“I—I had a slight accident,” he said hastily, noting her glance. “Nothing of importance. I——” “Mr. Conover has told us of it,” answered Anice. “It was splendid of you, Clive! You risked your life to——” “To get out of a fight that my own folly had brought on. That was all. I’m afraid my tour wasn’t exactly a success. In fact, I fear it will go down in Mountain State annals as the colossal failure of the century. So I’m back.” “You’ve given up?” she asked in quick interest. “Why? Do you want me to?” “No.” Her monosyllable told little. Her eyes, which he alone could see, told more. Clive was satisfied. “I have not given up,” he said simply, “and I am not going to.” “Oh, but, Clive,” put in his aunt, finding her voice at last after the shock of seeing Standish walk thus boldly into the lion’s den. “You’d really better give up the whole silly business. I’m sure Mr. Conover would be so pleased.” “I don’t doubt it,” replied Standish, smiling grimly at Anice over the old lady’s bobbing head, “but I’m afraid it is a pleasure that’s at least deferred. The kind that Solomon tells us ‘maketh the heart sick.’ I’m still in the race. Very much in it.” “But then, why—why have you come here, Clive?” urged Letty nervously. “Mr. Conover and you are such bad friends. I’m sure there’ll be an awful scene, just as there was that time four years ago. And I do so hate scenes. After this evening’s——” “I’m afraid there may be a ‘scene,’ as you call it,” admitted Clive, “but it won’t be at all on the order of the one four years ago. And I hope it won’t be in your presence either, Aunt.” Again his eyes met Anice Lanier’s. She nodded ever so slightly, and he knew that when the time should come he could trust her to remove the timid woman from the danger zone. “Why do you want to see Mr. Conover?” asked Anice, “or is that an impertinent——?” “Not in the least. I want to come to an understanding with him. Affairs have reached a point where that is necessary.” “An understanding?” “Yes. As long as he contented himself with ordering his followers to lampoon and vilify myself and the League I made no complaint. It was dirty, but I suppose it was politics. But when he muzzles the press, orders the police and the mayor of the cities to refuse me fair play, and sets thugs to attack me and illegally steals the State conventions, it’s time to have it out with him face to face. That is why I am here, and why I shan’t leave until I have seen him. I hadn’t meant to say all this to you,” he added, ashamed of his own heat, “but——” “Oh, I’m _certain_ Mr. Conover won’t like it!” moaned his aunt. “I’m quite certain he won’t. Now, if you’d only speak tactfully and pleasantly to him——” “Well,” came the Railroader’s strident tones from the hall outside, “where is he, then?”