ned argument side-stepped and he was reduced to the necessity of
declaring his purpose baldly. The railroad people had offered him a
place, and he had accepted it.

"So McVickar talked you over to his side, did he?" was the boss's gentle
comment. "It's all right, son; you're a man grown, and I reckon you know
best what you want to do. If it puts us on opposite sides of the
political creek, we won't let that roil the water any more than it has
to, will we?"

To such a mild-mannered surrender, or apparent surrender, the stirring
filial emotions could do no less than to respond heartily.

"We mustn't let it," was the quick reply; but after this the younger man
added: "I feel that I ought to make some explanations--they're due to
you. I've been knocking about here in the city with my eyes and ears
open, and I must confess that the political field has been made to
appear decidedly unattractive to me. From all I can learn, the political
situation in the State is handled as a purely business proposition; it
is a matter of bargain and sale. I couldn't go into anything like that
and keep my self-respect."

"No, of course you couldn't, son. So you just took a job where you could
earn good, clean money in your profession. I don't blame you a
particle."

Blount was vaguely perturbed, and he showed it by absently laying aside
the cigar which he had lately lighted and taking a fresh one from the
open box on the table. He could not help the feeling that he ought to be
reading between the lines in the paternal surrender.

"You think there will be more or less political work in my job with the
railroad?" he suggested, determined to get at the submerged facts, if
there were any.

"Oh, I don't know; you say McVickar has hired you to do a lawyer's work,
and I reckon that is what he will expect you to do, isn't it?"

Blount laid the second cigar aside and crossed the room to readjust a
half-opened ventilating transom. Mr. McVickar had not defined the duties
of the new counselship very clearly, but there had been a strong
inference running through the private-car conference to the effect that
the headship of the local legal department would carry with it some
political responsibilities. At the moment the newly appointed placeman
had been rather glad that such was the case. The vice-president had
convinced him of the justice of the railroad company's
contention--namely, that the present laws of the State, if rigidly
administered, am