.
"I'll just catch the noon edition," he said, "if I telephone right away."
He was moving to the other room when the Governor called to him.
"See here, it seems to me you're a strange newspaper man!"
"How so?"
"Why, I tell you I've made a Senatorial appointment -- a matter of at least some slight importance -- and you rush off and never ask whom I've appointed."
The reporter gave a forced laugh. He wished the Governor would not detain him with a joke now when every second counted.
"That's right," he said, with strained pleasantness. "Well, who's the man?"
The Governor raised his head.
"Huntington," he said quietly, and resumed his work.
"What?" shouted the astonished reporter. "What?" Then he stopped in embarrassment, as if ashamed of being so easily taken in. "Guess you're trying to jolly me a little, aren't you, Governor?"
"Jolly you, Mr. Markham? I'm not given to jollying newspaper reporters. Here's a copy of the telegram I sent this morning, if you are still skeptical. Really, I don't see why you think it so impossible. Don't you consider Mr. Huntington a fit man for the place?"
"May I ask," said the reporter weakly, "why you did it?"
Governor Berriman rose with dignity, and his small figure looked almost large.
"I had but one motive, Mr. Markham. You may say in your paper that I thought the matter over, and of all the men in Iowa whom I know, Mr. Huntington seemed best fitted for the place."
Tom Styles reached the State House just as the corners were growing indistinct in the long corridors that afternoon. Mr. Styles was not blowing rings that day, and he was not standing on ceremony. With a face upon which it was not pleasant to look, he rushed past the private secretary and into the Governor's office.
John Berriman was seated alone at his desk. Mr. Styles came close, and leaned down until he almost touched the Governor's face.
"And so vou sold out, did you, you little sneak?" he hissed. "Tell me, how much --"
The Governor slid his hand underneath the desk.
"Mr. Jackson," he said, as the white-haired darky appeared in the door, "please show the gentleman from the room!"
EDITOR'S NOTE -- This story, a remarkably vivid portrayal of a political episode, is pure fiction, none of its characters or incidents being drawn from real life.
The Awakening of the Lieutenant-Governor Page 2