"The few who amount to anything--at least in active
life--base their calculations on the timidity and folly of their
fellows rather than upon their own abilities. About Craig--I'd
like to oblige you, but--well, you see, there is--there are
certain political exigencies--"
"Nonsense!" interrupted the old lady. "I know the relative
importance of officials. A mere understrapper like Craig is of no
importance."
"The fact is," said Branch with great reluctance, "the President
has taken a fancy to Craig."
Branch said it as if he hardly expected to be believed--and he
wasn't. "To be perfectly frank," he went on, "you know the
President, how easily alarmed he is. He's afraid Craig may, by
some crazy turn of this crazy game of politics, develop into a
Presidential possibility. Of course, it's quite absurd, but--"
"The more reason for getting rid of him."
"The contrary. The President probably reasons that, if Craig has
any element of danger in him the nearer he keeps him to himself
the better. Craig, back in the West, would be free to grow. Here
the President can keep him down if necessary. And I think our
friend Stillwater will succeed in entangling him disastrously in
some case sooner or later.
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