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〃Yes。〃
Both of them were thinking how soon the arm of that unseen God of
love and law he worshipped would enfold him。
Alice smiled tenderly； and for the moment the street in front of her
danced in a mist。 〃And his perfect state！ Shall we ever realize it？〃
〃We must hope so。 Perhaps not in the form he sees it； but in the way
we work it out through a species of evolution。 Think of the progress we
have made in the last five years。 How many dark corners in the long
disused houses of our minds have been flooded with light！〃
〃Yes。 Why have we made more progress in the past few years？〃
Jeff's eyes held a gleam of humor。 〃This is a big country with
enormous resources。 There used to be room for all the most active
plunderers to grab something。 But lately the grabbing hasn't been so good。
We have discoveredthat the most powerful robbers are doing their
snatching from us。 So we've suffered a moral awakening。〃
〃You don't believe that；〃 she said quickly。
〃There's a good deal in the bread and butter interpretation of history。
The push of life； its pressure； drives us to think。 Out of thought grow new
hopes and a broader vision。〃
〃And then？〃
〃Pretty soon the thought will flood the world that we make our own
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poverty； that God and nature have nothing to do with it。 After that we'll
proceed to eliminate it。〃
〃By means of Mr。 Marchant's perfect state？〃
〃Not by any revolution of an hour probably。 Society cannot change its
nature in a day。 We'll pass gradually from our present state to a better one；
the new growing out of the old by generations of progress。 But I think we
will pass into a form of socialism。 It will be necessary to repress the
predatory instinct in us that has grown strong under the present system。 I
don't much care whether you call it democracy or socialism。 We must
recognize how interdependent we are and work together for the common
good。〃
They had come to the car line that would take her home。 Up the hill a
trolley car was coming。
〃May I not see you home？〃 Jeff dared to ask。
〃You may。〃
They left the car at Lakeview Park and crossed it to The Brakes。 Every
step of that walk led Jeff deeper into an excursion of endearment。 It was
amazingly true that he trod beside her an acknowledged friend； a secret
lover。 The turn of her head； the shadowy smile bubbling into laughter； the
gracious undulations of the body； indeed the whole dear delight of her
presence； belonged for that hour to him alone。
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THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 21
Many a man has kept his self…respect through a long lifetime of
decalog breaking； only to go to smash like a crushed eggshell when he
commits the crime of being found out。 From the Note Book of a
Dreamer。
THE HERO IS PAINED TO FIND THAT EVEN IN A WELL…
REGULATED WORLD THE GODS ARE JUST； AND OF OUR
PLEASANT VICES MAKE INSTRUMENTS TO PLAGUE US
Going back across the park Jeff trod the hilltops。 He was not thinking
about society； except that small unit of it represented by a slender； golden
girl who had just bidden him good…bye。 And because his heart sang within
him his footsteps turned toward the office of his cousin。 There had been
between them of late an estrangement。 Since the lawyer had been
appointed general attorney for the Transcontinental and had formed a
partnership with Scott； thus bringing to the firm the business of the public
utility corporations； James had not found much time for Jeff。 He was a
member of the most important law firm on the Pacific Coast； judged by
the business it was doing； and he had definitely cut loose politically from
his former associates。 His cousin blamed himself for the change in their
personal relations； and he meant to bring things back to the old basis if he
could。
It was past office hours； but a light in the window of the junior
member's private office gave promise that James might be in。 Leaving the
elevator at the fourth floor； he walked down the corridor toward the suite
occupied by the firm。
Before he reached the door Jeff stopped。 Something unusual was
happening within。 There came to him the sounds of shuffling feet； of
furniture being smashed； of an angry oath。 Almost at once there was a thud；
as if something heavy had fallen。 The listener judged that a live body was
thrashing around actively。 The impact of blows； a heavy grunt； a second
stifled curse； decided Farnum。 Pushing through the outer office； he entered
the one usually occupied by James。
Two men were on the floor； one astride of the other。 The man on top
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THE VISION SPLENDID
was driving home heavy jarring blows against his opponent's face and
head。 Jeff ran forward and dragged him away。
〃Good heavens； Sam！ What's the matter？〃 his friend demanded in
surprise。
Miller waited panting； his fists still doubled； the lust of battle in his
eyes。
〃The damned cad！ The damned cad！〃 was all he could get out。
From the floor James Farnum was rising。 His forehead； his cheek； and
his lips were bleeding from cuts。 One of his eyes was closing rapidly。
There was a dogged look of fear in the battered face。
〃I tripped over a chair； he explained； glaring at his foe。
〃Damn you then； stand up and fight！〃
Disgust and annoyance were pictured on the damaged countenance of
the lawyer。 〃I don't fight with riff raff from the streets。〃
With a lurch Miller was free from Jeff and at him again。 James lashed
straight out and cut open his lip without stopping him。 Jeff wrenched the
furious man back again。 A moment later he made a discovery。 The fear of
his cousin was not physical。
〃Here！ Stop it； man！ What's the row about？〃 Jeff hung on with a
strangle hold while he fired his questions。
Sam turned a distorted face toward him。 〃Nellie。〃
The truth crashed home like a bolt of lightning。 James was the man
who had betray