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Ninety Days Inside The Empire: A Novel by William Appleman Williams

Glimpses of An Election

Page 86

Cat spun about and there was Mr. Cohen with Run-Run. Cohen was suave in an understated cream Palm Beach suit that Cat wondered if he would even know where or when to wear it. He was instantaneously wretchedly conscious of his own wrinkled slacks and off-the-rack seersucker jacket. And no tie.

"Nathan and I have been catching up on his family and mutual friends, but I'd like to talk with both of you about Mr. Clay and this newspaper you've started." He turned partly toward Run-Run. "In my own way I learned about our public responsibilities from Nathan's father when he visited our home."

Cat was tempted.

-- Hell, what's a half-hour or so; and it'd be fun to watch Run-Run operating on his own in his father's world.

He looked at his watch and realized he would be late to see the Lees.

"Thank you, Mr. Cohen, but I'm working on that little paper right now." Then to Run-Run. "Can I borrow your car and get it back here in forty-five minutes?"

Run-Run gave him a questioning squint, but handed over the keys. "No rush, why not meet me at the hotel in an hour?"

Cat nodded to both and left. The car was a new royal blue Buick, and he felt self-conscious driving it up to the Lees' store. But as he walked through the doors he realized there were other whites who came here.

He asked for Mrs. Lee, and Elizabeth led him back through a wide assortment of clothes, shoes and appliances to the office.

"I'm impressed, Elizabeth...."

"Sometimes so am I. Now, what have you got and what'd The Judge have to say?"

He reported as if he was being debriefed after an operation; concluding that he was in favor of a special issue if they got any kind of useful clearance from Thorpe and Clay.

"Lee and I disagree between ourselves on this. I'm still doubtful, think it's too risky, but he's for it. So I'm sure I'm outvoted."

Cat dropped a shoulder, said nothing.

"There's another thing...neither one of us can come over and help. But I did get all the stuff from our box collecting for the paper ready for you, and called Griff saying you'd probably be by."

She paused, looked at him: "You worn out from talkin'?"

"No, but you listened, so I'm listening."

She smiled, Paused again. Looked away. Smiled again.

"I'm having some trouble with you, Lieutenant Wye, and your two flying friends. Never dealt with your types before."

Cat smiled back.

"You don't keep a secret too well, Mrs. Lee."

"It's just that...."

"No need to talk about it. Run-Run taught me something about that coming back from New Orleans a while back."

"What was that?"

"Just fly the airplane, sonny."

This time she laughed and, standing, he joined her.

"Well, if you do it, we'll do the distribution on Monday, so run off a whole lot of them."

Walking out to the front door of the store he kept smiling.

-- I'm glad I came. That was good. We got the air cleared. Anyway, Run-Run was better with Cohen without me.