Hollis. "Don't think my questions impertinent," he said gravely, "for I
assure you that nothing is further from my mind than a desire to pry
into your affairs. But I take it you will need some advice--which, of
course, you may disregard if you wish. I suppose you don't make a secret
of your age?"

"No," was the instant reply, given with a grin, "I am twenty-six."

The judge smiled dryly. "We have great ambitions at twenty-six," he
said. "I remember that at twenty-six I was rather determined on making
the Supreme bench. You can see for yourself how far I missed it. I do
not say that we never realize our ambitions," he added quickly as he saw
a flash light up the young man's eyes; "I merely wish to show that in my
case they were rather extravagant." He grimaced, continuing with a
smile: "You are a college man, of course--I can see that."

Hollis nodded. The judge continued, with an admiring glance at the young
man's muscular frame and broad shoulders.

"Went in for athletics--football, and such?" he said. "Well," he added,
catching the young man's nod, "it didn't hurt you a particle--it doesn't
hurt anybody. Rather prepares a man for hard knocks--which he is sure to
get sooner or later. If you have decided to live in this country you
must expect hard knocks. And I presume you are going to live here?"

"That depends." returned Hollis. "If father has left his affairs in such
shape that it is necessary for me to stay here and straighten them out,
why of course I shall stay. Otherwise----" He hesitated and laughed
quietly, continuing: "Well, I also have an ambition, and if I am
compelled to remain here it will have to be sacrificed. It is a rather
humble ambition compared to yours," he laughed. "It is journalism," he
continued, suddenly serious; "I want to own a newspaper. I am city
editor now and in a few years----" He laughed. "I am not going to
prophesy, but I have been working hard."

The judge's eyelashes flickered, but his face remained grave. "I am
afraid that you will have to remain here. That is"--he added dryly--"if
you expect to realize anything from the property."

"I expect there can't be much property," observed Hollis.

The judge smiled. "A thousand acres of good grass land, some buildings,
and"--here the judge's eyes gleamed and he drawled his words--"a
newspaper."

Hollis sat erect. "A newspaper!" he gasped. "A newspaper in this
country? Why, man, a newspaper----"

The judge laughed. "So you will n