of the older men knew, too, that in his early
college career were passages that neither he nor his friends cared to
remember. Hence all of them, but especially Shock, whom he loved, and
Lloyd, whom he greatly admired, listened with surprise to The Don's
enthusiastic words, for they both had stood beside him in those dark
days, and had played toward him the brother's part. The men waited in
silence for Lloyd's reply. They knew him to be by far the strongest man
in the college, the readiest in debate, as well as the most popular in
the pulpit; but, with the sure instinct of college men, they had come
to recognise his ambitious spirit, and, indeed, to be more influenced
by it than they would have cared to acknowledge.

"Yes," said Lloyd, "it was certainly a statesman-like address. It
contained all the elements of a great speech. But he--of
course--well--he sees only one thing--The West."

"That's right," said little Brown, who had come in at Shock's earnest
invitation, and because he was anxious to hear about the new country
from one who was coming to be recognised as an authority, "he sees one
thing sure enough. I say, what a drummer he'd make! Talk like that is
worth 100 a minute to any firm. I'll put my Governor on to him. When
that chap opened his sample case he wouldn't talk weather and politics,
and then sidle up to business. Not much! He'd give them Brown's Axle
Oil, Brown's Baking Powder, or anything else of Brown's he was showing,
till his customer would see nothing but Brown's Axle Oil and Brown's
Baking Powder all over his shop, and he'd be reaching for the whole
output. One thing! You bet!"

A general laugh of approval followed Brown's speech.

"That's true enough," said Lloyd in a tone of calm superiority, "but
there is other work to do and other places to do it in."

"The Park Church, for instance, eh, Lloyd?" suggested the voice slyly.

"Why not?" answered Lloyd. "The centres must be manned--that's a safe
principle in strategy."

"Certainly," cried another voice ironically. "Our neglected masses!"

"Yes, and neglected classes, too." Lloyd's tone was earnest and sincere.

"I agree with you, Lloyd," said The Don emphatically, "if any fellows
need to be, ah--well--shaken up, you know, it's us poor devils who
attend the city churches. For my part, I would like to see you in the
Park Church, and I promise you I would go regularly."

On all sides there was frank approval of The Don's position, while
Llo