Chapter 12: At the Foot of the Throne

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​⁠As usual at nine-thirty in the afternoon, the big tower clock on the First National Bank building in the city of Marion pointed the finger of its minute-hand straight downward.

As usual, at this hour, as he had done for many years, Colonel Symonds Dodd eased himself down from the equipage that brought him to his office. This day the vehicle was his limousine car.

In view of the fact that Colonel Dod