ion to color the various
scenes in which he saw himself Bassett's "man." In moods of
self-analysis he knew his nature to be sensitive, with an emotional side
whose expressions now and then surprised him. He rallied sharply at
times from the skeptical attitude which he felt journalism was
establishing in him, and assured himself that his old ideals were safe
in the citadel his boyhood imagination had built for them. Dan's father
was a veteran of the Civil War and he had been taught to believe that
the Democratic Party had sought to destroy the Union and that the
Republican Party alone had saved it. Throughout his boyhood on the
Harrison County farm, he had been conscious of the recrudescence of the
wartime feeling in every political campaign. His admiration for the
heroes of the war was in no wise shaken at New Haven, but he first
realized there that new issues demanded attention. He grew impatient of
all attempts to obscure these by harking back to questions that the war
had finally determined, if it had served any purpose whatever. He broke
a lance frequently with the young men who turned over the books in
Wright and Fitch's office, most of whom were Republicans and devout
believers that the furnace fires of America's industries were brought
down from Heaven by Protection, a modern Prometheus of a new order of
utilitarian gods. In the view of these earnest debaters, Protection was
the first and last commandment, the law and the prophets. The
"Indianapolis Advertiser" and protection newspapers generally had long
attacked periodically those gentlemen who, enjoying the sheltered life
of college and university, were corrupting the youth of the land by
questioning the wisdom of the fire-kindling god. There was a wide margin
between theory and practice, between academic dilletantism and a
prosperous industrial life fostered and shielded by acts of Congress. It
required courage for young men bred in the popular faith to turn their
backs upon the high altar, so firmly planted, so blazing with lamps of
perpetual adoration.

While Dan was considering the politician's offer, a letter from home
brought a fresh plea for help, and strengthened a growing feeling that
his wiser course was to throw in his fortunes with Bassett. In various
small ways Mr. Fitch had shown an interest in Harwood, and Dan resolved
to take counsel of the lawyer before giving his answer.

The little man sat in his private room in his shirt sleeves, with his