The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-01-17

the office room and bent over me
at my table. l put before him the
draft of the document which he had
given me for clerical care.
80" he said, otis ready-our
declaration. wonder what may
come of that little paper!"
So, now, till far towards dawn of
the next day, we sat and talked.
put before him full details OF my
doings across the border. He sat
silent, his eye betimes wandering,
as though absorbed, again fixed on
me, keen and glittering.
80! Sol" he unused as length,
when I had finished, England has
started a land party for Oregon!
Can they get across next fall. think
your"
Hardly possible, sir" said /.
"They could not go so swiftly as
the special fur packets. Winter
would catch them this side of the
Rockies. 1t will be a year before
they can reach Oregon"
thine for a new president and a
new policy" unused he.
''The grass is just beginning to
sprout on the plains, Mr. Calhoun"
l began eagerly.
"Yes," he nodded. God! if I
were only young,"
II am young. Mr.. Calhoun" said
1. "Send me-"
"Would you go?" he asked sud
denly.
81 am going in any case"
"Why, how do you mean?" he de-
manded.
felt the blood come to my face.
"'Tis all over between Miss Eliza
beth Churchill and myself" said l,
as calmly as I might.
"Tut! tut! a child's quarrel" he
went on, "a child's quarrel. Twill
all mend in time"
"Not by act of mine, them" said
l hotly.
Again distracted, he seemed not
wholly to hear me.
Il will tell you, Nicholas" said
he at last, wheeling swiftly upon
me. Start next week. An army
of settlers waits now for leader
along the Missouri. Organize them;
lead them out. Give them enthu-
siasm. Tell them what Oregon is.
You may serve alike our party and
our nation. You cannot measure
the consequences of prompt action
sometimes, done by man who is
resolved upon the right. A thou
sand things may hinge on this. A
great future may hinge upon it,
"While you have been busy, ]
have not been idle" he continued.
Il have here another little paper
which l have roughly drafted" He
handed me the document as he
spoke
"A treaty-with Texas" 1 ex-
claimed
"The first draft, yes. We have
signed the memorandum. We
await only one signature"
''Of Van Zandt,'
yes. Now comes Mr.. Nicholas
Trist, with word of a certain wo-
man to the effect that Mr. Van
Zandt is playing also with England.
And that woman also Is playing
with England"
Calhoun smiled systematically.
But she has gone said l, "who
knows where? She, too. may have
sailed for Oregon, for all we know"
He looked at me as though with
a flash of inspiration. THAT may
be-" said he; 1T may very well be!
That would cost us our hold over
Pakenham. Neither would we have
any chance left with her"
How do you mean, Mr.. Cal
houn?" said I. Il do not under
stand you"
Nicholas" said Mr. Calhoun,
that lady was much impressed
with you" He regarded me calmly,
contemplatively. appraisingly.
| Il do not understand YOU" l re-
iterated.
Il am glad that you do not and
did not. In that case, all would
have been over at once. You
would never have seen her a sec
ond time. Your constancy was our
salvation, and perhaps your own.
in due time you will see many
things more plainly. Meantime, be
sure England will be careful. She
will make no overt movement,
should say, until she has heard
from Oregon; which will not be