“Oh, you!” said Bemis striking him softly on the shoulder. “You a Has-been! Why, Jim, you’re the slickest man in southern Illinois--when you want to be!” * * * * * Holman found McCray in the Leland bar-room. The young man was plainly in some mental stress, his hair matted to his brow, his face moist with perspiration, and drawn, and in his eyes an utter weariness. “Just the man I was looking for,” said Holman. “I came to see you about a little matter down in Jasper; some interests I represent--constits of yours--and I’ve got to hurry back. So, just give me a minute; I’ll not keep you long.” McCray looked at his watch. “I”--he hesitated--“I must get over to the house; I’m late, anyway. I was detained--” “Yes, I know,” said Holman, “but I’ve got to see you. It’s something you’re interested in, anyway. If you’ll just walk along a little way with me.” Once outside, Holman kept on out Sixth Street, and McCray, wondering somewhat, did not demur. “McCray, you don’t know me well,” Holman began; “I’m an old-timer--a Has-been, as I overheard a man say this morning. You’re a young man; you come from my district--or, perhaps, I’d better say I come from yours. I came here one session, just as you have done, from old Jasper, and I served, in all, four sessions. During that time I saw a lot of life and of men; I learned a lot, too, and then I gave it up--and quit. This morning I came back for a little holiday, and I strolled over to the house to see how the old place looked once more, just as all the Has-beens do; they always manage to get back, some way or another, every session; it’s a habit, a fever, a disease--get it once, a fellow never gets over it. Well, this morning, as I stood there looking around I saw you; and that and one thing and another reminded me of something. I saw you sitting there--young, ambitious, bright, with the world before you,--and, well, my boy, I took a kind of liking for you all of a sudden; but that’s neither here nor there. What I was reminded of, curiously enough, was another young fellow I used to know years ago--a fellow that didn’t look so much like you, perhaps, and yet who was like you in many ways.