UC-NRLF LO GIFT OF BETTINA THE STANDPATTER A CHRONICLE OF DEMOCRACY By ELLA HAMILTON DURLEY Author of "Mr SOLDIER LADY'* ILLUSTRATED BY BURR GIFFEN THE HERALD SQUARE PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CITY Copyright -li> 12 by Ella Hamilton Durley BARR & HAYFIELD, PRINTERS, NEW YORK. To the Supreme Court of the United States the American People 263489 The Standpatter CHAPTER I. It was Bettina Brigham who called a halt. Her three companions looked on wonderingly as that energetic young woman, whose strong guiding hand and quick perceptions had brought them safely up the difficult in- cline, swung back the door of the limousine and stepped lightly to the ground. It took alertness on the part of her associates to keep pace with Miss Brigham's mental operations. She had a briskness that was half a challenge, an effervescence that had to bubble up and occasionally spill over in order to prevent an explosion. She was now scrutinizing for the hundredth time the rough pencil sketch of the route they had just traversed. "This is surely Aztec Lodge," she said, as she glanced at the arched portal and again at her notes. "Who ever saw directions so lucid as these?" And she shrugged her shoulders significantly. "Who ever saw directions so deucedly stupid, I should say, Betty, begging your pardon." Ward Percival had followed Miss Brigham and was peering over her shoul- der, and it was he who thus gave vent to his disgust. "Listen," entreated the girl. "How Uncle Haredale would roar if he could see Jacob's labored instructions. 'Leave Holloway boulevard,' he says, 'at Canterbury Rancho, just beyond the red bridge.' " "Canterbury Rancho? The country place of the Hon- orable Geoffrey Canterbury, I'll be bound; and thereby hangs a tale." "A Canterbury tale, of course, Ward ?" "Naturally; but isn't it queer that I didn't think of its being Canterbury's big alfalfa ranch? He was in the office not a week ago and telling us about it. When the b THE STANDPATTER Honorable Geoffrey isn't discoursing politics he's culti- vating alfalfa. It's part of the game, you know." "Trust Ward to unearth a story on short order. He can do it every time to the manner born, I suppose. He'd be no newspaper man if he didn't. Sure enough," added Miss Brigham, "Canterbury Rancho must be the home of the member down in this neck o' woods. What a fight he had for the nomination ! I remember you took off your coat and worked against him, Ward. Some time you must tell us your Canterbury tale and give us, if you please, all the frills and furbelows 'ginger', I be- lieve, is the correct word that belong to a modern Boc- caccio. You're herewith appointed official story-teller, Ward." "He fits the part, all right. I could never do it, my dad being a preacher. It's fierce this always having to stand by the eternal verities," and Philip Ingalls groaned at his own limitations. "Let me see, where was I when I interrupted myself? Oh, yes, we were to leave the boulevard just beyond the red bridge or was it the lavender bridge? then go north half way through the gum-tree avenue," continued Bettina. "It's a rare brain that can measure half of a given dis- tance without first seeing the whole ; but Bettina, with her recently acquired Berkeley degree, was equal to the strain." And Ward smiled on the young girl. "Follow bend to the right as far as the five giant pep- pers," continued Bettina, ignoring his banter, "then cross the little Arroyo, passing the trolley line just beyond, go up the hill, and by and by 'by and by,' mark you you will find yourself at the once proud entrance to Aztec Lodge. The crouching lions on either side are en- tirely harmless." "Aha, the solemn Jacob indulges in a joke!" "So, here we are!" cried Bettina excitedly; they began to look about with a new interest. The old mansion which they were now facing was quaint enough to have been built in the Middle Ages. It was perched well up on the side of the foot-hill, and the immediate grounds, which broke toward the west, were enclosed by a broad, stuccoed wall of stone. The THE STANDPATTER 7 outlook was commanding, embracing to the north a wondrous sweep of mountain, wooded, or clothed with an undergrowth of soft-hued foliage; and hugging the western horizon, the gleaming turquoise of the distant sea. There was a stateliness which suggested the pre- tentious military stronghold of the medieval period; but the rugged structure itself, with walls two feet thick rising only to the second story, capped by rows of dormer windows, zigzagging and jagged, spoke with a degree of certainty of the crude and early Spanish days of Southern California ; and those days were, happily, not yet so re- mote as to wipe out all traditions respecting them, nor respecting the place itself. Bettina explained to her friends that in its prime, the rude mansion was said to have been a substantial though unromantic hostelry, a comfortable wayside inn built after the fashion of the time, low and rambling. Here the wayfarer could obtain refreshment and rest his weary bones after the fatigue of a tedious journey up or down the coast a journey usually taken on foot with a stout stick as sole companion, used ostensibly as a support, but, in reality, as a possible weapon of defense from dan- gers real or imagined ; in the case of the more prosperous a sturdy mustang pony serving the traveller. Following the ever growing commercial spirit which took root early in the coast country, the cumbersome old mansion had been extended, little by little, with small attempt at syn,..ietry, to a length of full two hundred feet, giving a unique impression. It was during the process of this extension that the picturesqueness of the villa or, rather, its unconscious sim- plicity was marred and all but destroyed in the effort to convert it into a fashionable resort. Conventional design and genuine art have seldom been known to go hand in hand. There were dimly remembered days of tally-ho parties made up of the sprightly beaux and belles of Santa Bar- bara, Los Angeles and San Gabriel; Spanish beauties there were in those days, and haughty caballeros; Eng- lishmen, too, ruddy of cheek and resonant of voice, with a cheery self-assertiveness of demeanor; dapper French- men whose fastidiousness and elegance of manner and 8 THE STANDPATTER garb somehow placed them in a class by themselves ; and, mingling with them, the more numerous and no less in- teresting, even if less polished, American from beyond the Rockies. In those days the halls and drawing-rooms echoed to the shouts of merriment; of rythmic melody, laughter and dancing. There was, however, on this bright June day little to suggest life, much less gayety, in the deep solitude of Aztec Lodge, and the occupants of the big touring-car were evidently bent on something more than mere pleasure. There was in the deserted, ramshackle villa an at- mosphere of disuse and decay. The imposing archway, with its wild luxuriance of overhanging creepers, was crumbling in places and sagging visibly; the driveway, once dignified and graceful in its curving sweep, was overgrown with moss, lichens and rank, pungent weeds; gray-green lizards darted hither and thither, making merry in the dank undergrowth; an ugly horned toad scuttled to cover. The heavy hand of time rested on the house and the forlorn servants' quarters. The long-neg- lected groves apricot, lemon and olive were choked and barren, while the vineyards had ceased to exist save for an occasional parent-stalk that still insisted on living and mutely flourishing if for naught but to testify to the richness and fecundity of California soil. "So, here we are. How does Aztec Lodge please. Fran Wildenow?" And Ward Percival looked inquiringly at the party's dignified chaperon. "Aztec Lodge truly 'a lodge in some vast wilder- ness/ is it not? I foresee I shall dearly love it. The view it is truly sublime. It takes me far back in memory to lovely old Heidelberg. The site of the old mansion here is very similar to that of the Schloss." The speaker, a comely woman of forty or thereabouts, spoke with the measured intonation of a foreigner. "But, say, Bettina, now that you have seen the lodge in all its dilapidation, it's all off that nonsense of your- self living here, isn't it?" Ward bent a searching look upon Bettina. _ "Assuredly not, WardT The sight of all this sup- pressed magnificence only whets my appetite for con- THE STANDPATTER 9 quest. It's a wilderness true enough, but in California the wilderness of to-day is the handsome country estate of to-morrow the finished product. It's that finished product I want to have a hand in creating. In six weeks, if I mistake not, we shall have the old place habitable; in six months, homelike, attractively so; in six years, a bountiful cornucopia, pouring riches into many laps." "And how will this be brought about?" "By the simple magic of work, intelligent work, of course, along scientific lines, supplemented by California sunshine and an abundance of water." Bettina grew serious as she spoke. "Yes, water is king here in California. But I am not so sure of a supply at this elevation." "Don't throw cold water on my pet project, please. I have looked into all that. The water supply is inex- haustible. I have the word of a scientific expert no less an authority than Dr. Calvin, of the Bureau of Soils, at Berkeley who has himself tramped over these moun- tains and canyons studying the rocks and soil and mois- ture. He knows them as well as Ward knows his print- shop. He found 'water, water, everywhere.' It was tumbling down in crystal torrents, 'torments' I imagine at times; oozing and dripping from granite boulders, gushing up in porous places in cool, delicious springs. There's a water supply here that will be utilized one of these days in a way that will make a fertile garden of the entire valley. Dr. Calvin says that California still has her problems to solve, difficult problems they are, too, but science is equal to their solution. What an alluring field it opens!" "If the scientific guy is correct in his diagnosis" it was Philip Ingalls who spoke in the picturesque vernac- ular of the youth of to-day "the water alone belonging to this big ranch will make you a millionaire, a multi- millionaire, I should say. I take off my hat to the future Miss Brigham of Aztec Lodge. All she'll have to do will be to bottle the water up, put it into cold storage, you know, a la Guggenheim and Morgan. That's the way they do it and time will take care of the profits. Fall- ing water's the cheapest power in the world. In addition to the water there's the timber that we can see on these 10 THE STANDPATTER hills," Philip continued, "and the petroleum that we can almost smell. I fancy I sniff it this minute; and the coal that we can easily trace, and the nitre, no doubt, and the mica. Heavens, what a field for a monopolist!" "Thanks, awfully, Phil; I hadn't thought of all that. You're no end of a good fellow to provide me a fortune right off the bat. I like money and I just revel in making it fly ; but I've a sneaking notion that the people have some claims on these natural resources in Cali- fornia. I'm afraid that such resources as come my way I'll have to use for the benefit of the people, who are as much the owners as I." "Oh, you're talking conservation now," said Philip. "This is all very interesting, not to say instructive," and Ward laughed apologetically, "but, good friends, forbear; I happen to know of a hamper with sundry de- lectable things to eat " "How negligent I have been" Frau Wildenow chose to assume the role of hostess when out with Bettina's friends. "I beg a thousand pardons." And the good woman made an ineffectual effort to rise. Her dizzy struggle brought both young men to her aid. With freezing politeness she declined the proffered hands and scrambled giddily to her feet. If there was anything Frau Wildenow resented it was a show of deference paid her superior years. "Age?" she would sometimes say; "it should never be mentioned. How could I tell my age? I know it not. My memory reaches not back so far." "We'll have things ready in a jiffy," cried Bettina. "See, Ward and Phil already have a blaze started and it's Tolly, put the kettle on, We'll all have tea.' " THE STANDPATTER 11 CHAPTER II. A shower of mild remonstrance and expostulation was precipitated when Bettina Brigham, only a few weeks after her graduation from Berkeley, solemnly declared her intention of establishing a home at Aztec Lodge. Old friends thought they had a right to speak. Bettina was one of them ; and, besides, she had no one of her very own to advise her. Mrs. Cowan-Cowans, whose slightest word was law, had spoken. Every one knew that her mandate regard- ing matters social few had ever had the courage to dis- regard, and now she was vehement in protestation against Bettina's whim. That was what she called her determination to forsake the city and its social allure- ments. The dear hyphenated lady there were those who faintly recalled her as plain Mrs. Cowans; this was, of course, not to be mentioned was sorely disappointed ; more than that, she was chagrined, grieved. She didn't hesitate to say so. She had taken Miss Brigham, quite unselfishly, of course, under her own spacious wings; had presented her to society at a brilliant "function." Could she have done more had the charming girl been her own daughter? There were those who chose to be- lieve that Mrs. Cowan-Cowans was not as unselfish in her motives as she wished to appear; that there was be- hind her amiability a well-conceived plan to unite the Brigham millions with those upon which her son Reg- inald was even now making heavy inroads. Society can be carping and suspicious in such matters. "This much I must say," and Mrs. Cowan-Cowans smiled through a suspicion of tears, as she indulged in a confidential chat with her friend, Mrs. Bradley Godfrey, "I never saw a lovelier debutante, nor did I ever know one who made such a tremendous success. There is Keith Gordon, fresh from London, don't you know? He is madly in love with our beautiful Bettina. Think for a moment of such a triumph ! Why, he's amazingly popular among the smartest people over there, actually 12 THE STANDPATTER hob-nobs with the nobility, I'm told. He simply raves over Bettina. Could talk about nothing but her glorious Titian hair, her lustrous, velvety eyes, her matchless col- oring, which he says he never saw equalled even in Eng- land, where they go complexion-mad. He talked to me about his feeling toward her, said his was a desperate case, and begged me as I valued his friendship, even his sanity, to tell him just how to go about to win her hand and heart. I told him it would be advisable to wait a year or two, as she was young, and if he continued to feel the same way, he might then return and I would try to help him. Really, though, I resent the intrusion of these foreigners. They come into our best American circles, coolly look over the field, take a survey of our pretty daughters, an inventory of their fortunes, as- suming that both girls and fortunes are theirs for the asking. I say they should let our young men have a chance." "Indeed, you are quite right, Mrs. Cowan-Cowans. It is high time for American society, which is equal in point of wealth and breeding to any society in the wide, wide world, as you and I very well know, to call a halt in the very matter of which you speak. We should hold on to our pretty heiresses this side of the Atlantic. And that reminds me, I've always thought your son Reginald and Bettina were intended by the Fates for each other. And mark my words, I'm not the only one who thinks so." "Oh, dear Mrs. Godfrey, believe me, I would not think for a moment of a girl's fortune in that connection. Bet- tina does not look with disfavor upon Reggie, of that I am positive, and he admires her very, very much, I know, but that is neither here nor there. Just now we have to reckon with that temporary madness of hers. Tell, me, pray, what can lead the belle of the season to abjure society just when she has reached the topmost wave of popularity? I say it's unthinkable." "My impression is it's all a college vagary," and Mrs. Bradley Godfrey shrugged her pretty shoulders know- ingly. 'A little learning is a dangerous thing,' don't you know, dear?" THE STANDPATTER 13 Thus Bettina's friends talked, justifying themselves at all times by their deep interest in the girl's welfare. Had they not known and loved her from babyhood? Had they not, in tearful sympathy, taken her to their arms and pressed her to their hearts on that dreadful day when both her parents had been brought home lifeless and mangled as the result of a cruel railway wreck? Bettina was then but eight years old. Something more than sympathy was proffered on that sadly remembered day. Many a mother would, oh, so willingly, have taken the lovely golden-haired child her father's "Honey-bunch" into their homes. More than one begged that privilege with tears; but Judge Haredale, as Arthur Brigham's closest friend, to whom by the terms of his will had fallen the administration of the large estate, ruled otherwise. "Betty is entitled to her own home," the Judge said. "She'll have her own life to lead. The home was a sacred thing to her parents. It's our duty to preserve it for their child." "If I can find a gentle, motherly woman, who can step in here and manage the house and run the servants and who will just dote on 'Honey-bunch' and, if she has a heart she can't help loving the baby there'll be no breaking up of the old Brigham home." And so it was arranged. Frau Wildenow seemed to combine all that Judge Haredale sought in the mistress of "Sunnycroft." She was first of all "cine gute ver- staendige Haus-frau," as the Germans say when they seek to pay a woman, whether of high or low degree, the highest compliment. It implies that she has an eye for the minutest details of the housekeeping art; that she has a solicitude for the little things as well as the large ones ; in a word, that she is sane, sensible, sys- tematic: all of which would count for naught, however, if she has not the kindness of heart, the sincerity of pur- pose, the culture, the refinement, the gentleness and yet the firmness that fit her for the guidance of childhood. To Bettina Frau Wildenow was from the first an af- fectionate friend and companion. Faithful to her own dear "Vaterland" and loving its traditions with patriotic fervor, the German woman gave the child careful in- 14 THE STANDPATTER struction in her own native tongue. As time passed, the two invariably spoke German when together and alone. One happy summer they spent in a quiet resort in the Harz mountains. What a joy to the young girl that she could converse with ease with the quaint folk she met in their daily rambles along mountain paths. Bettina saw then as she could not have seen before that Frau Wildenow had exercised an infinite patience in training a little American girl to use as her own a different foreign tongue ; and she remembered that the wee girl often rebelled against the enforced lessons and some- times, alas, against the kindest of teachers. How the tables had turned- It was an advantageous light in which her patient German companion now ap- peared. She was in her own country. Bettina was the "Aus- laenderin" ; she it was who sometimes found her manner contrained and awkward; she resolved never again to smile at a foreigner's mistakes, however mirth-provoking. Everything depends on one's point of view. With Frau Wildenow there were in Germany no ec- centricities of manner, no vexatious slips of the tongue to overlook. In the genial native atmosphere, her strong character and gracious personality drew to her many admirers. The travellers en route home spent a few days at Leip- zig, that delightful old university city, and musical center of the world. There Bettina learned, quite accidentally, that Frau von Wildenow (the modest German woman had omitted the significant "von" when she came to dem- ocratic America) was one of the first among the women of her own country to pursue a university course. She had done so in the face of strenuous opposition. This had come not only from university men, both faculty and student body, some of whom were rabidly hostile and cynical, but also from her own parents, wealthy and aristocratic residents of Breslau, who preferred their daughter to be conventional rather than scholarly. A new respect arose in Bettina for her "Little Mother," as she had learned to call Frau Wildenow. When it was decided~-that Bettina should take a scien- tific course at Berkeley rather, when she announced THE STANDPATTER 15 her decision to do so, for neither Judge Haredale nor Frau Wildenow had quite courage to oppose her in any reasonable request, nor would she brook opposition the older woman immediately set about making plans to ac- company her. She would consider nothing else. Mrs. Haredale dared to say that it might be well to permit their fledgeling to try her own wings. "Remember," she said, "that our little girl is growing up. She will soon be seventeen, almost a woman. Wouldn't it be well to give her a little responsibility to face?" "I couldn't think of permitting the dear child to. go alone," was the reply. "Think of her beauty as well as her youth. Will she not be a 'co-ed' as you say in America? That will make a chaperon an actual neces- sity, nicht wahr?" Not only did Bettina's chaperon accompany her, but it was further decided that it would be much better to establish a temporary home in the northern city. Where was the grace of hospitality so greatly appreciated as in a college town? where was it so needed? Thus it was that the years at Berkeley were doubly happy. A sightly old-time mansion was chosen for their temporary residence. It was close to the campus so near, in fact, that the glorious trees and dignified buildings, so marked a feature of the university, seemed an adjunct of their own spacious grounds. If there was a suggestion of gloom in the stately house itself, it was soon lost. It required but the presence of youth. A hostess, young, vivacious, beautiful, accom- plished ; a mistress, indulgent, resourceful ; college songs and college cheer sometimes college pranks, too and so the years slipped by. k -~<5 16 THE STANDPATTER CHAPTER III. Six weeks had passed weeks of splendid activity at Aztec Lodge, of prodigious achievement as well. The story flew from lip to lip that the long untenanted villa, theretofore a blot on the landscape, was again oc- cupied; that it was to be re-created, embellished, made the scene of a sumptuous life. Work was going forward at a mad rate. It was nothing short of a miracle the transformation a few weeks had brought about. It was unthinkable. The stretch of highway leading up to the villa, its one public approach, had been re-graded, rolled, and oiled. It was as smooth as glass, and, as for the house, so the story went, no one would recognize it; and yet, it was said, the work had only begun. The roof had been raised, ceilings pulled out, partitions removed, a water system introduced ; a gas plant established. There were, besides, under progress, spacious verandas, per- golas, sun parlors, solar heaters ; a bewildering array of modern devices quite unusual except in urban homes. Thus the news, duly embellished, flew from lip to lip. The climax, reserved for rhetorical effect to the last, was reached when the mistress of the villa was described as a young girl, a radiant beauty, a girl scarcely out of school, and the magic which she employed was her own good sense and a generous fortune. It was hinted that she had a mint of money, which she knew very well how to use. It was a tempting morsel for those who loved gossip. Small wonder the story skirted the foothills, swept down the valley, gathering force and momentum as it went. With every narration the mistress of Aztec Lodge grew prettier, richer, altogether more wonderful. Sometimes it was said she was a foreign princess, presumably in dis- guise; again it was declared that the old ranch was to be converted into a government experiment station, and because of her love of scientific research this young woman who had made^a name in college had been chosen to conduct it: all of which caused paroxysms of ^mirth when in due time it came to the ears of Bettina Brigham THE STANDPATTER 17 herself. Fortunately, her sense of humor was never more keenly alive than when the shaft of raillery was turned upon herself. The story with its wealth of interesting detail reached Canterbury Rancho early in its meteoric course toward the sea. It was already a fairy tale sufficiently exciting and romantic to satisfy the most exacting. Strange if it were not so, and stranger still if some of those marvelous details which graced and enlivened the narrative had not had their origin on the big Canterbury ranch itself the ranch which was such a vantage point of observation. In the first place the broad acres of the Canterbury estate stretched for nearly a mile along the gum tree avenue which ran, now that its curves had been reduced, straight as the crow flies, from the boulevard to Aztec Lodge; and, as everybody knows, Rupert Yenowine, su- perintendent of the ranch for a dozen years or more, was neither blind nor deaf. Neither did much of interest escape his eagle eye. As for his gift of speech well, his tongue had by no means lost its cunning. "I want to know if you've heard the latest, Mr. Geof- frey. I reckon not, and I des-say you wouldn't guess it in a century of Sundays." "Right you are, old man. I never was much on riddles, but I've no objection to your enlightening me. What's up?" Rupert asked no more. He was never so happy as when striving for dramatic effect. "Well, what would you say if I were to tell you that while you were off on this trip a girl had moved in up yonder?" and he gave a jerk of his thumb to indicate the direction of Aztec Lodge. "I should say she wasn't lacking in nerve if she'd gone into that crow's nest all alone." "Good heavens, man! Who said she was alone? I reckon she has as many retainers of one denomination or another as there are hairs on that long head of yours. They talk every tongue under the shining canopy up there, I'll swear, from Sanskrit to pigeon English. I reckon it's a second Washington, D. C., for exercisin' the gift o' tongues." "See here, old chap. No reflections on my hair, if 18 THE STANDPATTER you please. It's getting a trifle thin, but I don't want to be reminded of it. But who's this remarkable young person who has the temerity to invade our solitude?" "She's the granddaughter, as near as I can find out " "What, you don't mean to say that you've been slack in looking into the matter? Overcome with modesty, were you?" "Not exactly. I was about to remark that the girl is the granddaughter of Caleb Brigham, one of our 'hon- ored and revered pioneers,' as you politicians say," and Rupert winked boldly, to indicate that in political ver- biage he was on the inside. "It was a good many years before your day in these parts, but I rec'lect old man Brigham as well as if I'd seen him yesterday. Shrewd as they make 'em, he was, and a powerful money-maker. He picked up land enough in the days when land here- abouts could be bought for a postage stamp an acre and not much of a buy at that to all appearances to make his only son, Arthur, a millionaire oncet or twicet over. "Well, Arth and his wife happened to be in that Coast line smash-up a dozen years ago, and a mighty unfor- tunate happen it was ; for nary one lived to tell the tale. Every darned cent Arth had piled up, and Arth Brigham was no slouch when it came to accumulating went to this smidgin' of a youngster. Judge Haredale's her guar- deen and handles the property; you bei it hasn't shrunk, not a little bit." "Well, I'm mighty glad to hear it. A good big bank account will be mighty handy in fixing up Aztec Lodge. I have a suspicion, though, that a girl reared as she prob- ably has been, will not have the judgment to spend money so that it will count for much. But what put this notion of ranch life into her head? This is no million- aire's row, I can tell her." "Well, as near as I can make out, Caleb Brigham's granddaughter's a leetle mite strong-minded. She's taken it into her pretty head "A beauty, is she? The plot thickens." "Sure, she's pretty; didn't I say so? The prettiest ever! But I was about to remark that, being saucy and strong-minded, she thought she could do a thing or two THE STANDPATTER 19 in the developing line herself. I reckon Judge Haredale told her this would be a good place to begin. I've often wondered why as shrewd a lawyer as he is let the old place go to ruin. The girl's been up to Berkeley, and instead o' warblin' a leetle music an' learnin' to make pictures with a bresh an' sech like, all of which is lady- like an' proper, especially for a rich man's daughter, she up an' studied Political Economy. In one way it's reed- ickelous, an' in another it indicated good horse sense, always considerin' she doesn't carry her shenangoes too far. She'll be runnin' for Congress one o' these days, ef you don't look out. I've heard say she can make a speech with the best of them when she wants to used to deebate jes' for the fun of hearin' her tongue runnin', I reckon." "Well, I must say that as an Information Bureau, Rupert, you're away up in G. I can recommend you." "Much obleeged, sir. I try to do my part in these leetle neighborhood concerns. It was jest this mornin' I took a bit of a fly up that-a-way. Thinks I, I'll take a look at the works for myself, sence seein' is believin'. An' I want to tell you that I got a squint at the whole blame shootin' match. You see, I bumped plumb into the girl herself before I'd proceeded ten feet, an' I'm pre- pared to say, Mr. Geoffrey, that for swell looks an' fine manners she has 'em all beat to a finish." "To tell you the unvarnished truth, Geoffrey, my boy, my first thought was that the girl was a fraud, a blame fraud, fer the simple reason that no girl could be as sweet an' natural like as she made out to look." "Oh, Rupert, Rupert, who would have thought it of you? Heaven help us poor men folk when we fall under feminine charms. How fortunate it is there's no Mrs. Yenowine." "You see," continued Rupert, with a shrug of his broad shoulders, "Doc Millbank you recollect Doc I tried to line him up for you before the primaries but I always had my doubt whether he toed the mark at the critical minute well, Doc's the high muck-a-muck of the big plantation. An' Doc's all right, nothwithstandin' the doubt about his previous condition of servitude. There's no question about that big head of his being chuck full 20 THE STANDPATTER of practical, everyday sense, and that's what's needed. He'll be something more than a figger-head, I tell you, though he has a half-a-dozen college chaps to help him. About as much account as so many bumps on a log they are. Haven't the sand. They're too heavy for light work and too light for heavy work. Jes' betwixt and between. Might do as ornaments at a pink tea. Coin' to school to learn how to run a rawnch, as they call it, is like takin' a preliminary course in purgatory to fit one for kingdom come. It addles the brain, man. No college currikulum for me, ef you please." "There's where you're off, old chap. It's the college man that's forging into every business, now-a-days, and the best of it is, he's making good wherever he goes. Miss Brigham shows surprising business sagacity, sure enough, in looking for trained experts, and there's only one place to go for the really valuable sort, and that is to the up-to-date college where they grow 'em. That's bully, I say. One of these days I expect to see you slip- ping off to Berkeley to brush away some of the cobwebs and get on to the latest wrinkles. "Great Scott, man, you've an imagination that would make your fortune in literatoor, whatever it may do for ye in politics. No, I reckon there'll be a leetle drop in temperature in this pertikelar frostless belt before I get on to what you call up-to-date wrinkles at any institoo- tion o' learnin'. "But Millbank's mighty well pleased with the college laddies, all the same. They don't belong to any pale and stunted variety, and that's a fact. He has one a-lookin' after water nothin' but water regular engineer. He's slippin' water down from Twin Lakes not a hundred yards from the backbone o' the ridge pipin' it down Rattlesnake canyon, to a big cement reservoir on the south mesa that fifty Mexicans are workin' on ; gravity fall, clean as a whistle, all the way, though you'd swear by all that's good and great that water was a'climin' up hill half the time." "That looks to me like a pretty big undertaking for a tenderfoot just out of -school, but it's just that sort of problems these young college men are grappling with. THE STANDPATTER 21 I'll ride over towards evening and take a look at their improvements. I like enterprise." "An' that reminds me that the ladies were perlite enough to say they hoped you'd be right neighborly, you and Madame Canterbury." "The ladies? How many ladies are there, pray?" "Why, there'?, a little woman, German by the burr on her tongue, who does the motherin' act; least- ways she sticks to Miss Brigham like a dog to a bone a Meeses Wildenow. An' there's a pretty leetle waiting maid that called me M'sieu. What do ye think o' that? .Looks like I'm makin' pro-gress, don't it?" "Monsieur Rupert Yenowine pretty good, pretty- good ;" and Geoffrey laughed heartily. 'Well, bon soir, Monsieur." 22 THE STANDPATTER CHAPTER IV. Before he mounted his favorite horse, "Comet," to ride over to Aztec Lodge towards evening of the day of his illuminating conversation with his superintendent, Mr. Geoffrey Canterbury spent a diligent hour at his toilet. This was unusual. His mother, a woman of five and sixty, from whom he had seldom been separated for any great length of time, cherished convictions on the subject of a congressman's position. Mrs. Canterbury regarded a membership in Congress as dignified and exalted. She had also reached the conclusion, following faithful study of the personnel of the house from the vantage ground of the visitors' gallery, that a certain representative from California was under peculiar obligations to live and dress up to the standard she had set for the position. Not for a moment did she doubt that this gifted West- erner would be called higher by a grateful public. A seat in the United States Senate or even the presidency would eventually be open to her son. It was her prayer that she might live to see that day. Into the mazes of modern politics she did not venture, further than to ac- cept without demur and without question all views that Geoffrey advocated. She was, therefore, a conservative of the conservatives. On one point only, as regards her son, did she ever offer a criticism, and that in so apologetic a manner that it could scarcely be held as such. His carelessness in dress during his vacations on the ranch was a constant regret to her. It wounded her pride that he should forget his station and become for the time being a ranchman. This afternoon, however, she had no cause to complain. Geoffrey hurried out from his apartment, clean-shaven, carefully groomed, immaculate in white flannels ; a tiny Cecile Bruner bud in the lapel of his coat. Mrs. Canter- bury smiled approval. "Please say to the ladies of Aztec Lodge," she said, "that I hope to give myself the pleasure of calling very soon. I shall be happy to extend them a welcome. It THE STANDPATTER 23 means so much to us all to have neighbors of our own sort. If I were as young as I once was, I'd have Rupert saddle 'Little Dorrit' this minute and ride over with you." "You've not grown a day older since I've had the honor of your acquaintance," the young man replied gaily. "However, I'll tell them you have serious intentions toward them," and he stopped and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Oh, one moment, dearest," she called after him as he was about to start. "Here's to-day's mail; a basket full of letters. Will you look them -over before you go ?" "I'll glance through the bunch, but I've a premonition, mother mine, that it may be better for my peace of mind to leave the reading till my return." "Nothing to worry about, is there ?" "Not a thing except a small-sized cyclone in the district central committee. Colonel Ricketts has bolted, gone over to the Insurgent ranks. It wouldn't be so bad but there was Silsby last week. There's disaffection in the air." "Well, never mind, they can't shake your hold on the people. That's a comfort. You're as firm with the voters as the 'everlasting hills.' They know you." Geoffrey smiled enigmatically as he raised his hat and turned Comet's nose toward Aztec Lodge. He had hoped for an evening of recreation; hut the political situa^K a forced itself upon him in spite of a determination to dismiss it. Conditions were all awry in California, he reflected \i gloomily. The fact could no longer be denied that Insur- * gency was making deadly inroads in the party of Lincoln and of Grant, the party with which he had worked with enthusiasm since he had reached his majority; with which he had hoped to be allied through the years to come. True, these men called themselves republicans; claimed their share of party patronage; denied the right of any one "to read them out of the ranks. What would , come of it all? The Insurgents were unmistakably in ! the saddle. How he despised the Hocus-Pocus by which / they had gained their supremacy! How could men be! influenced by their clap-trap? He mentally denounced' their leaders as insincere, reckless deceivers of the people, 24 THE STANDPATTER demagogues every man of them, each bent on advancing himself under cover of service to the people. There was all this hullaballoo, for example, about conserving the natural resources of the state nothing but a bid for pop- ular favor. The republican party had stood for years for this principle of conservation was standing for it to-day. Every convention platform, national and state, for a decade had had a good strong plank endorsing con- servation. It was unequivocally the party policy. Yet these would-be leaders were rascally enough to spring conservation as an issue at this late date. Bah, it was disgusting! It was by such contemptible tactics as these that they were disrupting the party in California. He was skimming along in the lengthening shadows cast by the rows of eucalyptus trees. The surroundings were inspiring and Geoffrey's spirits rose as he drew in the deliciously aromatic air of the foot-hills. He almost forgot his bitterness as he watched the roseate tinge, pink deepening into vivid purple, creeping softly up the moun- tains, touched by a wondrous pigment with its source in that great luminous ball now slowly sinking toward a crimson sea. Geoffrey loved the mountains and the sea. He loved them passionately and found in a proximity to either that which soothed and comforted him. He had a feeling oftentimes that his home here, a half-way house, as it were, between those pine-clad ridges and yonder broad, billowy Pacific, was, indeed, a "refuge and a fortress" from an avalanche of care and anxiety. A brisk canter brought him to the boundary line be- tween his own and his neighbor's acres. He bent for- ward in his saddle to scan the evidences of improvement of which Yenowine had spoken. Men were at work, f here and there, singly and in groups. Close to the road- side were half a dozen Japanese laborers. Near the little brown men and directing their efforts was a stalwart, athletic young fellow, bare-headed, bare-armed, his kahki trousers rolled half-way to the knee over his heavy laced boots; his every energy bent on showing his men just how to plant a row of -recently imported grapevines. Geoffrey recognized in this zealous director of the work one of the college men whose presence on a ranch his "Bettina Brig-ham, bellows in hand, was coaxing- into leaping- flame a pile of smouldering log's" THE STANDPATTER 25 own superintendent resented. He smiled as he recalled Yenowine's hostility. Raising his hat to the workmen, though they had scarcely vouchsafed him a glance, so intent were they upon their task, Geoffrey passed on. In the moment of pause there had come one of those sudden atmospheric changes so common in California in the late afternoon when the sun is on the downward path changes which bring with them something more than the suggestion of a chill, which, in this instance, deepened under the thicker shade of the pepper trees beneath which he was now riding. Pondering upon the miracle that was being wrought here in the quiet of the foothills and not without some curi- osity as to the personality that was behind it all, Geoffrey turned into the archway. It was with studied ceremony that Ozawa, the Japa-/ nese "boy'' of the household, ushered the visitor into the| big reception hall. It was impossible for Ozawa, the deft, silent, methodical, to be other than ceremonious in \ the presence of the Caucasian. The formalities of life were deep-rooted in his nature. It was a pretty picture that greeted Geoffrey, one that he often recalled in after years. Bending over the wide, old-fashioned open fireplace with its curious, highly-polished "fire-dogs" and its swinging crane, Bettina Brigham, bellows in hand, was coaxing into leaping flame a pile of smouldering logs. They responded to her efforts with a shower of glowing sparks and a ruddy blaze. The girl wore a simple afternoon frock of a soft, pale blue material, the short sleeves and slightly low-cut neck revealing to advantage the beau- tiful contour of her arms and throat. Her hair, heavy and lustrous, was of a warm, chestnut color, with a gleam of gold in its riotous meshes the kind of hair. that is at once the delight and the despair of artists. She wore it in a loose, low coil, held in place by a silver arrow. Her eyes were large, a soft, velvety hazel, with lashes uncommonly long and thick and beau- tifully curved. As she turned to greet the guest there was a height- ened color in her cheek and lips, an added sparkle to 26 THE STANDPATTER her eyes, whether due to her recent proximity to the fire or to the momentary excitement due to meeting a stranger. Geoffrey thought he had never seen so perfect a pic- ture of radiant youth, of exuberant health and beautiful, budding womanhood as he found in the tall, graceful girl who dropped the bellows with a quick movement and crossed the room with hand extended to bid him wel- come. Frau Wildenow, who, as usual, had her embroidery frame in hand, was presented; and soon the three were chatting as familiarly as if they were acquaintances of long standing. "What a magnificent view you have here!" Geoffrey was standing before the west window, whence, beyond the slope of the hills, could be seen the entire sweep of the valley and, farther still, the blue of the gleaming sea. "Yes, Dr. Millbank calls this window our million dollar picture," said Bettina. "It's worth every dollar of it, isn't it?" "It surely is. And the best of it is you'll never weary of it. Isn't that the final test of a picture's value? I be- lieve the critics say so. I take off my hat to Dame Na- ture. She's the supreme artist. Her pigments have the correct mixture. There are no false lines to ruin her perspective. "But, see" Geoffrey pointed far down the valley "our ranch contributes its mite to your landscape. I call that fine. Do you see that stretch of vivid green ?" "Oh, to be sure, we have a splendid view of your alfalfa fields, your big windmill, too. I fancy that with the field glass we might even see you sitting on your porch or receiving a big delegation that's what porches are for, I believe. Better be discreet; you're not only in the public eye, Mr. Canterbury, but, what's even more dis- astrous sometimes, the eye of your neighbor's upon you." "Henceforth, it will be an inspiration to me to feel that my neighbor's eye may be upon me. I shall try, at least, to think it is." Geoffrey bowed gallantly to the ladies. "It's an off season nowf' he continued, "and there are THE STANDPATTER 27 no delegations abroad, at least none seem to come my way." "I suppose," said Bettina laughingly, "that, like the measles or smallpox, delegations are likely to break out at any season, and then your porch would come in handy. But you'll be returning to Washington soon, I suppose." "In a little more than a month, Miss Brigham. I try to be on hand a few days before the opening of Congress. By the way, my mother bade me extend her greetings to you. She expects to call within a few days, but wishes you to know, meantime, how happy she is to have you ladies near. I'm sorry to say she sometimes finds it lonely on the ranch and no wonder, truly though she's fond of the life, too." "And she will stay here for the winter?" "Oh, no, I'm too securely attached to her apron strings for that. She likes Washington and spends her winters there. That makes it just right for both of us." As the conversation continued Bettina turned and be- gan busying herself with the tea things which Henriette, the natty little parlor maid, had just brought in. The kettle was humming now a merry tune as it swung on the crane. The tiny tea-table, with its pretty appointments, was soon deftly arranged. The fire, now slumbering, now blazing afresh, gave out the spicy odor of burning hemlock. "Is it one or two lumps, Mr. Canterbury?" Bettina, sugar tongs poised in the air, awaited the young man's reply. "My mother gives me three when I've been fairly good.' "Three it shall be, though you can't expect everybody to be as indulgent as your mother." "You haven't told me, Miss Brigham. how you came to favor Aztec Lodge in choosing a home. Understand, please, that I'm not surprised at your choice ; far from it. To me there's no spot this side of heaven equal to this particular valley. In fact, it's a mystery to me has been for years that everybody in the country doesn't insist on living in Southern California. That might bring about an embarrassing situation, of course. But, really, 28 THE STANDPATTER I'm interested, and so are a good many others, I'm sure, in knowing why you decided to reclaim this long-de- serted villa. I've heard all kinds of surmises and I want your version." "Why did we come here? Dear me, it's a long story. I'm afraid it couldn't be told in one installment." "Make it a serial, then, only I stipulate that I'm to be in to the finish, and may it be a record breaker for length. But now I'll thank you for a second installment of tea," and Geoffrey passed up his cup. "You'll surely need a second cup to brace you up if you insist on the story. Little Mother, please tell Mr. Canterbury why we came to Aztec Lodge. It followed as a matter of course, didn't it, once the wild move to the country was decided upon? You see, my friends thought I had suddenly lost my reason when I first contemplated ranch-life. Now that I'm here, they're quite sure I'm daffy. But, go on, Little Mother." "Why, dearest, there's danger that Mr. Canterbury may think as do your city friends, when I tell him you have so passionately loved this old place since you were a little child. And why? Because, Mr. Canterbury, she .-believed the ramshackle old house was where the fierce j Spanish brigands and those terrible highwaymen and \ the bold and wicked smugglers of the coast had their \ rendezvous and hid their ill-gotten gains in its dark and \ gloomy chambers. She was sure, too, there were little people fairies, you know in the deep woods, and un- questionably a few giants far up in the canyons. "One more story, please, Tante, 'and then' " that's the way the wee Bettina pleaded but it was always 'and then another.' Only once had she seen the place once when she was a very little child but it certainly did take hold of her imagination good and proper, as you say. And when she wanted so very, very much to put in good practice that which she had gained with so much hard study in school why, here was the place, the very place, for the reason that there were so many, many acres." Geoffrey and Bettina- were both laughing immoder- ately when Frau Wilderibw concluded her story in her droll German fashion. THE STANDPATTER 29 "Who would have thought that the Little Mother would have given me away so cruelly?" cried Bettina. "I'm like little Bettina in one respect at least," said Geof- frey, " 'I want one more story, and then' you see," he con- tinued, "there's still a tantalizing Chinese puzzle to solve. It's unusual, you'll admit, for a city girl with every social allurement beckoning to her, and the friends of a life- time about her, to change her whole course in life. The question is, why did she do it?" "And that thrilling recital will be found in a future installment." Bettina turned to replenish the fire. 30 THE STANDPATTER CHAPTER V. Nature had been lavish in gifts to Geoffrey Canter- bury. From his father, Major Josiah Canterbury, who had served with loyalty and distinction in the Civil War, enlisting in an early Iowa regiment when a lad of seven- teen, Geoffrey had inherited a magnificent physique. He was tall, broad-shouldered, lithe, muscular, a man of striking appearance. Not an ounce of superfluous flesh encumbered his closely knit body. His face was chiseled along purely classic lines. His keen gray eyes looked out from beneath heavy eye-brows. They had that com- manding quality that belongs to leadership. Strength and poise were depicted in his compact features. In his university days, in the early nineties, his name had stood for something more than athletic prowess, though he had been an acknowledged leader in sports. His academic degree he had taken in Iowa in those seemingly irreclaimable days when it was not disparag- ing to a student in the slightest degree to be classified as a "shark." Later, as the honor man in a large law class, he held his place among the brightest alumni of his uni- versity. He had won his spurs as a debater of the vigorous, militant order as well as an all-around forceful speaker, so that even in his "salad days" Geoffrey Canterbury was often called upon to address assemblies, and did so with ease and naturalness, if not with the sober eloquence which he later attained. And yet with his attractive personal equipment for public service, natural and acquired, Geoffrey Canter- bury's political career, first as a legislator and later as a member of Congress, had been a disappointment to the public. Had his constituents expected too much from their young representative, or, weighed in the balance, had he been found wanting? As a member of the general assembly from "the im- perial county" of Southern California, the county fore- most in wealth and population, at a time, too, when THE STANDPATTER 31 problems of supreme importance were calling loudly for solution, he might well have rejoiced at the opportunity which knocked at his door, bidding him to a noble part in the building of a great commonwealth. ^ California had been for years a corporation-ridden I state. Land-grants destined to become of fabulous value | were freely given to corporations and favored individuals. Colossal fortunes, created by special privilege, became / the dominating factor in public affairs. To all intents \ and purposes, the object of government, as illustrated in California, had been deflected from the original, time- honored one of the country, namely, that of "securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity," K to that of making a limited number presumably happy j by making them rich and powerful and arrogant. The people awoke one morning to a realization of their situation : They were at the mercy of a few who repre- sented powerful interests of mercy there was none. The| predatory millionaires in whose plans for self-aggrandize- ment the people had acquiesced, had become the masters. ' They were wielding the lash. No longer satisfied with the pound of flesh, they were demanding the heart's blood of their victims. But they had gone too far. The aptness of Abraham Lincoln's droll saying that "you can fool all of the people part of the time and part of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time," was well illustrated by the swift uprising of indignant, out- raged Californians, and their spirited determination to resume control of their own destinies, and reserve the public domain for their children. Trained in the old school of politics, Geoffrey Canter- bury had not learned the philosophy of the new democ- racy, nor discerned the new status of its representatives. In his law practice during his several years in California prior to his entrance into politics, he had been closely allied with the railroad interests, though he would have been slow to acknowledge that he was not an altogether independent agent at all times. He had won out in many a hotly-contested legal battle waged in behalf of the great corporation that he represented, and, in turn, the railroad influence had done the very thing that it 32 THE STANDPATTER always seeks, and seldom fails to do when it discovers a faithful and obedient servant: namely, placed him in a position to be of the greatest possible service to itself. Service rendered demands service in return. As a member of the general assembly, Geoffrey continued to favor the big corporation, for the reason, as he told him- self, that the progress of the state was vitally connected with the growth and prosperity of her railroads. The two must move forward hand in hand or they would not move forward at all. He had convictions on the subject, he sometimes said; and he usually added that he had the courage of his convictions. And this was true. To do him justice it must be said that Geoffrey Canter- bury was honest. Nor was he a weakling. He had a profound respect for institutions as they existed; a sin- cere and at bottom unselfish admiration for the powers that be. His mind was slow to accept innovations ; he looked with suspicion, if not actual contempt, upon the \rnan who cried out for a change. In a word, he was a f Sjtandpatter" by nature, as well as by force of circum- ptances. ~~His was an inherited point of view. When as a representative he first made the journey to Sacramento, he resolved to pursue strict business methods in his leg- islative work. He resolved to avoid the mistake made by so many new men, of being carried away by a sentimental enthusiasm for this or that cause, however popular. Sen- timent, he told himself, had no place in politics. The progressive movement, the beginning of which he and others of kindred views watched with mild interest bordering upon amusement, he regarded as a mere ex- pression of restlessness and discontent on the part of would-be party leaders. He was adamant in his deter- mination to have neither part nor lot in a movement that must die from its own inertia. He would be swerved neither to the right nor to the left by so-called progres- sive tendencies of the day. The result was a decided slump in the vote by which he was returned to the assembly, followed by a bitter fight made upon him two years later by an ever-growing faction when his name Appeared upon the official ballot as a candidate for Congress. THE STANDPATTER 33 CHAPTER VI. Millbank had been busy in the rose terrace since long before sunrise. He had a way of thus stealing a march on the younger men his assistants a way which they did not seem to resent. "The top o' the morning to you, Miss Brigham. You're just in the nick o' time," he called to that young woman, who, after breakfast, had been seated on the veranda steps and was now strolling along the garden paths. "I'm this minute ready to tackle the border problem," he continued; "and, as usual, I'm bordering on nervous pros- tration, puzzling about what will produce the finest effects. It's a mercy you came my way. What shall it be? You know the saying 'a bed without a border is like a garment without a hem.' Shall it be fleur de lis or violets ? Phlox or freesias? Shasta daisies or lobelias? There's an embar- rassment of riches." "If I were to name my choice, I'd say violets, because I'm so fond of the dear things," Bettina answered. "That's a woman's reason for you, though a purely personal one isn't it?" "Violets let it be. I like them, too. They stand up so independent and sturdy, here in California, and their leaves have a beautiful lustre. A row of English daisies in the foreground might not be bad and they would thrive in this soil." "That would be capital ! By the way, how about that streak of adobe, Doctor? Does it give you serious trouble?" "Not a little bit. You see, this soil is, for all the world like some people I know, all it needs is more grit. A sprinkling of sand does the business. Let's be thankful, Miss Brigham, there's not the suspicion of alkali on the premises, though the valley below is pretty badly spotted." "That's a mercy, sure enough." Bettina wondered, as she often did, how her superin- tendent came by his practical knowledge of local condi- tions, his intimate acquaintance with Mother Earth, know- ing as if by instinct, how to treat and cure her ailments. It was all the stranger, since, as he was free to acknowl- 34 THE STANDPATTER edge, he had spent most of his life as a city man on the eastern coast. As a character study, Millbank interested Bettina. Here was a man whom she had placed in a position of responsi- bility, really against her cooler judgment. Possibly it was her wish to be justified in a seemingly rash step that led her to accept so eagerly evidence of ability and faithfulness on his part. She had been thoroughly vexed, while nego- tiations were pending, when he declined resolutely to dis- close his past history further than to say that he had been a practicing physician in Philadelphia for upwards of a score of years. His silence she regarded as stubbornness, and it all but lost him the place. It came to her ears, how- ever, that because of this grim, unbroken silence, pursued during his two or three years in the valley, this man of pro- found scholarship and ripe experience had rested under sin- ister suspicion; that his neighbors had shunned him as a possible criminal, and lost no opportunity to discredit him. All this had been conveyed quietly to the new mistress of Aztec Lodge a note of warning in accordance with the natural instinct of humanity to tell the worst ; or, as her informants preferred to put it "to tell the truth and shame the devil." It had the opposite effect from that .utended. Bettina could, on occasions, be defiant and a bit stubborn. Her sense of justice was aroused. A further talk with Mill- bank convinced her of his integrity; of his superior train- ing in the direction of scientific research, she had no doubt. There was need of his mature and ripened judgment in the work she had undertaken, a work in which she had no intention of failing. Scientific knowledge, re-enforced by vigorous applica- tion of down-to-date principles and methods, was the force by which this particular problem of reclamation which meant so much to her, and as she fondly believed would mean, in time, to the state, was to be solved. Thus it was that "Doc" Millbank came into his own ; thus, too, that Bettina was taking such lively satisfaction in watching his neat, dexterous, methodical work among the roses pruning, "shortening in," irrigating, fertilizing. "He handles each delicate stalk," she mentally com- mented, "with the tenderness and consideration that a THE STANDPATTER 35 warm-hearted physician, such as he must have been, be- stows on a helpless child." Several Japanese boys were doing the heavy work of preparing the ground for the border of violets and Eng- lish daisies. Millbank himself, having yielded once again to the al- lurements of his rose garden, was happy in its fragrant depths. Having mounted a ladder, Bettina was engaged in tying up a cluster of stray honesuckle vines she sought to train over the newly-constructed pergola, an improvement in which she took much satisfaction. In the midst of her work she heard a step, the crunching of the gravel, and looking up hastily saw Geoffrey Canter- bury turning into the driveway. He was walking, hat in hand, his broad shoulders thrown back, his head erect, as if drinking in the freshness and the fragrance of the air, something of the joy of the perfect morning in his ener- getic, swinging stride. Bettina continued her work. "That's what I call a rattling good job," Geoffrey called out, before he reached her. "Your pergola's a symphony." "I have faith to believe it will be if I can get these ob- streperous vines to keep their place. Why do clinging vines refuse to cling?" "That's too much for me." Geoffrey smiled as he looked about at her work. "And there are those," he added reflectively, "just stupid enough to say that our higher institutions of learning do not meet our everyday needs." "You're prepared to refute that heresy, I hope, right on the floor of Congress, Mr. Canterbury." "A few snap-shots would help out. Exhibit A Miss Bettina Brigham, Bachelor of Science captain of in- dustry three months out of college." "That would be too convincing. If you wish to be useful, though, you may reach me that long spray." "Dee-lighted. Now, let me come up and tack it in place. I'd like a humble part in this hive of industry." "That would be hazardous, seeing you're no feather- weight. Thank you, I'll put it right here. That's where it belongs, isn't it ? And now, I'm ready for play. I'm devel- 36 THE STANDPATTER oping a weakness for the leisurely atmosphere of the ver- anda when I can find somebody to share it with me, which is far too seldom, or a book to my liking. It was awfully good of you to come over this morning. I hope you'll acquire the habit," Bettina said gaily as she started to go down the ladder. Geoffrey reached up both hands playfully, just as he would have done had she been a child. In truth, she looked strikingly girlish picturesque, too, Geoffrey thought in her broad-brimmed garden hat, which was trailing down her back in thoroughly undignified fashion, partly concealing the shining braids which fell below the waist. A jaunty sailor blouse and short, linen skirt, golden- brown in color, were matched by low sandals and hose. It was Bettina's favorite morning dress, chosen, she sometimes explained, because of its durability. She could have found nothing so exactly suited to her bright hair and eyes and the glowing pink of her cheeks. Girls are not often blind to such considerations. "I hear you are trying to resurrect the old v lemon grove east of the Little Arroyo," said Geoffrey, as they found a seat beneath a spreading live-oak. "Yes, that's one of my biggest plans. It has been ter- ribly neglected since the break in the north reservoir left it without water, but I have hopes that it will 'come back/ as they are saying about Jeffries and those horrid pugilists." "Oh, I reckon it will 'come back' all right ; but will the gate receipts or your half of them after you have 'taken your punishment' from a market as black as Jack John- son justify the investment?" And Geoffrey chuckled at his awkward little joke. "I'm not so sure of it as I was before the railroads put up their rates just enough to absorb that timely addition to the duty on lemons." Geoffrey did not reply. The girl had unwittingly spoken of that particular side of the citrus fruit question which his opponents were pressing to his own disad- vantage. ^ "Don't you think the "shippers will have that advance THE STANDPATTER 37 set aside ? I hear they are fighting it in the courts," she said. "I hope they will and I think they ought to; but they've been rather unfortunate in the management of that lemon case and I'm apprehensive that the decision will go against them." "You speak in riddles, Mr. Canterbury. You think the lemon growers ought to win, but say you're afraid they won't. How can that be in a court of justice? You see," added the girl a little loftily, "I specialized at Berkeley on the social and economic side of jurisprudence; and you're furnishing me, I fancy, a pretty good example of what our Professor Lindley would call 'the conflict between true economic ideals and the actual administra- tion of justice.' " "What I meant to say was that the fruit-growers, or rather the shippers, have managed their case badly and are likely to suffer the consequences. Their first attor- ney blundered inexcusably by demurring to the railroads' pleadings, instead of amending his clients' petition; and after the shippers brought Clark Whitlock into the case, you know what happened to Whitlock? he had a stroke of apoplexy just as he was entering the courtroom to try the case. It looks to me as if the shippers would have to have a mighty strong case to win, after such a run of luck as that." " "Well, I can't see why a blunder of their first lawyer or the illness, or even death, of the last one should in- fluence the decision isn't right right and wrong wrong in all circumstances?" "Not quite, in practical affairs. When you engage in litigation you are assumed to present your case correctly, in accordance with the rules of practice, as well as to rest it upon sound principles of law, as fixed by prece- dents. If your lawyer blunders and mismanages your interests, or jf he gets sick and gives counsel on the other side any one of half a dozen advantages they can gain by his being hors de combat, you have to take the consequences." "Well, I like that. I pay taxes to build courthouses and pay the salaries of judges for the purpose of doing justice between me and my neighbor, and that's what I 38 THE STANDPATTER get a chance to get my rights if my lawyer makes no mistakes and keeps his health." "It isn't that, exactly. We have to have rules of prac- tice. If we didn't justice would in the long run suffer more than it does now. It would not be safe to permit courts to decide cases as I think I understand you to wish it by their own ideas of right and wrong. It would give them arbitrary power. Injustice no doubt comes some- times through the technicalities of practice ; but opening the door absolutely to the equities as the courts individ- ually view them would be infinitely worse." "Well, I'm disposed to agree with Professor Lind- ley. He believes that the courts have got to find ways, or be made to find ways, to do exact justice be- tween man and man. He says it is barbarous yes, down- right barbarism to make our tribunals the arena in which the best lawyer wins ; he thinks that is just a polite form of the terrible old trial by battle in the Middle Ages; not much fairer than the ordeal they put women accused of witchcraft through. If you were drowned, you were innocent ; if you weren't they knew you were a witch and burned you at the stake." "Oh, I hope it isn't quite as bad as that now." "It is in California if our courts will coolly permit the better lawyer or the healthier one, either to gain the case for the wrong side. Doesn't it just mean that the rich man or the big corporation, that can pay for the lawyers that don't make mistakes and for several of them, so that if one gets ill, will usually win their cases?" "Yes, it has that tendency; and we all agree with the president in believing that something must be done to correct the evil and give the poor man an equal chance." "I'm glad you feel that way, Mr. Canterbury. I wish it could be done right away, here in California. Pro- fessor Lindley says that's the next thing that's coming." Geoffrey found a way to change the subject. THE STANDPATTER 39 CHAPTER VII. The first visit to Aztec Lodge had been made by Mad- ame Canterbury. Curiosity had been whetted to an unwonted degree by Rupert Yenowine's volubility regarding the doings and sayings up there, to too high a pitch to permit her deferring the call very long. Besides, she felt a friendly interest in her new neighbors; and desired to establish cordial relations with the ladies before her departure eastward. It would be cheering, she thought, during her absence to know that congenial friends awaited her on her return. "It's a cu-rus thing the way they have o' doin' things up Aztec way. I reckon you'll sense that before you've looked around a leetle mite. It's as good as a menagerie any day o' the week, to watch them Japs a layin' out their dee-signs. They couldn't be more keerful, I swan, ef the airth was diamond dust and the plants they were settin' in it were so many priceless jooels from the queen's tiarry." With a characteristic flourish, Rupert was handing Madame Canterbury into the old family Victoria. "The Japanese are a painstaking and intelligent race, according to my observation, Rupert. We Americans have a good deal to learn from them in industrial meth- ods. I admire their nicety of execution very much." Madame Cr 'erbury was always scrupulous in her choice of words ; she could be severe at times. She had a special fondness for the Japanese as a race, had seen and known them well durnig many years, and it always stirred her up to hear them criticised. "Oh, they're all right, o' course, but a white man's good enough, for me," and Rupert chuckled as he walked away. : 'H&CH The afternoon was far spent when the old carriage with the team of dappled grays again appeared at the door. Geoffrey, who had returned a few minutes before his 40 THE STANDPATTER mother, hastened out to welcome her and assist her in alighting. He had had a wearisome all-day ride on his good nag, "Comet," far down the valley, his mission purely polit- ical. After talking with a score of men, old friends and supporters in more than one hard-fought campaign, he had returned with a deepened conviction that, in the sacred name of reform, a wave of popular unrest was sweeping the state. The question was, how was a man of his conservative views and rigid professional training to meet the new industrial and economic situation? How was he to satisfy the rank and file of the party and at the same time maintain his principles and self-respect? The question was one he couldn't answer as yet. The first man he met, Jim Courtenay, a former client and always staunch and true in his friendship, sounded the keynote when he broke out with : "Canterbury, the domination of the old railroad machine is forever at an end. I see the handwriting on the wall! It's high time you should see it. You know I speak as a friend. 'Finis' is the word writ in a dazzling electric blaze. It's '23' and 'skiddoo.' The old Great Southern machine has got to get out of politics. If it doesn't somebody's going to kick it out. It's the direct primary that's doing the busi- ness and it's doing it good and proper." "How about the new boss that will come in to take its place, Courtenay ? You know as well as I that when one political boss goes it's always to make room for another. That's according to the law of nature, I suppose." "It'll be many a long day, I want to tell you, before there's another boss in California with the wealth and power and eternal vigilance behind it that this big, dom- inating corporation has, and don't you forget it, Geoffrey Canterbury." "Well, I've had a good deal to do with the Great South- ern one way and another in my day and I've got to see the first money improperly used by its representatives. There's a good deal more bluster than actual wrong-do- ing, I imagine." "And why have you failed to see it, Geoff? Don't you give the railway people credit for being clever enough to spot the men that'll either nibble at a bribe or swallow THE STANDPATTER 41 it whole ? There's a ring within a ring an outer and an inner circle in this iniquitous business and you're too straight, old man, to get into the 'star chamber' where they concoct their infernal schemes. Another thing," he continued, "you know what this division in the district committee signifies?" "You mean the Progressives will have a candidate in the field next year? Oh, I know that's a part of their plan, all right, but I don't look for much trouble. Who's talked of? Heard any names mentioned? "Well, they're talking of putting up Shirley Cravath against you. I don't think much of the fellow myself, but he's solid with the new gang, I understand. At the present writing he's running around the state with the automobile crowd, thick as peas in a pod, making him- self solid with ranchmen and their wives and pretty daughters, too, for he's a widower, in a way." "A widower, in a way; that's rich a widower, so to speak. A divorce, eh?" "So I've heard. Well, the women attend these outdoor meetings, at any rate. A big touring car rolls into a vil- lage two or three of them, perhaps, and it's mighty im- pressive. If there hasn't been a forerider to arrange ev- erything according to Hoyle, they trust to a mighty jingle of cow-bells attached to their big machines to an- nounce their approach, and before you can say 'Jack Robinson' some one will be up giving a rattling talk from the tonneau to the crowd on the street corner." "That's interesting. But where do you draw the line, pray, between the private car of the railroad magnate who is passing along the line laying his wires, which, after all, is a part of his business, a legitimate part, I might say, and the motor-car of a prospective governor and his henchmen ? It's a clear case of swapping bosses, I tell you." "Now, be ^reasonable, my boy. Jump into the band wagon; join 'the automobile brigade. Above all things, save your own bacon. Put young Cravath out of busi- ness." "I'm no chameleon, Jim, neither am I a monkey hop- ping from one limb to another." "No, you're a block of granite from the eternal hills 42 THE STANDPATTER up there, that's what you are; but, for heaven's sake, don't let yourself become a fossil or an Egyptian mummy. Promise me to think about this, at least." "Certainly, I'll do that, Jim. Don't think I fail to ap- preciate your kindness. You've been a mighty clever friend to me. Well, good-bye." "So-long." It was a wearisome day, truly. The score or more of ranchmen with whom Geoffrey chatted sounded the same note with a few variations in the minor chords. There was old Ezra Goodrich. Everybody knew the old man; rich as a lord, his wealth realized from his lemon groves. Geoffrey took his noonday meal on the pretty vine-covered porch on the Goodrich ranchhouse. At the table old Ezra almost wept over the recent in- crease in freight rates to which Bettina had referred on the previous day. The old lemon-grower looked to Mr. Canterbury, he said, and to him alone, to have this grievous injustice made right. He would have influence with the railroad people. "The old rate must be restored," he wailed, "or we'll go to the demnition bow-wows." He implored him to safeguard their interests by standing like a Roman for a higher duty on California's famous product. As a representative of the state and its citrus inter- ests, he said, he had faith to believe that Geoffrey would be willing to sacrifice every other interest to the one supreme end of protecting the lemon industry. The younger man smiled indulgently. His talk with Bettina was still in mind. He assured his host that he would do what he could, but if he did all that was ex- pected of him his hands would be, indeed, full. Thus it was that the perplexing issues of the day were pressed upon Geoffrey, one by one. He was glad when he found himself in the quiet home shelter after his rasp- ing day, and he promised himself an evening undisturbed by politics. Long ago he had adopted the rule of keeping his worries to himself, sharing only the pleasures and emoluments of public life with his mother. In her indulgent eyes he was Geoffrey the Conqueror. THE STANDPATTER 43 CHAPTER VIII. "You'll please give an account of yourself, maman." As he spoke, Geoffrey threw himself lazily on the settle which flanked the open fireplace where lay a bed of glow- ing embers that cast a grateful warmth throughout the big living room. It was early twilight. "I see you took advantage of my absence to don your prettiest frock, and sally forth to see and be seen." The young man settled himself comfortably among the cushions and cast a quizzical glance at his mother. Their camaraderie was pleasant to see. Plainly the door opening into the troublesome outer world the world of party disintegration was to be closed and bolted for a time. Madame Canterbury, delicate, refined, placid, with high-bred demeanor, was good to look upon, despite the wear and tear of years. Her dark eyes had lost little of their brilliancy; her soft, snow-white hair, dressed a la pompadour and with evident care, brought into fine re- lief her low, broad forehead. She wore a modish after- noon gown of a delicate mauve shade that was highly becoming. There was an abundance of old lace, full and soft, about the slender white throat and delicate wrists. Looking up with a smile from the ball of bright worsted she was winding, she asked : "Where shall I begin, Geoffrey? Truly I feel as if I'd been to an exposition. There's so much to interest one in the masterful way that dilapidated old villa's being transformed, both without and within. What a tremen- dous power money is!" "Why, of course; but I hadn't thought of it in that particular connection. Some other things are so much more vital than money." "You mea'n that the real miracle is the girl herself." "Yes ; her personality is the thing that counts, I should say. It's the supreme force, not her money." "Oh, of course it is. I grant that she's remarkable in many ways; in fact, she's altogether adorable; but, after all, Geoffrey, it's her money that will be responsible for 44 THE STANDPATTER the reclamation of Aztec Lodge. I'm glad she has the good sense to use her riches so wisely." "But why has she undertaken all this? It would be interesting, wouldn't it, to know her real, underlying motive." "I fancy I understand her pretty well." "Well, I don't. The whole proposition is unfathom- able to me. How do you size up the case, Mother?" "To begin with," replied Madame Canterbury, judi- cially, "the girl's absurdly modern bristling all over with up-to-dateness, you know." She spoke slowly as if weighing her words. "She's very young, and still under the spell of her col- lege. She breathes its scientific atmosphere and follows its avenues of research with a feverish, youthful enthu- siasm, which she will lose in time, no doubt, and may be all the better for losing. She dreams dreams, not exactly 'the children of an idle brain/ either; and she proposes to use her fortune, the possession of which I imagine she almost regrets, to help her realize her dreams. In addi- tion to her scientific ardor, the girl has imbibed many of the popular political notions of the day, too. She has her own ideas of good citizenship, equality between man and man, talks about the Initiative, Referendum and Recall as if they were so many old friends; has something to say about the right of the people to rule, and all that sort of thing. I see her reading is largely in those directions." "But will she hold out in what she's undertaken, or is this merely the passing fad of a college girl? the whim of a restless co-ed?" "Oh, the girl has determination, a lot of it, but the strength of her purpose will depend on her own future; and, naturally, her future rests, as must the future of every normal woman, largely with the man she marries." Geoffrey gave a perceptible start which did not escape the eyes of his mother. "What do you know about her marriage?" he asked, rather brusquely. "Is she supposed to be engaged to one of those college chaps?" "Hardly, I reckon. I know nothing whatever about it; but she'll not remain single long for want of a chance to wed, you may be sure of that." THE STANDPATTER 45 The suggestion of the possible marriage of Bettina was disturbing to Geoffrey. Like most unwelcome thoughts, once it had gained a foothold, it refused to be shaken off. Safely in his den, to which he went an hour later to finish a piece of writing begun earlier in the evening, he found himself still thinking about his fair young neighbor. It had dawned upon him that, unconsciously, in spite of himself, perhaps, the girl was occupying much of his thought these days; too much, he told himself. He had believed himself proof against affaires de coeur, and here he was absorbingly interested in a girl he had known only a week. It was the suggestion of her marriage, falling so innocently from his mother's lips, that brought the awakening. He was a ridiculous old fool, he told him- self, to think of her for a moment. A man of thirty- eight years must seem a veritable Methusaleh to a girl entering her twenties. He resolved to see her but once more before his departure for the east, and that should be a farewell visit; that much was due her. "What mother says is true, absolutely true," he said, "but how could she speak so calmly with cool indif- ference of the marriage of a girl like Bettina? Natu- rally, such a girl is troubled by no lack of suitors, and it's only reasonable that the right one 'the man of des- tiny' should, in time, appear." And so his mind ran on. He recalled a bit of current gossip about a recent bride of his acquaintance, to the effect that she had had no less than forty-two proposals of marriage before the one ap- peared who, the Fates decreed, should close her career of conquest; and he wondered if Bettina were passing through some such ordeal. Geoffrey had never been indifferent to women, neither had he been what is known as a "lady's man." He en- joyed the society of the fair sex, could make himself at- tractive to them, had always seen a good deal of women, both east and west. Only once had he seriously fallen a victim to the tender passion. It was during his college days. He had pro- posed to Mildred Maxwell ; she had accepted with every assurance of the deepest affection. All went merrily for- ward, they were royally happy, until he told her one day, 46 THE STANDPATTER quite as a matter of course, that his mother, the dearest mother in the world would share their home. Never would he be able to forget the way Mildred turned on him. Her anger made her momentarily a savage, cruel and relentless. "You will choose between us," she cried out. "If a house were a mile long it wouldn't be big enough for me and your mother." Geoffrey's disillusionment was complete. He made his choice there and then. He couldn't do it quickly enough. The engagement was broken and for the next few years he tried to forget the bitter experience, and succeeded so well that when Mildred's marriage to a former college chum was announced he was conscious of not a single regret on her account. His letter of congratulation was warm and measurably sincere, but deep down in his heart he had a feeling akin to pity for his good friend who, in time, would find himself tied to a woman, selfish, shallow, and cold-hearted. As for himself, he said he would, in all probability, never marry, or, if at all, late in life, as he would never forsake a mother who had sac- rificed so much for him in the days of his struggle for a foothold in his profession. Geoffrey took an early car for the city the next morn- ing. The new electric interurban with its neat little station, "Canterbury," at the point where the trolley crossed the line of the Great Southern, together with its twenty- minute service, was proving a boon to the residents of that section. As for Geoffrey, he had become an enthu- siastic patron of the road. How he was enjoying this early morning .ride through the peaceful valley! The air was filled with the scent of a thousand roses that grew in splendid profusion along the hedge rows. The liquid song of the meadow-lark and the rapturous note of the mocking-bird thrilled him to the heart. He thanked God for the man who first discovered California. His depression of the evening before had disappeared. The radiance of a California morning is a fine stimulant. Politics had played havoc with Geoffrey Canterbury's law practice. His partner, Robert Hendershott, was the active member of the firm, the understanding being that when at home Geoffrey was to drop in from time to time for THE STANDPATTER 47 conference. The actual conduct of cases was to rest with Hendershott, to the regret of a large clientele, who had for years pinned their faith to the name "Canterbury." On his arrival in the city Geoffrey, as usual, made a bee-line for the office. "Hello, Bobby," he called out as he shot in at the door. "How's everything?" "Why, how-de-do, Geoff? You're an early bird." "Yes; got the seven-twenty this morning. Anything new?" "Oh, everything's about so-so, I guess. How's poli- tics this fine morning? What are your plans for saving the nation, old boy?" "Well, I have a few things on cooking. There's a meeting of the district committee at eleven. That's im- portant." "Lord, I should say it was." "And I'm to meet Billy Crewe at the Cherokee. How's that for diplomacy?" "What? You don't mean that little scamp from the G. S? Take care, old man. There's generally a cullud pusson of large proportion in the wood pile when that sleek individual's round. He's slippery as an eel. Never was known to keep a promise ; wiggles right out of it." "Oh, I can handle him all right. I haven't yet become so cowardly that I refuse to see a man because he's con- nected with a railroad." "I advise you to be cautious, that's all. By the way," continued Hendershott, "shall we or shall we not tie ourselves up with the lemon-growers in this freight fight? A half dozen men from the upper valley and the 'foot- hills have been in to see me. I put them off, but I can't evade the direct issue much longer." "You were right to take it under advisement. I prom- ise to do what I can for the fruit interests of Southern California, both through the Interstate Commerce Com- mission and on the floor of the house but otherwise, let it be hands off. Well, I'll see you later." Geoffrey gathered up his hat and hurried away. 48 THE STANDPATTER CHAPTER IX. The meeting of the district central committee, like so many of its kind, was tempestuous. It was held in "Parlor D" of the Elcazar Hotel. There was not a politician in all the southland who did not know the room. People said that United States Senators had been made and unmade within its tarnished walls; that it was the birthplace, and sometimes the burial place, of governors and congressmen; that the various planks comprising the platforms over which boisterous state conventions had wrangled and torn their hair, metaphor- ically speaking, had been first hewn into shape, the edges beveled and the corners rounded, at its big mahogany table. Precisely on the stroke of eleven Geoffrey entered. Promptness in meeting engagements had come to be a religion with him. A variation from the minute either way was not permissible under his code. He found the table already well surrounded, the air dense and blue and tainted, so stifling, withal, that he hurried to the window and was about to throw it open to the fresh, warm breezes, when Jim Courtenay called out : "Hold on, Canterbury ; better let the window alone. We don't want exactly to take the public into our confi- dence this morning. It's to be our own happy family cir- cle, a genuine love feast, if you please." "All right, Jim ;" and Geoffrey, shaking hands with half a dozen who were nearest, and nodding to as many more, joined the group around the table. The entrance of Colonel Ricketts a moment later caused a palpable hush. The fact was, his presence at the meeting was a surprise. Since their last assemblage the colonel was supposed to have seen a new light. It had been announced through the press, over his own signature, in a manner flamboyant and grandiose, that he had, politically speaking, experienced a change of heart. He stated further that he had been handicapped in the past by his connections, but had no intention of permitting the stifling restraint to continue. It was, for ; He found the table already well surrounded 1 THE STANDPATTER 49 this reason, his purpose to withdraw immediately from the district committee with which he no longer was in harmony. The routine business was barely concluded when Colonel Ricketts arose with a slowness and dignity noth- ing short of majestic. He was a short, portly, pompous- looking man of forty. People said that he had an ex- aggerated idea of his own importance; and appearances bore out the truth of the statement. He was often referred to as the "Little Colonel," a title about which were conflicting opinions. His friends asserted that the diminutive stood for the affectionate regard of his fellowmen, and his enemies for mild-man- nered though he was, he was not without enemies that it was a sobriquet of derision : all of which is evidence more or less conclusive that the "Little Colonel," who accepted the title in the same spirit as he believed had been evinced by a certain "Little Corporal" of interesting historic memory, was, after all, a man of parts. It may be said, parenthetically, that the colonel's real weakness, according to best authorities, was a passion for being found on the winning side. In his eyes "the glory of the conquered" was a wicked delusion. He de- spised a minority and refused to be associated with one, if he knew it. He was noticeably agitated as he arose. The pink and mellow hand with which he adjusted his black-rimmed eyeglasses trembled visibly. The veins in his high fore- head became suddenly prominent. He began by saying that he had thought best to reduce what he proposed to say to writing so that he could prove what he had said and what he had not said. The package he would hand them, he declared, was not tied up with political red-tape. It would come as a message direct from the heart. His resignation from the committee followed. He begged that it should be accepted without delay. He then reviewed what he was pleased to term the "political renaissance of California," dwelling with em- phasis upon the days, not so far past, either, when "every last man of us was under the big, broad thumb of the 50 THE STANDPATTER Great Southern system, and no one knows this better than do my esteemed colleagues of this committee." Several sprang excitedly to their feet at this, actuated by an evident desire to refute a statement so sweeping, but they sat down as suddenly as they had risen upon the chairman's amiable drawl : "Colonel Ricketts has the floor." The colonel resumed his remarks by calling to mind the bold and unscrupulous attempt of the political ma- chine to readjust certain county geographical lines in order the more easily to carry forward its schemes for state control. "That's ancient history, Colonel, give us something new," came from the farther end of the table. "Gentlemen, I want to tell you that it's as black a page of history, ancient or modern, as has ever been writ of any state or nation. You may want to give it a coating of whitewash. I do not. It's black because it spells cor- ruption in high; places. It tells a stc.y of bribery, of special privilege, of private greed, of absolute rottenness. Who is so dead to decency as to calmly witness a 'grand larceny of delegates,' as some one has aptly called it?" "There's but one redeeming feature in this attempted outrage upon the popular will," continued the colonel. "Maybe in the final analysis there is something for which to be grateful. We should at least thank God for that last straw that broke the camel's back; thank God and take courage, for, because of that, men came forward brave enough, to take up the cudgel against that power- ful corporation with its innumerable tentacles, its end- less ramifications. They fought like tigers to put out of commission the fraudulent election machinery that had been set up and put in motion. It's a long story, gentle- men ; you know, and so do I, that we have progressive republicanism to thank for a new order of things in Cal- ifornia ; we have the progressive element to thank for putting the right kind of a man in the executive chair, and, more than that, we have this same progressive ele- ment made up of the younger men of the state, men of brains and principle, to thank for enacting into law every declaration of the republican platform. It's the first THE STANDPATTER 51 time in the history of any state that every platform prom- ise has been put into law. Isn't that a triumph? "That there have been mistakes no one will deny, but they have been mistakes of judgment only. We have made giant strides in reform. All that I ask is that this committee, every member of which I esteem and shall continue to esteem as a personal friend, shall join hands with the men who are wresting the power from the big corporations, from big business, and placing it where it belongs with the people." The colonel sat down, mopping great beads of per- spiration from his heated brow. He had made the effort of his life ; he had fully realized that he was face to face with the "psychological moment." There was dead silence for the space of a minute. All eyes turned to Geoffrey Canterbury. He rose to his feet and began to speak very deliberately. There was a pallor in his face, an intensity in his expression. He looked like a man armed with the rectitude of a great purpose. His voice was vibrant, and it carried a dominant note. He said he had listened with deep interest to what his good friend, Colonel Ricketts, had said in his view of the pres- ent political situation. He agreed with him that a degree of progress had been made, noticeably in the control of corporations. He rejoiced that such was the case. He believed in controlling corporations, not in strangling the life out of them. He liked to think this was a country in which both rich and poor were given absolute justice. He had once visited a great hospital in Berlin, he said the Virchow Hospital and over the door he had read the motto : "Treat the disease but do not forget to treat the man." The difficulty with the progressive policy of to-day was its determination to wipe out both the disease and the man. Many of the so called progressive leaders were in reality, the most dangerous reactionaries, he said, and time would prove the truth of his assertion. Take, for example, he continued, the men who were demanding the recall of judges. There was a doctrine revolutionary in the extreme, subversive of every sound principle of gov- ernment. The next step to which it would naturally lead would be to the recall of judges' decisions indeed, there 52 THE STANDPATTER were those wild enough to advocate such recall even now. For his part, he said, he loved his country too well, he loved his state too much, willingly to place the highest interests of state and nation in the hands of dreamers who fancied themselves statesmen. The country must be governed by sentiment, not by sentimentality. They would serve state and country best, he believed, who stood like a stone wall for time-honored traditions and time-honored principles. He sincerely hoped that in the interests of honest, old-fashioned republicanism, the re- publicanism of Lincoln and of McKinley, Colonel Rick- etts would reconsider his resignation and withdraw it. There was a stir all around the table as Geoffrey sat down, and a mild round of applause. The absence of enthusiasm was marked, almost painful. Colonel Ricketts picked up his hat, reached over and offered his pudgy hand to Geoffrey in a friendly way, and with a wave of his hat to the others left the room without a word. THE STANDPATTER 53 CHAPTER X. Geoffrey took luncheon at the Elcazar with half a dozen members of the district committee, a coterie of men who swore by him, personal supporters to a man, and a right jolly little party it was, despite the exciting events of the morning. They talkeu iast and hard, as politicians will, about everything under the sun except that which was upper- most in the mind of each the political situation. They laughed good naturedly, and sometimes uproariously, at each other's jokes, vied with one another in spinning yarns and were altogether the envy, because of the roy- ally good time they were having, of the more subdued guests in the ornate little Japanese tearoom to which the obsequious waiter had conducted them. And the merriest and wittiest of all, the most exuber- ant in spirits, was the Honorable Geoffrey Canterbury. He was at his best, apparently at peace with all mankind. Always a brilliant dinner guest, he was surpassingly so on this occasion. His fund of anecdotes seemed inex- haustible, his humor irresistible. The merry repast over, each went his own way. There was a clink of silver on the one hand and a wreath of smiles on the other, as Geoffrey and the attentive waiter parted company, and the former hurried over to the Cherokee in order to keep his appointment with Billy Crewe. Just as he was walking around the first corner he ran into a group of young* people. He would have passed them by unnoticed, intent on his own thoughts, had not his own name attracted his attention. "Why, Mr. Canterbury, is it really you?" It was Bettina Brigham, who forthwith extended a white-gloved' hand to him Bettina clad in a bewildering suit of blue with nodding plumes in her big picture hat and an air of regal distinction, hitherto quite unsuspected. Clearly Geoffrey's head was in something of a whirl as he grasped the extended hand. With Bettina was a strik- 54 THE STANDPATTER ingly pretty girl, a dashing brunette, tall, like herself, and two young men. "It certainly's nobody else, Miss Brigham. But what does this mean? I'm amazed to see you this distance from the ranch." "Oh, I'm far from a fixture there or anywhere. You don't know what a frightful gadabout I am. But come over here a bit out of the whirl and meet my friends. "Miss Marcia Duffield of Berkeley, my college chum, has just arrived; Miss Duffield, allow me to present the Honorable Mr. Canterbury. "And here is Mr. Ward Percival, whom you already know, I think you ought to, at least, seeing he's the grand editorial mogul of the Star and "Mr. Philip Ingalls, a son of Dr. Templeton Ingalls of St. Thomas's pro-cathedral. Everybody knows Dr. In- galls, and the son's a chip off the old block, Uncle Hare- dale says." "You might explain, Bettina, that, while Dr. Ingalls is fitting people for heavenly mansions, his only son contents himself with planning earthly ones for any who may desire them." "And who has the wherewithal," added Phil. "Don't make a joke of sacred things, Ward." Geoffrey shook hands cordially and exchanged some side remarks with Ward, whom he recognized imme- diately. "How did you come in, Miss Brigham?" he asked. "Oh, we motored in. I was obliged to reach the city early in order to meet Miss Duffield's train, you see " "Poor, helpless Miss Duffield!" interrupted the young lady herself. "She couldn't make her way to a hotel, of course. She's too frightfully inexperienced and unso- phisticated. Never was away from home before," and she laughed mockingly. "Neither Ward nor I could have found the station at that impossible hour. It's a regular morning nap or Cerish, with us. It just had to be Bettina," and they all mghed at Philip's cynicism. "Stop abusing Miss Brigham of Aztec Lodge. Have you no respect for ourjanded gentry? I'm mighty glad THE STANDPATTER 55 to have her come to town on any old pretext," said Ward. "I'm the only friend you've got in this crowd, Bettina." Bettina smiled gaily. "Friend or foe, it's much the same to me. It's simply bliss to be around with the old crowd once more. That's enough joy for one day. I didn't know how sadly I'd missed you all. "But I've just been thinking," and she turned to Geof- frey, "that maybe you could join us for the home trip. There's room and to spare in the car, and Miss Duffield and I would be delighted to have you with us." "Thanks, and I equally pleased to go, I assure you, if I can manage to wade through a rather formidable list of engagements." "Oh, we shall not leave till five or later. I've a num- ber of things to do myself. For instance, there's a short session of the library board which I'm obliged to attend." "That reminds me, Bettina," interrupted Philip, "that I've had no opportunity to extend congratulations since your election as secretary of the board," and he grasped her hand. "I'd have been mighty well pleased if they'd made you president." "Thank you, Phil. They weren't exactly looking for an innocent figurehead for the presidency." "No, but they might enjoy an ornamental one." "I'm really not entitled to the honor," said Bettina, "seeing I'm lacking in experience, and, besides, no longer a resident of the city; but I'm pleased to be a member of the board and glad to work for a better library. The secretaryship gives me a chance to put in some effective strokes for better library conditions, you see. We've some big plans ahead for a splendid new building, also for traveling libraries, and for the general enlargement of the library itself. I tell you, it's badly needed in a city of this size. "But I was 'bout to say, Mr. Canterbury, that you might meet us about five o'clock at the Elcazar, if you will ladies' entrance we are on our way there now and shall have tea there before starting." Geoffrey promised to remember both time and place, then took his leave and, consulting his watch, hurried for- ward with the embarrassing consciousness that he would be fully five minutes late in meeting his appointment. To 56 THE STANDPATTER his infinite relief, he found that Crewe had not yet ap- peared. He sank into a chair with a sense of physical weariness, and yet with a certain mental exaltation from his unexpected interview with Bettina and her friends. He smiled as he thought of his former stern resolve to permit himself but one more interview, and that to be limited to a farewell visit ; but the Fates, which he by no means ignored altogether, had decided to take a hand in the matter, and what could a man do but submit to their decree ? The meeting with Bettina was an unsettling ex- perience; for in defiance of his better judgment he ac- knowledged himself completely under her witchery. He was positive that nothing but disappointment awaited him if he permitted himself to indulge in the hope of ever winning her, yet he was glad that he had fallen in with her to-day; thankful, too, for the glimpse he had ob- tained into her world, so different from his own, the fas- cinating world of youth and beauty, and gaiety and yet of useful service, too. Above all, he rejoiced that the door was left ajar, the latch-string out. The long drive homeward with the two girls was an alluring prospect. "Hello, Canterbury !" Billy Crewe called out lustily as he entered. "Beg your pardon for keeping you waiting, and your time so valuable, too. It's a shame, but it's the old story of the man, the corner and the buttonhole. Can we be sure of privacy here?" Crewe looked around suspiciously as though eternal vigilance was the price of such liberty as he enjoyed. He was short of stature and slight of build. His bulging blue eyes looked out through a pair of gold-rimmed glasses which usually were seen to rest far down on his large, bulbous nose. He pursued business with an intensity that was relentless. He had neither time nor inclination for anything else. "Oh, we'll be reasonably safe from intrusion here, I think." "We'll take no chances, just the same," was Crewe's grim reply, as he closed the transom, then stepped to the door and turned the key in the lock. He then looked be- hind the pictures on the wall, as if in search of a hidden dictagraph, and, finding^-none, drew up a chair close to Geoffrey, mopped his brow vigorously, blew his nose with a trumpet-like explosion, coughed apologetically THE STANDPATTER 57 all by way of innocently leading up to the business of the hour. "When do you start east, Mr. Canterbury?" "On the tenth, according to present plans. That gives me a few days of grace before the opening of the session." "Time's coming pretty close, sure enough. Well, it oc- curred to me that there were several little matters of business we ought, in all justice, to run over before you leave. It's well to have an understanding." "All right, Billy; I want to go back armed with as thorough knowledge of local conditions as is possible. My idea is to be of service to my constituency all along the line. Whatever they may say about me, and heaven knows they're saying some pretty biting things these days, I'm not one-sided, neither am I two-faced. The public always knows about where to find me." "Right you are, and let me tell you it's just that broad- mindedness that the average man likes." "I'm not so sure of that, Billy; I reckon that's about what they're grilling me for." "I've heard many a compliment for you on that very thing. I don't know how you feel about it, Mr. Canter- bury, but it's a principle with me to fix up things face to face I mean that I prefer to do business by word of mouth. It's more satisfactory to all concerned; in fact, it's the only way. Letters go astray, fall into hands they were never intended for, you know; and the very devil's to pay. As to telegrams, they're likely to be no end of a nuisance. But to get down to business. Let me see," and he began to fumble in his inside breast pocket. "I happen to have a letter of introduction that Buckman, superintendent of the northern division, don't you know, gave me with the injunction to put it safely into your hands and here it is, and my duty's discharged. "As you see, the letter introduces you to old Senator Gibbs, one of the thoroughly reliable men of the upper house. Keen there since the 70s, I guess. Buckman met him accidentally in Chicago last week, and while they were talking the old chap let fall that he would like to know you better. He's had his eye on you for some time, it seems. He admires your courage immensely and your straightforward methods of grappling with the 58 THE STANDPATTER big questions. He says you're every inch a gentleman and a patriot, and the farthest possible remove from the sloppy demagogue of the day. Any young member may well be proud of a compliment coming from such a source." "I'm obliged to him, I'm sure. I value his good opin- ion. It was mighty kind of Buckman, too, to send the letter. Please tell him I appreciate it greatly. I've known the old senator by sight and have gone over to hear him hurl his phillipics against the degeneracy of the times and the rottenness of certain politicians. He's great a sort of human dynamo I'll present the letter at once and in person." "Now, we want you to do a little business for us on your way east, Mr. Canterbury." "Impossible, I fear; I've got to push right on; and, besides, my mother will accompany me." "I thought of all that, but the business is simple enough and it's not a time consumer. We've been dou- bling our tracks recently through parts of Arizona and Texas spent a mint of money on the roadbed down there and all we want is for a level-headed chap who has no prejudices either way to pass over the road, in- specting its surface smoothness and general safety, and give us a report on these points. You're just the one to do this, and so I took the liberty of having your trans- portation made out for yourself and Madame Canter- bury" "Sorry, Billy, but I've already made my reservations over another road. It's better, too ! for it would get me into all kinds of a muddle to be in the employ of the Great Southern at this stage of my service in Congress. No, I'm obliged to decline your proposition." "No muddle at all, Mr. Canterbury. The business is to be strictly confidential and I can easily dispose of your reservations; in fact, I've a friend who wants to go east over the Short Line" Billy Crewe hesitated in some em- barrassment; he had not intended to reveal the fact that he was aware of the congressman's choice of roads. "No, I prefer to follow my original plan. Thank you." "Well, if necessary, the inspection of the roadbed can be postponed. There's another point, though, that I THE STANDPATTER 59 would like to talk over, and yet I hesitate a little for the simple reason that you're a lawyer and it has somewhat to do with your profession. It's the courts. Has it dawned upon you, Mr. Canterbury, that about the only vestige of hope that so-called 'big business' has I mean the large commercial interests whose representatives have made the country what it is their only hope for continued existence, lies in the higher tribunals? Every other prop and mainstay of the moneyed interests is being reduced to kindling wood, to veritable splinters. We are becoming a nation of anarchists, do you know it? It's no longer a constructive policy that rules ; it's ven- omously, ruinously destructive. And now the envious devils are reaching for the courts. I would like to ask you one question, and you may answer it or not, as you choose. Are you in sympathy with the president in his love and admiration for courts and judges, or with the rabid ex-president in favoring the recall of judges?" "That's easy enough. Most assuredly, I'm opposed to the recall. I'd be a poor lawyer if I didn't have implicit faith in the courts." "And now, another thing, and let it be strictly 'unter vier Augen,' as the Germans say. I didn't tell you quite ail that Senator Gibbs told Buckman. It seems that the privilege of naming the chairman of the house judiciary committee has been given to him in exchange, of course, for certain courtesies that he is able to control and he has about made up his mind that a certain young member from Southern California is entitled to the honor." "You don't mean to say that he's thinking of me?" "That's my understanding; and I'm proud of being the humble messenger who breaks the great news to you. Now, I must say good-bye for to-day," and the little man shook hands with Geoffrey and hurried away. Geoffrey made no move to go. He sat for a moment as one in a dream, startled, bewildered, almost stupefied by the revelation that had just been made to him. What a future opened up before him a new heaven and a new earth ; and over all and above all was the crowning vision of a lovely woman. Could he hope, could he by any pos- sibility dare to hope, for a future that this beautiful girl might be willing to share with him? 60 THE STANDPATTER CHAPTER XL As she herself had predicted, the afternoon in the city proved a strenuous one for Bettina. Ward and Philip excused themselves after Geoffrey left the party; having first accompanied the young ladies to the Elcazar. There were business demands upon each that could no longer be ignored. They would not say good-bye, but promised to return before the hour of start- ing, take tea with their friends and see them safely off in their big touring car. More than that, they would make their plans to visit Aztec Lodge the coming week- end this in response to an invitation from Bettina, who looked forward to having a few friends with her from time to time, and, indeed, most of the time, now that they had attained to some degree of order and comfort at the villa. "It would be unpardonable to drag you along to a session of the library trustees. I'm too humane for that, Marcia, seeing you're not concerned in our particular problems," said Bettina contemplatively. "But, Betty dear, you don't know how much I want to see what you do and, how you do it. I'm simply de- voured by curiosity. I can't imagine an infant like you taking a hand in these semi-public affairs. You ought to take me along, I think, for the educational advantage it would afford me, if for no other purpose the widen- ing of my mental horizon, you know." "That's important, of course," laughed Bettina; "but really, 'I must be cruel only to be kind,' m'amie. It's up to you to choose between a comfortable rest here at the hotel which I'm sure you need even more than educational privileges after that tiresome trip and a drive around the city, which might on a pinch come under the head of educational. Which shall it be? Ales- sandro's reliability itself, as a chauffeur, you have nothing to fear on that score." Marcia shook her head and shrugged her pretty shoul- ders. "I think we'll compromise on my taking a nice little walk through the shopping district." THE STANDPATTER 61 "Not alone, Marcia?" "Yes ; I'll be discretion itself. You see, I've a mania, handed down probably from some commonplace ances- tress, for gazing into shop windows. It's bad form, but I adore it, possibly for that very reason. Mother says I have a plebian streak in me." "Well, if you insist upon it; only you're not to be all fagged out this evening, my dear. I'm depending on your making things interesting for the good-looking con- gressman whom the Fates were kind enough to provide us for the home trip. I call that right jolly, don't you? You are to be at your best, remember that. I assure you the gentleman's as clever as he is handsome. It has always struck me as funny, though a man's propensity for taking a fancy to a girl from the distant town. Did you ever think of it? I never knew it to fail." "Now, just listen to that! As if the handsome mem- ber of Congress had eyes or ears for any one but you, Miss Innocence!" "What nonsense ! Why, this was only our third meet- ing." "Oh, you have reduced it to a time schedule? Let me see, something like this. First meeting mutual impres- sions as to beauty and cleverness; second encounter former impressions revived and strengthened' intense enjoyment of each other's society; third ." With out- spread fingers Marcia was solemnly counting them as she spoke. "Don't be silly, Marcia, I beg of you. The young man has far weightier things to think of. Remember, he's no schoolboy." "That's what makes the case serious, Betty." "Now, I'll leave you for a while," Betty resumed. "Don't forget that Alessandro's right there at the door in case you want him. He's always glad to be of service." "But I shall not need him, or any one. I prefer being quite alone. He must go with you and help you out of your tangle." "Very well, then ; anything to please you. You're just as perverse as ever, you naughty child." Betty pulled down her veil, took a final peep in the long gilt-framed 62 THE STANDPATTER mirror, kissed Marcia on either cheek, as had been their custom in their schooldays, and hurried out. Bettina had every reason to be thankful before the afternoon was over that she had the faithful Alessandro at her service. It was later than she had thought it would be when the meeting of the library board adjourned and the young secretary was at liberty to turn her attention to matters more personal. She was on the point of nervously dropping everything and directing Alessandro to drive at once to the Elcazar, thinking the afternoon could be nothing but dreary for Marcia, when she caught sight of Tommy Gilbert on the street. At a signal the automobile was stopped and she motioned the lad to her. Tommy was the older son of a widow in straightened circumstances who had done needlework for the Brigham household ever since Bettina was a child. "Hello, Tommy; come right over here and see an old friend, called Bettina, with a ready smile of recognition. Tommy whirled about, pulling off his cap. "How-de-do, Miss Brigham?" And he grasped her extended hand. He was a boy of sixteen, large for his age, and with all the awkwardness of that particular period in a boy's life. His plain features and freckled face were relieved by a pair of eyes as blue as a bit of June sky and with an expression honest and singularly frank and open. "Tell me about your mother, Tommy. How is she and how are the twins? I haven't seen those blessed young- sters for ages." "Tommy's expression changed instantly he heard the question. Tears sprang to his eyes and his voice trem- bled. "Didn't you know that ma had a fall and hurt herself badly? She hasn't been up for six weeks. She can't do nothing and oh, she suffers terrible. It's her spine, the doctor said." "Oh, I'm so sorry, Tommy, so very sorry. And who takes care of Paul and little Jane? And what are you doing? I hope you haven't had to quit school. Do tell me all about it." Betting spoke excitedly. She feared THE STANDPATTER 63 the case might be even more serious than Tommy be- lieved it to be. "Yes, I left school a month ago. I'm working at Brad- bury's" and he looked up with a gleam of pride "get six dollars a week but the trouble is there's not a soul to do a thing for ma all day long except the twins." "Except the twins! What can those tots do for any body? And there's no money except the mite you earn? Oh, Tommy, Tommy!". The boy shook his head in an embarrassed way. "Oh, you poor boy! Why didn't you let me know?" "Ma did send me to tell you, but I couldn't find you and no one could tell me where you had gone, Miss Brig- ham." "Do you live at the same place, Tommy? Come, jump in here this minute and take me up to see your mother. Alessandro will see that you get to where you are going, so you'll lose no time." Bettina could have wept at the sight that met her eyes at the Gilbert home. She followed the' wiser course, however, and, instead of shedding useless tears, spent the busiest hour following her arrival there she had known in all her life. The poor woman was overcome with emotion at sight of the one person in all the world to whom she had been willing to turn for help in her distress. "I," she cried, "can't believe it is really you, dear Miss Betty. I never ex- pected to see you again. Sure, I never did. Oh, I've gone through everything, just everything," she moaned. Very adroitly Bettina changed the subject, and led the distressed woman's mind away from the hardships she had undergone to the contemplation of a subject more cheerful. There were plans for the immediate fu- ture to be made. Before she had reached the house, Bet- tina had decided on the course she desired to take, but she feared she might have trouble in bringing the mother to see things as she did. Her plan was, in brief, to ask that the twins, Paul and Jane, now seven years old, should be permitted to go home with her and stay in the country, living in the fresh air and basking in the warm sunshine, until their mother was quite well. There was joy in the thought of being able to return to their mother 64 THE STANDPATTER a pair of plump and rosy children such as the Gilbert family had never seen before. With an abundance of good, wholesome milk to drink and nourishing food to eat, there could be little doubt of her ability to do this. Her first step would be to have a good practical nurse sent to the house at once to take charge of the invalid, who, it seemed, had received no medical attention since the first day of her injuries; and there was Tommy, who, she determined, must return to school at once. He was a boy of far too much promise to be permitted to go through life without an education. Mrs. Gilbert was to have no further uneasiness as to means, for what she proposed to do would require but a pittance and this she would be only too happy to pro- vide many times over, if necessary. These were the plans that Bettina, sitting at the bed- side, laid before Mrs. Gilbert. She spoke very gently and comfortingly, with not a shadow of the patronizing man- ner so often assumed toward the weak and helpless. Her heart was in her words. If it had not been so the mother could not have yielded so readily to her wishes. Mrs. Gilbert's acquiescence in the general plan was all that Bettina awaited in order to go forward with en- thusiasm to the more heartsome task of carrying her plans into execution. The twins, who had been absent on an errand, burst into the room just as Bettina had finished her talk with their mother. They were shy for a few minutes, but when it was explained to them that they were to have a holiday, many of them in fact, and go in a big automo- bile with dear Miss Brigham to a beautiful place in the country, they soon forgot their shyness and were dem- onstratively happy. Paul and Jane were uncommonly pretty and interest- ing children, with innocent little ways, and speeches cun- ning and droll. Wherever they went they seldom failed to be the center of an admiring group. Paul was a manly little fellow whose chief fault was a proneness to wield the cudgel in behalf of his small sister, whether such defense was needed or not. He had a shock of fair hair, while his sister's hair was a riot of THE STANDPATTER 65 golden curls. Both had dark eyes and the cunningest of dimples coming and going in their rosy cheeks. Bettina had been fond of them from the first. She well remembered her visit to the Gilbert home when the twins were but a few weeks old. How excited she had been at the sight of two squirming little mites of humanity, and how she wanted them to add to her already large col- lection of dolls real "meat babies," as Tommy had called them. When home from school in the Berkeley days, she had never failed to go to see the twins, or have them with her at the house for an all day's romp. Mrs. Gilbert often told her she would spoil them en- tirely with the pretty presents she lavished upon them. It was not strange that her name had become a house- hold word with the Gilberts. It was during the next two hours that Bettina Brig- ham won her spurs as a commanding officer. She had only awaited a motive to call her latent power into action. The successful general, as everybody knows, never hesitates to put his own shoulder to the wheel. He not only leads the van, but is ready at a crucial moment to go back and bring up the wavering. There's a pretty little incident of the battle of San Juan that every "Rough Rider" likes to relate. Their intrepid colonel, whose courage, mental and physical, no one will essay to impeach, at the head of his regiment made a dash for the top of San Juan hill. Urging his horse the officers only were mounted up the rocky and almost impossible incline, he found in front of him a barbed wire fence. Drawing back a few paces and steadying himself in the saddle, he spurred his horse to the quick and a strenuous leap took horse and rider to the further side. On the leader pushed until near the top, when he looked back and found that but one man of the regiment had followed him and he was compelled to go back for the rest of his men. With almost breathless enthusiasm Bettina went for- ward with -her plans. The moment Alessandro returned she set him to work with instructions to reduce the little house to neatness and order in the shortest possible time. Everything was to be made ready for the nurse whom she was about to 66 THE STANDPATTER summon. That done, there would be further duties awaiting him. Bettina then hastened out to a telephone and called her old family physician, Dr. Norton, explaining that she wanted him to come and make a thorough examination in the case of Mrs. Gilbert. She requested him to follow this visit up with others as long as he found it at all nec- essary. He was to bring with him also a competent nurse, whose services would probably be required for several months. Dr. Norton assured her he would come right up, and he thought he knew of just such a nurse as was wanted, one who would not only take care of the ; patient, but manage the little household and make every one around her comfortable and happy. "It's Miss Rydberg. She's a strong, willing, and thor- oughly trained Swedish woman who is anxious to learn the ways of the country before going into wholly pro- fessional work. She speaks English fairly well." The doctor's explanations were satisfactory. "Bring her along, by all means, Doctor. I would like to see her started before I leave the city." Bettina felt that she was making progress. It seemed to her that she had never before fully appre- ciated the convenience of the telephone. What use she did make of it! There were supplies to be ordered from the grocer ; a few necessaries from the druggist, and a for- midable list to be filled by a big dry goods house. Little insight had been required to discover that linens and bed- ding were low and sorely needed replenishing. Truly the afternoon with its revelations was proving a lesson in social science more potent than any lecture that Berkeley had ever given her. Meanwhile Alessandro had not been idle. The little home had been cleaned and garnished when Bettina re- turned, and a cheerful fire blazed on the hearth ; for the evening chill was on. Even a bouquet of roses had been gathered and placed on the tiny table at the bedside. A marvelous transformation, truly. There were order, cleanliness, the aesthetic touch, essentials all of the home; for in the true home, whether that of wealth or of small means, beauty orr-a high order must of necessity THE STANDPATTER 67 sit enthroned ; not alone that outward beauty which Al- essandro had sought to produce, but the ranking beauty of true womanhood, of splendid manhood, the beauty of wholesome living, of right thinking, the beauty of char- acter. What touched Bettina most of all when she re-entered the little house was the look of peace that had come to Mrs. Gilbert's face. In it was substantial reward, if re- ward she sought. She was repaid a thousandfold for the little she had done. Never had she known the inward happiness that this afternoon's work was giving her. This was life. Here was genuine experience. She thought with a kind of self-pity of air the altruistic the- ories, picked up here and there, mainly in the classroom, which she had expounded so satisfactorily to herself. It had been talk, talk, talk, she told herself. Precious little good there was in having money, lots and lots of money, as she knew she had, if she was to use it only to surround herself with luxuries but she had not known ; that must be her excuse for the past ; as for the future well, there could be no dallying with theories, no harking back to the mere philosophy of these social questions. "Now, Alessandro, you've done so well that I can trust you to do one thing more," said Bettina, with a smile. "I'll wait here for Dr. Norton and the nurse while you take Paul and Jane to Coldron's for a fitting of clothes. I've spoken to Miss Norman and you are to go direct to her. Don't forget the name, and be quick. Get back in a twinkling." Dr. Norton had come and gone, leaving good cheer in his wake; Miss Rydberg, in keeping with her profession, was already at home with her patient, when Alessandro returned for Miss Brigham. Mrs. Gilbert bore up bravely as she parted from the twins, Bettina assuring her that they should come to see her often. As for Paul and Jane, they were far too ex- cited and happy to take the parting seriously. In the spacious lobby of the Elcazar, Bettina found her friends. They had reached a state of mild surprise as to what had detained her and were discussing the pro- priety of ordering tea when she arrived. Marcia, as hostess, had just welcomed Mr. Canterbury, who had 68 THE STANDPATTER been late in coming. She declared she had not been lonely a moment as Philip and Ward had hurried around an hour before. It did not take long for Bettina to explain" the highly interesting situation. "And do you mean to say that these 'heavenly twins' of yours are with you this minute ?" Marcia was plainly excited. "I mean to say that they are in the car with Alessandro, as happy as kittens. As they are not tea-drinkers, ex- cept of the cambric variety, I'll order a hamper of good things for them to eat." "Well," explained Ward, with his customary drawl, "I've never yet been knocked out of the ring by anything Bettina Brigham has done, and now I'm prepared for the worst, however cataclysmic it may be." "That being the case, suppose we aii drink tea," said Bettina gaily. THE STANDPATTER 69 CHAPTER XII. Marcia sprang lightly into the front seat, resolutely ignoring Bettina's uplifted eyebrows. "Me for a place beside the driver, where I can see the sights and study the country," she called out as she took her seat ; then, to Philip Ingalls, who, bending over, was tucking the blankets about her with more solicitude and deliberation than the occasion seemed to require, she added, sotto voce, "besides, this arrangement of seats is agreeable, I'm positive, to the only gentleman of the party." "Right you are," and Philip smiled significantly. "But if I had my way " "Then what? Not jealous, are you?" "No ; I was just thinking how amazingly I'd enjoy giving you a few pointers about the country ; that's all." "Thanks, awfully." "Meantime, it was Ward who was looking after Paul and Jane, alternately teasing and petting the children, who were restless as quicksilver, wriggling and squirm- ing in their impatience to be off, now that they had sam- pled and found quite satisfactory the contents of the generous hamper delivered to Alessandro during tea- time. Not an inch of the great car had they failed to scruti- nize, quizzing Alessandro mercilessly all the while; and now, after trying, in turn, every seat, fore and aft, they had declared in favor of a low footstool, where they sat like two small, mischievous elves. Bettina was in her usual high spirits, with an added gai- ety due, in part at least, to the exciting occurrences of the day. The children amused her vastly and she was happy beyond measure in the thought that they would give to Az- tec Lodge that touch of life innocent, rollicking child-life that the old p'.~ce so greatly needed. She had no fear but that she c*ould make them riotously happy. They were bright and sweet and affectionate, and would become daily more attractive, she believed, under the careful training which she proposed, with Frau Wildenow's help, to give them. 70 THE STANDPATTER The companionship of her friends, from whom she had been separated long enough to make her value it as never before, proved with her an irresistible impulse to gay ban- ter, even levity. The events of the day had been exhilar- ating; and, truth to tell, she was far from averse to a pleasant chat with her distinguished neighbor of Canter- bury Rancho. "You see, Mr. Canterbury, you've no choice in the mat- ter. Here's a seat and 'yez can tak' it or lave it' as the funny little Irish grocer on our corner ventures to tell his customers when he sees them hesitate from any cause.' 1 "Sure, miss," was the answer in a rich Irish brogue, "I'll tak' it an' the saints bless yez foriver an' iver for of- ferin' of it to mesilf." Bettina smiled brightly at Geoffrey's ready mimicry of the brogue, as she turned to give a final word of admoni- tion to Ward and Philip. "You'll promise me to remember that Marcia's at the Lodge and it's a right merry note we want sounded during her stay." "As if we could forget for an instant," said Philip. "Then show your interest by coming often and having your friends come with you. I can send Alessandro in for you any time you wish. And Ward, let us have some of your Stanford fraternity men. iWe'll see if we can't have an infusion of genuine college spirit once more." "O, Bettina," gasped Philip, "you'll surely not provide genuine college spirits for Stanford men. It might do a world of mischief." "Nothing more serious, Phil, than a midnight spread, sans liqueur, I assure you." "It'll be a capacity house," said Ward, drily, "if I tell the Stanford boys that the belle of Berkeley town is here." "Standing room only," said Marcia, with a pretty grim- ace. "What a tribute you're paying to our Berkeley girls," and she bowed mockingly. "Well, we'll make it so jolly for our particular Berkeley damsel that she'll stay all winter, I trust," said Bettina. It's a downright shame that Mr. Canterbury's to go so soon, but his country calls. How soon can we hope to see you back, Mr. Congressman?" "Hard to say, Miss Brigham. The game of politics as it's played these days, is 'mighty onsartain.' Rest assured, THE STANDPATTER 71 I'll come back to my friends and my alfalfa fields at the first possible moment. I live in California and only exist in Washington, don't you see?" The last good-byes spoken, they were soon speeding over the smooth, oiled boulevard, one of many of its kind stretching far away from the city to the popular pleasure resorts of the beaches, or to the picturesque towns and vil- lages and hamlets scattered through the valleys and bor- dering the foothills. "If you were asked, Miss Brigham, to name the one thing that contributes more than all else to California's pre-eminence among the states,-' asked Geoffrey, "what would it be ?" "The colleges, of course." "Well said, to be sure." "And you, Miss Duffield?" "Why, if I were asked to name in the order of their importance the three things that make California great, I should say first, the climate ; second let me see why, yes, it would have to be the climate; and third again the climate. We make a specialty of climate in California." "That's right, too." "But what did you have in mind? Something different, I'll wager. It's the practical side of life that men value highly," said Bettina reflectively. "I was thinking of California's magnificent highways and the millions that have been spent freely, to make them what they are. Other states have excellent educational institutions almost as good, we will say, as our own at Berkeley and Palo Alto; others, too, have climate, salubri- ous and delightful; but where, pray, is the commonwealth that can make an equal showing in the simple matter of roads?" "I believe you're right, Mr. Canterbury." Bettina was always frank to acknowledge herself in error if she was made to see it, though she was one to hold firmly to her opinions until she was honestly convinced. "I have-often thought," she continued, "that it is these smooth roads that are bringing country and city together, these and our trolley lines that are so dear to you, Mr. Canterbury. Think of the number of people living far away from the business sections of our own city that are 72 THE STANDPATTER able, nevertheless, to go back and forth in comparative comfort. All the pleasures of the city and most of its intellectual life are within their grasp." "Besides," added Geoffrey, "it is people that every state needs and must have in large numbers, too, if it is to advance; that is, permanent residents, you know, and that's what our good roads are doing for us, converting, each year, thousands of tourists into homeseekers. Some of the eastern states and those of the Central West com- plain, and with good reason, that the coast country is building up at their expense; that the agricultural classes especially are emptying themselves into California. Why? Because visitors here become enamored with the outdoor life. They like the ease with which they get about and cover long distances. They enjoy motoring all the year round." "What does my little Jane like best in California?" Bet- tina drew the little girl up into her lap as she spoke. "I love the flowerth betht," lisped Jane. "Do you have flowerth at your houthe, Mith Bettina?" "Yes, darling, plenty of flowers. And we have bees, too. Do you know what bees make from the flowers ?" "I do, I do," and little Paul clamored for recognition. "Well, Paul, what do the bees make from the flowers?" "It's honey, and oh, how I like it! I could eat a million bushels, Miss Betty." "And I just like butterflieth," said Jane. I thaw a buful butterfly one day. It wath jutht like gold and it flewed over our flowerth." "And I venture little Jane doesn't know what butterflies make," said Geoffrey, smiling. "Yeth, I do," said the little girl, encouraged by the smile, "they make buttermilk." The laugh that followed proved too much for the little girl who, overcome with bashfulness, tucked her curly head under Bettina's arm and was soon fast asleep. "It seems to me, Mr. Canterbury," said Bettina turning to him gaily, "that we've been supremely selfish to-day I mean our little party, we've discussed our own petty affairs ad nauseam, I fear, and have shown not the slightest interest in your larger concerns. It isn't because we're THE STANDPATTER 73 indifferent. I'm sure of that. How did you find political matters in the city? In ship shape, I hope." Geoffrey reflected a moment before venturing a reply. His mind turned, like a flash, to the inflammable proceed- ings of the district central committee; and he wondered to what extent those proceedings would be reported through the press. The so-called "progressive" newspa- pers had, hitherto, by hook or by crook, largely by crook, he surmised, been able to publish tolerably accurate ac- counts of the doings of his faction, even though reporters had to penetrate behind closed doors in order to accom- plish it. "Generally speaking, I think .political affairs in Cali- fornia are in something of a turmoil," he said thoughtfully. "I'm sorry to be compelled to say so." "I have thought as much, but it seems to me we've got to have something of a gale, possibly a hurricane, before the atmosphere is clear." "That may be." "But don't you feel it?" Again he hesitated before making a reply. "I think party disruption is at all times a real catastrophe for the country." "But not if a party has become untrue to its principles? Not if it has become unfaithful to the people, surely?" "Certainly not, if that can be shown." "Isn't the trouble with the leaders? I mean the men who, because of their enormous wealth, dictate their own terms to the masses. It occurs to me sometimes that we forget that all men in this country are supposed to have been born equal not equal in ability of course, nor equal in physical strength or energy, but with an equal chance to get a living, an equal opportunity to secure happiness, an equal chance to work." "Ton have the right idea, certainly, Miss Brigham." "I don't like to see a few men accumulate all or nearly all the wealth of the country, which is the 'surplus of labor.' Wealth should be more evenly distributed." "It looks as if the chances were rather uneven, to be sure." "Very much so, I should say, when one man can own 74 THE STANDPATTER that which it would take the average man over two mil- lion years to acquire." "Of course we have to acknowledge that men possess different degrees of intelligence and energy." "But after all, no one man has ten million or even two million times the energy or the intelligence that the aver- age man possesses." "The errors of the past are not easy to correct. You know the famous remark of Pierpont Morgan, that you can't unscramble scrambled eggs." "We can prevent future scrambling, though. You un- doubtedly see a good deal of this spirit of discrimination in favor of the already powerful. Politicians of that charac- ter do not care a whit what party wins just so that their own selfish interests are advanced." "I know there are many who think so ; but I'm happy to say that I haven't found so much dishonesty in politics as some people would have us believe. Most men entrusted with public office are trying to do their duty. They're seeking to serve the people whom they represent to serve the country as a whole." "I see that you're an optimist. I want above all things, too, to take a cheerful view of these matters. I don't want to be a croaker; but one's got to have an eye leeward for danger signals. I shall take a deeper interest in politics than ever before, now that I know the member from my own district." "Thank you, Miss Brigham, I hope you will feel entirely free at all times to talk with me about any subject which interests you. I shall go back carrying a greater devotion in my heart to the people I am trying to serve because of your devoted loyalty to them." "It's very kind of you to say so. I do want to see you lined up on the side of the people. But here we are at Canterbury Rancho. Would you believe it?" "Not for a moment. You've given me such pleasure as doesn't often come my way, Miss Brigham." "Miss Duffield and I shall expect an early call ; and when my friends come I want both you and your mother to join us at the lodge." "Charmed to do so. I speak for both of us ; and now, good night, Miss Duffield, and au revoir, Miss Brigham!" THE STANDPATTER 75 CHAPTER XIII. It was the morning after her arrival, and Marcia, stand- ing on the broad stone steps, a slim, graceful figure in the radiant sunshine, spoke with a gay, encompassing gesture : "How heavenly sweet and peaceful here under the wide, open sky ! Betty dear, you never told me that from your own dooryard I could stretch out my good right arm and gather a snowball from Old Baldy's hoary head or throw a wreath of roses around the old giant's shoulders. What a wonderful land it is, to be sure!" "I didn't know I'd left a word unspoken. It's not my custom." "Surely, like little Paul, I'm ready to make a good long stay at the pretty villa," added Marcia. "The little chap tells me he likes it so much he'll only go to the big city once in a while in the big machine to see his mamma; otherwise, he and Jane will stay right here until they go to heaven, he says." Frau Wildenow, sitting near by at her little work-table, laughed heartily. "The little man, I'm afraid he is not altogether conseestent," she said, "for when I gave him his cup of foaming milk half an hour ago, fresh and sweet as it came from our little bossy, he found it so delicious that he looked up innocently and said: 'O, when I go home I'm going to ask our milkman to buy him a cow.' " The girls shouted with merriment and the twins, eager for every bit of fun that was going, dropped their small spades and scurried to the house. Bettina called little Jane to her side. "I want my Dotty Dimple," she said, "to tell our Little Mother over there all about her own dear mamma and about the tiny house where she lives." Jane tossed her pretty curls and her dimples were very much in evidence. "We live with our own ma, but now ma'th tho terrible hurted that we'll thtay a long, long time with Mith Betty, 'n I like it here, tho I do." "Yes," int'erposed Paul, " 'n God brought us 'n gave us to our ma and we're awful glad cause God picked out such a good ma for us." 76 THE STANDPATTER ''God picked out a good papa for you, too, I used to know him before he went to heaven," said Bettina, gently. "No, God didn't pick out papa," said Paul solemnly. "Ma picked him out herself, but it was God, 'n I know it, 'at picked our Miss Betty." Frau Wildenow who took pride in having seen much of the world, had long maintained, in the secrecy of her own breast, of course, that Bettina was altogether the most dis- tractingly pretty girl she had ever seen Bettina with her shining auburn tresses, her vivid coloring, her large, hon- est, unspoiled eyes, her mobile mouth, her perfect, wil- lowy figure. Could any one be so dull as not to recognize her surpassing loveliness? Yet in the Berkeley days Frau Wildenow had been known to admit that Bettina's friend Marcia possessed claims to beauty that called for recog- nition and did not fail to receive it. Both girls were above the average height, but there the physical likeness ended. Marcia's hair was dark as night, an almost purple black, and rippled back from a low clas- sic forehead; her coloring was delicate, her eyes large, luminous, and of a dark gray color, with shimmering- lavender tints in their liquid depths. Again, both were vivacious, fond of fun, ready to do their part and much more in promoting any general merry- making; but, in Bettina's character there were depths never reached in Marcia's nature. "Why do you bother that wise old head of yours about all these perplexing questions, Betty mine?" Marcia had asked that very morning as they sipped their coffee at a little table in the pergola. "Why, for example, did you expend nervous energy in such reckless quantities yester- day on the Gilbert family? I have found it doesn't pay." And Bettina had tried to tell her that it was the one thing that brought satisfactory returns ; at which Marcia smiled incredulously. "Well," she said with a mocking laugh, "I turned my back on those knotty problems the moment I bade good old Professor Dry-as-Dust a tearful farewell, and made a bonfire of my text-books." "You'd find their study not half as stupid in the con- crete as in the abstract." "But, Betty, wait till you're married before going in for the regeneration of the human race." THE STANDPATTER 77 "I'm attempting nothing so formidable as either the regeneration of the race, or matrimony, I assure you. Besides, who knows that I shall ever marry? Marriage for a girl is always problematical, they say." "It wasn't exactly for Helen of Troy ; that fair lady had only to choose and, like another whom I know, she had many suitors from whom to make her choice." "I'm proud of you, Marcia. I see you carry around with you the essentials of mythology* the interesting details if you did burn your text-books. But your logic's at fault. You reason from false premises." "Not at all, and step by step, I reach the logical con- clusion that Bettina Brigham will marry. I'm sure I shall, too." "Since when are you sure?" "Why, bless your soul, I've never doubted it for a moment. It's only a question of rinding the right man, or, rather, of his looking out into illimitable space and discov- ering me; no doubt we're slowly gravitating toward each other at this moment. I humbly admit, tho' that the mar- riageable men of two continents are not falling over each other madly to win my heart and hand. There's where you have the advantage. For instance, there's small chance of its ever becoming necessary for me to betake myself to some distant happy isle in order to ward off eligible bachelors." "How absurd you can be when occasion offers, my dear Marcia." "No absurdity at all. That's what Phil told me they were talking at the club that the beautiful and gracious Miss Brigham had so many suitors during her brief sea- son in society that from motives of self-defense she with- drew from the social maelstrom." "And yet they say that men never gossip." "Never when otherwise employed." "It's monstrous their saying such things. A girl would have to be a vain and silly prig, don't you know, to think she needed protection from suitors." "That's so, Betty, even the undesirables liven things up for us a bit, and so serve a useful purpose." 'Of course I'm not pining to spend my life in melan- choly spinsterhood, far from it," said Betty; "no more do 78 THE STANDPATTER I intend to make a spectacular center rush into matri- mony. I must be sure that it's Betty Brigham rather than anything she possesses that is the attraction." "That's right. The fortune hunter's abroad in the land." "Thank heaven, he usually bears the earmarks. I'm not morbid on that subject. I'd be loath to judge any one wrongly but I've met the fortune hunter more than once and it makes me a trifle skeptical." "While we're dissecting men and their motives," Bet- tina continued, "I see that Alessandro is carrying out my orders to take you for a drive. We live in the open here in Southern California it's our first instruction to the unitiated. Run, now, and get ready ; you're to go with the Little Mother and the heavenly twins this morning." "You, too, n'est-ce pas?" "No, dear, you'll have to excuse me for once. It's three days since I've taken a look at the cement work on the South mesa a monster reservoir that fifty men are building and must complete before the winter freshets. It's a splendid piece of masonry but, of course, you'll see it one of these days. I promised the doctor I'd go over with him this morning and note progress." THE STANDPATTER 79 CHAPTER XIV. Bettina had concluded her tour of inspection under the superintendent's escort, and was leisurely awaiting the return of the car. The visit to the mighty reservoir had inspired her with increased respect for Trowbridge, the university man in immediate charge of irrigation. His capacity for manage- ment, his thoroughness and reliability, his ability to do things in a large way all were evidenced by the progress, slow but sure, that was perceptible. The skill with which water had been conducted from its hidden sources far up in the mountain fastnesses was equaled only by the masterly preparation for its distribu- tion to every point on the big ranch. Men who acquire such mastery over the forces of na- ture stand as kings among men. Such were they who, at infinite peril to life and limb, tunneled their weary way through the Colorado Rockies deflecting the course of a mighty rushing river, in order that the desert beyond might blossom and bear fruit; such, too, the sturdy men of brain and brawn, under whose aggressive labor the Great Ameri- can desert with its miles upon miles of sands finally dis- appeared or was replaced by fields of grain and cotton; they, too, who are bringing a living stream many, many miles from its sources in the distant Inyo country, that water may abound; that the people of a rapidly growing California city may, for ages to come, quench their thirst; to the same class likewise, belong those skilled engineers and master mechanics who are giving the world that mas- terpiece of civilization the Panama Canal. Bettina made up her mind to see more of the superin- tendent's young assistants. Although they ate in the big dining-room, she came only in occasional contact with them for the reason that meals were served there to suit the individual convenience, as in a hotel. The family table, too, was apart from the rest ; often it was set in the smaller breakfast-room an enclosed corner of the veranda which commanded a magnificent view of the mountains. Hereafter, she determined, she would have the group of 80 THE STANDPATTER college men frequently at her own table and in the family circle. Men who could accomplish miracles in a mechani- cal way were worth knowing. The girl had thrown off her big garden hat and was idly swinging in a hammock. Into her mind came her conversation of the morning. She smiled to herself as she thought of Marcia's supreme confidence as regards mar- riage. "If the Fates are busy weaving in my behalf," she said, "it would be interesting to know whom they are plac- ing in juxtaposition; not one of those, I trust, who hov- ered about me during the summer, making love to the extent that I would permit surely not one of these." "There was Reggie Cowan-Cowans," she said to herself, "doubtless God could have made a creature more ridicu- lous than poor Reggie, but doubtless He never did. And to think of Reggie's masquerading as a man," and she laughed outright at the mental picture of the fastidious youth with his high-keyed voice, his moustache waxed to an attenuation representing the nth power on either side of his weak, sensuous mouth ; Reggie with his eternal cigar- ettes, his monocle dangling from its broad black ribbon, his jaunty, mincing airs; Reggie the lady-like man. Others passed, a long list, in review before her. There was no discounting the ardor with which certain adorers had besieged her, nor the vehemence with which they had declared the tender passion. For her "the right man" had not yet appeared. When love should come to her own heart she would know it for a certainty. Until that happy mo- ment, she was willing to wait ; if it should never come she would still have her ideal and she could still be happy ; for she believed in work as a panacea for the disappoint- ments of life; if happily, love came to her, it would be the dearest thing, the most precious experience, that could ever come, dearer than life itself. When she cared for any one enough to place her own Jiappiness in his keeping it would matter little where or how she lived, so that they could go through life hand in hand. Yes, she would give freely when she gave her heart's best but it should be given only to a man of character. He must be strong of purpose, clean in life, upright, capable of taking his place among men, able to do his part in the world's work. THE STANDPATTER 81 "Thank you," and she again smiled, "no lady-like propen- sities for me." Bettina was still thinking of the ridiculous picture of her former suitor which she had conjured up, when a young man with energetic stride swung suddenly into her horizon ; he was coming through the archway ; she recog- nized Geoffrey Canterbury and, girl-like, marked that he was looking uncommonly well in a smart suit of light gray. His unexpected appearance, the unmistakable stamp of distinction he bore, could not but suggest the utter con- trast which he presented to the dainty Reginald, for Geof- frey as he strode forward appeared even more than ordi- narily the embodiment of strong, resolute manhood. The unbidden thought flashed upon her that here was a man whom she respected, admired the kind of man whom, under certain conditions, a girl might love. He had, through his own efforts, attained an enviable position among men. She admired him for it. There were dazzling possibilities of usefulness open to him. She sincerely hoped he might rise to the opportunities. She had spoken with candor when, the evening before she had frankly told him she wanted to see him on the side of the people. Was there a possible rift in the lute? Could it be that he was not at heart in sympathy with the common people? If not, what were the motives, what could be the influences that actuated him in his public career? Looking into those honest gray eyes of his she could not believe that he was consciously untrue to his trust. Why, then, his inaction, his lassitude regarding the great issues of the day? He could not be blind to the fact that America would be robbed of her purpose of existence if from her were taken the power to make men free. Did he not know that the people would no longer look on tamely and see legisla- tures bribed and judges selected and controlled by "big business"? Could he not see that revolution or something ominously like it was in the air? Geoffrey carried a basket of roses, fresh culled from his mother's rose garden. Mrs. Canterbury for several years had devoted much care to rose culture. The result was a garden celebrated far and wide for its variety of choice specimens. 82 THE STANDPATTER Geoffrey placed the basket with its gorgeous riot of color and fragrance at Bettina's feet. "With my mother's compliments," he said. "And she bade me say that if you found any that you especially liked she would gladly have our gardener start slips for you." Bettina's dark eyes sparkled with pleasure ; they filled with delight as she looked over the exquisite roses one by one, seeing something rare in each. Soon the two were busy arranging them in a beautiful cloissonne jar that the little parlor maid, Henriette, brought and placed on the wicker table. Since Bettina's visit to the city Henriette had been in a state of ill-suppressed ecstasy the cause, a handsome little watch and chain, a pretty bauble-like combination of gold and enamel, brought to her as a present by her mistress. She was wearing it now with an ostentation very amus- ing to the others. The ladies of the house had declared she wore it both night and day. The climax had been reached, however, when, wishing to call attention to her new possession, she innocently asked Frau Wildenow: "What time ees eet by your golt watch and chain ?" It was with the hope that opportunity might be found for a quiet chat with Bettina that Geoffrey sought excuse for the morning call. He realized how meager was the chance for such a talk with Miss Duflfield as a guest at the Lodge and a house-party of an indefinite number as a forthcoming week-end event. To find Bettina alone was rare good fortune. The two had arranged and re-arranged the roses amid much lively banter as to what would prove most effective and the running response of laughter. That done, with his eye on a distant garden seat, Geoffrey suggested a stroll in that direction. "Come," he said, "let us find a seat where we can have a talk," and he drew her arm within his own. "Then it was only a 'belief that we've been talking." Bettina smiled gaily as she yielded to his quiet imperi- ousness. To Geoffrey her winning sweetness appealed more strongly than ever before. She was so charmingly her- self, so simply natural, so harmonious and lovable. He was conscious only of a desire to prolong the delirious joy THE STANDPATTER 83 her presence gave him. He knew for a certainty that he could never give her up without seeking to win her; but for the present he resolved to guard jealously the secret of his love. "You've been good enough to speak about my work at Washington. Will it bore you if I venture to talk shop a little?" "On the contrary, it would flatter me immensely." "Well, I want to say by the way of preliminary, Miss Brigham, that I have the deepest respect for your opinion, whether as to methods of managing a big ranch, or, as regards the larger affairs of government." "Thank you, but my opinions are necessarily much in embryo." "Naturally, but you're a student and you're sincere. Your studies, possibly the influence of your college train- ing, have brought you to conclusions which differ from those I have reached by observation and contact with the world with conditions, I might say, as I have found them. For instance, you favor strongly the recall of the judiciary under certain circumstances. Much as I would like to agree with you, I can only see danger to the country in that propoganda." "Really," she said in a thoughtful mood, "it would be presumptuous for me to discuss the question with a per- son of your large experience." "Not in the least. I want you to speak freely." "But you can't imagine how strongly I feel on that subject." "All the more reason for talking right out. Possibly you can't realize how deeply I'd deplore going back to Washington knowing that you questioned my motives, even my integrity, perhaps." He laid his hand lightly on her arm as he spoke. "I know what it is to be misjudged, misquoted, maligned; to have my every motive miscon- strued." "Censure is the tax a man pays to the public for being eminent," said Bettina, sympathetically. "I expect it from the public, at least I try to endure it with patience' ; but, believe me, it would hurt me more than I can say to have you think ill of me." He spoke earnestly and slipping his hand down took hers in his own. 84 THE STANDPATTER There was a flush in her cheeks, her eyes were aglow, and her lips lightly quivering as she replied: "I never expect to doubt your integrity. But I only wish "What is it you wish?" Geoffrey smiled encouragingly as he met her clear gaze. Bettina looked far away toward the purple mountains before making reply. Her beautiful eyes were half veiled by their long, curving eyelashes. She hesitated about expressing what was in her mind and, again, her feeling was too poignant to leave it unspoken. "I was wishing," and she looked up archly, "that I might see you soundly converted, as the good Methodist brethren say." "And I'd like nothing quite so well as to be converted under your kindly ministrations; but I have some trouble- some convictions that stand in the way. Now, what are you going to do about that? Give me up as a hopeless sinner?" "No while still the lamp holds out to burn you know the rest Seriously, though, it's a tremendous political revival that's in progress just as real and almost as vital, it seems to me, as any of the great epoch-making religious movement of the past. You know its history thus far, far better than I. You know how the struggle for simple justice began a few years ago over there in Wisconsin this movement back to the people under the leadership of a man who is a statesman and a patriot. There was little but ridicule at first for one who boldly defied, and persisted in defying, big corporate interests. That's always a favor- ite weapon with the scoffers; they hurled the ugly word 'demagogue' at him, too; but when, after repeated trials, he had carried the state with him on some big questions it wasn't half-way funny. And now there's no smothering the flames. They break out in all sorts of places. The war-cry is 'Back to the people.' It's a lusty slogan. It rings true. It's bound to win, too, for the people, once aroused, always win." Bettina spoke excitedly, with heightened color. "Just now your constituents especially need your sympathy and your help, Mr. Canterbury." "They have my sympathy, God knows/' said Geoffrey solemnly. "They've a right to it. I'm one of them myself ; they'll have my help. I'd give my heart's blood to serve them." THE STANDPATTER 85 "But it's the courts that are failing us at this crucial time. Only yesterday Mr. Goodrich called on me to help with money in the fight for a reduced rate for citrus growers. It seems, as you yourself predicted, that we'll lose the case in the lower courts lose it on a mere tech- nicality set up by the judge himself; Mr. Goodrich says and if so, there's to be an appeal to the higher courts ; but, even if it goes to the highest tribunal, there's only a chance a fighting chance! for the people to win with that court's record for dividing where the interests of the plain people hang in the balance." "Some of the recent decisions have been pretty rank, that's a fact." "Why don't you say that some of them have been grossly unfair? Think of that a few years ago on the income tax, for example. For a hundred years Congress had imposed it the fairest tax on earth when wealth, represented by Wall Street, called upon the courts to preserve its life and though the constitutionality of the law had hitherto been unquestioned, though the court itself had not sug- gested trouble on the score of its constitutionality, on the final vote there was a division, five out of the nine judges holding that the law was unconstitutional. The worst thing about it, or that which looks the worst, was that change of a vote at the last minute ; the particular judge who changed his vote had voted the law constitutional without a demur in .the preliminary ballot, and before the ink on his pen was dry, declared it unconstitutional. Where had he got his new light, do you suppose?" "It looks bad, truly." "It looks like a case of 'Simon bids you point up/ now doesn't it?" "But, my dear Miss Brigham, let us not lose confidence in the courts because of an isolated case." "Unfortunately, such cases are too frequent to be called isolated. The fact is the more one looks into the history of the courts, the less one finds to commend." Geoffrey laughed good-naturedly. "That reminds me," he said, "of ,the question the judg-e asked an Irish prisoner once in my hearing : 'Are you trying to show contempt for the court?' 'No, your Honor/ was the reply, 'I sure am trying to conceal it/ ' ; 86 THE STANDPATTER "I have always felt a deep interest in the question of the recall of judges since I wrote my junior thesis on 'The Judicial Veto' at Berkeley," Bettina continued. "That was a pretty big subject. How did you treat it?" "Oh, in a comparative way, mostly. I argued that the right of judges to annul laws because they regarded them as unconstitutional was just the same as the lords' veto power in England; and that we should be compelled, some day, to put a stop to it, as the English people are doing now." "I can't see how you could make out that our judicial power to hold statutes to be unconstitutional and the veto power of the house of lords are identical in view of our written constitution, you know." "Well, I took the ground that the constitution didn't seem to have much to do with the decisions a good many of them. When the same supreme court could hold one day that an income tax was constitutional and on the next that it was not constitutional, the power to decide such questions became an arbitrary power." "I think I see your point, but didn't you base a pretty broad conclusion on somewhat narrow premises?" "No, there's a whole lot of cases like that the legal tender case, and all those." "I cannot agree with you about that. A great many questions enter into the constitutionality of a statute, you know." "I dare say; but, to my way of thinking, a lot of those precedents are used one heaped on another* until they lose sight of the constitution itself. And then, you know, the whole system is court-made, as Dr. Lindley said, The fathers of the constitution never intended to give the courts the veto power. The judges just got that up to increase their own power." "You're hard on the judges. Do you really believe that, Miss Brigham?" "Indeed I do. I looked it up in the Madison papers. They voted down several proposals to give the courts the power to decide laws unconstitutional. We owe that to John Marshall, I think that's his name." "Yes, that's the name of our greatest jurist the inter- THE STANDPATTER 87 preter of the constitution. I hope you wouldn't want to see his work undone." "No, I'm orthodox on that. I think his theories were possibly needed when he propounded them; but it's cer- tainly time to stop moving in that direction." "I don't think so. I believe we shall not build securely unless we use the foundations he laid. It would work all sorts of destruction to undo his great decisions." "Not if we have advanced beyond his theories. Besides, Chief Justice Marshall, in his warm championship of the courts, went further, as he very well knew, than had been intended at the time the Constitution was adopted." "That's still a disputed point, I believe." "But we must remember that when the Constitution was framed no court in the world had power to annul laws regularly enacted by the legislative department of a gov- ernment." "Yes, I believe you're right." "Why no European king had that power. To have given the court power to annul legislative acts through a onstitution would have been contrary to all practice. As Richard Spaight, one of the founders of the Constitution, said, it would have been 'aburd.' Legislative and judicial powers should never be united in one body of men. It creates despotism. No, the courts usurped that power and it now becomes necessary for the people to assert their supremacy over the courts. That's why I believe so heart- ily in the recall of judges, and still more in the power of the people to overrule wrongful decisions." "But don't you think we owe it to men like Marshall to stand by the institutions which have made this a great law- abiding nation?" "Yes, I agree with you that we should stand by our time-honored institutions; but to permit abuses to creep in is to be disloyal to them; to permit the courts to exer- cise legislative functions under the guise of judicial de- crees is to be untrue to the legislative department of the government, also a time-honored institution. It is danger- ous to give the courts an -absolute veto upon legislation. The people 'of the states would never have ratified such a measure." 88 THE STANDPATTER "Yet the doctrine that legislation was limited by con- stitutional restrictions is an old one it existed in this country before the adoption of the Constitution." 'There were a few attempts to exercise such authority. I know, but, in every case, the people rose up with a storm of protest against the usurpation of such power, even when the laws set aside as unconstitutional could by no means be vindicated. Wasn't it true that Marshall's celebrated decision was not followed by another of its kind for half a century?" "Yes, it must have been about that long ; but it was the rule for acts of state legislatures to be subject to review by the judiciary on the ground of repugnancy to the federal constitution and also to the state constitution." "I recall distinctly that Dr. Lindley said that even in the case of the exercise of this power by the judiciary of the states that it caused great public excitement and out- cry." "Well, of course no court would resort to that expedient except in an urgent case." "Such, for example, as preserving from taxation the incomes of the very rich." "Now, my dear Miss Brigham, you're indulging in satire. Courts, like individuals, are not infallible. That explains why they sometimes overrule themselves." "I've heard it said the appellate courts of this country have overruled themselves in more than ten thousand cases. It's also a matter of record, I believe, that the fed- eral and state courts now annul more laws in one year than they annuled during the first half of the nation's existence." "That's because of the abolition of set rules in the matter." "A law is constitutional or the reverse according as the judge deems it wise or otherwise; and in almost every in- stance there's a divided court." "That's very true. Some decisions the laity can hardly understand. For instance, a law that limited the hours of labor in mines was declared unconstitutional by a Supreme court, by a vote of six to three ! and again, by a vote of five to four, the court declared that a law limiting the hours of labor in bakeries was unconstitutional, and so it goes." THE STANDPATTER 89 Soon the two were talking spiritedly of the many ex- tremely technical decisions of the appellate courts, espe- cially in criminal cases; decisions by which the ends of justice are defeated; the reason for remanding a case to the court of original jurisdiction being oftentimes as tri- fling as a misspelled word, or the omission of a letter. Bent on being magnanimous, Geoffrey cited several interesting cases of this kind, which, he said, were "the departures from absolute justice which made a deep im- pression because they were exceptional." "One of those extremely technical decisions," he con- tinued, "was rendered in my own good state of Iowa. A man was convicted of murder. An appeal took the case to the Supreme court and the decision was there over- ruled. Why? Because of the fatal absence of the article 'the' in the title. It should have read 'The State of Iowa/ etc." "As Uncle Haredale says," added Bettina, "little things are sometimes 'mighty pah-ful.' He was telling me the other day about the St. Louis election frauds. You're familiar with them, of course. One of the crooks, it seems, was convicted of his crime, but afterwards went free be- cause of the omission of 'the' in the original indictment; whereupon the prisoner kindly relieved the state of further trouble and expense by jumping his bond and disappear- ing. But unquestionably hairsplitting reached its ultima- tum, he says, when a supreme court set its man free when it was discovered that he had been convicted of murder by stabbing his victim 'in the left breast,' with the word breast spelled 'brest.' " "What a blow to the spelling reformer!" was Geoffrey's laughing comment. "Professor Lindley often told us that in this country the greatest need in jurisprudence was its simplification. Now in England they've trimmed down their legal verbiage so that an indictment for murder is comprised in five lines, though it formerly occupied as many pages. And a dear old retired United States circuit judge, who gave us a talk now and then, was honest enough to say that no lawyer or 'judge living knows what the law is; that pre- cedents can be found to sustain either side of nearly every question, and yet we continually hear lawyers admit that 90 THE STANDPATTER they do not know what the law is until judges decide cases for them. They seem to have got out of the habit of going to constitutions and laws themselves to learn by their wording what they mean." "Then let us say its quits and lay all our troubles on the beastly legal phraseology and not on the judges. Come now, be fair, Miss Brigham." "But I'm trying to be fair to the people. Do you know what Dean Swift says in his Gulliver's Travels? It's not flattering to your profession, but you'll pardon me if I quote it. He says 'it's a maxim among lawyers, that what- ever has been done before may legally be done again; and therefore they take especial care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice and the general reason of mankind. These, under the name of precedents, they produce as authorities, to justify the most iniquitous opinions; and the judges never fail of directing accord- ingly. In pleading, they studiously avoid entering into the merits of the cause; but are loud, violent and tedious in dwelling upon circumstances which are not to the pur- pose.' This was quoted in my graduation thesis." "Really, now, I never expected to hear the author of Gulliver's Travels cited as a legal authority." "Now that I've produced my highest card, I propose hoisting the flag of truce, or whatever may stand for a suspension of hostilities." "Oh, there's to be nothing so serious as hostilities be- tween us, I trust now or ever after." Bettina smiled her acquiescence as she said, "Come then, let us seal the friendly compact by breaking bread together. It's hours past luncheon time." THE STANDPATTER 91 CHAPTER XV. The next morning Bettina rose early before the sun had fully broken through the mists that hung over Old Baldy's ragged shoulders. The house was very still still, with the wierd-like, almost ominous hush that belong to the silence of the early morning. She went tip-toeing into Marcia's room, adjoining her own, and found her sleeping soundly her head pillowed on her round white arm, her glossy, purple black hair lying in heavy braids and rippling waves close to the beautiful face. "The sleeping Venus," she said, and smiled down upon the pretty picture, then slipped away lest she might yield to the temptation, strong upon her, to stoop and kiss the alluringly dimpled cheek. Ward Percival had called her up by telephone the day before to say that the party would be a little larger than they had planned. He hoped the increase in numbers would prove no inconvenience. One of his cousins, Dr. Roderick Perkins, had dropped in on him unexpectedly from St. Louis; he would come, of course; and Phil had invited Shirley Cravath to join them. "You don't know Cravath? Yes, he's the Stanford man, class of naughty-naught; surely, he's the very chap who's taking a hand in politics been circling the globe, so to speak, making speeches and all that sort of thing a rat- tling live wire makes a bully speech. To be sure, he's progressive to the finger-tips. A 'nawfulley' popular chap, as the kiddies say. What girls? Why Elisabeth Wendel- berg and Hortense Grahame, of course, and one or two visiting girls Elisabeth's friends names gone from me this minute. They're crazy about going want a jolly new experience, don't you know? Nevei saw a rawnch." Alessandro, awake to the significance of the occasion, and fully alive to his own responsibility in making it a success, had left for the city the evening before; his in- structions, to place himself and his touring car at the service of 'the party. If necessary, to get another car and a chauffeur. Frau Wildenow, who was expected to chaperone the 92 THE STANDPATTER girls, had, of course, to go along; and, at the last minute, to the delight of the twins, it was decided that they, too, should make the trip as they were entitled to an over- night's visit to their mother. Bettina had a surprise in store for her guests, the secret of which she had, thus far, shared only with Geoffrey Can- terbury. They were expected to arri-ve in time for an evening dinner. In order, from the outset, to emphasize the spirit of their schooldays, she had hit upon the idea of having, instead of the usual formal dinner she heartily disliked formality a jolly spread in the big salle a manger; to be served at the dinner hour and with rollicking in- formality; to be followed by songs, toasts and a varied assortment of "stunts." A special order for decorations had brought a delivery from the city of innumerable pennants, banners, mottoes, tucked in along with which were caps and gowns for the entire party; and Bettina fairly danced with delight on discovering a music-box that rendered old college songs dear to her heart. It was to put in place the decorations that Bettina had risen so early, a task that Geoffrey had begged the privi- lege of sharing. She found him seated on the veranda reading his morn- ing paper; an early newspaper delivery being one of the advantages that the much-prized trolley brought them. "Bon jour, monsieur. Behold the typical man o' the home sitting at the door of his castle reading his news- paper." Geoffrey rose with a smile to extend his hand. "I have you to thank for a pretty compliment." "Too early in the day for compliments. I deal only in homely facts at this unearthly hour." "Homely facts for homely men, I suppose. I, too, state but the facts when I say that I never saw you look better than at this unearthly hour. You got in your beauty sleep last night, I wager." There was admiration in his eyes. Bettina mockingly made him a curtsey. There was more than passing compliment in the look he had given her, and she had not failed to observe it. After the conversation of the previous day she had found herself wondering if THE STANDPATTER 93 he was one of those men that fell in love with every girl they met, but had dismissed the thought as unworthy. That same interview of the day before had cleared up some things in her mind he was honest, had convictions, would be true to them ; all this, though there remained the impression that he was hopekssly stiff-necked, chained to traditions that were out of harmony with present condi- tions a curious thing in a man still young. Bettina was glad, she knew not why, that he had been unwilling to renounce his opinions ; thankful, too, that he had defended what she believed to be a weak cause with sucli earnestness and logic as he could command ; defended it, she acknowledged, in a manly, straight-forward way and they were opinions diametrically opposed to her own. She did not doubt for a moment that he wished to win and hold her good will ; and certainly his honesty entitled him to it. Bettina was, after all, very human. Having everything a girl could desire culture, wealth, beauty, social position a full mete of homage had been hers; and she had been admired, flattered, fawned upon ; it would have been singu- lar if she had not grown to expect it and feel its absence. Life had given her varied experiences, but never before that of a man combating her views. It was clearly a new sensation, a new experience. Soon the two were engaged in creating that intangible something, a college atmosphere, for the spacious salle a manger an occupation not in the least irksome if one may judge by the appalling amount of lively talk and merry laughter the work entailed. Geoffrey fetched a ladder from the old adobe toolhouse that he might create a wonderful frieze a frieze of many colors and bizarre design, since it was made up of pen- nants of numerous schools ; and, really, the making of the frieze would have gone forward merrily and speedily, too, had it not been for the constant necessity the young man was in of consulting Bettina ; and Bettina, flitting here and there, selecting this or that bit of decoration, reach- ing it up to him, was distractingly beautiful. It was clearly her 'fault that the making of the frieze lagged sadly, for Geoffrey could not be expected to do anything so commonplace as to fasten pennants in place with push- 94 THE STANDPATTER pins, when he could by a simple turn of the head make a study of the marvellous effects produced by the sun's rays filtering through the gauzy curtains and falling aslant a mass of red brown hair; and there was the exquisite curve of the cheek to consider likewise ; cheek with the tint of the rose coming and going; tint of the rose deepening to vivid coral in the innocent, mobile mouth. Greuze had never painted mouth half so sweet, so child-like, so alluring, thought Geoffrey. A close observer might have noticed that Geoffrey's re- quests were many ; nor could Bettina comply save by hand- ing him this or that from the foot of the ladder, her round white arms bare to the elbow ; and, in doing so, there were those wondrous upturned eyes with their marvellous lashes ; eyes which exercised a fascination so strong that at times he was seized with a mad impulse to leap down and enfold her in his arms. It was when looking up to hand him a Stanford pennant that Bettina said: "I haven't told you who our Stanford man's to be. You probably know him Cravath's his name Shirley Cravath, I believe." Geoffrey gave a slight start: "Do you mean that Cra- vath's to be one of your guests ? Is he a friend of yours ?" "Yes, and no; if I'm to attempt to keep up with your running questions: yes he's to be one of our party; and, no I have not the pleasure of the young man's acquain- tance, but I've often seen his name in the newspapers his pictures, too ; and I'll be delighted to meet him. From all accounts, he's clever and popular. He comes on Philip Ingalls' invitation. Do tell me about him." "I haven't a doubt you know more about him than I." Geoffrey spoke with a shade of coolness. "He's very much in evidence just now politically is pushing and ambitious and, most important of all, he's a successful ladies' man, at least I'm told so." "A ladies' man ! I'm by no means sure I approve of a successful ladies' man. It sounds flirtatious. Just how does he manage to win success in that particular field of human endeavor?" "Alas, I know not. An all-wise Providence withheld the gift from me." Geoffrey had come down from the heights and the two were seated where they could view their THE STANDPATTER 95 handiwork. "Cravath's a handsome fellow for one thing and he's not lacking in self-confidence two important ele- ments in success whether with men or women. I dare say you'll like him." "A republican, is he not?" "Calls himself republican belongs to the ultra-insurg- ent wing of the party." "There's a complication for you ! Here I've been inno- cently congratulating myself that we're to have two tre- mendously big guns " Geoffrey looked at her humorously : "Guns prove to be not even small bore rifles," he said; "but that menace to the public toy-pistols, guaranteed to go off half-cocked and cause all kinds of disturbance! Is that it?" Bettina laughed outright. "I confess to a tremor," she said, "bringing together the opposite poles of a big political battery." "Well, Cravath and I are not so far apart, after all. We're both on the same side, you know at least I'm on the everlastingly righteous side, and I dare say he claims to be." "We'll hope you'll not descend to blows, at any rate." "If we do, you'll serve as referee?" "If you do, it's neutral ground for me." "I've been thinking," and Geoffrey's face grew serious and tender, "that it's little I shall see of you in my few remaining days here." "But you're to give us every minute you can take from your own affairs ; I count on that, you see." Bettina spoke gaily, the gaiety in a measure simulated. The thought of his going gave her a pang; and, again, she knew not why it should. She would miss the pleasant friendship that had sprung up between them that much she knew ; friend- ship that had buoyed her over the first weeks of country life that, without this cheering diversion, were sure to have been dull and tedious. She realized that she would find the days different when she could no longer look forward to his dropping in for a chat ; or, may be, for a stimulating discussion of the questions of the hour discussions all the more stimulating that she and her visitor were so widely apart in their premises, as well as their conclusions. 96 THE STANDPATTER "Don't think me beastly unappreciative," he said with a lowered voice. "When I come, I'll see the brilliant hostess* the gracious entertainer, surrounded by a host of admirers smiling on all alike and well, I'm already jealous that's all, without the shadow of a right to be. There'll be no show for a word with you alone it hurts me to have it so." Bettina averted her eyes. "You'll enjoy the temporary excitement far more than you think," she remarked eva- sively, and with a smile seeking to lighten the situation, "but do you see the hands of that old clock? Would you have dreamed it? And all these flags to go up." For the time, Geoffrey's opportunity was gone. THE STANDPATTER 97 CHAPTER XVI It was six o'clock when Ozawa, his face wreathed in smiles, ran, quite out of breath, to inform his mistress that they were coming 1 . He had sighted them afar from the tower window Ozawa, smiling, serene, punctilious, in a livery white as the snow that gleamed from Old Baldy's scraggy head. Madame Canterbury and Geoffrey; looking rather stately and impressive for an occasion designedly informal, had driven into the archway shortly before. They had come in their old-fashioned Victoria behind the dappled grays with Rupert Yenowine himself on the box, handling the ribbons with consummate dignity. In vain Geoffrey remonstrated with his mother against retaining the old equipage, now growing dingy from long service equally in vain had he favored something more modern a touring car, or a small electric runabout, but she smilingly declared them too dangerous at least too trying for her nerves. On the veranda, ready to receive the guests whose merry voices and gay laughter floated up in advance of them, were Bettina and her friend Marcia Duffield, with Madame Canterbury and Geoffrey. With difficulty Bettina had per- suaded Dr. Millbank to be one of their number in the fes- tivities of the evening. He and his corps of associates were to join the group later, Millbank insisting that he committed himself to this program this ridiculous pro- gram, he called it simply to gratify Miss Brigham. He wasn't any Beau Brummel, he declared, in his whimsical fashion ; whereupon Bettina laughingly retorted that she had never for a moment suspected a relationship between him and either a Beau Brummel or Ward McAllister. Alessandro's car led the way a short distance, a larger one, of the sight-seeino- variety, bringing up the rear. Frau Wildenow with Paul and Jane at her side, the latter waving toy ^balloons, first caught Bettina's attention. Then came the arrival and presentations amid much jest- ing and raillery, Ward Percival serving as master of cere- monies. 98 THE STANDPATTER "Miss Brigham, I want you to meet Mr Shirley Cravath, the best advertised man in California to-'lay. If we were to find that we were getting out the Star without a story about Cravath, by the heaven above me, we'd stop the presses. And his pictures ! Good Lord, we have one for every day in the year. And then some. The first time you're in the office, Betty, just ask me to take you to the morgue " "To take me to the morgue? Well I guess not, Ward. It's the last place in the world I shall want to visit." Ward laughed. It's usually the last place people visit, that's true not exactly a matter of choice at that but I referred to our little morgue where we keep the pictures of the truly great, like our friends Canterbury and Cravath, and a few of the near-great. I'll show you Cravath at every possible angle." Cravath was bowing over Bettina's extended hand, and the latter caught herself observing him rather closely. She saw a man rather short of stature considerably below her own height, in fact a man very much at his ease and just now vastly amused at Ward's ludicrous de- scription. He was a blond of so pronounced a type as to suggest Scandinavian nativity though he had never been known to claim it stout, smooth of face, with eyes of deepest blue eyes large and not unpleasant in their expression, looking through a pair of rimless glasses. He looked ex- ceedingly well groomed. It was his plumpness, his all- around smoothness, that had led to the nick-name of "Cupid," by which he was known among the boys. "I am the most fortunate man in Christendom, Miss Brigham, to be one of your party," and Cravath bowed again ; "I owe the pleasure to my good friend Ingalls ; isn't he a royal chap? Splendid fellow the salt of the earth, no better to be found. Dr. Templeton Ingalls, his father, I'm proud to count among my friends j oiliest old rector in the world. You see I'd wanted to meet you, Miss Brig- ham have heard all sorts of complimentary things said about your dazzling record at Berkeley; and once I had the pleasure of hearing you speak happened to be up north at the time of some class doings. I'll never forget that speech of yours on the judiciary, never ; it made a THE STANDPATTER 99 tremendous impression on me I really think it was the determining factor in my political life converted me to the doctrine that we've got to resist the power and en- croachment of the machine in politics, even to the extent of assuming a control of the judiciary ; yes, indeed, IVe been talking it ever since. Your ground was absolutely in- controvertible." Bettina murmured grateful appreciation of his flatter- ing opinion. "Strangely enough, the very thesis of which you speak I mean the study I gave it proved an awak- ening to me," she said. Cravath smiled upon her and he had a most agreeable smile. "I assure you," still smiling, "that the little I can do to lift the judiciary out of the mire in which it is en- gulfed must be accredited to you. I must have a long talk with you I want to steal all your powder." Further conversation at the time was impossible. Bet- tina turned to speak with Dr. Roderick Perkins, the young physician, now making his first trip to the state, he told her. "You're expected to fall into line, Doctor. Everybody raves about our eternal sunshine, and most people who come to scoff, return to stay." "I'm charmed beyond measure. I'd never want to go to heaven if I were settled here. The only trouble is, my dear Miss Brigham, that you've no use for Doctors homeopaths, allopaths, osteopaths as the rabble call us it's all one to you." "Uncle Haredale says that all these 'paths' of yours are like the path to glory they lead but to the grave." "Now you are severe," and the doctor laughed heartily. Meantime Geoffrey, who had met Cravath in a cordial, offhand way, was talking with Elisabeth Wendelberg, who, in turn, introduced her cousin, Amy Daggett, a pretty girl, with a face strangely spirituelle petite, refined, delicate almost to the point of fragility. She was recovering from a severe illness and had left her home in the Middle West at the command of the family physician. Miss Daggett was musical, had studied in Germany and returned to this country with the expectation of doing concert work, but her severe application at Leipzig had been too taxing for her delicate constitution. For the present her plans had been abandoned. ' 100 THE STANDPATTER Greetings well over there came a temporary lull. Guests were conducted to their several apartments, each with quiet instructions to reappear on the ringing of a bell- to reap- pear after donning those habiliments of learning the cap and gown. Frau Wildenow hurried Paul and Jane, happy but tired, to the point of listlessness, to their own little rooms, their own wee beds, after the maid had brought them bowls of bread and milk for which they clamored noisily; and, sad to say, ate too greedily for either fautless manners or good digestion. Bettina and Marcia had put the finishing touches, those last lingering and refined touches which mean so much, on the big circular table ; Geoffrey again looked after a needed adjustment of the electric lights, which he had in charge ; Madame Canterbury had been favored with a peep into the brilliantly-lighted room with its novel decorations and declared it the acme of artistic cleverness ; and, finally, the doors thrown open, the signal was given to Trowbridge to take up his line of march through the wide halls ring- ing a great copper bell. f\nd now the guests came trooping down the winding stair, laughing, chatting, whistling, expectant, singing snatches of new songs curiosity rife as to what the order of proceedings was to be, but each ready to seize upon the slightest clue and drop spiritedly into any desired role. Geoffrey led Miss Daggett to the piano. Her fingers ran lightly over the keys, and softly, as if by way of pre- lude, there filled the rooms the familiar strains of Old Hundred "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow," given with surpassing sweetness of expression a benedic- tion, sweet and simple ; in giving which Miss Daggett was following a custom adopted on her recovery from her ill- ness when she had been brought face to face with death a beautiful thank offering it was for her restoration and one which she never omitted. A moment later came a crash of music; gayety in full swing now; a moment more, this time the rythmic swing and sway of a grand march, led by Geoffrey and Bettina, the two carrying themselves with regal bearing. College songs, punctuated with college yells, made the rafters ring. Leading all was the old-time favorite, THE STANDPATTER I6i' "Gaudeamus igitur, juvenes dum sumus " and following it, in turn, the lighter, more modern and none the less soul-stirring melodies of a later day. Rollicking fun was destined to prevail that evening. It held full sway, broke out in song, in repartee, badinage, in witty jest, in story. Restraint was unknown. Ward and Philip were the ring-leaders, boisterous at times, and, where they went, no one hesitated to follow. Even Mill- bank was in hilarious mood, as to the manner born, and told stories with the best of them. Geoffrey, who serving as maitrc dc ccremonie, sat oppo- site Bettina a situation not altogether to his liking when he saw how easily and naturally .it gave the post of honor, at Bettina's right, to Cravath, in whom he could plainly see a rival for Bettina's heart, as well as a foe in the politi- cal field; at Geoffrey's right, the brilliant Elisabeth Wen- delberg; at his left, pretty Amy Daggett, whose musical gifts had impressed all as favorably. Dr. Perkins sat at Bettina's left, while in the center on either side were Madame Canterbury and Frau Wildenow, enjoying to the utmost the brilliant medley of song and story following the impressive pageant with its gorgeous mural setting. Only one course seemed open to Geoffrey. He and Cravath might be enemies to the end of their days prob- ably would be. Cravath had openly denounced him again and again in his speeches, in a way, too, that a man cannot easily pardon since it reflected upon his honor, his integ- rity, his good name but for this one time, loyalty to their hostess bade him, in his capacity of toastmaster, give the man occupying a seat at her right the highest honor. But Geoffrey resented Cravath's presence at this time. There was now no doubt in his mind, it had come to him in many ways, that the latter 's wife had secured a divorce two years before; for this alone society would hesitate to ostracize a man of brilliant social parts, but there had been much unpleasant talk, the tongue of scandal had wagged, there had been many unsavory rumors connected with the affair. Philip Ingalls must have known this; he ought to have understood that a man with a record of that sort was not one to be thrust lightly upon a young hostess. Philip had 102 THE STANDPATTER taken an unwarranted liberty, aided and abetted by Ward, who had gone so far as to -give him a character, by tele- phone; but if Cravath in the maelstrom of a political cam- paign making speeches to a noisy rabble and paying court in moments of pause to innocent girls of the villages through which he passed was a figure far from admirable, by what system of logic should he be freely admitted to the inner circle of the socially elect? As for Geoffrey, he had solved the problem by adhering to the old-school, fundamental theories imbibed in early youth, adopted in mature manhood, theories sufficiently straight-laced to put honest women alike on the same high level, and far above the reach of the trifler. But from the moment that Bettina had told him of Cravath's coming, Geoffrey had been convinced that there was something more than mere coincidence in the appearance of his political rival on the scene at this time ; an ulterior motive he did not doubt. His curiosity was piqued. He would at least be on his guard. If a trap were being set for him he would not walk into it with closed eyes. Such was the undercurrent of Geoffrey's thought, though not even his mother, who flattered herself that she never failed to read his every mood, suspected it. His never-failing humor and brilliant sallies of wit car- ried the merry program forward with waxing enthusiasm enthusiasm finding expression in sudden bursts of ap- plause, and wild manifestations of approval. And so the evening, foredoomed by every token to success, drew to a brilliant close with Cravath's clever toast to "the ladies." If the speaker had any embarrass- ing memories not the ghost of one arose to trouble him. "The ladies as subject? Why, bless your heart, Mr. Toastmaster, there's a mistake somewhere; in California ladies are never subject, they are sovereign." For the moment no doubt he believed it; no one questioned his rich and ample knowledge of the subject. THE STANDPATTER 103 CHAPTER XVII. The days passed swiftly. Liberty to do what they liked best, to amuse themselves in their own way, to come and go as they wished, made the holiday a real one for Bettina's guests. That was her idea of hos- pitality. There was mountain climbing for those who enjoyed it ; motoring for all who were so inclined. Tennis had its devotees and bridge its willing slaves. There was not a dull moment. One early morning was given to horseback riding, but the old-fashioned pastime did not stand in high favor; and Marcia DurBeld, who adored horses, and Philip In- galls, who adored Marcia and made no secret of it, were the only ones for whom mounts were regularly brought to the door by Alessandro. Cravath was one of the merriest as he was one of the most active of the party. Every feature of ranch life interested him. He chatted with Millbank by the hour when the latter was about his duties, bringing out by his questions minute details of the scientific processes employed by the older man. He pressed Trowbridge into personally conducting him up the mountain to see the sources of the water supply, at the same time making a study of the intricate phases of irrigation. He won Frau Wildenow's favor by his studious attention to her every wish! and as for the twins, they thought him the very jolliest man they had ever seen. In turn, Paul and Jane amused him immensely. After his brief visit to the city, Paul started in anew to explore the ranch, a favorite field of operation being the old adobe toolhouse, where he found much to excite his curiosity. One day he was missing for a long time. Little Jane could not tell where she had last seen her little brother and Frau Wildenow, who held herself re- sponsible t for the children, was growing uneasy when he emerged from the old adobe with jumpers tattered and torn and his small person very much enveloped in cobwebs. 104 THE STANDPATTER "Hello, Paul !" called Cravath. "Come here this min- ute and give an account of yourself, you young rascal." Paul hung his head. "I was just in the toolhouse, 'n 'at was all," he said. "Yes, but why under the heavens did you stay so long? We thought you were lost and we'd have been searching for you in a jiffy searching all over creation. I suspect we'd have had to get a pack of hounds to help us Paul never tired of stories of the rescue of chil- dren by dogs. They stirred his imagination. "But I couldn't get out. The door was locked." "But how did you get out finally?" said Bettina. "Come, tell us how you managed it?" "Why, I dess found a crowbar and 'en I crowed my- self out, o' course," he declared. To be true to history, it must be confessed that Cra- vath had come to Aztec Lodge with a fixed purpose sad to tell, with the selfish purpose of advancing his own political interests ; as well as of improving, if possible, his financial situation. His success during the campaign that had just closed, the popularity he had won, unex- pected even to himself, the confidence he had been able to inspire in his ability to do things, both as a speaker and an organizer, a confidence which led the progressive leaders to put him forward as the one man who could, they believed, raise aloft and carry to the front the ban- ner of victory against Canterbury in the fierce congres- sional fight that was sure to be on a year hence, had aroused his ambition to a point that knew no limit. Lack of funds alone stood as an obstacle. He needed money, must have it if he were to win the large place that loomed up before him in the political horizon and seemed within easy grasp. He must either win fortune by his unaided efforts a slow process, at best or, he must exercise prudence and put much money in his purse by marriage. Cool and calculating to the last degree was his analy- sis of the situation. True, large fortunes were being made by judicious in- vestment, the opportunity for getting rich quick was more promising than it had ever been in Southern Cal- ifornia. The eyes of an eager world were fixed on this THE STANDPATTER 105 vast orchard belt, this sunny garden spot, where life was a joyous summer day. The opening in the near future of a world-wide com- merce through the completion of the Panama Canal would bring teeming millions to this land of promise, this state of progressive principles. Yes, fortunes were still to be gathered in, but they were not for him. It takes money to make money ; and money he did not have. "The destruction of the poor is their poverty." The dilemma, simplified by process of reasoning, of- fered but one horn, and this Shirley Cravath grasped he would wed a fortune. He had spoken the truth, though not the whole truth, when he had told Bettina that he had long been inter- ested in her. From the moment that the word had gone out that this young girl of wealth and charm and distinction had chosen Aztec Lodge as a home had built her altar and set up her Lares and Penates there Aztec lodge lying in the proximity to the extensive acres of Geoffrey Can- terbury's alfalfa ranch Cravath had scented danger. He resolved on investigation; investigation to be made through Philip Ingalls. "Do you mean to tell me, Phil Ingalls, that Miss Brig- ham and the gallant Geoffrey are already friends?" Cra- vath had adroitly led the conversation to a point where he could ask the question. "More than friends unless all signs fail." "For a standpatter, the chap's alarmingly progressive, now isn't he?" "Oh, the principle is to get hold of everything in sight and then stand pat. That's the foundation of stand- patism, you know." "By George, that's a pretty good definition. I'll get it off in my first speech." "No extra charge for it." "Well, you're shrewd, old man, but that girl's a blamed sight too democratic to accept Geoff Canterbury's poli- tics." Cravath studiously refrained from manifesting en- thusiasm. Philip should not know that he was person- ally interested. "Do you know her, Cravath?" 106 THE STANDPATTER "No, but I'd like to see her place mighty well. I'd like to see how she's doing the thing." "Better join our little house party. We're to spend a few days at the Lodge." Philip had no sooner said the words than he regretted them. He remembered charges that had never been cleared up and he realized that Miss Brigham was punctilious in certain matters. But the invitation had been given and he saw no way to with- draw it; besides, it was hardly probable that Bettina would ever know anything about it. "I accept on the spot. I'll be glad to meet that girl, too; understand she's a thoroughbred." Cravath did not drop the subject until all plans were made. He was se- cretly exulting in his power to manage a difficult situ- ation. The very thing he had most desired had come to him. Bettina found much to occupy her during the days of the house party, and yet she was always ready for a quiet chat with any one who seemed to desire it. Cravath pushed his way for an early interview. He was too much in earnest to let an opportunity pass. He had established an easy, friendly footing with Bettina. His bearing proclaimed him a man of the world affable, breezy, forceful, self-reliant. If his manner sometimes seemed over-familiar for a brief acquaintance, it was par- doned as being that of the thorough-going cosmopolitan. They were seated a little apart from the rest the morn- ing* after his arrival, when Cravath remarked : "I im- agine you'll miss our friend Canterbury now that he's going back to Washington." "Truly, we shall miss him. I think everybody on the ranch deplores his going." "I like the man better than his politics." "He's faithful to his convictions, and that covers a multitude of shortcomings." "I'm mightily pleased to know you believe in his hon- esty. I'd give two bits this minute to know what he'll do for the lemon-growers down Berendo way. They're in a pickle over that lawsuit." "You can rely upon him, my word for it. He's con- servative, it's true, temperamentally so; I fancy it's be- THE STANDPATTER 107 cause he has the lawyer's way of looking at things. But he'll do the right thing; that is, the right as he sees it." "You ought to be able to influence him." "Not at all. We have talked it over I like to air my views you know but he's not a man that permits an- other to do his thinking for him." There was a tinge of coolness in Bettina's voice and manner. "You know what they're saying, of course that Can- terbury has pledged his support to the Great Southern in this freight business in exchange for the chairmanship of a leading House committee?" "Who's saying such a beastly thing? It's not true. It's unthinkable. No one could believe it who knows Mr. Canterbury." "I think it's partly inference. It's known that he had a private conference with Billy Crewe at the Cherokee last week Crewe's the man that does the dirty work for the G. S., you know and Crewe has since let it slip that Canterbury's to be chairman of the House Judiciary committee. It's a pretty big place for so young a man." "It's downright malicious to say those dreadful things about a man just because he's in politics. You ought not to repeat such a story, Mr. Cravath." "Why, my dear Miss Brigham, I had no idea you'd take the matter seriously. It's simply common talk I'm giving you." ."So much the worse. By what system of ethics can you defend the breaking down of a man's character destroying his reputation, on a mere rumor the gossip of the hotel lobby?" "Come now, dear Miss Brigham, forgive me ; I ap- ologize humbly. My interests are so strongly on the side of the people that I'm over zealous in their behalf. I love the common people. I'm enrolled to fight their battle. Not for anything in the world would I offend you, believe me I admire you too sincerely, I owe you too great a debt. Why, dear Bettina may I call you by that name? It's a beautiful name. To me you represent all that is noble and lovely in womanhood my highest ideal." There was real feeling in the tone of Cravath's voice. Bettina accepted his expressions as an earnest of his interest in the people. 108 THE STANDPATTER "I beg your pardon," she said; "I should not have spoken so severely. I know and appreciate your atti- tude politically. I'm in sympathy with the movement to restore power to the people who alone have the right to wield power in this country. I have no patience with this openly expressed sentiment in high places that they're unfit to rule." Bettina rose as she spoke and Cravath understood that their conversation was at an end. He believed, how- ever, that her confidence in Geoffrey Canterbury had been permanently shaken. THE STANDPATTER 109 CHAPTER XVIII. A long, lazy morning at Aztec Lodge, one of the not unfrequent "gray mornings" of the coast country gray with a tinge of gold in the eastern horizon morning fol- lowed by a late luncheon. And now the reluctant sun- beams had gained the victory over the mists of the early morning. There was a flood of sunshine. Luncheon over, the young ladies disappeared mys- teriously, slipping away one by one for an hour's rest. Ward and Dr. Perkins had restuned their target prac- tice of the forenoon it had a singular fascination for the two while the other men looked on idly or took an oc- casional drive at the bull's eye for themselves. Bettina had stolen to her desk intent on bringing up her correspondence, now alarmingly in arrears. She was busy writing notes, mainly called out by her inter- ests in local or state chanties or by business exigencies notes on matters concerning which the "Little Mother" did not feel competent to pass when Ozawa entered quietly, a note upon his tray. It was the first time Bettina had seen Geoffrey's clear, bold writing she knew instinctively the note was from him and she scrutinized it with interest not unmingled with curiosity before breaking the seal. There was but a line Dear Miss Brigham : With your permission I'll be over at three. Must have a quiet talk with you at whatever cost. We leave at six. Devotedly yours, GEOFFREY CANTERBURY. The messenger awaited a reply, Ozawa said, and Bet- tina in a large, angular, girlish hand hastily wrote a gay little note of welcome, playfully charging him with hav- ing been w.ofully remiss in his duty to the Lodge since the evening of their college carnival. He doubtless thought them entirely given over to frivolity, which was absurd. It was ages since she had seen him. 110 THE STANDPATTER The note dispatched, Bettina sat back in her chair for several minutes, her eyes veiled by their long curved lashes, looking dreamily into space absorbedly think- ing not of the forthcoming interview, interesting though it promised to be but of the disturbing story that had come to Cravath's ears, and still more of what course she, as a friend of Geoffrey Canterbury, ought to take in the premise. She had tried faithfully to look at the ugly charge dis- passionately ; from whatever angle she viewed it, her sense of justice branded it as false, her reason rejected it as impossible and yet her mind was oddly disquieted. If she were to follow her own impulse she would tell him frankly what was being said in hostile political circles and await his explanation. She disliked indirect methods; but there was a question whether she ought to treat it with so much consideration, she who knew so little of cam- paign methods, of campaign stones. She determined to await developments, then speak to him or not, as seemed best. Having reached that sensi- ble conclusion, she did what most girls would have done without such delay namely, went and donned her pret- tiest frock giving the question whether she should favor pale blue or a lovely lavender creation that serious consideration which its importance demanded, ending by choosing the pretty lavender and then she arranged her hair in the most becoming way she knew anything about. The house was so still as to seem deserted when Geof- frey mounted the veranda steps. Bettina gave him smiling welcome. She had felt his absence, had missed their pleasant camaraderie more than she would have been willing to confess. She was honestly glad to see him. The rosy flush in her face, the unusual sparkle of the eye, the very dimples as they came and went in the smooth round cheeks proclaimed her genuine pleasure ; and Geoffrey's heart leaped within him. His pulses throbbed. Never was woman so lovely, he thought, as this divinely tall, slender girl, this radiant maid this maid of the bright, red-brown hair, of the dark, bewitching eyes, of the sweet, mobile mouth. He held for a minute the firm, white hand she extended to him, then drew the bare round arm through his own THE STANDPATTER 111 as the two passed with lively banter into the house and settled themselves in a nook in the library. Frau Wildenow, who caught sight of them from her favorite window seat in the big living room, murmured: "Gott im Himmel! How the dear Herr Geoffrey adores das Hebe Kind, and she so blind to it all the time. She cares for him more than she thinks that much I know and oh, he's just the husband for her. Der Hebe Gott brought the two together." "It was heavenly kind of you to see me alone," Geof- frey bent a tender look upon her as he spoke. "I feared you couldn't manage it." "Oh, circumstances made it quite easy, for a wonder. The girls always rest at this hour and the men are off for a long country tramp," she hastened to reply, speak- ing with a careless inflection to offset the dangerously tender note in his voice. "And you knew you must have known " he spoke slowly with suppressed feeling, measuring his words "that I couldn't leave without seeing you once more I couldn't go without telling you what you must have guessed what I can no longer conceal not if I should try that I love you oh, I love you more, far more, than I can ever tell you. I want you for my own, for my wife. Dear Bettina, I can never be happy without you. Tell me that you'll be mine." .There was a moment of silence. Tears welled up in Bettina's eyes, a pallor overspread her sensitive face, her lips quivered. "That would be impossible, quite impos- sible." It was a low, strained voice in which she spoke. "I am so sorry, so very sorry to disappoint you, but when you think it all over carefully you will agree with me." She was greatly agitated. It was Geoffrey's turn to be grave now. He had not dared hope to win her easily, but he was not prepared for this solemn refusal for this note of finality. "Bettina, tell me truly is there some one else? God help me if I must give you up." He bowed his head as if a blow w,ere about to descend. "No, oh, no ; there's no one else." "Then it's not impossible ; thank God for that." There was a cheerful ring in his voice now. "You will learn 112 THE STANDPATTER to care for me. I can make you happy. My mother, too, loves you. She would welcome you as a daughter wel- come you with open arms. Tell me you didn't mean that you could never marry me. I was too abrupt, I startled you. Forgive me, and do not try to make up your mind now. I'll be satisfied with a chance to win your affection. You like me a little bit, don't you?" Bettina smiled again, her composure restored, her color regained "Why, of course, I like you I really enjoy your society and have found your friendship dear from the first, but " "You don't trust me, then? Is that it? A man in public life has his enemies those ready to stab him in the dark I know it, I have such enemies, as well as others ; it could not be otherwise, though I will not per- mit myself to be stung into bitterness by what they say or do. They hurt themselves more than they do me when they set about to ruin me. Some of these enemies have influenced you against me. Be frank with me, dear Bettina." "It is not that, Mr. Canterbury, though I've heard you severely criticised your motives impugned; neverthe- less I have confidence in you. I have interest in your future, in your career. Whatever you do in Congress, or whatever is said about your course, I shall know you do it because you believe it's right." Bettina spoke sol- emnly. Her manner revealed her sincerity. "God bless you for saying just that. It lifts a weight from my mind, gives me new courage. Now, come what may, I shall not despair, for I shall recall your comfort- ing assurance." Geoffrey lifted her fingers to his lips. "Come, then, say there's nothing to stand between us, that is, nothing that cannot be brushed aside the way is clear for me to try to win your heart." "No, dear friend, it's this way. You and I are too far apart in our way of thinking in our manner of looking at fundamental things in our attitudes toward public life, to pull together and marriage is a serious business." Geoffrey smiled indulgently as he looked into the lam- bent depths of her eyes. "And is that all that disturbs you? Why r Bettina dear," and he drew her toward him, "don't you know that difference in temperament is what THE STANDPATTER 113 makes the happy marriage ? Heaven forbid that I should ever interfere with your freedom of thought. I respect and honor you for your convictions, for your nobility of character. Your attitude to the world, to society, is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It would be a joy to help you in everything you undertook. Your counsel would be an inspiration a coronation to me." "But you know I'm a rock-ribbed radical; can never be anything else. I'm radical by nature. You're con- servative to the tips of your fingers I almost said a tory; I dare say the difference comes down from revo- lutionary days, from away back in our ancestry. At any rate, the chasm is there and it's real. The difference is in the blood. Nobody's responsible for it, I suppose; but from whatever source it springs, it makes you and me look at things very differently." "We can afford to ignore all that call it evidence irrelevant, incompetent and immaterial, as we lawyers say." "You've a lawyer's gift for pleading." "I never pleaded a cause half so dear. Having your confidence you've granted me that much I'll try to be content content till you can give me more. And now may I write to you?" "Just as soon and as often as you choose." "Thank you. I herewith appoint you my confidential adviser. That means frequent letters from you. I shall depend upon them, look to you for counsel. Bet- tina, I'm almost happy." "Your confidential adviser, and yet you haven't told me anything about your plans and prospects." "I'll tell you gladly. Something great has happened. I've been holding it as a surprise for you. It was a sur- prise to me." Taking a package of letters from an inner coat pocket, he fumbled through it and, selecting a tele- gram, handed it to her. It read thus : Honorable Geoffrey Canterbury, Berendo, California. Practically certain chairmanship goes to Cali- fornia. Congratulations. G. F. M. 114 THE STANDPATTER Bettina was momentarily startled. Here was a par- tial confirmation of Cravath's story at least, confirma- tion of a part of it. Mr. Canterbury was to have the chairmanship of an important committee. Well, he was worthy of it, she told herself. He had earned it hon- orably. Meantime Geoffrey scanned her face closely, eager to see the look of pleasure leap into those expressive eyes to hear her exclamation of surprise, sure to be followed by a shower of congratulations. He had longed to tell her on the day of their talk in the garden of his great expectations for the forthcoming session; but, by the merest chance he had not done so, the way had not opened up as he had wished ; now he was thankful that it had not, that the good news was reserved for the hour that brought them into closer comradeship. Bettina handed the bit of yellow paper back to him a smile upon her lips, but he listened in vain for her comment. Her silence was enigmatical ; he could only believe that she had not measured fully the importance of such an appointment an appointment that would be seized upon by news-gatherers as soon as it was made public and sent speeding by wire to the remotest corners of the republic; that would be read, commented on by the press and by people everywhere. "The committee referred to is the Judiciary," he said. "I'm naturally set up by such a rich plum falling into my lap." "But how did it come to fall? Who shook the plum- tree? Those things do not come unsolicited, do they?" She asked the questions eagerly. "Not usually. It's a common saying that one's got to have a 'pull' to get even his dues down at Washington." "That's interesting. Did our member from Berendo have a strong pull that brought him so fine a plum ?" "If he did it was without his knowledge. It seems, however, that some of the more influential men, par- ticularly of the Senate, approved of his course in certain legislation, knew of his professional standing, thought he could make a fairly good speech, liked what they were kind enough to call his business-like methods, believed THE STANDPATTER 115 they could depend on his level-headedness and for these reasons determined to ask for his appointment at the head of this committee much to the surprise of said member from California, who had not dreamed of such a promotion at this time. That is all the 'pull' this mem- ber knows anything about." The explanation was so satisfactory withal that Bet- tina fairly radiated pleasure. She bubbled over with en- thusiasm. "Advancement is based on merit, after all," she said "and I had no idea of such a thing." "I wouldn't like to say that it's exactly based on merit" Geoffrey laughed as he spoke, "but in this case the right men, that is, the men who have influence, who have leadership, who do things approved of me for some reason, mainly because of my professional success, I think; hence recommend my appointment. Now it's up to me to 'make good' to measure up to their ex- pectations." "I'm sure you'll do it; and, what's more, you'll meas- ure up to the expectations of your constituents, which is even more necessary. You'll not forget our citrus inter- ests. I can help you out there by watching conditions at this end of the line, where there's so much at stake." "We'll work together and it will mean a better state of things for Southern California," and Geoffrey rose. The thought surged through his mind that he would like nothing in the world quite so well as to be able to work in harmony with this dear girl, whose sympathies were so clearly on the side of the people ; and yet he believed that many of her theories could not be carried out with- out injury to the very people she desired to serve. 116 THE STANDPATTER CHAPTER XIX. The proposition came from Bettina. Dinner should be delayed an hour and the entire party motor to the little station of Berendo over on the Short Line, and give fit- ting farewell to the Canterburys, mother and son, who were to take the east-bound limited there at six. "It would be a surprise," she said all the more inter- esting for that reason. It had not occurred to her to do anything of the kind until after Geoffrey's farewell call at the Lodge, he having failed to see the men of the party. She would like, with their help, to make the little ex- cursion something of an event, too, if she could; some- thing that would give the travelers pleasant thought to the end of their journey. They were gathered on the piazza now, the girls with their embroidery, the young men telling stories and giv- ing spirited accounts of their adventures in mountain- climbing, at home and abroad. Bettina had spoken with her usual enthusiasm. She was never quite herself if not intent upon devising some pleasant diversion for those about her and with her it was gesagt, gethan. Having stated her proposition, Bettina, with mock gravity, declared the subject open to discussion. Cravath gained instant recognition from the "chair." He desired, he said, with simulated seriousness, to be- speak for the occasion, which he foresaw would be one of both social and political significance of really national importance the services of the famous Aztec Lodge Symphony Orchestra, led by that prince of musicians, Randall Trowbridge. If he might be permitted, he would suggest favorite national airs as the train pulled out. A round of applause greeted Trowbridge as he blush- ingly bowed his acknowledgements. He and his asso- c':tes the college men of the ranch had first won pop- ularity through the music they had been providing for the evening entertainment after their ^*?rk was over for the day, Miss Daggett presiding at the piano. THE STANDPATTER 111 Bettina had begged both Millbank and his assistants to give to the house, while her guests remained, every moment that they could spare from pressing duties out- side. Millbank shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly by way of reply, but the younger men accepted with assur- ances of appreciation, and thereby became her valuable allies. "I say, let's decorate our machines with Old Glory Come, Marcia, that's our stunt." Philip Ingalls seized Miss Duffield's hand as he spoke, whereupon that young lady obediently thrust her work into the dainty bag that hung from her */rist and, tossing it into a hammock, the two scurried away together, Bettina smiling her ap- proval. "Now for my great idea." "Hear, hear" in Ward Percival's deep voice "the lady of the manor house speaks ; let all attend." "I propose a surprise-box one for each of the trav- ellers a box containing a gift simple or otherwise, as you may wish to make it, for every day of the journey the gifts to be done up elaborately, each labeled for open- ing on a specific day. It's great fun if we can hit on things sufficiently unique. A little sense of humor and imagination will help out. You'll all have to help me on this. Put on your thinking caps, girls." Soon the girls were hard at work making up the two boxes. Madame Canterbury's box, it was decided, should be filled with all kinds of dainty packages containing per- sonal gifts such as bon-bons, a quaint vinaigrette, an old-time snuff-box, a bit of jade cut into a bottle, a tiny landscape painting on the inside innumerable articles of vertu brought from Bettina's family chests and draw- ers ; an unfailing storehouse ; while the effort was to make Mr. Canterbury's "surprises" altogether comical every- thing from a jack-in-the-box to a pedometer "warranted if faithfully used to restore the wearer to perfect health." It was a merry company that filled the big flower and flag-bedecked automobiles. "What's the matter with taking along the kiddies?" called out' Ward Percival. "To be sure," echoed Cravath, always ready to enter either plea or protest in behalf of the little folks. 118 THE STANDPATTER Paul and Jane stood nearby, apparently too stunned at the thought of being left out of the fun to utter a syl- lable. It was Frau Wildenow who now interposed. Her ideas, brought with her from the "Vaterland," permitted little leniency where children were concerned. She, at least, often had been heard to assert as much. However, friends of the family laughingly said that, after all, the little German woman had been as indulgent as any American mother could be; and they pointed to Bettina in confirmation of their assertions, to Bettina, who had never been thwarted in anything. But, being a German, the "Little Mother" stood with firmness against undue excitement for the "little men and women" under her charge; insisted on plenty of sleep, at stipulated hours; saw to it that few sweets were given to them, and only simple and nourishing food; above all, maintained that some of the pleasures of life should be held in reserve for them as "grown-ups" ; that they should not be per- mitted, as are so many children, to become blase at the tender age of ten. "Little Paul and Jane must have their suppers. Come, children; some of the beautiful milk from our own good bossy, and then Ozawa shall put you to bed," she spoke with some degree of firmness. Little Jane turned away with quivering lips, while Paul boldly held his ground, inclined to waiting. "Do you want to go so very much, Jane?" Bettina began to weaken. Jane's face changed instantly. Hope sprang within her. "Eth, cauthe Uncle Cantberry '11 grieve tho for me when he'th gone. I want to kith him good-bye." "Jane is unanswerable when it comes to stating her case." Cravath's eyes twinkled. "Jane, you little tad, come over here this minute and tell your Uncle Cravath why you want to kiss Canterbury; I'm raging with jealousy." "Juth cauthe." Jane hung her head. "A woman's reason, upon my word. Do you love that man Canterbury, Jane? Be careful, on your honor, now?" "Yeth," she lisped. "Why do you love him better than the rest of us better than Ward or Philip, here?" THE STANDPATTER 119 "Cauthe Mith Bettina doeth." A shout went up at this. Jane had won the day the twins their trip to Berendo. It was half an hour before train time when the big motor cars pulled up at the little flag station of Berendo Berendo, pitiably poor in the number of inhabitants; rich in groves of orange and of olive ; rich, too, in charm of environment, in beauty of scenery, scenery typically Californian. The drive to the station less than a score of miles was through these same orange groves lemon, too; their beauty thrown open to the world in generous fash- ion, or hedged by fence of wire, scarcely more than a trellis upon which to hang luxuriant, clinging roses, pink and white, white and pink, a sweetly fragrant procession. Bettina directed the way they should take from a seat in the front car ; Cravath at her side, alert and attentive. His thoughtfulness for all, great and small alike, had won him friends. Such kindness as he had showered upon Bettina it is hardly in the heart of woman to resist, much less decline. "This week at the Lodge has been heavenly." Cra- vath's voice was serious, his face even more so. "Never have days passed so swiftly, so happily and to-morrow I dread to think of it to-morrow I go back to work." "Hasn't it been jolly, though? It will be a pleasant memory for all of us, I hope. Then you'll all come again before many months, too, the same old crowd with some brand-new stunts. We might make the college carnival an annual event when Mr. Canterbury's at home." Bet- tina spoke gaily. "They say there's a possibility that he'll be perma- nently at home, retired by an ungrateful public, you know." "I hardly think so. But, as I told you before, Mr. Can- terbury will hold to his principles even if it unseats him he's just that kind of a man." "You think then a man can honestly stand pat?" "Think it; why, I know it. See the older men of the country -'men upwards of fifty. It is they who stand pat, and there's no impeaching their honesty. Uncle Haredale says a man never changes the cut of his collar 120 THE STANDPATTER after he's forty, and he might as well add the style of his politics." "Come to think of it, our progressive leaders are young men, take them all in all." "Certainly they are. Now, look over the elderly men of your acquaintance retired lawyers, school men, clergymen, judges, men sitting quietly at their fireside on their porches standpatters every one. Often there's a divided family the father reactionary the sons pro- gressive. In all my acquaintance there's but one old man who is strongly progressive a man retired from the United States circuit bench after forty years of honor- able service one of the able men of this country I'm proud to know him no petrifaction in the gray matter of his brain. He seems out of place in the progressive ranks." "Then our friend Canterbury belongs in your mind with the back numbers?" "I didn't say just that. He is one of the class that don't easily change. He's bound by the edicts of an exacting profession stands like adamant for its stand- ards. I confess I never expect to see him swerve much from his present position." , "Canterbury's a blamed lucky dog to win your cham- pionship, I'll say that much. Wish I had an advocate half as able as you and altogether as charming." Cra- vath gave his companion a look of admiration. "No doubt you have many such advocates. I've no- ticed people get about what they deserve in this world." "Do you think so? You are an optimist, sure enough. Now in politics, where I've planted my standards, it hasn't occurred to me that men get their deserts not to any marked extent. Men have sacrificed everything for country or for party and, in spite of that, have gone to their graves disappointed." "Disappointed but not dishonored defeat may be the cornerstone of victory." Cravath and Bettina were still discussing men in. public life who had risen or fallen ; and discussing the causes which had contributed to their triumph or their down- fall, when the party reached Berendo. THE STANDPATTER 121 Cravath had endeavored at different times to turn the conversation into a more intimate, a more personal chan- nel, but without success. It was disappointing. This was his last evening at the Lodge. This eveni-ng ought to decide his future he had meant that it should, and determined that he would, at least, ascertain Bettina's attitude toward him; in this he had thus far failed. Bet- tina had been kind, he told himself, but then she was uniformly kind and considerate. His fear a fear that paralyzed him at times was that there was an under- standing between her and Geoffrey Canterbury. He un- derstood from Philip that the two had spent much of the afternoon together. It did not look favorable to him this sudden determination of Bettina to see the Canter- burys again at the train. He resolved to be wary to know for a certainty how the land lay before he would commit himself, and then make the most of Canterbury's absence. "But here come our friends. Hurrah!" It was Dr. Perkins who spied the familiar Victoria some distance down the highway; just in time for a welcoming number by the improvised orchestra a royal "Hail to the Chief," the notes rich, full and vibrant; with a round of cheers at the end just as Rupert Yenowine drew up the spirited grays alongside the platform. Geoffrey, waving his hat, leaped from the carriage, pleasure and surprise written in his handsome face, his gray eyes shining beneath their shaggy brows; when, presto ! he was seized bodily and borne aloft to the plat- form a speech demanded. For once speech almost failed the distinguished mem- ber from Berendo. He smilingly declared that he had looked for some- thing altogether more original from this crowd than a demand for a speech. Speechmaking was too common- place; besides, there were things too beautiful to talk about moments which aroused emotions delicate and sacred and this tribute to his mother and himself chiefly to her, he was persuaded made this such a time. As Geoffrey left the platform he encountered little Jane at his feet Jane bearing a package fully as large as herself. 122 THE STANDPATTER "Ith a thurprithe box 'en ith for you, Uncle Cantby." "A surprise-box for me ? Well, I'm surprised ; no ques- tion about that. But come up here and tell me about this wonderful box." "Ith for you, cauth Mith Betty thaid tho 'en I want to kith you good-bye cauth I love you." ''Tell him why you love him, Jane " Philip called to her, but the admonition was lost; for, with her arms around his neck, Jane was bestowing many kisses. Meantime Paul had given Mrs. Canterbury the box intended for her, and the good lady had made her ac- knowledgments to Bettina. "Cravath ! Cravath !" was now the call. "No speech, thank you," he said as he arose. "I don't mind telling you a little story of the last congressional campaign. I was waiting at a little wayside station not unlike this, and two working men, busy at some repairs, were talking. ' 'Geoffrey Canterbury, he's the biggest man that ever lived,' said one. " 'Oh, gee,' said the other, 'he not greater as George Washington.' f 'Yes, he lot bigger as George Washington.' " 'Well, he not as big a man as Abraham Lincoln, you bet he isn't.' " 'Oh, fade away ; he bigger man as Lincoln,' said the other indignantly. " 'Well, but there's Roosevelt Canterbury he not as big a man as Roosevelt, and you know it.' " 'Yes, he is he bigger as Roosevelt/ " 'You say he biggest man ever lived in this world?' ' 'You bet I do.' " 'Pshaw, now ; you're a mutt he's not as big a man as the Prophet Moses/ " 'Oh, well you see Geoffrey Canterbury, he some young yet/ " With the conclusion of Cravath's anecdote, darkness was closing in, the distant rumble of the oncoming train could be distinctly heard, its gleaming lights discerned. The great moment had come the last good-byes were being said. THE STANDPATTER 123 Geoffrey and Bettina stood apart from the others. "No one else in all the world could have given us so beautiful a farewell," Geoffrey said to her, his voice tremulous with emotion. "I see you in it all. How I wish I might tell you all I feel." "It has been a pleasure to all of us," she said; "and now, auf wiedersehen." 124 THE STANDPATTER CHAPTER XX. A week had passed since Geoffrey's departure and the breaking-up of Bettina's first house-party at Aztec Lodge. All agreed that there never had been such a party, never so much enjoyment crowded into an equal length of time. The happy, care-free days, each in its turn, had revealed new pleasures ; disclosed undiscovered depths to some of the old pleasures. It was as if the visitors had caught a glimpse of a new and different life; life fresh, sweet and invigorating in this radiant southern sunshine; only a glimpse, to be sure, but still a revelation for life close to nature's heart in this semi-tropical region they recognized as the real thing the life worth living. They no longer criticised Bettina; knew that she had chosen well that to do something definite is fine more praiseworthy by far than to look on and talk, however eloquently, about what others do, that work of some sort was the open sesame to happiness ; work and interest in things human. "Get work, get work ; but be sure that what you work to get be better than what you get to work." The morning mail there was now a daily delivery at the Lodge had brought Bettina a shower of letters. One she recognized after a moment's deliberation as coming from Geoffrey Canterbury; with a smile on her face she tucked it snugly in a fold of her morning gown for an undisturbed reading later in the day ; another she opened at once, having failed to discover from whom it came by her scrutiny of the large, irregular writing. "Oh, Marcia," she called a moment later. "Some one's coming will be here for luncheon. Guess." "Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief?" "Lawyer, doctor, editor-in-chief?" "As to riches, fair to middling, I should say good- looking, clever; and it isn't Phil, either." "It's Shirley Cravath, of course." "Precisely, but whence this gift of divination, fair maid?" THE STANDPATTER 125 "No divination process purely mathematical. You've heard of putting two and two together?" "Yes ; I remember, too, the old story of 'two times two are five two times two are five' and its direful conse- quence. Be careful about your calculations, my dear." "Oh, as to calculations, I'm anything but clever, I ad- mit. In fact, I belong with last year's assemblyman at Sacramento. You remember Prexy went over to do a little lobbying for the new building a one-tenth mill tax was what he urged upon the committee on appropria- tions, and the story goes that one of the members made a speech favoring rigid retrenchment saying he could, he believed, with the approval of his constituency and the consent of his conscience, stand for a one-fifth mill tax, but blamed if he could look his people in the face and endorse the one-tenth mill." "It's a good story; but I doubt if any California rep- resentative is quite equal to it. But do you realize that our man Cravath may arrive any minute?" "I do, and am wise to the fact also that he's bent on taking advantage of somebody else's or should I say somebody's else absence. I call that a scurvy trick." "It's nothing but a friendly visit. Why your hostility toward Cravath? your championship of Mr. Canterbury? I like them both, only, of course, in not exactly the same way. Don't forget that I'm still indulging in 'maiden meditation, fancy free.' " "But, Betty, men can't take half-way ground with you ; they've got to take the whole loaf." "Don't mix your metaphors, honey. You're putting me in a class by myself, too which is well, reprehen- sible, to say the. least." "I've told you more than once that Geoffrey Canter- bury worships you. Great heavens, if I had all your suitors, I'd be familiar with the symptoms." "It's unnecessary. I've a friend who diagnoses cases for me." "Correctly, too." "Over sanguine in some instances, I've noticed." "Not in tnis particular case. It's serious when a man of Canterbury's type falls in love. When he loses his heart, well, he loses heart." 126 THE STANDPATTER "Mr. Canterbury doesn't impress me as a man without hope. I thought he seemed reasonably cheerful cer- tainly not despondent when he left us the other even- ing." "No, because he naturally has hopes. Most girls would jump at a man of his position. I would if " Bettina laughed but her cheeks were aflame. "You forget that, as a woman with a college training behind me and the whole world as a working laboratory before me, I'm entitled to a little time in which to experiment. There are plans that are dear to me, plans barely out- lined as yet still in embryo and I say it would be cowardly to abandon them and fly away to matrimony universal refuge of womankind now, wouldn't it?" "I've never understood that marriage puts an end to everything ; not if you marry the right sort." "And a right sort means a basis of common sympathy so that two people can work together. I confess I can imagine nothing better than for two who adore each other carrying out big plans together. It would be heavenly." Ozawa appeared at this moment announcing Mr. Shirley Cravath, the gentleman following close on his heels. THE STANDPATTER 127 CHAPTER XXI. Cravath's coming was the signal for unusual family gayety. There was about the man a breezy freshness, an irresistible mastery of situations that led everything, for the time being, to center in him. He was so entirely at home at Aztec Lodge that a stranger looking in upon them might readily have gained the impression that he was the host, the others his guests. After luncheon Bettina slipped away to her own room, leaving Marcia and Crayath chatting merrily in the library. She broke the seal of Geoffrey's letter with an eager hand, a heightened color : Washington, D. C. November 30, 19 Dear Miss Brigham : You will know long before this reaches you that the appointment to the much prized chairmanship of the Judiciary committee came to me. The announcement created a sensation here; you will be surprised when I tell you the sensation was mainly due to my youth; think of that, oh, maiden of the tender twenties, and I thirty-eight! that is, if I'm to believe the unsupported record of my birth, though I secretly hope as Mark Twain remarked when shown the premature announcement of his own death that the story has been "greatly exaggerated." And now, as far as the House is concerned, I find myself in the position of Alexander the Great, when he wept because he could find no more worlds to conquer. How I would like to tell you everything about the ap- pointment! It came through Senator Gibbs and, as I told you before, was unsolicited. "I wish I could create for you likewise a mental pic- ture of the old senator, the noblest Roman of them all. He's mighty interesting. I'll confess right here, how- ever, that he enjoys the unenviable distinction of being the homeliest man in the Senate using the word, not in its polite, generic sense, but as we Americans choose to 128 THE STANDPATTER employ it, to gloss over a bad situation. The English- man would say, bluntly and unblushingly : "He's beastly ugly, don't you know," and be done with it. In the first place, he has an eagle's beak of brilliant hue, where there should be a genteel nose of modest pro- portions all the more unfortunate, since the stranger is ready to swear by all that's good and great that the senator enjoys a too intimate acquaintance with the re- sources of the Senate buffet; unhappily the inference is supported by a big, unwieldy body great, fat and logy. What a shock it must be every time he finds himself in front of a full-length mirror! But his lack of good looks is forgotten when you come to know the man. (I look forward to the pleasure of presenting you to him at no distant day.) He seems to be tolerant, temperate, kind. A half hour's talk with him convinces one that there's such a thing as an aristocracy of brains and that in its domain he's a veritable ruler. The reception the senator gave me was most cordial. I confess it was with some misgivings I sent my secre- tary to his committee room with my card and the letter of introduction on the day of my arrival was naturally impatient to get in touch with the man who held my destiny in the hollow of his hand. Back came my man with the request that I should come over immediately. The senator had been trying to get a line on me. I didn't permit any grass to grow beneath my feet. There were several awaiting interviews when I en- tered. "Take a chair," he said. Just then his man whis- pered : "It's the gentleman from California." He jumped up. "Take two chairs," he said, as he extended his hand. Then he repeated "from California, where Insurgency runs riot?" "Nevertheless, I'm glad to come from that state," I replied. "Yes, yes, to be sure ; and, as the man said about Kan- sas, 'the more intelligent you are the quicker you'll come.' " "But I've observed the state has its attraction for you easterners," I retorted. THE STANDPATTER 129 "Oh, I'll admit it unlike ancient Gaul, this country is divided into two parts the states and California," and he laughed at his own little joke. "California and the states," I corrected. We had some further chaffing about the political situ- ation in California, at which he, as a rank old heretic from New England, had to have his complacent fling. He is positive we are lacking in political acumen; and he doubtless suspects us of a shortage in culture; but I tell him he'd like us better if he knew us more intimately. To make a long story short, he told me, there and then, that I was to have the Judiciary appointment through the Speaker of the House, of course; requested me to submit for consideration a list of members with whom I could affiliate satisfactorily, as there was heavy work before us. I must have a committee that would pull to- gether no friction men who were fair-minded, dis- posed to be reasonable, just to every interest; none of the demagogue class, of the howling, freakish variety, he said. As membership on the committee usually goes by seniority, this surprised me a little. I must say I was well satisfied with the interview. You would have been, my dear Bettina, had you heard it. There were no exactions on either side; no pledges, no disposition to interfere with liberty. Everything was open and above board the appointment to be made, he assured me, on fitness alone. You should have seen the evening papers! Did they play it up? Well, I should remark front page, double- leaded, scare-head, portrait-of-victim story, with accom- panying editorial. Morning papers green with envy but giving it good space notwithstanding the scoop. I survive to tell the tale survive with at least a portion of my scalp intact but, there's California still to hear from. We are staying temporarily at the Willard. Are mak- ing some pleasant acquaintances and may decide to re- main here. Mr. Justice Reynolds, who served twenty years on the. Federal bench and retired two years ago at the age of seventy, lives here. I have had several walks with him to and from the Capitol. He has an attractive personality, is magnetic, impresses one as singularly hon- 130 THE STANDPATTER est and upright, as well as possessing commanding abil- ity. I have been surprised at some of his comments about the courts. He speaks freely and not always flat- teringly of some of his former colleagues of the bench. Because of your great interest in the subject I have made up my mind to quietly investigate and I am making the most of this acquaintance. A remark that he made with ingenious frankness you may imagine how it stirred me up was that "the commercial interests of this coun- try have control of our courts to a large and dangerous extent." How is that for a speech from a retired Federal judge? Yet he speaks with apparently no bitterness. The morning following my appointment we mother and I received dinner cards from Senator and Miss Gibbs his daughter, strange to say, a remarkably pretty girl. They have a handsome suite at the Arlington. The dinner, if you please, was in honor of the newly appointed chairman of the Judiciary committee ! You would smile if you could see mother these days. She's as tickled over my appointment as a boy who has just found a pocket-knife! She always accused me of doing more to push the other fellow than myself. She used to say I could catch rats for other people and couldn't even catch mice for myself. The dinner proved a brilliant affair a "function," I believe, is the winged word the society reporters employ to describe anything so smart that is, if it is given in the swell set. There were two senators with their wives and a mem- ber of the cabinet and his daughter, the latter, as in the case of Miss Gibbs, doing the social honors for her father. Senator Gibbs and the Secretary are both widowers. One of the judges of the court of commerce was also a guest at the dinner. The citrus fruit hearing will come before his court. A gentleman from the Middle West who was among the guests told a story at the expense of "Mr. Secretary." It was some years ago, when his daughter was a wee bit of a girl about like our little Jane, I imagine and the family were at morning prayers. They lived on a farm in those days. Now the little maid had several big brothers who easily wearjed in well-doing. The devotions THE STANDPATTER 131 becoming tedious, they sought to while away the time by flinging crab-apples at the head of their sister, who knelt next to her father at the family altar. It proved a dangerous pastime a crab-apple, swift as a brain-ball struck the paternal head and ruffled the paternal temper. "What the devil are you doing over there?" came the inquiry. Receiving no reply, the stern father turned about and composedly resumed his petitions. My mother has made several unsuccessful attempts to write you, she tells me. She gets about so far along in her epistolary effort and it's something of an effort for her when a caller is announced or a friend comes to take her for a drive. Meantime I'll risk brushing off the dewy freshness of her note by saying that you gave her a joy that evening of the Berendo leave-taking that she'll remember the longest day she lives. You vshould have seen her opening each daily pack- age! She would hold it in her hand, feeling it daintily as if her life depended on determining in advance what was within then call upon me to offer a guess as to the contents finally removing the last ribbon, the bit of paper, the color mounting to her cheeks under the excitement. As for me well, the goodness of the angels is beyond my comprehension. I spend my time in looking at the stars, in worshipping from afar. I look and dream and hope and pray for a day when the stars will be nearer. In my next I hope to be able to say something definite about the lemon rate case, which comes up for hearing in about a month. When am I to get my first letter first instructions from my colleague? Faithfully yours, GEOFFREY CANTERBURY. 132 THE STANDPATTER CHAPTER XXII. Before the afternoon was far spent Bettina found her- self in earnest conversation with Cravath the subject one that gave her both pain and surprise. The two had gone for a stroll in the flower garden when Cravath led the way to a picturesque Japanese arbor or summer-house ; in appearance more of a temple than either a pretty little bamboo affair of curiously cunning design and workmanship the material brought from the land of the cherry-blossom and put in place by a skilled Japanese builder. It skirted the rose terrace for some distance facing the mountains. "This is the spot I love best," said Cravath content- edly, as he drew a deep breath and dropped into a seat making room for Bettina at his side. The sunbeams strike me at precisely the right angle here, and I dote on this particular view of his royal nibs, Old Baldy; and if you notice the Lodge is seen to its best advantage from this point. It's the most entrancing, most inspiring place on earth, to my way of thinking." "I think it's charming; yet, strangely enough, we sel- dom sit here." "Confess, Miss Bettina," Cravath gave her a banter- ing look as he spoke, "that my coming down 'like a wolf on the fold' gave you a nervous shock." "Not a bit of it. I don't know nerves when I see them. Even the announcement of your coming was unneces- sary." "Really now, didn't it give you a jar?" "None whatever; but, pardon me our door's always ajar to our friends, I'll say that much;" and she smiled quizzically at him. "I only wish we could have that kind of a surprise oftener. You see, we're never short of bread and butter and the cook usually can scrape up a little 'spreading as Rupert Yenowine calls it. He was here the other day, and I insisted on his staying to lunch- eon with Millbank. I enjoy Yenowine immensely. He's as frisky and chipper as one of our pet squirrels, and his dialect is delicious. 'Guess I'll have to have a leetle more 4 'This is the spot I love the best' THE STANDPATTER 133 bread/ he'd say; 'seems as how I've got some spreadin' left here;" then, presently, it would be "I'll swan ef I haven't got more bread than spreadin' fer the life o' me I can't make bread and spreadin' come out jes j even.' Poor old chap, he's lost without the Conterburys." Cravath laughed merrily at Bettina's clever mimicry of Yenowine, but his face quickly clouded over. He was trying to find a way to tell her what he had come out to the Lodge to say ; namely, that unless all signs failed, the political career of her friend Canterbury, whom he had publicly extolled beneath her own roof-tree, but was openly denouncing elsewhere, was at an end; that his acceptance, at this juncture, of the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee had proved the last straw on a heav- ily loaded camel; accepted as it was, as evidence per se of surrender, body and soul, to the railway interests; that that very morning the Gazette, usually conservative and moderate in its expressions, had devoted much edi- torial space to a scathing denunciation of the man who could thus basely betray his people; finally, that a mass meeting had been called an indignation meeting, rather for the following evening, at which, without a doubt, Canterbury's resignation would be demanded. Strange, indeed, was the political situation which had arisen a situation which the magic of a day had trans- formed from, at least, passive friendliness into open and fiery hostility to Canterbury. Stranger still it was that such a change of sentiment could be effected. Clearly there was a directing hand behind all this con- flagration. It was not a case of spontaneous combustion. The train had been well laid, the brand applied with skill and forethought. And so Cravath pondered as he sat in the brilliant sun- light on how he was to break to this young girl the start- ling news of Canterbury's downfall, as he mentally de- nominated it. Cravath fully appreciating the difficulty of the task that confronted him, was secretly bringing his keenest judgment ,to bear upon it. The revelation of Canter- bury's duplicity, he told himself, must be made in a way that would increase Bettina's respect for him, Cravath, the man who was all that the other man was not, the 134 THE STANDPATTER logical successor to Canterbury, heir presumptive to all the favor the people had to bestow. "I have to report a most distressing political situation," was what he finally said. There was suppressed excite- ment in his voice. "Do you speak of a local situation ?" "It's local, likewise national. It affects our friend Can- terbury." The color sprang to Bettina's neck and cheeks and mounted steadily to her temples. "Please explain," was all she could find voice to say. "Do you remember my speaking to you about his pos- sible appointment to an important committee and that there were those who charged him with having sold out in order to get it? I suppose you know the appointment has been made, and, let me tell you, there's a hurricane raging about the worst maelstrom that it's ever been my privilege to witness." "What a cruel shame! He didn't so much as ask for the appointment. I have his word for it." There was a touch of irony in the smile with which Cravath met this vehement announcement. "Did you ever stop to think, my dear Bettina, that a man who could betray a trust would not hesitate to well cover it up?" "Pardon me, but I was speaking about a man of char- acter, a man of honor." "Well, my dear girl, the situation is here, the question is what are we you and I to do about it?" "Before I can answer that I shall have to ask you for the exact situation. You are right, Mr. Cravath; it's a time for action rather than words." Without a word, Cravath took from his pocket a mem- orandum book, and taking from it a clipping handed it to her. It was the editorial from the Gazette of that morning. Bettina read it through with outward calm. Congressional Traitor Unmasked. It is now known definitely that the Honourable Geof- frey Canterbury is to be chairman of the House Judiciary Committee for the coming congressional session. The Associated Press conveys this interesting news to that THE STANDPATTER 135 gentleman's California constituents, but fails to men- tion the price paid for the distinguished honor. It becomes the duty of the Gazette to place before its readers a page of local history that throws a flood of light on this appointment and, incidentally, reveals the character of the member from Berendo. On the afternoon of the 15th ultimo a private confer- ence was held in Room 21 of the Cherokee, the princi- pals being the Honourable Geoffrey Canterbury and William Crewe, familiarly known as "Billy Crewe of the G. S." The Gazette need not explain to its readers the sig- nificance of any political interview in which Billy Crewe engages. They well know that every time he utters a syllable or lifts a finger it means menial service to the Great Southern. His dirty work has been shown up in these columns times without number. Two days after the star chamber conference, it leaked out through a clerk in Crewe's office that Canterbury was slated for the head of the Judiciary committee. At the time, the Gazette refused to print, without confirmation, a story that reflected so seriously on Mr. Canterbury it was willing to suspend judgment and await results. Unfortunately, there is no longer any doubt as to the facts in the case. The appointment has been made. Billy Crewe's part of the compact has been carried out scru- pulously; it only remains for the valiant Canterbury to pay the price to deliver the goods. That the interests of the citrus growers of this section were bartered for this ill-timed promotion, there is no longer the shadow of a doubt. Cela va sans dire. The Gazette calls upon every public spirited citizen of southern California to take up arms in this war between the masses on the one side and the railway and its cor- rupt allies on the other. The life, the prosperity of the state is involved in this struggle for a reasonable freight rate for citrus fruits. A strong delegation must be sent to Washington to safe-guard our interests. It must be a long pull, a strong pull and a pull all together. The Ga- zette believes it is not too late to block this little Can- terbury game, if the people but stand together. Mr. Can- terbury should be given his deserts in the form of a ring- 136 THE STANDPATTER ing resolution denouncing his course, and demanding the immediate resignation of his seat. However deeply moved Bettina might have been during the reading, she was under perfect self-control by the time she had finished the editorial. Her composure afforded evidence to the observant Cravath that she was, after all, only interested in Canterbury as she might be in a score of others ; as she probably would be in himself, if he were placed in a similar predicament. This dis- covery gave him great relief, as did the thought that he had already accomplished the most difficult thing that he had set out to do; or, at least, that which he most dreaded, that of telling a girl of Bettina's intense nature and proud spirit that the man whom she honored with her friendship, if not with her love, had proven himself unworthy of her confidence. True, he had not convinced her that the arraignment of the young congressman was just; but the popular up- rising would carry with it so much weight, he believed, that she could not long hold out against it; then, too, he told himself, if she had really cared for Canterbury, her natural instinct would be to turn in her disappointment, in her chagrin and bewilderment, to one whom the people trusted; to one who was in close sympathy with her in all her plans and purposes ; and, surely, this sympathy he had never failed to show. "You say this mass meeting is arranged for to-morrow evening and in the valley?" Bettina spoke with an air of seriousness ; was thinkly too deeply to indulge in many words. "That's my understanding." "Then we have much to do before that time." "But, my dear girl, I suppose, after all, there is little we can do. This thing will have to work out in its own way." "There are several things that I as a neighbor and friend of Mr. Canterbury and his mother shall do; the things I should wish my neighbor to do for me, were I in trouble." "What, pray, can you do?" "First, I shall send Mr. Canterbury a night letter tell- THE STANDPATTER 137 ing him by wire the whole story and asking a return message with his unqualified denial; which I shall place before this meeting, then " "But, dearest Bettina, have you stopped to think how such action on your part will be taken?" "I shall be doing to others as I would have others do to me; it is not necessary to go in to the subject of what people will have to say." "It places you in a wrong light before the public that is, unless you are well either engaged, or * " "I am not answerable to the public, Mr. Cravath. It's childish to regulate one's conduct by what people say. I never expect to do it." "But, Bettina, I beg you not to do what you'll be sure to regret; I beg you not to be rash." "I am not given to vain regrets." "It's understood your sympathies are with the people of California; yet you are willing to ally yourself with those who are fighting the people's interests." Bettina's lips trembled. He was touching a tender spot when he spoke of the people's interests. How often she had sworn devotion to their cause! Cravath saw that he had for the first time made an appeal to which she would listen. He strove to make the most of it. "I am not will- ing to think that you of all others " he said, "you, with your large inherited fortune, with your splendid personal equipment, with your ability to do fine things for your state, for society, I cannot bear to think that the first time your loyalty is put to the test, you fly with open arms to the side of wealth and power and influence ; that you take your place along with the successful few, forgetting the many who are handicapped by poverty and disease. The two always go hand in hand. Bettina, I thought your pro- fessions meant more that they were not so ephemeral." Bettina looked at him with a faint smile, half humorous, half cynical. "Mr. Cravath that's a peculiar kind of nonsense you are talking. I can't quite see by what process of reasoning you conclude that my sympathies, my inclina- tions, my moral fiber are suddenly to be rooted out. You evidently think me " "You are everything a girl should be, that much I know. I would give my life, if necessary, to serve you. You are 138 THE STANDPATTER clever, sweet, lovable ; but your good hard sense ought to prevail now. Come with the element in which your senti- ments place you. The party's come to the parting of the ways. The recall of Canterbury is the issue upon which there's bound to be a split. It's the voice of the people." "Then you favor his recall?" "Alas, I'm left no choice. There's a demand that I take up the cause of the common people that I assume the leadership. It is not my wish but I long ago consecrated myself to their service. If I could count on your co-opera- tion in the battle that's on for the people's rights, there's nothing we might not hope for. It's a religion to me." A moment of silence followed. "It's a sacred thing to me; but there's one thing I shall do and you should do ; before condemning a man of Geof- frey Canterbury's character you should give him a chance to prove his innocence." Bettina rose as she spoke and the two made their way to the house in silence. THE STANDPATTER 139 CHAPTER XXIII. The little green church in the valley dedicated to the worship of God and held as sacred to divine service, was, for the first time in its history to be used for a political gathering. It was filled to the doors with sturdy ranchmen, men keenly alive and alert to their rights and interests, when Miss Brigham and her party entered. There was not a woman present, for women had not yet come into their own in California. Bettina was accompanied by Frau Wildenow and Miss Duffield, Shirley Cravath and Philip Ingalls. "If you are determined to do this, my dear girl," had said Cravath over the long-distance telephone, "Phil and I will see you through with it;" and Bettina was glad to accept their escort. The arrival of the party created a stir. There was a visible craning of necks to catch a better view of the hand- some young woman from Aztec Lodge as she passed down the aisle. Her reputation for doing things had spread far and wide throughout the valley and many a "little journey" had been made to the foot-hills for no other purpose than to see the pretty college girl who, within a few months, had changed a ruin and a desert into a place of beauty and thrift ; nor did it lessen the interest people felt in her that she was beautiful, yet innocently unconscious of her beauty; that she possessed a large fortune, yet was willing to use her money for the good of others, as had been evi- denced by the liberal manner in which she had met Mr. Goodrich when he was out in his campaign for funds with which to prosecute the citrus fruit case in the courts. "Raise every dollar you can, she had said with one of her rare smiles, and when you are done come to me and I will duplicate the amount; if that is not sufficient there will be more where that came from." "Gosh, if it didn't make me giddy," said Goodrich to his next neighbor. "You bet I did some tall soliciting- after that." "There are platform seats reserved for Mr. Cravath and 140 THE STANDPATTER Miss Brigham," the usher said in a whisper, as he cleared the way for the newcomers ; and Bettina soon found her- self facing the gathering. Cravath looked about him with satisfaction. Purely as a political move, it was worth something to him, he re- flected, to escort on such an occasion, a girl who occupied the position that Bettina Brigham did in this community. He had heard of her unique way of making a subscription and was not at all averse to sharing the glory that be- longed to one who could be helpful in that liberal-handed way. Adding to his complacency, too, was the audience itself which was made up largely of his friends* the young, progressive element of the republican party and he took their presence as a guarantee that things would go his way. It was Colonel Ricketts who, a moment after their ar- rival, gained recognition by the chair Colonel Ricketts, looking every whit as portly, as pompous and as florid as he had done the day he made his celebrated withdrawal from the district committee. "Mr. Chairman, I desire to offer a series of resolutions and to move their adoption by this body of freeholders." He then proceeded, in a very impressive manner, and with a loud voice to read several resolutions setting forth, in language grandiose and elaborate, various and sundry shortcomings of the Honourable Geoffrey Canterbury; the series closing with a forceful denunciation of that gentle- man's recent course in accepting, under certain conditions, the appointment given him, and demanding his immediate resignation. The colonel spoke at some length and with dramatic fervor in support of the resolutions, at the same time ex- pressing his sincere regret that a duty so painful had fallen upon him. He had loved and admired Mr. Canter- bury almost from the latter's boyhood. The young man was like a brother to him ; that he chose ruthlessly to ally himself with the ungodly corporations, that he could for- sake the people who had honored him with their confidence and their suffrages was one of life's mysteries that he was unable to solve. "You have heard the motion to adopt these resolutions. Are there any further remarks?" THE STANDPATTER 141 There was profound silence as Bettina stepped to the front of the platform. Sweet and simple and womanly she looked as she glanced with an air of perfect composure over her audience. She wore a trim suit of white serge, the lines long and straight and graceful after the prevail- ing style. It showed to advantage her fine figure. "Mr. Chairman and gentlemen and ladies of this assem- blage:" she said in a clear, bell-like voice. "I hold in my hand a telegram received an hour ago from the Honourable Geoffrey Canterbury, member of Congress from the Twelfth District. "It came in response to an inquiry which I took the liberty of sending him for I do not believe in condemn- ing the veriest criminal on earth until he has been given opportunity, full and free, to vindicate himself. "Have I permission to read this telegram, Mr. Chair- man?" "If there are no objections, Miss Brigham will read the telegram." "Miss Bettina Brigham: In response to your inquiry, would say I have in no way pledged my support or influ- ence to the Great Southern Railway or any other corpora- tion in exchange for appointment as chairman Judiciary committee. Am free to act absolutely in accordance with my own judgment and as my conscience dictates. Any representation to the contrary is false. GEOFFREY CANTERBURY. Sworn to before me this itrth day of December, 191-, Ingraham Van Winkle. Notary Public in and for the District of Columbia "Before I take my seat," Bettina spoke with marked dramatice force, "I desire to explain my position further. It is one of entire sympathy with the effort you are mak- ing, gentlemen, to bring about better conditions here in California. We should work to lift up, not a few people a mile, but all the people an inch. I am with you heart and soul in this struggle for a living rate for citrus fruit growers ; I have shown my interest as best I could and am willing to go further than I have already done. 142 THE STANDPATTER "Unfortunately, a woman's privilege in public affairs is limited even in California limited to paying taxes and subscribing funds. There's no ban on either, I find. It will soon be extended or all signs fail. The cry Votes for women' is in the air, and it is to you, gentlemen, you who call yourselves progressive, that we women must look for justice. There's no future for women in anything re- actionary. "But my plea this evening is not in behalf of women. I hold it to be the rankest injustice to recall any man with- out a hearing, as you propose to do under the pending resolution. It would be an abuse of the much talked-of Recall that would put it in dispute. "I ask that in the light of Mr. Canterbury's denial of the charges made denial under oath that you suspend judgment until after the hearing of our case in the court of commerce. "Meantime, a competent delegation should be named to go to Washington to safeguard our interests." The applause was deafening as Bettina took her seat. Clearly, she had carried the audience with her. Colonel Ricketts was one of the first to see it and with no small haste, quite as much as his dignity, not to mention his port- liness, would permit, he arose and withdrew his resolution. Prompt and decisive action followed, leading to the nam- ing of a delegation of representative citizens to go to Washington within a fortnight ; said delegation to have as its chairman James Courtenay, known to be a friend of Geof- frey Canterbury; also to include Miss Bettina Brigham, whose generous financial aid made the sending of such a delegation possible. THE STANDPATTER 143 CHAPTER XXIV. Her appointment as a member of the Citrus Growers' Washington delegation Bettina chose to regard in the light of a sacred trust. She had not wished to win any such spoil. The recognition had been farthest from her thought; but, since it had come to her unsought, she im- mediately decided to accept the work involved and give it her best endeavor ; accept it as her first real opportunity for public service. "It was a pretty compliment they paid you," Cravath remarked on their way home; u a fitting compliment, too! but I fancy you'll not feel like taking any such heavy re- sponsibility upon yourself. You have too many other inter- ests that are absorbing you. I'd advise you to let it slide." "I'll bet dollars to doughnuts," broke in Philip Ingalls, "that our Betty will go on to Washington. Moreover, she'll count for more in settling- this muddle than all the rest together. Gee, I wish you'd take me along, Bettina, as your man Friday." "An architect would be a failure as a man Friday, I'm convinced," laughed Bettina. "However, I'll agree to take Marcia along if I go, and that will insure you're coming, or I'm no prophetess." "But will you really and truly go, Betty? I'm crazy to go with you, of course, but like Mr. Cravath, I was afraid you wouldn't take the appointment seriously." "You wrong me, Miss Marcia, I was afraid she would take it seriously, and it was the last thing in the world I would like to see her doing. It's too grave a responsibility for a young girl." Cravath was plainly excited. He gave his blond pompadour a swift toss backward as he spoke. "But I'm thinking what a glorious tribute to old Berke- ley a last year's girl on a commission to the national capi- tal," said Marcia. "It's a slam on our Stanford girls, but since there are to be 'two Berkeley girls in blue,' in the words of the old song, or, was it 'blew Berkeley girls in two' I'm forever getting those words mixed I'll forgive all." It was Philip who was talking in his reckless fashion. 144 THE STANDPATTER Marcia smiled. "You were thinking of another song altogether, Phil: the song of the frisky young chap who liked to entertain Betty and me the time we were in the country, with his favorite "Two little shoes laid away in the drawer, Two little feet laid away in the grave." "The poor fellow always got mixed on his couplet, in- variably consigned the little feet to the drawer. It was very droll." Having reached the Lodge, Cravath and Phillip were eas- ily persuaded to spend the night there. The hour was late and soon the house was quiet, the halls deserted. Bettina found herself too restless for sleep; and, hav- ing brushed and plaited her hair, giving it the prescribed one hundred strokes ; and having donned a pretty negligee robe, all chiffon and ribbon and French fripperies, she was ready to write the letter to Geoffrey Canterbury that had been giving her some concern since events had taken a turn so unexpected and so altogether trying. "I shall write him as if nothing unusual had occurred," was her first thought; then she realized that, with a tele- gram from him of so important a character, to ignore the subject would be, indeed, childish. She then determined to treat the situation lightly, dwelling chiefly on topics more cheerful. My dear Mr. Canterbury : Something unexpected and interesting has come my way. Now what do you think it can be? It's not as overwhelmingly delightful as having a dinner in one's honor, I'll say that much I refer to a dinner in cabinet and senatorial circles, graced by beauty, enlivened by wit, dignified by official rank. Oh, no, nothing quite so glittering as that, of course, yet something exhilarating and pleasant as befits my less exalted station. And now, having told this much, I must go farther and tell the great news. It would be heartless to leave you a prey to suspense for even congressmen must have their moments of relaxation when curiosity and other human emotions assail them. Pray do not yield to a fit of despondency when the worst is told. Here it is: I expect to go to Washington within THE STANDPATTER 145 a fortnight ; likewise, I shall take the rest of the family the "Little Mother," the "heavenly twins," Marcia of the House of Duffield, Henriette, and, naturally a half dozen people to take care of us properly. It may be for a month, it may be for two length of time to depend on termination of freight case the busi- ness that takes me officially, too, Mr. Congressman. Speaking of the end of a visit reminds me of a story that made a deep impression on me when a child. Uncle Haredale used to tell it about his father when the latter was a boy. The little chap had never been away from home and longed for a trip by day and dreamed of it by night. To go just anywhere would be bliss. At length it was arranged. He was to go for a week's visit to an uncle who lived in the next county. He trudged along on foot all the way, carrying his clothes and lunch, arrived at night, tired but happy. The next morning he rose early and the first thing the uncle said was : "Well, Billy, are you for home to-day?" And the poor boy went home obediently. Wasn't that pathetic ? While I'm telling this story, which as a lawyer you'll pronounce immaterial, irrelevant and incompetent, you're naturally lost in amazement about my official connection with the fruit case. When your night letter came I took it to the "Valley rally" as Phil called the big political meeting. It was pre- cisely what was needed to straighten out the tangle. What I would call a good strategic move on our part. Some of them saw a new light the moment it was read. A moment later a resolution to send on a citizens' committee went through like a whirlwind. Strangely enough, I was in- cluded in the delegation. Shirley Cravath and Phil went with us and are spend- ing the night at the Lodge. I'm too excited to sleep, hence this letter. Mr. Cravath thinks I shouldn't accept; au contraire, I think I should. I don't believe in shirking civic responsi- bility. Having resolved to take the family with me, though not a word of my intention has been revealed, I shall take a 146 THE STANDPATTER furnished house, if possible, one of those old historic man- sions for which Washington is noted. How would Lafay- ette Square do? I'd like your judgment as to the house. I don't like the custom of living at hotels and boarding on the installment plan; that is, with a family such as mine. Paul and Jane are at an age when they readily take up naughty ways and expressions. I recently heard Paul say "Gosh." very vehemently. I had to reprove him, of course. "Why, Miss Bettina," he said, innocently, "gosh isn't a bad word, it's just like 'hash." (I call that a reflection on our table.) "Is it wrong to say 'confound it?'" he then asked. I gave him a little talk on the uselessness of all such expressions. "Why, Jack says it," he said Jack being a boy who occa- sionally comes here. Then he reflected a moment and so- liloquized: "Jack's eleven and I'm going on eight and I guess I know more about sin than he does." My idea is that this delegation should work right along with you. James Courtenay, who shows a warm friend- ship for you, is chairman. In spite of all that's been said, the members will be reasonable; you'll have little trouble to convince them that you are with the people. Your straight-forward denial paved the way for strong work for the cause that is uppermost here. I expect to give the subject the same conscientious study Differential Calculus calls for the same kind I gave Juris- prudence with Professor Lindley and that was no child's play. May I hope for another letter from you? BETTINA BRIGHAM. THE STANDPATTER 147 CHAPTER XXV. Never had Geoffrey Canterbury been under such , de- pressing nervous tension as during the opening days of that memorable session. How soon the elation attending his selection to an im- portant post was destined to turn to heaviness of heart! For how little counted congratulations social courtesies encomiums from the Speaker of the House, from his col- leagues, when weighed against an avalanche of savage and cruel criticism from the press; criticism, he told himself, infamous, heartless, rasping, wholly undeserved. It came, for the most part, from editors who wanted to see or fan- cied they saw in his appointment an unholy alliance, who asserted that it was a case of bit and bridle, of bid and barter, of iniquitous servility to monopoly. All this he might have borne with some degree of seren- ity, conscious of his own rectitude, had not the dispatches told the harrowing tale of the revolt in the Twelfth district. That was too much. It became evident that his friends, too, were being poisoned against him; that they had been led to believe him treacherous, base, mercenary. To think that a man of Jim Courtenay's loyalty, a man whole-souled, warm-hearted, generous, could be induced to go against him was, indeed, crushing. Others had been equally devoted to him. He well knew their desertion, if it came to that and it looked as if it would, was not of their own initiative. Geoffrey saw the sinister finesse of Shirley Cravath in this uprising. It could be none other than Cravath's fine Italian hand that had written the Gazette editorial on the morning after his appointment; his brain that planned the Valley mass meeting, and dictated the resolutions demand- ing that he vacate his seat. By whom was the seat to be taken ? Plainly by no one but Cravath ; that was the logic of the situation. He was the only one named in that con- nection. The most, bitter reflection, however, was that Cravath had established himself as a regular visitor at Aztec Lodge, the friend and adviser of its beautiful young mistress an undoubted suitor for her heart and hand. 148 THE STANDPATTER There was no length to which such a man might go, Geoffrey reflected, in order to gain his purpose. He had hoped that something might reveal him in his true light to Bettina, but, evidently, she believed him the gentleman for which he was attempting to pass. Then came Bettina's telegram, giving him the ugly re- cital that the wires had already brought him, giving it delicately yet faithfully, in unmistakable friendship. It was like the warm touch of a human hand, this mes- sage from the young girl ; a hand stretched out to him from the darkness and the gloom ; a hand clasping his own in sympathy ; sympathy not of words ; sweeter far than words was the act itself. The message from Bettina gave Geoffrey new life, new hope, new buoyancy. It lifted him out of himself; rather, it enabled him to pull himself together, and return to the work he had been compelled to neglect. This he did with a degree of composure which he himself found difficult to comprehend. He determined hereafter to drive his feelings, his emotions, not to be driven by them ; and one who makes such a resolve and keeps it is sure to become an expert driver. Within a few days came Bettina's letter with the an- nouncement that sent the blood surging to Geoffrey's temples that the Brigham household was to be trans- ferred, temporarily, to Washington ; and since she had men- tioned Lafayette Square, Geoffrey haunted that locality until he knew every foot of it and, better still, found that one of its most beautiful old homes was to be let for the winter. He secured it at once. Through the newspapers the action of the Valley meet- ing had reached Geoffrey. They told the dramatic story of the withdrawal of the Ricketts resolution and the sub- stitution of another favoring an advisory committee which should go to Washington. The ill wind had blown over and it's an ill wind that blows nobody good. Following close upon the heels of Bettina's letter came one from Jim Courtenay. It, too, found welcome and brought good cheer. THE STANDPATTER 149 ^ Dear Mr. Canterbury: It was a lively show, all right, while it lasted but blamed if there wasn't too much dirty, underhand work done in putting it on the boards to justify converting the little green meetin' house into a theater for the accommodation of the crowd. Colonel Rickets was the star performer, but, bless you, he wasn't any more responsible for the character of the performance than one of these mechanical toys you see on the streets nowadays is for its gyrations. It was Shirley Cravath that manipulated the strings from start to finish. He was just wily enough to keep his de- spicable hand hidden. Cravath had his plans all laid to do just what he did and a good deal more I've got the proof of it in the event of your appointment, and I tell you nothing but the interposition of Providence and the nerve and good sense of Miss Brigham of Aztec Lodge saved the day. By the way, Geoff, that's a wonderful girl. I wish you could have seen her come out on the platform, and turn the tables completely over with a touch of her pretty hand, a toss of her lovely head. She wouldn't stand by in silence that's what she said, in substance and see such rank injustice done to the vil- est sinner in christendomi no insinuation against you, old chap. I tell you her courage brought the blush of shame to my manly cheeks. It's what I wanted to do, but Geoff, I just hadn't the sand. And to think that Cravath had the gall to escort her to and from the meeting! It makes my blood boil. But there's a day of reckoning coming and, as sure as my name's Courtenay, I shall expose that man Cravath. Don't you forget it, and don't forget that we haven't all lost con- fidence in the member from the Old Twelfth. Faithfully yours, JAMES COURTENAY. Courtenay's letter touched Geoffrey. The expression of confidence, put in Jim's rough but forceful way, went straight to his heart. The knowledge of what Bettina had done she herself had purposely passed it over airily 150 THE STANDPATTER had made nothing of it, filled him with unspeakable joy. What a brave, true-hearted, wonderful girl she was, to be sure; and she had done this for him; had done it because she believed in his honesty of purpose; she could see be- yond their differences and respect his motives. He didn't want pity, didn't ask for sympathy, but he did crave compre- hension. What a heavenly thing it would be, he told him- self, again and again, to win the love of such a girl ! Could such good fortune ever be his?" Geoffrey had acquired the habit of dropping in on Sen- ator Gibbs at the close of a session. He usually found the great statesman at work in his committee room at that hour. Often it was only necessary to open the door of the outer office; to ascertain, through the secretary, that the senator was engaged ; or, seeing him surrounded by a coterie of friends, he would, without making his pres- ence known, turn and wend his way back through the marble corridors and out into the open. On the evening following the receipt of his letter from Courtenay, Geoffrey found the senator alone. "Come in, come in," the older man called out. "I've been wanting to see you, Canterbury. Pull off your top- coat, if you'll be more comfortable. They tell me our little appointment stirred up the animals a bit out in the wilds of your district." "Yes, they gave a lusty howl." "Excitement's blown over by this time, I suppose?" "Well, practically so." "Who was at the bottom of it all?" Geoffrey smiled, and taking the Courtenay letter from his pocket, handed it to the senator. "The dickens! I didn't think things had gone to the mass-meeting stage. That's nasty," and the senator handed back the letter. "This man Cravath has not exactly an itching palm, but I take it he's after your shoes." "No question about that." "And who's this young Portia that comes to the rescue ?" "A young college woman that is about to arrive in Washington with a California delegation coming in the interest of the citrus fruit-growers the right's on in the courts against the advance in freight rates." t< tjrr ei? 'He usually found the great statesman at work in his committee room at that hour" THE STANDPATTER 151 "I see, I see. That's the case before the court of com- merce." 'That's right. Hearing's set for the twenty-ninth. "Precisely. Little satisfaction your California delegation will get, though. Your young Portia had better save her breath to cool her broth." ''What do you mean. Senator?" "Why, the decision's bound to go one way, you under- stand ; can only go one way in the very nature of things." "That will have to depend, I suppose, on the court," and Geoffrey gave some symptoms of nervousness. "But, my dear Canterbury, the rule is to take no chances in the matter of courts oh, no." "To take no chances ?" "Certainly not," said the senator, a shade of impatience stealing into his voice. "But, really I don't quite understand you." Senator Gibbs laughed nervously. "My dear Mr. Canter- bury," he said as he placed his hand in intimate fashion on the other's arm, "I need hardly tell a shrewd war-horse like you that judges, nowadays, do not get their appoint- ments well at random. The moneyed interests of the country have a little care to that. Large business interests simply must have protection, you know. It's every whit as mandatory that the courts should be well amenable to reason, as that Congress should be composed of men that will vote right where large interests are at stake." "But, pardon me, who determines a man's fitness for the bench?" "Well, it amounts practically to this : A few trusted men of the country, men of high financial standing, far-sighted men, men with a broad outlook to whom the financial prosperity of the country means much in a large way, you understand] these men pass, in advance, upon appoint- ments where large interests are involved. You see we have much at stake. A few of us, by industry, thrift and econ- omy, have accumulated almost half of the fluid wealth of the country. And will, in time, get complete control of the banking, power. Vigilance must be exercised to keep things running smoothly. And I might say ah the courts are especially important. We can't afford any loose 152 THE STANDPATTER ends there. We do not care who elects congressmen, or even presidents, so long as we can name the judges." "Do I understand there's a censorship over the courts?" "I wouldn't put it in just that way, my boy." "But it amounts to that?" "The courts are handled well much as is Congress. You observe how appointments are made here. You've had a gratifying demonstration of the way the thing's done," and the senator chuckled and rubbed his hands together. The blood fled from Geoffrey's face. After the first cold shock of pain and bewilderment, came the sharp sting c_ r indignation, of self-reproach at the thought that he was a beneficiary of so corrupt a system. The scales had fallen from his eyes. There was the flash of anger in the gray eyes, a stern note in Geoffrey's voice, as he said: "Senator, this is news to me a most unwelcome revelation, I assure you. Under no circumstances would I accept or retain an appointment made by any man or group of men whose business it is to regulate the courts, to safeguard 'business interests/ ' "But, my dear fellow you surely have not been in the dark. For what earthly reason?" "For what reason should I be given the appointment? I fancy that was your question. For no reason, whatever, except that my professional training and experience en- titled me to it. I shall, of course, resign at once." "You amaze me, Canterbury. For heaven's sake, con- sider what you're saying! Give this subject a little calm thought and you'll see that what we're doing is for the country's good and that's what we're all striving for in the final analysis." The aged senator rose as he spoke. The interview was closed. Geoffrey quickly left the room. THE STANDPATTER 153 CHAPTER XXVI. The more intently Geoffrey pondered on the revelations so calmly conveyed to him by the man whom he had held in highest esteem, the stronger grew the wonder within him that he had been so blind to the real situation ; that he had permitted himself to be so helplessly entangled in the meshes of the hideous system, the operation of which the senator had outlined with unblushing candor. "How stupidly blind and ignorant I've been!" Geoffrey groaned, as he dropped his head in his hand and sat for hours thinking it over sat brooding in the privacy of nis own apartment till long after the stroke of midnight. Now that his eyes were opened and, he declared, to acquire sight in his case, had all but required a surgical operation what a flood of light streamed in ! He could see it all, could follow the ramifications of "the system" with its endless tentacles reaching out from the big .:ities of the east great centers of wealth and population to the secluded and remote hamlets always the system, its agents alert, vigilant ; protecting, not the weak, the help- less, the unfortunate in this land of freedom, but the rich, the strong and mighty. Geoffrey could hear as he sat with bowed head the meas- ured tones of the senator as he told how it was necessary that they- the handful of men of immense wealth the men who soon were to control all the wealth as they gained a firmer hand over the sources of wealth should control all appointments particularly the appointments of all judges. And he, Geoffrey Canterbury, was a part of this nefarious regime! His course was at last clear before him. There was no sleep for him until he had written his resignation as chair- man of the Judiciary committee. His next step was to sketch an outline of his reasons for his resignation, to be worked out more fully the next day and given, to the associated press in the form of an inter- view. The resignation of the member from the Twelfth Cali- fornia district from the chairmanship of the House Judi- 154 THE STANDPATTER ciary committee, announcement of which appeared on the day of Bettina' s arrival in Washington, created even more of a stir than had his appointment to that exalted position. In his interview, widely disseminated by the press, Mr. Canterbury did not seek to evade the main issue. In a straightforward and entirely frank way, he acknowledged having received a new light on the methods by which com- mittees were chosen, their chairmen selected, and also on the obligations such appointment imposed. These methods in no way met his approval. These obligations he was unwilling to assume. As a member of Congress he knew no obligation save that of honorable service in behalf of his constituents ; would suffer no dictation save from his own conscience. His conversion, he might as well say, had been com- plete so thorough as to carry him out of the slough of standpatism to the principles of true republicanism the principles of Lincoln, which had their deep roots in the belief that the people should rule, that they were capable of ruling; that it was safe to make them the court of last resort. At his first meeting with Bettina at 'the Union Station on the evening of that, to him, memorable day, Geoffrey fancied a shadow of restraint in her manner an absence, at least, of the almost childlike frankness that had made her so sweetly companionable in those alluring days at Aztec Lodge. Afterwards, thinking over the delightful experience of her arrival, analyzing his own emotions, recalling her slight- est word, her every glance, even the fleeting color in the lovely- contour of her face he attributed the change if change there was to their meeting in so different an envir- onment. He told himself that, after all, the change was probably in himself. Soon there were no barriers of reserve. The easy, friendly relations were again securely established; but, strangely enough, she said nothing of his resignation. The arrival of as important a personage as Miss Bettina Brigham in Washington was duly chronicled by the enter- prising dailies of the capital city not in the society col- umns alone too dazzling a story by far for that but as special features of the big Sunday editions. THE STANDPATTER 155 There were given different views interior and exterior, of the stately mansion on Lafayette Square Washington's most interesting section which she and her household would occupy during their season's stay at the national capital; a brief sketch of the historical events with which this charming old house was connected ; and, to the amazement of the young ladies themselves, uninitiated in newspaper tactics as they were, pictures of Miss Brigham and her friend, Miss Duffield, "two famous beauties of the Pacific Slope." Special writers waxed eloquent in description of Miss Brigham herself, her Titian hair, variously described as a "bright, golden mist," an "aureole," a "halo"; her mar- vellous coloring, her distinguished bearing and charming manners; not forgetting to emphasize her vast wealth, scholarly attainments, interest in scientific pursuits and the strikingly original direction she was giving her life by personally conducting a gigantic fruit ranch in her native state. It was said the ranch was already one of the show places of California. The public was likewise informed that Miss Brigham enjoyed the distinction of having been sent to the national capital as a member of a delegation of citizens who repre- sented valuable interests on the coast; an unusual honor to bestow upon one so young. To crown all, Miss Brig- ham was sufficiently a "new woman" to be deeply inter- ested in politics and was warmly progressive in her sym- pathies. Almost before the young ladies were aware of it, cer- tainly before they expected such a thing in fact, such a possibility had not dawned upon them they found them- selves the center of a brilliant social life. The ladies of the California delegation, wives and daughters of the members, hastened to call, to extend invitations to recep- tions, to teas, to the theatre. There was a hurried readjustment of social lists so as to make them include the two reigning belles of the western coast. Small dinners were arranged for no other reason than because of a desire to establish a more intimate ac- quaintance with those who brought to society so much un- spoiled freshness and charm. "How are we going to manage about clothes?" was 156 THE STANDPATTER Marcia's somewhat anxious inquiry when invitations be- gan to pour in upon them. "There's no use talking, my best togs look like last year's birds' nests here in Washing- ton. What do our good looks, that the papers have been prating about, amount to if we're not smartly gowned?" "That's all simple enough. I thought you doted on shopping. Let's plunge in and get it over. Remember it's my treat." It was Bettina's solution of the problem. It was two enthusiastic shoppers that the "Little Mother'' chaperoned for a few days, even taking a run with them to New York before they were fully satisfied of their fit- ness to appear in Washington's smart official set. Bettina was happy when this unexpected preliminary was well out of the way. She could now spend her mornings mainly at the capitol or in the congressional library, look- ing up questions of transportation, rulings of the Inter- state Commerce Commission, studying puzzling tariff problems, or visiting the House when there was likelihood of a discussion involving the points in which she was most interested, upon which that momentous decision would rest. She had resolved to be thorough in her preparation for the hearing; the more fully equipped she could be by the time her associates of the commission arrived, the more assistance she could render them. The stately residence with its rich old mahogany, its time-stained tapestries, its few choice pictures and rare bronzes gave them increasing delight. Frau Wildenow found keen pleasure in it because of a certain mellowing influence that time alone can bestow. She had missed this in California. Even the twins were fascinated with the hidden nooks and unexpected passages of the quaint old house. They played by the hour in the big, airy attic which they liked best of all. Marcie took as her special work the arrangement of fresh flowers daily throughout the spacious halls and drawingrooms. She was engaged thus one day soon after their arrivel when Bettina entered. "Betty, dear, I've had a letter from Phil." "How truly wonderful !" "Not so wonderful as the things he had to tell." "Chief of which was?" "Well, the political gossip." THE STANDPATTER 157 "Politics in his letters to you? I'd never suspected it." "Well, there were other things, too/' Marcia blushingly admitted. "Of course there were other things, but did he speak of Mr. Canterbury?" "He did says there's all kinds of good feeling jollifi- cations, banquets, that sort o' thing, you know, about Mr. Canterbury's latest move; says Shirley Cravath's down and out and here I am at the seat of war and don't know what he 's driving at. What's he referring to Betty, dear?" "Mr. Canterbury's resigned from the Judiciary Commit- tee. Haven't you seen it in the papers?" 'Resigned? Why, how perfectly dreadful!" 'How perfectly glorious, I say," 'But, Betty, it puts an end to his career." 'It's the opening chapter in a really great career." 'In heaven's name, why was it necessary to do such an unheard of thing?" "Marcia, dear, he hasn't told me. We've never men- tion it at all the resignation, I mean. That's what hurts both of us I I think' I read it in the papers the day we arrived. "And you didn't speak about it? You expected him to bring it up? Betty Brigham, you're a mollycoddle." "But it was a delicate subject. I'd said so much to him about political trickery badgered him, as you say and it somehow struck right home to me. I couldn't I just couldn't say a word. Marcia, Mr. Canterbury' noble, he's grand, the soul of honor, I never, never knew his equal. He resigned because he found dishonesty in high places he couldn't and wouldn't do the things expected of him. Marcia put up a warning finger. "Betty Brigham, you care for that man more than all the rest. You can't look me squarely in the eyes and deny it." "Marcia, you're ridiculously sentimental, as I've re- marked before. I admire Mr. Canterbury, of course." "And if you don't send for him to come and talk over this resignation that's hurting both, him and you; why, it couldn't help hurting the way you're acting. If you don't break that foolish silence I shall take the bits into my own teeth." 158 THE STANDPATTER Bettina smiled. "I reckon 1*11 not trust you with my private correspondence, m'amie." Bettina met the member from the Twelfth District be- fore he reached the door. "And so," she said, "I had to send for you, after all. Geoffrey." UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW NOV 6 1918 KB so 30m-6,'14 YC 95)01 263489 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY