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mark he carn.e dInag 0 , thin black walking stick, which he called
Andy' (after Andrew Jackson, I suppose), and he wore a ~ed vest and
pocket watch. He favored using slang and ungrammat.Ical phrases
when speaking for publication, but he could speak qUite cor~ectly
when alone with a few trusted lieutenants. It was all part of hIS ap-
peal, and he enjoyed playing the part. Beneath it all, he was the most
powerful Party member, virtual boss of the Senate, and one of the
biggest businessmen in the country.

Next into the room was the familiar, broad-shouldered, narrow-
waisted man with classic features and a practiced, full-lipped smile-
Jack Stone. The flash bulbs popped anew, fresh cheers arose, and
the lackeys scattered as the President-elect moved easily through the
crowd. The band, which had stopped playing, struck up a violent
rendition of a cross between "The Gang's All Here" and "Pomp and
Circumstance." Boredom evaporated-I knew Jack would be looking
for me. Working his way professionally through the local bosses and
ward heelers, Jack Stone squeezed a few hands without stopping,
smiled broadly, and drew to within five yards of me. I made no move
to meet him. Ignoring my lack of friendliness, he came forward and
with extended hands, grasped mine firmly. I responded. He looked
directly at me and spoke softly, "We've come a long way together, but
this is it-the top; the star goes no higher, but none have ever touched
our star."

I smiled wanly. He held my hand for a second, fixed me with
pride-filled eyes, and then he was gone. I knew I wouldn't see him
again that night. He had hands to shake, alliances to renew, walls to
mend. But he had said "we," and, as for that star business, whether
that was political garbage overflowing into his talk or whether it had
a special meaning to him, I'll never know.

It was no use staying any longer. I had performed my noteworthy
little task, and it was time to go. I walked into the bedroom and
picked up my hat and coat.

"Hey, where are you going? Couldn't be that you're sneaking out
on me again, without saying goodbye?"

"No, Beth, I didn't mean to sneak out, but .... "

"Well, before you go, come dance with me. Come on."

The invitation was well-intentioned, but so painful. Over the
years Beth had never understood my function. I was around simply
to keep Jack company, to shake his hand once in a great while to re-
assure him that he wasn't completely alone. I was only a mirage. Jack!
didn't expect me to enter into his life, to marry his sister, or to hang

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