For the only profession at which he had skill enough to
make a living was the one from which he had been cast as unfit to practise
it. The ready sympathy of the cattleman had gone out to the politician who
was down and out. He had heard the situation discussed enough to guess
pretty close to the facts, and he could not let himself rest until he had
made some effort to help the man whom his exposure had ruined, or, rather,
had hastened to ruin, for that result had been for years approaching.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Pelton. If I've injured you I want to make it right."
"Make it right!" The former congressman got up with an oath. "Make it
right! Can you give me back my reputation, my future? Can you take away the
shame that has come upon my wife, and that my children will have to bear in
the years to come? Can you give us back our home, our comfort, our peace of
mind?"
"No, I can't do this, but I can help you to do it all," the cattleman made
answer quietly.
He offered no defense, though he knew perfectly well none was needed. He
had no responsibility in the calamity that had befallen this family.
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