James slammed the door shut on him and paced up and down in an impotent fury of passion. “The dirty little blackleg! He'd like to bracket me in the same class as himself. He'd like to imply that I--By Heaven, if he opens his lying mouth to a hint of such a thing I'll horsewhip the little cad.” But running uneasily through his mind was an undercurrent of disgust--with himself, with Jeff, with the whole situation. Why had he ever let himself get mixed up with such an outfit? Government by the people! The thing was idiotic, mere demagogic cant. Power was to the strong. He had always known it. But yesterday that old giant at The Brakes had hammered it home to him. He did not like to admit even to himself that his folly had betrayed Hardy's cause, but at bottom he knew he should not have gone to The Brakes until after the election and that he ought never to have let Killen out of the office without an explanation. Yesterday he would have won back the man somehow by an appeal to his loyalty and his self-interest. He must send word at once to Jeff and let him try to remedy the mischief. His cousin, coming into the office with Rawson just as James took down the receiver of the telephone, noticed at once the disturbance of the latter. James told his story. It was clear to him that he must anticipate Killen's disclosure of his visit to The Brakes and so draw the sting from it as far as possible. But his natural reluctance to shoulder blame made him begin with Killen's defection. “I told you to let me deal with the little traitor,” Rawson exploded. “He was quite satisfied when I left him yesterday. They must have got at him again,” Jeff suggested. “I left O'Brien with him. But I was dead sure of him.” James cleared his throat and began casually. “I expect the little beggar got suspicious when he saw Big Tim coming to my office.” “To your office?” Rawson cut in sharply. The lawyer flushed, but his eyes met and quelled the incipient doubt in those of the politician. “Yes, he came to feel the ground. Of course I told him flatly where I stood. But Killen must have thought something was doing he wasn't in on. It seems he followed me to The Brakes yesterday afternoon when I called on Mrs. Van Tyle.” “Followed you to The Brakes. Good Lord!” groaned Rawson. “What in Mexico were you doing there?” “Thought I mentioned that I was calling on Mrs. Van-Tyle,” returned James stiffly. “Wasn't that call a little injudicious under the circumstances, James?” contributed Jeff with his whimsical smile. “I suppose I may call wherever I please.” “It was a piece of dashed foolishness, that's what it was. You say Killen saw you. The thing will fly like dust in the wind. It will be buzzed all over the House by this time and every man that wants to sell out will find a reason right there,” stormed Rawson. “Are you implying that I sold out?” demanded James icily.