the kingdoms of the earth. Life, pulsing life, as far as the
embarrassed eye could carry; life in the mazy streets below; life in
the forking estuary's tide; life, eager red-blooded life, to the crest
of the horizon's hills! Nerve ganglion of a continent, market-place of
a world! Shelby swept the panorama again and again as his host gave
his quiet orders to the waiter, tracing the Hudson from the
shipping-crowded bay till its blueness melted in the haze beyond which
lay the commonwealth, the empire, whose political destinies seemed to
rest in the hollow of this man's hand. It drugged the senses to
attempt to gauge his power.

The Boss was speaking of Tuscarora and the Demijohn. Out of painful
experience he had come to believe that the truest privacy is the
privacy of the crowd, and indeed the mounting chaff and chatter of the
lunch hour insured isolation most complete. He was speaking of
Tuscarora and the Demijohn, and it had begun over the salad, apropos of
Bowers.

"His political usefulness is at an end," said the leader. "There was
nothing tangible to be got from him at our last conference, and I
determined to send for you."

Shelby essayed a middle course between expectation and regret.

"He says it's his last campaign, poor old chap."

"Yes," concurred the Boss, without sentiment; "we talked it over. It
was our opinion that the organization requires younger blood--in fine,
your own."

"Mine?" The query was perfunctory.

"You logically succeed--on a condition."

"A condition?"

"Your election to Congress."

After a moment Shelby said:--

"It's an incentive to work."

"It's the least you've to work for, if you will permit me to say so."

"I don't understand."

The Boss was silent while the servant changed the course. Then he
searched the younger man's eyes.

"Let me point out what your election may mean," he went on. "It has
been an unusual contest. Mr. Graves's candidacy has interested an
audience which is fairly national in its scope. If victor, you will
take your seat a marked man, equipped with a prestige uncommon to
newcomers in Washington. You will have defeated a celebrity, and you
will stand accredited one of the party leaders of your state."

Shelby's eyes widened.

"One of the leaders?"

"I mean that I like you."

While the waiter brought the finger bowls the significance of the
simple words burned into Shelby's brain. The two men lit cigars and
waited; Shelby's was