A Man of the People

Chapter 49

[_Looking up._]

Come right in, Miss Betty--I know what you want.

BETTY

Nothing yet from General Sherman?

LINCOLN

 

Nothing----

BETTY

And no message of any kind from John since he left?

LINCOLN

Not yet.

BETTY

Why--_why_ hasn"t he reported?

LINCOLN

[_Hopefully._]

I"m sure--remember, _sure to a moral certainty_--that he left Richmond safely.

BETTY

[_Eagerly._]

You _have_ a message then?

LINCOLN

Indirectly----

BETTY

Oh----

LINCOLN

[_To_ EDWARD _at door._]

Edward, ask Mr. Gilmore to step in here a minute.

EDWARD

Yes, sir.

LINCOLN

Gilmore"s report ought to be worth half a million votes for me--it may be worth something to you--

[GILMORE _enters._]

Gilmore, did you see a handsome young fellow in Confederate uniform taking notes at your interview with Davis----

GILMORE

Yes, sir, and I knew him too----

BETTY

[_Eagerly._]

It was Captain Vaughan?

GILMORE

Sure! He denied it, of course, but I knew him all right.

BETTY

He was well?

GILMORE

I never saw him looking better. He was scared stiff, of course, and so were we----

BETTY

Thank you!

LINCOLN

That"ll do, Gilmore. I wish you"d help Nicolay choke that Committee off a little while--and you come with them when they break in--will you?

GILMORE

Gladly, Mr. President.

[GILMORE _exits._]

LINCOLN

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