" He glanced aimlessly around the well-furnished
office. "But I expect you don't, from the looks of things."
"If you think I've got money you're wrong," James explained. "I'm
just starting in my profession, and of course I owe a good deal
here and there. I've been hard pressed ever since I left college."
His father brightened up timidly. "I owe you money. We can fix
that up. I've got a little mill down there and I've done well,
though it was hard sledding at first."
James caught at a phrase. What do you mean?"
"Owe me money!
"I knew it must be you paid off the shortage at the Planters'
National. When I sent the money it was returned. You'd got ahead
of me. I was THAT grateful to you, son."
The lawyer found himself flushing. "Oh, Jeff paid that. He was
earning money at the time and I wasn't. Of course I intended to
pay him back some day."
"Did Jeff do that? Then you and he must be friends. Tell me about
him."
"There's not much to tell. He's managing editor of a paper here
that has a lot of influence. Yes. Jeff has been a staunch friend
to me always. He recognizes that I'm a rising man and ought to be
kept before the public."
"I wonder if he's like his father.
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