rd pressed ever since I left college."

His father brightened up timidly. "I owe you money. We can fix that up.
I've got a little mill down there and I've done well, though it was hard
sledding at first."

James caught at a phrase. "What do you mean?"

"Owe me money!

"I knew it must be you paid off the shortage at the Planters' National.
When I sent the money it was returned. You'd got ahead of me. I was THAT
grateful to you, son."

The lawyer found himself flushing. "Oh, Jeff paid that. He was earning
money at the time and I wasn't. Of course I intended to pay him back
some day."

"Did Jeff do that? Then you and he must be friends. Tell me about him."

"There's not much to tell. He's managing editor of a paper here that has
a lot of influence. Yes. Jeff has been a staunch friend to me always.
He recognizes that I'm a rising man and ought to be kept before the
public."

"I wonder if he's like his father."

"Can't tell you that," his son replied carelessly. "I don't remember
Uncle Phil much. Jeff's a queer fellow, full of Utopian notions about
brotherhood and that sort of thing. But he's practical in a way. He gets
things done in spite of his softheadedness."

There was a knock at the door. "Mr. Jefferson Farnum, sir."

James considered for a second. "Tell him to come in, Miss Brooks."

The lawyer saw that the door was closed before he introduced Jeff to his
father. It gave him a momentary twinge of conscience to see his cousin
take the old man quickly by both hands. It was of course a mere detail,
but James had not yet shaken hands with his father.

"I'm glad to see you, Uncle Robert," Jeff said.

His voice shook a little. There was in his manner that hint of affection
which made him so many friends, the warmth that suggested a woman's
sympathy, but not effeminacy.

The ready tears brimmed into his uncle's eyes. "You're like your father,
boy. I believe I would have known you by him," he said impulsively.

"You couldn't please me better, sir. And what about James--would you
have known him?"

The old man looked humbly at his handsome, distinguished son. "No, I
would never have known him."

"He's becoming one of our leading citizens, James is. You ought to hear
him make a speech. Demosthenes and Daniel Webster hide their heads when
the Honorable James K. Farnum spellbinds," Jeff joked.

"I've read his speeches," the father said unexpectedly. "For more than a
year I've taken the _World_ so as to hea