one in politics every day of the week.
Weren't individuals in high positions constantly accepting tips to put
through business measures of one sort or another, regardless of whether
they personally approved of them or not? To be sure, he had heard his
father call such money _bribe money_, _dirty money_, and refer to the
men who took it as being _bought up_.

Paul knew his father scorned such proceedings. That was the reason he
had lost the campaign when running for mayor against Mr. Carter in 1915.
It had been an underhanded fight and almost everyone in Burmingham,
regardless of party, had thought so. Mr. Carter had won the election, it
is true, but it had been at the expense of the respect of the entire
community.

And now he, Paul Cameron, was deserting the principles for which his
father stood and was accepting those of his opponent. Plainly speaking,
that was what the thing amounted to. He was taking money for something
he disapproved of doing; he was being a traitor to his class, to his
friends, to the school. The boys on the staff of the paper respected and
trusted him. They would never suspect him of treachery. Should he stand
up and advocate the sale of the _March Hare_ he knew his word would have
weight. If, on the other hand, he manfully presented Mr. Carter's offer
as it honestly should be presented, he was practically sure that the
measure would be voted down.

Yet if he returned the money to Mr. Carter and refused to have anything
further to do with the affair, he must forfeit his typewriter, the thing
on which he had set his heart.

What an unlucky snarl it was! How unfortunate that the _March Hare's_
bank account should have been muddled and its editor driven to repair an
error that was not his! Had not this occurred, all would have gone
smoothly and he could have thrust the odious money back in Mr. Carter's
face and left his office a free man. He hated Mr. Carter, the _March
Hare_, the school, and all the web of circumstances in which he was
entangled! He wanted that typewriter. It seemed as if he must have it.
In the meantime, the May issue of the school paper came out and
preparations for the June number, the last that 1920 would publish,
began. The swift passing of the days forced Paul's hand. Whichever way
he was to act he must act soon now, and he found himself no nearer a
decision than he had been two weeks ago. He still had Mr. Carter's money
in his pocket, and he was still eyeing the Corona h