"
"You have at least one."
"Which one?"
"Influence."
He shook his head. "My father wouldn't help."
"We'll have no difficulty in finding you a position."
"Jove! That's good news." He beamed at her with gratified
surprise. "I had an idea I'd be going from door to door."
"How ridiculous! This is a government job; therefore it is
saturated with politics. There are a great many good men on it,
but there are also a large number of 'somebody's relatives.' Do
you understand? Anything is possible here for a man with
influence. If he has ability with it, he can go to the top. If he
lacks ability--well, even then he can go to the top--it depends
entirely upon the influence."
"But I haven't any--" Kirk began. Then, catching her look, he
exclaimed: "Oh, say! WILL you help me? Really? That's too good to
be true."
He shook her hand warmly, that being the natural outlet for his
gratitude, and she smiled at him. "I wonder where I'd better start
in," he said.
"There's not the slightest choice. All paths lead up the mountain,
and if you go far enough you will reach the top. It would be quite
easy if you knew something about the railroad business, for
instance."
"Oh, I do. I've had that drilled into me ever since I was a child.
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