r of him."

"Then you know that James is headed straight for the Hall of Fame.
Aren't you, James?"

"Nonsense! You've as much influence in the state as I have, or you would
have if you would drop your fight on wealth."

"Bless you, I'm not making a fight on wealth," Jeff answered with good
humor. "It's illicit wealth we're hammering at. But when you compare me
to James K. I'll have to remind you that I'm not a silver-tongued orator
or Verden's favorite son."

The father's wistful smile grew bolder. Somehow Jeff's arrival had
cleared the atmosphere. A Scriptural phrase flashed into his mind as
applicable to this young man. Thinketh no evil. His nephew did not
regard him with suspicion or curiosity. To him he was not a sinner or
an outcast, but a brother. His manner had just the right touch of easy
deference youth ought to give age.

"Of course you're going to make us a long visit, Uncle Robert."

The old man's propitiating gaze went to his son. "Not long, I reckon.
I've got to get back to my business."

"Nonsense! We'll not let you go so easily. Eh, James?"

"No, of course not," the lawyer mumbled. He was both annoyed and
embarrassed.

"I don't want to be selfish about it, but I do think you had better put
up with me, Uncle. James is at the University Club, and only members
have rooms there. We'll let him come and see you if he's good," Jeff
went on breezily.

James breathed freer. "That might be the best way, if it wouldn't put
you out, Jeff."

"I wouldn't want to be any trouble," the old man explained.

"And you won't be. I want you. James wants you, too, but he can't very
well arrange it. I can. So that's settled."

In his rooms that evening Jeff very gently made clear to his uncle that
Verden believed him to be his son.

"If you don't mind, sir, we'll let it go that way in public. We don't
want to hurt the political chances of James just now. And there are
other things, too. He'll tell you about them himself probably."

"That's all right. Just as you say. I don't want to disturb things."

"I adopted you as a father about a year ago without your permission. It
won't do for you to give me away now," the nephew laughed.

Robert Farnum nodded without speaking. A lump choked his throat. He had
found a son after all, but not the one he had come to meet.

Part 2

At the ensuing election the progressives swept the state in spite of
all that the allied corporations could do. James was returned to the