hand.

"Why, the whole thing's as straight as a string," he said. "It's got to
go through. I'll go and see Farquhar to-morrow."

* * * * *

Farquhar was a cleverer man than the representative from Hamlin County.
He had been returned several times by his constituents, and his life had
been spent in localities more allied to effete civilization than was
Barnesville. He knew his Washington and had an astute interest in the
methods and characteristics of new members of Congress, particularly
perhaps such as the rural districts loomed up behind as a background.
Judge Rutherford he had observed at the outset of his brief career, in
the days when he had first appeared in the House of Representatives in
his new broadcloth with its new creases, and with the uneasy but
conscientious expression in his eye.

"There's a good fellow, I should say," he had remarked to the member at
the desk next to him. "Doesn't know what to do, exactly--isn't quite sure
what he has come for--but means to accomplish it, whatsoever it may turn
out to be, to the best of his ability. He'd be glad to make friends. He's
used to neighbours and unceremonious intimacies."

He made friends with him himself and found the acquaintance of interest
at times. The faithfully reproduced atmosphere of Barnesville had almost
a literary colour. Occasionally, though not frequently, he encouraged
delineation of Jenny and Tom Scott and Thacker and "the boys." He had
even inhaled at a distance vague whiffs of Sophronia's waffles.

On the morning after the evening spent at Dupont Circle Judge Rutherford
frankly buttonholed him in the lobby.

"Farquhar," he said, "I'm chock full of a story. It kept me awake half
the night. I want to ask your advice about it. It's about a claim."

"You shouldn't have let it keep you awake," replied Farquhar. "Claims are
not novel enough. It's my opinion that Washington is more than half
populated just now with people who have come to present claims."

Judge Rutherford's countenance fell a little as the countenance of an
enthusiast readily falls beneath the breath of non-enthusiasm.

"Well," he said, "I guess there are plenty of them--but there are not
many like this. You never heard such a story. It would be worth listening
to, even if you were in the humour to walk ten miles to kick a claim."

Farquhar laughed.

"I have been in them, Guv'nor," he said. "The atmosphere is heavy with
car