ly while Kendrick watched him, surprised by the unexpected
vehemence of the outburst. After a turn or two he stopped directly in
front of his nephew, and in his eyes was a strange look.

"There are many things, my boy, which you cannot be expected to
understand without a lot of explanation," he said more quietly. "I
cannot go into any of these things now. If you ever accept a public
office in later life try to look upon it as a sacred trust to be
fulfilled according to the dictates of conscience. Then you will begin
to understand what is meant by 'burden of effort' and 'the heat of the
day.' I want you to believe that 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. I have tried conscientiously
to do what I thought was my duty. Do you believe that?"

"Certainly," nodded Kendrick without hesitation.

"Thank you, Philip. No matter what happens I want you to continue to
believe that."

"Look here, Uncle Milt, if anybody is trying to put anything over on
you, why not let me in on the scrap?" urged Phil eagerly. "I meant
what I said a moment ago. What is it? What's the matter? Finances?
Let me help. I'll write you a cheque for what I have in the bank and
we can raise something on my Parkview property----"

The Honorable Milton tossed his head in a chuckle of amusement.

"How much have you got?" he smiled.

"About two thousand in the bank, another couple of thousand in
negotiable securities--oh, about ten thousand, roughly, including the
real-estate. We could sell that. I'll look after it first thing after
breakfast."

"Ten thousand dollars is neither here nor there, Philip," said his
uncle, shaking his head slowly. "I could raise such a sum by the mere
request. Perhaps if it were five times the amount---- Just the same I
am grateful for your offer, my boy."

"Fifty thousand dollars!" murmured Phil. "It's a lot of money when you
haven't got it."

The Honorable Milton glanced at the clock on the mantel and gave an
exclamation.

"It's time you and I were in bed. I hear Stinson just coming in.
Everything's all right. I'm going to turn in now."

At the foot of the stairs he paused to lay a hand on his nephew's
shoulder and there was unwonted gentleness in his manner.

"Good-night, Philip. And thank you for the--the 'flower of folly,'" he
said awkwardly.

For a moment Kendrick stood watching the