“Hold on, Luke, don’t set the boy off on the wrong track.  I know how he feels.  Harlan, you’re going down there just as I said you’re going—­with an open mind, clean hands, good, straight American spirit to do right just so far as a man in politics can do right!  I want you to see for yourself.  If you want my help in anything you shall have it.  But it’ll be Gramp advising his boy—­not a boss, hectoring.  Believe that!”

“You needn’t be afraid of the city fellows,” advised Presson.

Harlan stood up before them, earnest, intense, determined.

“A fellow placed as I have been has this much advantage over city chaps, and I’m going to take courage from it,” he said:  “I’ve had a chance to read.  There are long evenings in the woods, and I haven’t been able or obliged to kill time at clubs and parties.  I have read, Mr. Presson.  I don’t know how much good it has done me.  That remains to be found out.  Perhaps a fellow who reads and hasn’t real experience gets a wrong viewpoint.  But this much I do believe:  a man can be honest, himself, in politics, and can find enough honest men to stand with him.  I’m going to try, at any rate.  For if there’s any dependence to be put in what I read there’s something serious the matter in public affairs.”

“Going to start a reform party, young man?” chuckled the State chairman.  He had seen and tested youthful ideals before in his political experience.

“I didn’t mean it that way.  I wasn’t talking about myself.  I’ll be only a little spoke in the wheel, sir.  But I mean to say that when I get to the State House I’m going to hunt up the men who believe in a square deal, and I’m going to train with ’em.”  He spoke a bit defiantly.  It was youth declaring itself.  It was a spark from the fire that Ivus Niles had kindled by his sneers.

“Boy,” said the old man, cheerfully, “you’re prancing just a bit now.  But you needn’t be afraid of me, because I said I’d help you.  The first thing I’ll do will be to take you around and introduce you to the men down in the legislature who are proposing to reform the State.  So you see I mean right!”

The State chairman seemed much amused.  He chuckled.

The Duke walked to the end of the porch and gazed up at the Jo Quacca hills, where the dim, red glow still shone against the sky.

“So it took down three stands of buildings, did it, Harlan?” he called.  “Did you tell the boys we’d settle promptly, and for them to keep away from the lawyers?”

“I arranged it the best I could and got their promise.  But they seem to know the fire was set on purpose, and are pretty gruff about it.”

“Of course the fire was set on purpose—­and I have a right to clear my own land when I want to.  But I know how to settle, bub, so as to turn their vinegar to cream.  For when I square a political debt, whether it’s pay or collect, there’s no scaling down!  Full value—­and then a little over!”