She shook her head and ran, bumping into tourists wandering the exhibits. She would send a telegram to Gray immediately, for he knew Captain Holland too and might know what to make of this odd message.

Nathaniel stood with other members of the president’s party backstage at the Temple of Music. Soon McKinley would deliver a brief farewell address, then shake some hands. It was their final event before they boarded the train back to Washington. The president insisted on attending this farewell reception even though the first lady was too tired to join him. All Nathaniel had to do was survive the next hour, and they could return to the controlled safety of the train.

“Ice!” Sullivan crowed as he carried a pitcher and glasses on a tray to where they waited backstage behind the curtain.

“Bless you,” President McKinley said, still hot from the outdoor speech. “Perhaps after the reception we’ll all have something a little stronger.”

Sullivan grinned. “I saw the train’s cook wheeling in a huge crate of fruit, red wine, and brandy.”

“It sounds like fresh sangria,” the president said with a hearty smile. “We shall have a fine time tonight!”

The local police lieutenant popped his head behind the curtain. “The squad is here and in place,” he said.

Nathaniel glanced at the president. “Ready?”

“I need two minutes.” President McKinley shrugged first into his vest and then into his formal coat. It was hot for such attire, but the president never made public appearances without being formally dressed. It was only going to get warmer as thousands of excited people funneled through the auditorium for a chance to shake his hand.

President McKinley wiggled a red carnation into his lapel and gave a nod of acknowledgment to the master of ceremonies, who stepped around the curtain to provide an introduction. Applause filled the auditorium as the curtains pulled back, and Mr. McKinley gave a broad smile to the crowd, waving and nodding to those lined up near the front.

Nathaniel moved into position directly behind the president’s right shoulder, while Sullivan stood on the other side. The president spoke for only two minutes, commenting on the weather, praising the fair, and thanking the crowd for attending.

Then they stepped down from the stage to stand at the front of the auditorium’s center aisle for the hand-shaking. Two officers began walking down the aisle, inspecting people as they funneled closer to the president.

The line moved quickly, with dozens having passed in the first five minutes. Nathaniel scanned for anomalies, but mostly he saw overly hot, excited people. An immensely fat, grandmotherly woman leaned on a cane as she trudged forward, two ordinary-looking men behind her.