er, busy with a tax levy
story, Miller came in and took a seat. Jeff waved a hand at him and
promptly forgot he was on earth until he rose and put on his coat an
hour later.

"Well! Did they get off all right?" he asked.

Miller nodded absently. Ten minutes later he let out what he was
thinking about.

"I wish to God I knew the man," he exploded.

Jeff looked at him quietly. "I'm glad you don't. Adding murder to it
wouldn't help the situation one little bit, my friend."

CHAPTER 14

Only the man who is sheet-armored in a triple plate of
selfishness can be sure that weak hands won't clutch at him
and delay his march to success.--From the Note Book of a
Dreamer.

THE HERO, CONFRONTED WITH AN UNPLEASANT POSSIBILITY, PROVES HIS
GREATNESS BY RISING SUPERIOR TO SENTIMENT

Part 1

James came down to the office one morning in his car with a smile of
contentment on his handsome face. It had been decided that he was to be
made speaker of the House after the next election, assuming that he
and his party were returned to power. Jeff and the progressives were to
stand back of him, and he felt sure that after a nominal existence the
standpatters would accept him. He intended by scrupulous fair play to
win golden opinions for himself. From the speakership to the governor's
chair would not be a large step. After that--well, there were many
possibilities.

He did not for a moment admit to himself that there was anything of
duplicity in the course he was following. His intention was to line up
with the progressives during the campaign, to win his reelection on that
platform, and to support a rational liberal program during the session.
He would favor an initiative and referendum amendment not so radical as
the one Jeff offered, a bill that would not cripple business or alarm
capital. As he looked at it life was a compromise. The fusion of many
minds to a practical result always demanded this. And results were more
important than any number of theories.

As James passed into his office the stenographer stopped him with a
remark.

"A man has been in twice to see you this morning, Mr. Farnum."

"Did he leave his name?"

"No. He said he would call again."

James passed into his private office and closed the door.

A quarter of an hour later his stenographer knocked. "He's here again,
Mr. Farnum."

"Who?"

"The man I told you of."

"Oh!" James put down the brief he was reading. "Show him