IRIAM left Fort Sioux on an early morning train. Whether or not she would take Hugh’s attitude as final, he did not even try to guess.
The modeling hand of Fate had not yet finished with Hugh. Nature had made him of fine material, but streaked with dross. She makes many such and commonly the dross consumes the finer metal. But occasionally Fate decides that the pure material shall not be lost, and she sees to it that life anneals such an one as Hugh relentlessly, until, purged of extraneous matter, he faces the world, steel true, indeed, and blade straight. Fine in the best sense of the word a character must be that can emerge from this blast furnace of fate, pliant, yet fine; delicately and intricately wrought, yet enduring; steadfast; fixed in beauty.
The morning after his return, Hugh’s first act was to make peace with Mrs. Ellis.
“You are looking mighty fit for a successful campaign manager!” he exclaimed.
“I ought to. I’ve lost thirty pounds of excess weight and I’ve slept for the past thirty-six hours. Your week’s rest didn’t do you much good, Hughie.”
“Did I embarrass you by going away as I did?” he asked.
“Nice time to be asking me that!” exclaimed Mrs. Ellis. “No, it was the best thing you could have done. If we’d needed you, I’d have sent for you. Johnny Parnell knew where you were. Hughie, what are you going to do about the Old Sioux Tract?”
“Who bought it in?” asked Hugh.
“Nobody knows. Of course, they haven’t got the charter yet. And, of course, they won’t get it now.” Mrs. Ellis rubbed one plump hand slowly with the other, looking thoughtfully out the window at a small boy struggling with a very large mule. When the struggle had passed from her vision, she said, “Don’t you think it’s time you talked to me a little about the Children’s Code? It’s not altogether this eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth manner of politics that makes me ask you. Many things are going to be put over between now and the time you take office. And this is the way it’s going to work. They know you’ll force the Code through. All that they can do in the next two months to extract the teeth from the Code they will do. Hughie, I’m almost in despair over it.”
For the first time since he had known her, Mrs. Ellis’ voice broke weakly. He reached over to take her hands, and to say between set teeth, “I’ll fight for the Code as you fought for the Old Sioux Tract. As you’ve learned, I’m no politician. I can’t seem to scheme things. But whatever other ability I have is yours. Mrs. Ellis, I’d do anything for you. Do you realize that you’re the only person in the world, outside of Red Wolf and Fred, that has never tried to use me?”
“Why, Hughie, how silly! I’m trying to use you right now.”
“I don’t call this using me. You are too frank and honest about your plans. Tell me, what tooth will they try to extract first?”
“I’m not sure. Let me check over in my mind.”
Hugh lighted his pipe, his eyes intent on Mrs. Ellis’ face. She always showed a degree of emotion when the Children’s Code was under discussion that she showed at no other time. Just at this moment there were tears in her eyes.
“My dear Mrs. Ellis,” he said softly, “I wish you’d tell me all about it. You know exactly why I am in the fight. You’ve never told me why the Code means to you what it does. I believe I could put more force in my blows if you took me into your inner confidence. I—I am very fond of you, Mrs. Ellis. And I need to feel that some one has confidence in me, right now.”
The tear slipped down into the dimple that suddenly appeared in Mrs. Ellis’ plump cheek.
“Hughie! You aren’t exactly down and out. Perhaps I’d better remind you that you’ve just been elected governor, and that no man has ever gone into office in this state with as enthusiastic a group of followers.”
“But,” insisted Hugh, “that isn’t telling me what the Children’s Code really means to you.”