money, Mr. Carter," gasped Paul.
_Page 137._]

"I'll advance you fifty dollars on your bond," he said, "and no
questions asked. I was a boy once myself."

"But I can't take your money, Mr. Carter," gasped Paul, trying to hand
the crackling bit of paper back again.

"Pooh, pooh! Nonsense!" the man ejaculated, waving him off. "Call it a
loan if you prefer. A loan with a bond for security is quite an ordinary
business matter. It is only a trifle, anyway."

"But--"

"Run along! I have no more time to give to you. I have a directors'
meeting at four. Ah, here's Mr. Dalton now. How are you, Dalton. Run
along, youngster. Take the cash with you and welcome." Then he added in
an undertone: "Just use your influence with your chums up at school, and
we will say no more about this little loan. If you land the _March Hare_
in my hands the deal will be worth the fifty to me. Good night."

CHAPTER XII

TEMPORIZING

It was not until Paul was on his way home that the full significance of
Mr. Carter's action dawned upon him. He, Paul Cameron, had been bribed!
He had taken from the magnate of Burmingham a sum of money in return for
which he had tacitly pledged himself to use his influence to carry
through a business deal which he held to be wrong, and with which he had
no sympathy. To be sure, he had not done this monstrous deed
voluntarily. Mr. Carter had thrust it upon him. He had been put in a
difficult position and had failed to act. It was his passivity for which
he now blamed himself. He should have repudiated the whole thing, hurled
the odious money upon Carter's desk--since the man refused to take it
back--and fled from the place. The fact that Mr. Carter had given him no
opportunity to discuss the matter or refuse his offer was no excuse. He
should have made the opportunity himself.

The only apology he could offer for his conduct was that he was
completely stunned by the happenings of the afternoon. The drama had
moved too swiftly for him. Until it was over, he had not sensed its
trend. Was he really so much to blame?

Nevertheless, twist and excuse the fact as he would, the truth remained
that there he was with the hateful fifty-dollar bill in his possession.

It was appalling, terrible! He, who had always prided himself on his
honesty! He had not had the least notion of precipitating such a crisis
when he had inquired about selling his Liberty Bond. The query had been
a purely innocent one. He had to say