ge Damon commanded hastily. "My son
is in the class, you know; surely I should be showing little loyalty to
1920 if I were not ready to help make it glorious; and even if I had no
boy in the High School it would be the same. I should be glad to promote
so worthy an undertaking."

From the litter of papers on the desk the man took up a crisp white
sheet which he folded carefully and slipped into an envelope.

"There is a legal contract for Mr. Carter to sign," he said. "It states
that in consideration of the _Echo_ Press printing ten numbers of the
_March Hare_, I am to furnish Mr. Carter with six articles on the League
of Nations."

"It's mighty good of you, sir."

The judge waved his hand.

"Don't let the favor oppress you, sonny," he said. "Along with your
father I am having my little joke on Carter. I'd like to see his face
when you confront him with this bit of paper. He'll be bound to carry
out his bargain whether he likes it or not."

"You don't think he'll back down."

"Carter back down! No, indeed. Mr. Carter is a man of his word. Although
I differ from him on just about every possible subject, I am glad to
give the devil his due. What he promises he will stick to; never fear,"
Judge Damon declared quickly.

This prediction proved to be no idle one for when, within two or three
days, Paul presented himself once more in the library of Mr. Arthur
Presby Carter and placed in that august person's hand not only the ten
advertisements for the _Echo_ but his father's subscription to the same
paper, and the written agreement of the judge, Mr. Carter, although
plainly chagrined, did not demur.

On the contrary he glanced keenly at the youthful diplomat, observing
grimly:

"You are an enterprising young man, I will say that for you. I should
not mind knowing to what methods you resorted to win these concessions
from these stern-purposed gentlemen. Did you bribe or chloroform them?"

The boy laughed triumphantly.

"Neither, sir."

"The judge, for example--I can't imagine what influence could have been
brought to bear on him to have achieved such a result. I have offered
him a good price for those articles and he has repeatedly refused it.
And now he is going to do them for nothing."

"He just wanted to help us out."

"And your father?"

"He was game, too."

Mr. Carter was silent.

"Well, I guess I can be as good a sport as they can," he observed at
length. "Get your material together for your first