"I have added one hundred dollars for your services. This is a personal
matter between you and me, and does not go on the office books. By the
way, Mr. Harwood, what are you doing out there?" he asked, moving his
head slightly toward the outer office.

"I'm reading law."

"Is it possible! The other youngsters in the office seem to be talking
politics or reading newspapers most of the time. How do you manage to
live?"

"I do some work for the 'Courier' from time to time."

"Ah! You are careful not to let your legal studies get mixed with the
newspaper work?"

"Yes, sir. They put me on meetings, and other night assignments. As to
the confidences of this office, you need have no fear of my--"

"I haven't, Mr. Harwood. Let me see. It was of you Professor Sumner
wrote me last year; he's an old friend of mine. He said he thought you
had a sinewy mind--a strong phrase for Sumner."

"He never told me that," said Dan, laughing. "He several times implied
quite the reverse."

"He's a great man--Sumner. I suppose you absorbed a good many of his
ideas at New Haven."

"I hope I did, sir: I believe in most of them anyhow."