"Does the paper have any influence?"

"A great deal."

"I've heard of your cousin. A crack-brained Socialist, I understand."

"You'll find he's a long way from that," James denied.

"Whatever he is, buy him," ordered Powers curtly.

The young man shook his head. "Can't be done. He doesn't want the things
you have to offer."

"Every man has his price. Find his, and buy him."

James shook his head decisively. "Absolutely impossible. He's an
idealist and an altruist."

Powers snorted impatiently. "Talk English, young man, and I'll
understand you."

Farnum had heard Joe Powers was a man who would stand plain talk from
those who had the courage to give it him. His cool eyes hardened. Why
not? For once the old gray pirate, chief of the robber buccaneers who
rode on their predatory way superior to law, should see himself as Jeff
Farnum saw him.

"What I mean is that the things he holds most important can't be bought
with dollars and cents. He believes in justice and fair play. He thinks
the strong ought to bear the burdens of the weak.

"He has a passion to uplift humanity. You can't understand him because
it isn't possible for you to conceive of a man whose first thought is
always for what is equitable."

"Just as I thought, a Socialist dreamer and demagogue," pronounced
Powers scornfully.

"Merrill and Frome have been thinking of him just as you do." James
waved his hand toward the newspaper in front of the railroad king. "With
what result our election shows."

"Well, where does his power lie? How can you break it?" the old man
asked.

"He is a kind of brother to the lame and the halt all over the state.
Among the poor and the working classes he has friends without number.
They believe in him as a patriot fighting for them against the foes of
the country."

"Do you call me a foe of the country, young man?" Powers wanted to know
grimly.

"Not I," laughed James. "Why should I quarrel with my bread and jam? If
you had ever done me the honor to read any of my speeches you would see
that I refer to you as a Pioneer of Civilization and a Builder for the
Future. But my view doesn't happen to be universal. I was trying to show
you how the man with the dinner pail feels."

"Who fills his dinner pails?"

James met his frown with a genial eye. "There's a difference of opinion
about that, sir. According to the economics of Verden University you
fill them. According to the _World_ editorials it's the other way.