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

Glimpses of An Election

Page 87

They traded accounts over drinks in the hotel bar. Run-Run was excited about Cohen, who wanted to give money to the newspaper as well as to Clay, and hinted that he and some others were interested in financing business ventures by Chief Johns and Mr. Hank if they decided to get out of the Navy and stay in the city. "Very quietly, of course."

Now Cat was the skeptical one.

"Of course. Mr. David Cohen is very well-informed about the personnel of the Naval Air Station. Hell, I don't know Johns except on sight. But I can't see Mr. Hank borrowing that kind of money from whites."

"Calm down, Cat. Mrs. Lee might think you were a Zionist."

Cat leaned back and roared.

"Time to see another Indian, wife."

They traded drinks. Cat continued, "OK, so I'm slow. Educate me."

"The idea would be to make the investments and then hire Johns to run a secretarial service-there isn't one in town-and do the same with Mr. Hank for a first-rate garage. Offer them profit sharing. No loans, no personal liability."

"Well, that's just maybe possible. I leave it to you two, but you're going to need help putting that idea in Mr. Hank's head. Now here's what happened to me."

Cat went through it all once again. Run-Run noted the oblique encounter with Mrs. Lee.

"Maybe they're loosening up. Sure would make it more fun. Well, when you hear from The Judge you let me know. I got nothing tomorrow, so I can work it through with you whenever you want to start. Then we'll go out to dinner."

That was the way it went. Marsh got Clay first. He agreed to the use of his formal remarks and his answers to questions. Thorpe was cornered.

"I'll think on it, Mr. Harland, and get back to you."

Marsh knew that meant he would talk with Burton. He was a bit surprised when Thorpe called back within the hour and reported that The Senator would be pleased to have his own formal talk printed. Thorpe did not think that it was appropriate to include his own remarks.

-- You's so right, Mr. Thorpe. Always cover your balls.

"Thank the Senator; and my appreciation to you for your help." They finished with inane chatter about lunch sometime.

The materials from the Lees, The Reverend and Mr. Hank included announcements of Negro meetings and, unexpectedly, many midnight or morning -after letters about the Friday meeting. Run-Run came before noon and the three of them worked straight through till after five. The paper emerged as an exciting four-page election issue; and it wasn't until they had loaded the copies into Run-Run's car and gone off to dinner that they remembered Mrs. Warrener.

"It's a good thing," Susan offered, "that we didn't think about her. Worryin' about her would have messed up the paper."

"Sure." Cat was not that philosophical about Mrs. Warrener.

Run-Run lifted his drink. "This time we've got the perfect answer if she gets nosy. I'm junior Officer-of-the-Day midnight Monday through Tuesday. You were helping me with an evaluation of the program."

Cat had to laugh. "You think the lady's a fool. She is not a fool. But we'll play it that way if she asks."

By Monday morning, however, even Cat had forgotten about Mrs. Warrener. The special edition was the talk of the base; also, as Marsh reported, a major conversation piece down town. He called Susan with the news.

"Lady, you scooped our Mr. Gillmor."

"With lots of help from you and others; but thanks a lot, Mr. Judge. I think the paper is safe now, and that's what counts."

"Glad you feel that way, Susan, 'cause you ain't going to win the election with it, but you sure as hell are making it more interesting -and probably closer than anybody thought."

"I'll hug you for that, Marsh. Thanks."

Later calls came from The Reverend and Lette, Maggie and Mr. Hank, Wendell Rogers and even the Scotts offering similar evaluations and congratulations. Susan and Cat were too tired to make love. They just sat on the couch and looked at each other over coffee until they fell asleep propped up against each other.