hidden source of his enthusiasm was a belief that Josh Craig would
make an ass of himself.





CHAPTER V

ALMOST HOOKED


In human affairs, great and small, there are always many reasons
for every action; then, snugly tucked away underneath all these
reasons that might be and ought to be and pretend to be but
aren't, hides the real reason, the real moving cause of action. By
tacit agreement among human beings there is an unwritten law
against the exposing of this real reason, whose naked and ugly
face would put in sorry countenance professions of patriotism or
philanthropy or altruism or virtue of whatever kind. Stillwater,
the Attorney-General and Craig's chief, had a dozen reasons for
letting him appear alone for the Administration--that is, for the
people--in that important case. Each of these reasons--except one
--shed a pure, white light upon Stillwater's public spirit and
private generosity. That one was the reason supposed by Mrs.
Stillwater to be real. "Since you don't seem able to get rid of
Josh Craig, Pa," said she, in the seclusion of the marital couch,
"we might as well marry him to Jessie"--Jessie being their
homeliest daughter.