opened an
office to-morrow you would find clients without trouble. You are
beginning to be known, very well known for a man of your years."

Harwood demurred feebly, unheeded by Bassett, who continued steadily.

"I had thought for a time that I shouldn't encourage you to take any
part in politics--at least in my affairs. The receivership has been
giving you enough to do; and the game, after all, is a hard one. Even
after I decided to break with Thatcher I thought I'd leave you out of
it: that's why I gave you no intimation of what was coming, but put the
details into Atwill's hands. I had really meant to show you a proof of
that editorial, but I wasn't sure until they had to close the page that
night that I was ready to make the break. I had been pretty hot that
evening at the Country Club when I saw Pettit and Thatcher chumming
together; I wanted to be sure I had cooled off. But I find that I've got
in the habit of relying on you; I've been open with you from the
beginning, and as you know I'm not much given to taking men into my
confidence. But I've been leaning on you a good deal--more, in fact,
than I realized."

There was no questioning Bassett's sincerity, nor was there any doubt
that this appeal was having its effect on the younger man. If Bassett
had been a weakling timorously making overtures for help, Harwood would
have been sensible of it; but a man of demonstrated force and
intelligence, who had probably never talked thus to another soul in his
life, was addressing him with a candor at once disarming and compelling.
It was not easy to say to a man from whom he had accepted every kindness
that he had ceased to trust him; that while he had been his willing
companion on fair-weather voyages, he would desert without a qualm
before the tempest. But even now Bassett had asked nothing of him; why
should he harden his heart against the man who had been his friend?

"You have your ideals--fine ideas of public service that I admire. Our
party needs such men as you; the young fellows couldn't get away from us
fast enough after '96; many of the Sons of old-time Democrats joined the
Republicans. Fitch has spoken to me of you often as the kind of man we
ought to push forward, and I'm willing to put you out on the
firing-line, where you can work for your ideals. My help will handicap
you at first,"--his voice grew dry and hard here,-"but once you have got
a start you can shake me off as quick as you like. It's a perfec