of the
very exposure which Wade was helping to bring about?

It was a muddle which was hard to penetrate. What a beautiful line of
talk Blatch Ferguson had handed him the other day! According to Blatch
the Honorable Milton Waring was one of the hardest-working, most
conscientious and high-principled men of the day and Blatch had had
greater opportunity of knowing that than most, he had said. He could
say that, knowing the facts, being one of the principals himself in the
graft that was going on!--could say that and follow it up with a homily
upon honesty in public life--say it with an exalted look upon his face!
How completely a bit of unsuspected truth could alter an entire
perspective! How easily he had been fooled when he became too
inquisitive!

And his uncle? Had his uncle talked to him that foggy night only for
the purpose of fooling him too? "Even one man against a pack of wolves
can put up at least some kind of a fight, even though he knows that
sooner or later he is doomed to go down." His uncle knew, then, that
sooner or later discovery must come? He had talked about having tried
to do his duty and wanted his nephew to believe it no matter what
happened. But, as Cristy had pointed out, new brooms had time to
become worn and inefficient in twelve years of use. His uncle had been
talking in the past tense! He _had_ tried to do what he thought was
his duty--at first, when he swept into politics, inspired by the
victory over the Rives crowd. Twelve years apparently was a long time
to expect an inspiration to burn in the face of besetting temptations.

Phil looked up at last, aware that the girl was speaking, tense with
eagerness.

"I wanted you to know the truth, Mr. Kendrick," she was saying, "if
only that it will help you to understand how serious I consider the
news which Jimmy brings--this new deal that is pending, I mean. The
_Recorder_ must act at once to stop it. It is better that your uncle
face the charges as they now stand than to have this last and blackest
mark against him. I hope you agree with me?"

"Decidedly," nodded Kendrick. "What you have told me, Miss Lawson,
has--well, kind of knocked the wind out of me. I can scarcely credit
it. Even yet, I am hoping against hope that it is not as bad as the
evidence seems to indicate. But one thing is certain, there is no use
in attempting to do anything but face the music. If my uncle is
guilty, he will have to pay the price; ther