n to help you. You will have a salary
of, say, twelve hundred to begin with, but you can make yourself worth
more to me."

Dan murmured a reply which Bassett did not heed.

"Your visit to my home and the article in the 'Courier' first suggested
this to me. It struck me that you understood me pretty well. I read all
the other sketches in that series and the different tone in which you
wrote of me gave me the idea that you had tried to please me, and that
you knew how to do it. How does the proposition strike you?"

"It couldn't be otherwise than gratifying, Mr. Bassett. It's taken my
breath away. It widens all my horizons. I have been questioning my
destiny lately; the law as a goal had been drawing further away. And
this mark of confidence--"

"Oh, that point, the confidence will have to be mutual. I am a
close-mouthed person and have no confidants, but of necessity you will
learn my affairs pretty thoroughly if you accept my offer. You have
heard a good deal of talk about me--most of it unflattering. You have
heard that I drive hard bargains. At every session of the legislature I
am charged with the grossest corruption. There are men in my own party
who are bent on breaking me down and getting rid of me. I'm going to
give them the best fight I can put up. I can't see through the back of
my head: I want you to do that for me."

"I don't know much about the practical side of politics; it's full of
traps I've never seen sprung, but I know they're planted."

"To be perfectly frank, it's because you're inexperienced that I want
you. I wouldn't trust anybody who had political ambitions of his own, or
who had mixed up in any of these local squabbles. And, besides, you're a
gentleman and an educated man, and that counts for something."

"You are very kind and generous. I appreciate this more than I can tell
you. And I'd like--"

"Don't decide about it now. I'd rather you didn't. Take a week to it,
then drop me a line to Fraserville, or come up if you want to talk
further."

"Thank you; I shan't want so much time. In any event I appreciate your
kindness. It's the most cheering thing that ever happened to me."

Bassett glanced at his watch. He had said all he had to say in the
matter and closed the subject characteristically.

"Here's a little thing I picked up to-day,--a copy of Darlington's
'Narrative,'--he was with St. Clair, you know; and practically all the
copies of the book were burned in a Philadelphia print