"And I've got to ask Judge Damon for six articles on The League of Nations." "Ha, ha! That's a good one," chuckled Mr. Cameron. "The League of Nations is like a red rag to the Judge. He can't be trusted to speak of it, let alone writing about it." "Mr. Carter said Judge Damon was an expert on international law," explained Paul. "So he is, so he is! But he isn't expressing his opinion of The League of Nations, just the same." "You think he wouldn't do the articles?" "Do them? Mercy, no!" "Then I guess it was all a joke," murmured Paul, with a wistful, disappointed quiver of the lip. Mr. Cameron saw the joyousness fade from the young face. "It was contemptible for him to put up such a game on you kids!" he ejaculated. Thrusting his hands into his pockets he stared up at the ceiling. "I'm not so sure," he presently remarked slowly, "but what, if your uncle knew the circumstances, he might be coaxed into meeting Carter's demand." "Do you think so?" Again courage shone in Paul's eyes. "I'm pretty sure of it." The lad's brow became radiant. "I'll see Damon myself," went on Cameron humorously. "I'll tell him I have yielded up my preferences for the common good and that he must do the same. His son Carl is in your class, isn't he?" "Yes, sir." "Then it's as much his duty to help on 1920 as mine. He adores that boy of his. You leave him to me. I'll bring him round to our way of thinking all right." "And the ads?" "Set your classmates on their fathers," was the terse reply as the elder man clapped on his hat and left the house. Paul watched him out of sight, then sighed a happy little sigh of satisfaction. With such a sympathetic colleague to fall back upon he felt confident the _March Hare_ would succeed. CHAPTER IV ANOTHER ALLY Mr. Cameron was as good as his word. The next morning when Paul appeared at breakfast, he was greeted with the words: "Well, I won Damon over. You're to go around there this evening and he'll have a paper ready for you to the effect that in consideration of the _Echo_ printing the _March Hare_, the judge will write for the _Echo_ six articles on the pros and cons of The League of Nations. You are to get Carter to sign this agreement and then we'll lock it up in my strong box at the bank." "That's bully, Dad. It was mighty good of you to take this trouble for us." "That's all right, son. I'm always glad to help you boys out. Besides," he added whimsically, "I am not entirely philanthropic. The thing amuses me. I always enjoy beating Carter when I get the chance." Paul regarded his father affectionately. The big man seemed very human just at that moment,--little more, in fact, than a boy like himself. "Then, as I understand it, all we fellows have to do now is to round up the ten ads.," he said, dropping into his chair at the table and vigorously attacking his grape-fruit. "What ads. are you talking about, Paul?" asked his mother, who had just entered the room.