Jewel Weed

"Oh, I'm only trying my muscle a bit," Dick answered laughingly. "I do

not intend to do much generalizing except in the way of advertisement.

I'm planning to put a spoke in the wheels of a few particular wrongs."

"That's what I hope. It's easier to fulminate than to fight."

"Then you'll be glad to know that Dick has already been answerable for

galvanizing the Municipal Club into new life," Ellery put in. "It has

been, as you know, a delightfully scholarly affair, any of whose members

were quite capable of writing a text-book on civics; but Dick has roped

in a lot of new men and stirred up the old ones."

"To what end?"

"Well, for two things; we have appointed committees to keep close tab on

all of the proceedings of the council--to attend every meeting--and

others to work up the ward organizations so that we shall be prepared to

work intelligently and together by the next election. We want to get

some clean business man, who is well known, to stand for mayor. There's

a chance for you, Lenox."

Lenox laughed. "You've caught me there, haven't you? I am condemned for

being still in the stage where I am content to mention things with

indignation. However, if you have really gone so far, I'm more than

willing to trail after you. I'll at least back you with a few facts,

such as every business man knows, and I'm good for a substantial

contribution toward any campaign you may undertake. And what I do there

are others who will do, too."

"I'll not forget your promise," said Dick.

As usual, when men talk public affairs, the women had been content to

listen, but Madeline's temperament was too strong for her restraint.

"It's all very well for you to put your hand in your pocket, Mr. Lenox,"

she cried, "but I don't want to hear you trying to undermine Dick's

idealism. If he does not have the comfort of some purpose higher than

the daily fight, how can he endure it? Don't persuade him to run through

life on all fours and never look at the stars."

Mr. Lenox looked at her warmly.

"Thank the Lord for you women," he said. "You do not forget that there

are stars and sky above the city smoke. If it were not for you and your

kind, I'm afraid most of the world would be tied to the ground like

serfs."

"Oh, I fancy nature has liberated a few of you, and I am glad to believe

that Dick is among the free," she said.

She sat beside Dick, but she turned from him and spoke to Mr. Lenox.

When Percival, softened by her words and the tone of belief in which

they were spoken, looked up, he saw, not her eyes, but, across the

table, those of Lena, big and sympathetic. As he gazed into them he saw

all of Madeline's confidence in him, all of Madeline's ideals, but the

more spiritual, the more feminine, because they were unspoken. Lena's

eyes were eloquent even if she was silent; internally she was really

resenting Madeline's tone, which seemed to her to assume that Dick was

somehow Miss Elton's particular property. "Perhaps you needn't be so

sure, missy," she thought.