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story like this came out。〃
〃I daresay。 Communities are loaded to the guards with respectable
cowards。 But if you stand on your own feet like a man they'll think more
of you for it。 Most of them will be glad to know you again inside of five
years。 For you're going to be successful； and people like the Merrills and
the Gilmans bow down to success。〃
The lawyer shook his head doggedly。 〃I'm not going to tell a thing I
don't have to tell。 That's settled。〃 He hesitated a moment before he went on。
〃I've got a reason why I want to stand well with the Fromes； Jeff。 I'm not
in a position to risk anything。〃
Jeff waited。 He thought he knew that reason。
〃I'm going to marry Alice Frome if I can。〃
〃You've asked her。〃 Jeff's voice sounded to himself as if it belonged to
another man。
〃No。 Not yet。 Ned Merrill's in the running。 Strong； too。 He's being
backed by his father and old P。 C。 Frome。 The idea is to consolidate
interests by this marriage。 But I've got a fighting chance。 She likes me。
Since I went into this political fight against her father she's taken pains to
show me how friendly she feels。 But if this story gets outI'm smashed。
That's all。〃
〃Go to her。 Tell her the truth。 She'll stand by you；〃 his cousin urged。
〃You don't understand these people； Jeff。 I do。 Even if she wanted to
stand by me she couldn't。 They wouldn't let her。 Right now I'm carrying all
the handicap I can。〃
Jeff walked to the window and stood looking out with his hands in his
pockets。 The hum of the busy street rose to his ears； but he did not hear it。
Nor did he see the motor cars whizzing past； the drays lumbering along；
the thronged sidewalks of Powers Avenue。 A door that had for years been
ajar in his heart had swung to with a crash。 The incredible folly of his
dream was laid bare to him。 Despised； distrusted and disgraced； there was
no chance that he might be even a friend to her。 She moved in another
world； one he could not reach if he would and would not if he could。 All
that he believed in she had been brought up to disregard。 Much that was
dear to her he must hammer down so long as there was life in him。
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But Jameshe had fought his way up to her。 Why shouldn't he have his
chance？ Betterfar better James than Ned Merrill。 He had heard the
echoes of a disgraceful story about that young man in his college days； the
story of how he had trampled down a working girl for his pleasure。 James
was clean and honorable 。 。 。 and she loved him。 Jeff's mind fastened on
that last as a thing assured。 Had he not seen her with starry eyes fixed on
her hero； held fast as a limed bird？ She too was entitled to her chance； and
there was a way he could give it to her。
He turned back to James； who was sitting despondently at the
managing editor's desk； jabbing at the blotting sheet with a pencil。
Jeff touched the _Advocate_ he still held in his hand。 〃Did you read
this story carefully？〃
〃No。 I just ran my eye down it。 Why？〃
〃Whoever dug it up has made a mistake。 He has jumped to the
conclusion that I'm Uncle Robert's son。 Why not let it go at that？〃
His cousin looked up with a flash of eager hope。 〃You mean〃
〃I might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb。 Let it go the way
they have it。〃
The lawyer's heart leaped； but he could not let this go without a protest。
〃No； II couldn't do that。 It's awfully good of you； Jeff。〃
The managing editor smiled in his whimsical way。 〃My reputation has
long been in tatters。 A little more can't hurt it。〃
James conceded a reflective assent with a manner of impartiality。 〃Of
course your friends wouldn't think any the less of you。 They're not soso
〃
〃respectable as yours；〃 Jeff finished for him。
〃I was going to say so hidebound。〃
〃All the same； isn't it？〃
〃But it would be a sacrifice for you。 I recognize that。 And I'm not sure
that I could accept it。 I will have to think that over；〃 the lawyer concluded
magnanimously。
〃You'll find it is best。 But I think I would tell Miss Frome； even if I
didn't tell anybody else。 She has a right to know。〃
〃You may depend upon me to do whatever is best about that。〃
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James was hardly out of the office before Captain Chunn blew in like a
small tornado。 He was boiling with rage。
〃What's this infernal lie about you being the son of a convict； David？〃
he demanded； waving a copy of the Herald。
〃Sit down； Captain。 I'll tell you the story because you're entitled to it。
But I shall have to speak in confidence。〃
〃Confidence！ Dad burn it； what are you talking about？ Are you trying
to tell me that Phil Farnum was a thief and a convict？〃
Jeff's steel…blue eyes looked straight into his。 〃Nothing so impossible
as that； Captain。 I'm going to tell you the story of his brother。〃
Jeff told it； but he and the owner of the _World_ disagreed radically
about the best way to answer the attack。
〃Why must you always stand between that kid glove cousin of yours
and trouble？ Let him stand the gaff himself。 It will do him good；〃 Chunn
stormed。
But Jeff had his way。 The _World_ made no denial of the facts charged。
In a statement on the front page that covered less than three sticks he told
the simple story of the defalcation of Robert Farnum。 One thing only he
added to the account given in the opposition papers。 This was that during
the past two years the shortage of the bank cashier had been paid in full to
the Planters' First National at Shelby。
There were many forecasts as to what the effect of the Farnum story
would be on the election returns。 It is enough to say that the ticket
supported by the _World_ was chosen by a small majority。 James was
elected to the legislature by a plurality of fifteen hundred votes over his
antagonist； a majority unheard of in the Eleventh District。
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CHAPTER 8
Is not this the trouble with our whole man…made world； that the game
is played with loaded dice？ Against the poor； the weak and the unfortunate
have the cards been stacked。 A tremendous percentage is in favor of the
crook； the scoundrel； the smug robber of industry by whom the hands are
dealt。
Wealth； created by the many； is more and more flowing into the