Зима тревоги нашей

           Presidentialnominationswouldbecomingupsoonandintheairthediscontentwaschangingtoangerandtheexcitementangerbrings.Anditwasn’tonlythenation;thewholeworldstirredwithrestlessnessanduneasinessasdiscontentmovedtoangerandangertriedtofindanoutletinaction,anyactionsolongasitwasviolent—Africa,Cuba,SouthAmerica,Europe,Asia,theNearEast,allrestlessashorsesatthebarrier.

           IknewthatTuesday,Julyfifth,wasgoingtobeadaylargerthanotherdays.IeventhinkIknewwhatthingswouldhappenbeforetheyhappened,butsincetheydidIwillneverbesurewhetherIreallyknew.

           IthinkIknewthattheseventeen-jewel,shockproofMr.Baker,whotickedthehours,wouldcomerattlingatmyfrontdooranhourbeforethebankopeningtime.HedidbeforeIhadopenedforbusiness.Ilethiminandclosedthedoorsafterhim.

           "Whatanawfulthing,"hesaid."Iwasoutoftouch.IcamebackassoonasIheard."

           "Whichawfulthing,sir?"

           "Why,thescandal!Thosemenaremyfriends,myoldfriends.I’vegottodosomething."

           "Theywon’tevenbequestionedbeforeelection—justcharged."

           "Iknow.Couldn’tweissueastatementofourbeliefintheirinnocence?Evenapaidadvertisementifnecessary."

           "Inwhat,sir?TheBayHarborMessengerdoesn’tcomeoutuntilThursday."

           "Well,somethingshouldbedone."

           "Iknow."

           Itwassoformal.HemusthaveknownIknew.Andyethemetmyeyesandheseemedgenuinelyworried.