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Bell stood up “Lillian could do a lot worse than Archie Abbott”

“She could also do worse than First Lady of the United States of America”

“She is a very capable young woman,” Bell said neutrally “She’ll deal with any hand dealt her”

“I don’t want her to have to”

“Of course you don’t What father would? Now, let , sir”

“Shoot”

Bell sat back down As much as he wanted to join Marion, there was a question troubling him that had to be answered

“Do you really believe that Senator Kincaid has a chance for the nomination?”

CHARLES KINCAID AND EMMA COMDEN had walked in silence past the special’s insistently sighing steaht, beyond the glare of the electric lights Where the ballast laid for new rail ended, they stepped down to the newly cleared forest floor that had been brushed out for the right-of-way

The stars were vivid in the thin mountain air The Milky Way flooded the dark like a white river Mrs Comden spoke German Her voice was muffled by the fur of her collar

“Be careful you don’t twist the devil’s tail too hard”

Kincaid responded in English His Ger in Gerhdad Railas as good as hers, but the last thing he needed was son tongue with Osgood Hennessy’s mistress

“We will beat theure out e are or ant”

“But every way you turn, Isaac Bell thwarts you”

“Bell has no idea of what I have planned next,” Kincaid said scornfully “I am so close, Emma My bankers in Berlin are poised to strike the instant that I bankrupt the Southern Pacific Co co interests in every railroad in A’ No one can stop me”