The Victim: A Romance of the Real Jefferson Davis

by Thomas Dixon

  CHAPTER VII

  THE BEST MAN WINS

  Before Socola could purchase his ticket for the South, Senator Bartonlaid his heavy hand on his shoulder.

  "I just ran down, sir, to ask you to wait and go in Senator Davis'party. He has been threatened with arrest by the cowards who are at thepresent moment in charge of the Government. He can't afford to leavetown while there's a chance that so fortunate an event may be pulledoff. I have decided to stay until Lincoln's inauguration. My wife anddaughter will make you welcome at Fairview. And you'll meet my threeboys. I'm sorry I can't be with you."

  Socola's masked face showed no trace of disappointment. He merely askedpolitely:

  "And the party of Senator Davis will start?"

  "A week from to-day, sir--and my wife and daughter will accompanythem--unless--of course--"

  He laughed heartily.

  "Unless the great Attorney General, Edwin M. Stanton, decides to arresthim--if he'll only do it!"

  Socola nodded carelessly.

  "I understand, Senator. A week from to-day. The same hour--the sametrain."

  In a moment he had disappeared in the crowd and hurried to the office ofthe Secretary of War.

  Holt received his announcement with a smile about the corners of hisstrong, crooked mouth.

  "That's lucky. I'd rather you were with Davis ten to one. Amuse yourselffor the week by getting all the information possible of their juntahere--"

  "Barton will stay until the inauguration--"

  "Of course--a spy in the camp of the enemy. He could be arrested, butit's not wise under the circumstances--"

  "You will not arrest Senator Davis?"

  "Nonsense. Stanton's a fool. Nothing would please them better. I'veconvinced him of that. A wrangle in the courts now over such an issuewould postpone its settlement indefinitely. The Supreme Court of theUnited States has sustained the South on every issue that has beenraised. The North is leading a revolution. The South is entrenchedbehind the law. They can't be ousted by law. It can only be done by thebayonet--"

  Holt paused and looked thoughtfully across the Potomac.

  "Report to me daily--"

  Socola silently saluted and left the office with his first feeling ofsuspicion and repulsion for his Chief. He didn't like the blunt, brutalway this Southern Democrat talked. He couldn't believe in his honesty.Beneath those bushy eyebrows burned a wolf's hunger for office andpower. On the surface he was loyal to the Union. He wondered if he werenot in reality playing a desperate waiting game, ready at the moment ofthe crisis to throw his information to either side? The air ofWashington reeked with suspicion and double dealing.

  "Oh, my Country," he murmured bitterly, "if ever true men were needed!"

  He strolled through the street on which Senator Davis and Barton liveddirectly opposite each other. He would call on Jennie and express hisregret that their party had been postponed. At the door he changed hismind. Too much attention at this stage of the game would not be wise. Hepassed on, glancing at the distinguished-looking group of men who wereemerging from the Davis door.

  He wondered what was going on in that home? It seemed impossible thatDavis should be the leader of a Southern rebellion. Clay or Toombs,yes--but this man with his blood-marked history of devotion to theUnion--this man with his proud record of constructive statesmanship asSenator and Secretary of War--it seemed preposterous!

  Could he have heard the counsel Davis was giving at that moment to theexcited men who made his unpretentious house their Mecca, he would havebeen still more astonished. For six days and nights with but a few hourssnatched for sleep, he implored the excited leaders of Southern opinionto avoid violence, and be patient. The one note of hopefulness in hisvoice came with the mention of the new President-elect, Abraham Lincoln.

  "Mr. Lincoln is a man of friendly, moderate opinions personally," hepersistently advised. "He may he able to surround himself with a councilof conservative men who will use their power to hold the radical wing ofhis party in check until by delay we can call a convention of all theStates and in this national assembly find a solution short of bloodshed.We must try. We must exhaust every resource before we dream of war. Wemust accept war only when it is forced upon us by our enemies."

  By telegrams and letters to every Southern leader he knew he urgeddelay, moderation, postponement of all action.

  The week passed and the Cabinet of Buchanan had not dared accept theSouthern leader's challenge to arrest and trial.

  The Davis party had found their seats in the train for the South. Socolastrolled the platform alone, waiting without sign of interest for thehour of departure.

  Dick Welford arrived five minutes before the train left and extended hishand to Jennie.

  "Forgive me, Jennie!"

  With a bright smile she clasped his hand.

  "Of course, Dick--I took your silly ravings too seriously."

  "No--I was a fool. I'll make up for it. I'll go over now and shake handswith the reptile if you say so--"

  "Nonsense--you'll not do anything of the sort. He's nothing to me. He'sthe guest of the South--that's all."

  "Honest now, Jennie--you don't care for any other fellow?"

  "Nor for you, either!" she laughed.

  "Of course, I know that--but I can keep on trying, can't I?"

  "I don't see how I can prevent it!"

  Dick grinned good-naturedly and Jennie laughed again.

  "You're in for a siege with me, I'll tell you right now."

  "It's a free fight, Dick. I'm indifferent to the results."

  "Then you don't _mind_ if I win?"

  "Not in the least. At the present moment I'm a curious spectator--that'sall."

  "Lord, I wish I were going with you--"

  "I wish so, too--"

  "Honest, Jennie?"

  "Cross my heart--"

  Dick laughed aloud.

  "Say--I tell you what I'm going to do!"

  "Yes?"

  "If Virginia don't secede in ten days--I will. I'll resign my job herewith old Hunter and join the Confederacy. I don't like this newclerkship business anyhow--expect me in ten days--"

  Before Jennie could answer he turned suddenly and left the car.

  At the end of the platform he ran squarely into Socola. He was about topass without recognition, stopped on an impulse, and extended his hand:

  "Fine day, Signor!"

  "Beautiful, M'sieur," was the smooth answer.

  Dick hesitated.

  "I'm afraid I was a little rude the other day?"

  "No offense, I'm sure, Mr. Welford--"

  "Of course, you can guess I'm in love with Miss Barton--"

  "I hadn't speculated on that point!" Socola laughed.

  "Well, I've been speculating about you--"

  "Indeed?"

  "Yes--and I'm going to be honest with you--I don't like you--we'reenemies from to-day. But I'll play the game fair and the best manwins--"

  The two held each other's eye steadily for a moment and Socola's whiteteeth flashed.

  "The best man wins, M'sieur!"