big advertisers," exploded Chunn. "I've got two million cold
and I'm going to see this thing out, son. That's what I told Frome last
week when he had the nerve to have me nominated to the Verden Club.
Wanted to muzzle me. Be a good fellow and quit agitating. That was the
idea. I sent back word I'd stuck by Lee to Appomattox and I reckoned I
was too old a dog to learn the new trick of deserting my flag."

"If you're satisfied I ought to be," Jeff laughed. "As for the
advertising, the stores will come back soon. The managers all want to
take space, but they are afraid of spoiling their credit at the banks
while conditions are so unsettled."

"Oh, well. We'll stick to our guns. You fire'em and I'll supply the
ammunition." The little man put his hand on Jeff's shoulder with a
chuckle. "We're both rebels--both irreconcilables, son. I reckon we're
going to be well hated before we get through with this fight."

"Yes. They're going about making people believe we're cranks and
agitators who are hurting business for our own selfish ends."

"I reckon we can stand it, David." Chunn had no children of his own and
he always called Jeff son or David. "By the way, how's that good looking
cousin of yours coming out? I see you're giving his speeches lots of
space."

A light leaped to the eyes of the younger man. "He's doing fine. James
is a born orator. Wherever he goes he gets a big ovation."

Chunn grunted. "Humph! That'll please him. He's as selfish as the devil,
always looking out for James Farnum."

"He wins the people, Captain."

"You talk every evening yourself, but I don't see reports of any of your
speeches."

"I don't talk like James. There's not a man in the state to equal him,
young as he is."

"Humph!"

Captain Chunn grumbled a good deal about the way Jeff was always pushing
his cousin forward and keeping in the background himself. In his opinion
"David" was worth a hundred of the other.

CHAPTER 7

"Spirits of old that bore me,
And set me, meek of mind,
Between great deeds before me,
And deeds as great behind,

Knowing Humanity my star
As forth of old I ride,
O help me wear with every scar
Honor at eventide."

THE REBEL DISCOVERS THAT ADHESION IS A PROPERTY OF MUD; ALSO THAT A
SOLDIER MUST SOMETIMES TURN HIS BACK AND BURN THE BRIDGES BEHIND HIM

Part 1

The fight for the control of the state developed unprecedented
bitterness. The big financial in