ough I
was careful not to appear interested."

"You sly old fox! And nobody guessed it had general application. None
of us read the blamed thing through. You're going to use it as a club to
make the legislators stand pat on their pledges."

"Yes."

"But don't you see how revolutionary your big stick is?" Rawson's smile
was expansive. "Why, hang it, man, you're destroying the fundamental
value of representative government. It's a deliberate attack on graft."

"Looks like it, doesn't it?"

It was while Rawson was waiting for his mince pie piled with ice cream
that he ventured a delicate question.

"Say, Jeff! What about James? Is he getting ready to flop over to the
enemy?"

"No. Why do you ask that?"

"I notice he explained when he voted for House Bill 77 that he reserved
the right to oppose it later. Said he hadn't made up his mind, but felt
the people should be given a chance to express themselves on it."

Upon Farnum's face rested a momentary gravity. "I can't make James
out lately. He's lost his enthusiasm. Half the time he's irritable and
moody. I think perhaps he's been blaming himself too much for Hardy's
defeat."

Rawson laughed with cynical incredulity. "That's it, is it?"

CHAPTER 11

"Faustina hath the fairest face,
And Phillida the better grace;
Both have mine eye enriched:
This sings full sweetly with her voice;
Her fingers make so sweet a noise;
Both have mine ear bewitched.
Ah me! sith Fates have so provided,
My heart, alas! must be divided."

THE HERO, ASSISTED BY THE MONA LISA SMILE, DEPLORES THE DEBILITATING
EFFECTS OF MODERN CIVILIZATION

Part 1

With the adjournment of the legislature politics became a less absorbing
topic of interest. James at least was frankly glad of this, for his
position had begun to be embarrassing. He could not always stand with a
foot in either camp. As yet he had made no break with the progressives.
Joe Powers had given him a hint that he might be more useful where he
was. But as much as possible he was avoiding the little luncheons at
which Jeff and his political friends were wont to foregather. He gave
as an excuse the rush of business that was swamping him. His excuse at
least had the justification of truth. His speeches had brought him a
good many clients and Frome was quietly throwing cases his way.

It was at one of these informal little noonday gatherings that Rawson
gave his opinion of the le