"COME right in, Harold. Glad to see you." Judge Rider greeted his friend warmly. "Judge, I ran up to talk to you a few minutes, if you are not busy."
"Sit down, Harold. I am not too busy to talk with you. Anything of importance?"
"Yes, Judge, there is. Something very important. There's a leak. Somebody is giving out inside Klan information."
"Is that so? What has been given out?"
"Someone told Stover that I am a member and that they would fix me. Stover suggested that I be given one chance. I don't know what that chance is to be nor how Stover's informant meant to fix me."
"Do you know who Stover's informant was?" Judge Rider asked.
"Not positively. I am of the opinion that it was McBryan."
"How did you get your information?"
"I am not at liberty to tell you that, Judge. It would be betraying a confidence."
"By all means don't tell it, then, but are you sure that it is correct?"
"Yes, there is no question about the truthfulness of the report."
"You say that this man whom you think is McBryan said that they would fix you?"
"Yes."
"He was going to get you because you are a Klansman?"
"He told Stover that I was a Klansman and that they would fix me, and naturally the inference is that being a Klansman is the reason for the desire to fix me."
"Was that all that was said?"
"Stover's informant said that he was sure of his information as they have a man on the inside!"
"What! A man on the inside!" The judge sprang to his feet.
"Yes, and when he parted from Stover he said, 'I will keep you informed.'"
"We must look after this at once. It is serious. Just keep it as quiet as possible and we will undertake an investigation. As this is the first leak we have heard of, it is quite likely that the traitor is someone who has recently been taken in."
It was the middle of the afternoon of the same day that this conversation took place that Harold received a 'phone call from the Wilford Central State Bank requesting him to call there for a few minutes. When he arrived he was told by the teller that the president wished to see him in the office. When he entered Stover shook hands with him and asked him to be seated. The door was open into Ruth's office and she had seen Harold enter. Stover stepped to this door and closed it. Ruth was writing on the typewriter.
"Mr. King," said the banker, "I had the teller 'phone you to come down because I wished to have a little private conversation with you. You know, Mr. King, I have been keeping my eye on you since you designed Simpson's cottage. That is an artistic and well arranged home. I said when I looked through that house that you had ability. I have been expecting ever since to see some big building constructed that you had designed, but I have been disappointed. Of course I recognize that a man in your profession needs more than ability—he needs some influential friends."
"One must have the ability if he makes good, but I realize the value of influential friends," Harold remarked.
"Yes, you must have them if you get on in this world, especially if you are short on capital. I think that you realize, Mr. King, that I have influence with the city administration."
"I am sure that you have."
"Yes, what I say usually goes. Now, Mr. King, I would like to see you get the contract to do the architectural work for the new city building."
Ruth, writing on the typewriter in the other room, heard the sound of the men's voices. She was anxious for Harold. She wondered if Mr. Stover was going to give him the chance today. If so, she hoped the terms would be such that he would accept. She did not want to hear, and pounded unusually hard on the typewriter.
"I thank you, Mr. Stover. To be sure I want the job."
"I have already talked to the mayor and commissioners in your interest."
"I certainly appreciate it."
"I thought you would. If there is anything that gives me pleasure it is to help a young man get a start. I'm a self-made man, Mr. King. I started to work in a bank at thirty-five dollars a month. It took me a long time to get a start. If I had had a few influential friends to back me I might have established myself ten years sooner than I did. Whenever I think of those long years of hard struggle I make a new resolution to help some young fellow to get a start. Harold, I have helped lots of them along the road to success. What I am going to say to you is in the spirit of a father to a son." (He placed his hand on Harold's shoulder and smiled on him affectionately.) "I want to give you a little advice."
"I am willing to hear it."
"The city officials like your perspective drawing, but they say that you have had very little practical experience."
"I have not had a great deal of experience since I opened an office of my own, but before coming here I was employed in an architect's office and worked on drawings for expensive buildings. I drew up most of the ............