Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/241

Rh ragged old Grand Army man presented himself at the door of the White House and was asked his business.

"I want to see the President," said the old veteran.

"He cannot receive you at present, sir," was the answer. "He has called a Cabinet meeting for ten o'clock, and it is now five minutes of ten."

"But he told me I could come and see him," insisted the old soldier.

"Told you? When?"

"About six months ago, when he was in our town out in Ohio."

"Oh! Well, you had better come in when he is receiving visitors," and the doorkeeper mentioned the time.

"I can't come in then," said the Grand Army man, much crestfallen. "I'm going back home this afternoon. Can't you please take in my name to him?"

There was some hesitation, and finally the veteran's name was taken in to the President, who was deep in the reading of some important public documents.

The veteran waited in the hallway for several minutes, and then to his surprise