"It  is  the  common  property  of  our  state,  I  may  say,  and  for
it  you  have  the  love  and  gratitude  of  our  people,  whom  you  so
faithfully  served.  I  am  glad  indeed  of  the  opportunity  to
meet  you  again,  and  to  be  able  to  express  some  part  of  the
obligation  we  are  under  for  your  services. "  Here,  stopping,


The  Romance  of  Gilbert  Holmes

Mr.  Lincoln  by  some  chance  looked  down  at  me,  and  seeing
the  distressed  look  in  my  face,  went  on:  "Now,  if  you  will
excuse  me,  let  us  take  up  the  matter  about  which  Gilbert  has
told  us,  not  idly,  but  with  a  desire  to  aid  the  lady  who  has
enlisted  his  sympathy.  If  Mr.  Throckmorton  or  I  can  serve
you  in  any  way,  Mr.  Davis,  please  command  us."

"Surely,  sir,  this  lady's  distress  appeals  to  us  as  strongly
as  if  we  saw  her  being  robbed  by  footpads  on  the  open  high
way,"  Uncle  Job  spoke  up  with  great  energy;  "and  I  wish  to
place  myself  at  your  service,  Mr.  Davis,  to  throw  the  scoundrel
overboard  or  horsewhip  him,  it  doesn't  matter  which."

"Thank  you,  gentlemen.  Our  common  manhood  is  con
cerned  in  the  matter,  however  distasteful  it  is.  I  hope  we
may  be  able  to  hit  upon  some  means  of  saving  Singleton  and
the  fortune  that  is  the  mainstay  of  his  wife  and  children,  for
they  will  be  helpless  without  it.  This  place  is  too  public,
however,  to  discuss  such  a  matter,  and  if  you  will  come  to  my
room  we  can  talk  it  over  there  more  freely."

Mr.  Lincoln  and  Uncle  Job  assenting,  they  went  away,
leaving  me  alone.  When  they  were  gone,  I  turned  again  to
the  players,  but  after  watching  them  for  a  while,  feeling  tired,
sought  my  bed,  where  I  was  soon  lost  in  the  dreamless  sleep
of  youth.
