e was private, deepened its sickly, ashen hue. Then he strode feverishly up and down the room, lips twitching nervously, hands clinching and unclinching. Then h

his face in his two hands, and sat at his desk

y his do

re to see you,"

stared an instant at his sten

wn!" he

id the yo

tare at her in si

him you'll s

d Blake. "But, no-

tood stiffly erect beside his desk. The next moment the door closed behind a short, rather chubby man with an egg-sh

ty glad to see you!" he excl

with tense composure, too

own," said he. "How do you

fortably in the chair that Kat

rial of that Docto

es

tter be on the ground t

lips very tight together, sat gazi

ght, isn't it?" asked Mr.

you mean?" Blake a

erday assured me conviction was certain. T

taut. His dark eyes wer

ot," he sa

ried Mr. Brown, half rising

his strained quiet, "that the pros

ke out

or West is goin

ed. "Now what the devil-see here,

figure had l

g of his dark eyes, "because I'm tired of doing your dirty work

re going to se

oing to see h

ing. "Why, only in your letter yesterday you

d his passionate reference to his scene with Katherine. "I say enough when

d straight into one another's eyes. Blake's powerful, handsome face was blazing and d

infinity of contempt, "it appears that Mr.

rted. "You know I've got as much courage as

you? From the way yo

on a dirty job i

haven't run from. You've put through many a on

er one l

the job was when you ma

mach rose agains

devil did you

ecause you took me up on a high mountain

the kingdoms were pretty

doing. Good enough to blind me as to how things might

ire. But he was too experienced in his

where you stand?" he as

ed, but I'm through with this kind of business now! I'm going back

in his chair, slowly crossed his short legs, and thoughtfully regarded Blake's excited features. His own countenance had chang

n a rather soothing tone. "Neither of us wants to be too hasty. There

s," said Blake. "But they

tville street car lines, when that municipal ownership talk drove the price so low, because we expected to get a new franchise through your smashing this municipal ownership fallacy. We have counted on big things from the water-works when you got hold of it for us. And we have plans on foot in several other

all that," int

so much upon your promise, since it will lose so heavily if you repud

lips, but Mr. Bro

ough-and you know how able we are to keep our promise!-we promised you Grayson's seat in the Senate. And after that, with your ability and our supp

eing loyal to the people," Blake replied

ng sense. You know that the only quick and sure way of getting the big offi

osed his eyes, as though to shut out the visi

to lose it!

ou lose. Now for the next point, the action you intend to take regarding Doctor We

ht it out yet. B

y, "you propose to do it so that you

of Katherine's accu

ink about that point

oke he spoke very slowly and accompanied each wor

ay to clear Doctor West with

gave a

t's

rouble without showing who got him in

of silence Blake g

case somehow!

uilty. Do you think you can suddenly, within twenty-four hours, reverse the w

his desk, and he sat

ldn't think of mentioning it, but I want you to have every consideration before you. I believe I never

idn't kn

getting Marcy to do what he did. Now if some of our directors should feel sore at the way yo

asant?

had now come back. It was

see them use their pressure to dri

cy? A st

Marcy had stated what he knows about this case, I'm afraid there wouldn't b

aned his elbows upon his desk and buried his face in his hands. For a long space there was silence in the room. Mr. Bro

he recross

e. "But speaking impartially, and as a friend, it strikes me that you've gone too far in th

bowed in his hands,

ould decide in favour of the original agreement

s face-and a changed face it was indeed from that which had fallen into his hands. It bore the marks o

nt still sta

re ready t

ry end," s

was sure you'd deci

n his new incisive tone. "But it is only fair to tell you that this was only a s

icy of Mr. Brown, once the victory was won

were keen and

little while back will not affect yo

ng air of good-fellowship, "for me to run into one of our political friends when he's sick with a bad case of conscience.

nk y

ntinued Mr. Brown, "let's go back to my first question. I s

of Katherine's discovery. "But it'

of the parties implicated?"

tain she

y to raise a

see how

o something to quiet her," r

a quick look

ll not have

scanty eye

eem very tend

ment. Then he said stiffly: "I o

"That is certainly a queer situation for you!"

y own affair!" Bl

agreed Mr. Brown quick

nored th

o see me openly again like this

t worry about that. You may not see me again for a year. I'm here-th

ry the cit

u put up f

dy, the prosecu

he s

o what h

Is he strong w

the party will c

ke it a point not to interfere with another man's work. The only time I've butted in here was w

at

em. We don't want to run any risk, however small. If you think there's one cha

xclaime

n the interest of the city, and all that, you know. You can turn it into

mething in it,"

hat's all we need to say to one another. The whole situation here is entirely in your hands. Do as you

e all were going to get results! Especially you! Why, you, with this t

the tail of his eye had s

allow me a

lake, in the dark as t

nd two small glasses. He tilted an inch into each tumbler, gave one to Blake,

w Senator!