lenty of it to be had.
But when you pull out one set of props the whole thing will come down.
We haven't any of us been careful enough about what we put in
writing--_not even your father_."

Blount staggered as if the words had been a blow.

"You're trying to tell me that my father would be involved in the
disclosures you fellows might drive me to make?" he demanded, and his
voice was husky.

Gantry was still looking away. "There always has to be an
intermediary--you know that. We can't do business direct with
these--with the people who have something to sell. You can draw your own
inferences, Evan. I didn't send Hathaway to you; I sent him to your
father."

The train was thundering into the station and Blount picked up his
hand-bag and went out, stumbling blindly in the unlighted passage at the
stair-head. And in the private office behind him the traffic manager
was crushing his dead cigar in his clenched hand and staring fixedly at
the square of darkness framed by the open window.

XIV

BARRIERS INVISIBLE

During the three weeks following the night journey to Angora, a journey
on which he once more fought the hard battle to a still sharper
conclusion, Evan Blount scarcely saw his office in Temple Court for more
than a brief hour or two at a time. One speaking appointment followed
another in such rapid succession that he was constantly going or
returning; and since there was everywhere a repetition of the welcome
accorded him by the miners of the Carnadine district, there was no
reason save physical weariness to make him wish to limit his
opportunity.

It was not until he was deep into the fourth week of the hurryings to
and fro that he began to admit a suspicion which grew like a juggler's
rose once he had given it place. Could it be possible that these
numerous invitations, coming now from all parts of the State, were
purely spontaneous? If not, if they were so many subtle moves in the
great game, he could see no possible end to be subserved by them save
one: they were effectually keeping him away from the capital, which was
naturally the nucleus and centre of the campaign activities. Was there
something going on at headquarters that "the powers" did not wish him
to find out? Of one thing he was well assured. Gantry was dodging him,
was apparently keeping an accurate record of his movements; for whenever
the hurryings permitted a flying return to the capital the traffic
manager was always out of t