He turned back to James, who was sitting despondently at the managing editor's desk, jabbing at the blotting sheet with a pencil. Jeff touched the _Advocate_ he still held in his hand. “Did you read this story carefully?” “No. I just ran my eye down it. Why?” “Whoever dug it up has made a mistake. He has jumped to the conclusion that I'm Uncle Robert's son. Why not let it go at that?” His cousin looked up with a flash of eager hope. “You mean--” “I might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb. Let it go the way they have it.” The lawyer's heart leaped, but he could not let this go without a protest. “No, I--I couldn't do that. It's awfully good of you, Jeff.” The managing editor smiled in his whimsical way. “My reputation has long been in tatters. A little more can't hurt it.” James conceded a reflective assent with a manner of impartiality. “Of course your friends wouldn't think any the less of you. They're not so--so--” “respectable as yours,” Jeff finished for him. “I was going to say so hidebound.” “All the same, isn't it?” “But it would be a sacrifice for you. I recognize that. And I'm not sure that I could accept it. I will have to think that over,” the lawyer concluded magnanimously. “You'll find it is best. But I think I would tell Miss Frome, even if I didn't tell anybody else. She has a right to know.” “You may depend upon me to do whatever is best about that.” James was hardly out of the office before Captain Chunn blew in like a small tornado. He was boiling with rage. “What's this infernal lie about you being the son of a convict, David?” he demanded, waving a copy of the Herald. “Sit down, Captain. I'll tell you the story because you're entitled to it. But I shall have to speak in confidence.” “Confidence! Dad burn it, what are you talking about? Are you trying to tell me that Phil Farnum was a thief and a convict?” Jeff's steel-blue eyes looked straight into his. “Nothing so impossible as that, Captain. I'm going to tell you the story of his brother.” Jeff told it, but he and the owner of the _World_ disagreed radically about the best way to answer the attack. “Why must you always stand between that kid glove cousin of yours and trouble? Let him stand the gaff himself. It will do him good,” Chunn stormed. But Jeff had his way. The _World_ made no denial of the facts charged. In a statement on the front page that covered less than three sticks he told the simple story of the defalcation of Robert Farnum. One thing only he added to the account given in the opposition papers. This was that during the past two years the shortage of the bank cashier had been paid in full to the Planters' First National at Shelby.