Counsel for the Defense

nded by her discovery; she could not as yet realize its full significance and whither it would lead

m, if it but knew the truth? How was she to give battle to an antagonist, so able in himself, so powerfully supported by the public? What

ate problem, her father's trial on the morrow, thrust itself into her consciousness, and the pressing need of further action drove all this spasmodic speculation from her mind. She began to think upon what

fronting Blake with knowledge of his guilt. Might she not make some furt

ed a deep and continuous thunder; that afternoon's issue was coming from the press. She lifted her skirts and gingerly mounted

's work was done. In one corner a telegraph sounder was chattering its tardy world-gossip to unheeding ears. In the centre at a long table, typewriters before them, three shirt-sleeved

either cheek, defiance in her brown eyes, Billy Harper

e," he said. "Can I

with Mr. Bruce,"

discarded copy and old newspapers, to a door beside the stairwa

glancing through the Express, his feet crossed on his littered desk, a black pipe h

matter?" he grunte

few words with yo

twisted about

he pipe upon his desk. For the moment he was uncertain how to rece

inesslike tone. He placed the atlas-bo

and he took

our servic

quare, rather massive face. Over Blake she had felt an infinity of regret and pain. For this man she felt only boundless ha

r service,"

hered herself to strike, alert

you know that I know that a conspiracy is under way to steal the wate

sta

?" he

hange of feature, not so much as th

ell cheap. The first step toward ruining the system was to get my father out of the way. And so this charge against my father was trumped

r. His lips had

say that M

she cried with fierce contempt. "Yes, Mr. Blake is the head of it. I just came from

itte

e-to dupe the city into selling at a fraction of its value a busin

d was scratching h

y God!" he

ro

un to do so-"but look me in the face. To think how you have attacked my father, maligned him, covered him with disho

ttle room, scratching his head, his e

me!" she

want to!" he cried out. "Only

face. As she returned his stare, it began to dawn upon her that he did not seem

jerked it open, and his voice descended

! Oh,

r roar

es

notypes! And be alive down there, every damned soul of you

She had looked upon excitement before, but nev

all the detai

that was

understand,

father-perhaps a little wrong about you-and perhaps you've been a l

at are you

make the Express, and"-he seized her hand in his grimy ones, his eyes blazed, and an ex

red at him in

the old town up!" h

rked some loose copy paper to

ck! The

going to print thi

so!" he answ

ad nothing to do w

"-he rapped his desk with his knuckles-"don't you know what getting out a

chair, beginning to see new things i

ed, "I guess I stated my information a l

ou haven't

aid not.

ite I could hi

hings to take this turn. It would spoil everything to

ere's no

ened the door; "go on back with you." He began to walk up and down the little office, scowling, hands cl

a newspaper man to have a big story laid

something of a

t! If you were waiting in church and the bridegroom didn't show

r with his heavy black pencil. She watched him in a sort of fascination

sked slowly "that this whole af

do you

oax? Nothing but a trick to get out of a

yes f

hat I am te

er-tasting word for it. You would call

tonishment to be angry. Besides, she felt herself by

f a plot to steal the water-works, and then see how everything fits in with that theory. And bear in mind, as an item worth considering, my father's long and honourable career-never a dishonouring word agains

her with keen,

ason well,"

xed on her all the while. "Now I ask you this question: Is it likely that even a poor water system could fail so quickly and so completely as ours has done, unless some powerful person was

e still bori

t Doctor Sher

tool of the conspiracy, just as my father is

same fixed look,

vidence, but I am going to have it. As I remarked before, you can believe what I have sai

ickly

on!" h

cross the little office, scowling with thought

she de

eeled

nds pla

man who has been the champion of error, to admit that

ached for th

t had been grudgingly non-committal was now aglow with excitement. "Of course you're r

she aske

evidence? Help rev

got her bearings con

," she said coldly; "it would make a

cutting words, and

out some of my own ideas, so I came to Westville. My idea of a newspaper is that its function is to serve the people-make them think-bring them new ideas-to be ever watching their interests. Of course, I want to make money-I've got to, or go to smash; but I'd rather run a candy store than run a sleepy, apologetic, afraid-of-a-mouse, mere money-making sheet like the Clarion, that would never

his powerful, dominant figure, and into his determined face with it

e been mistaken ab

a good start; I used them constantly as a text for working up municipal ownership sentiment. The franchises of the Westville Traction Company expire next year, and I had been making a campaign against renewing the franchises and in favour of the city taking over the system and running it. Opinion ran high in favour

ng the impression of

or the things I've called you. My only excuse is that your

, publicly, in my paper, what I have said against your

y evidence," she put in quickly. "Print

ing-except--" He paused; she saw disapprobation in his eyes. "Except t

dogmatic!" s

t you appear to have too many good qualities as a woman

ing. "Do you know what you

gged his shoulders.

as that you had not been thrashed en

to the door, but he

f a little truth. Rememb

ited to fight each other than to help each

This isn't your father's case alone. It's the city's case

d at him

r. For the present

hesitated, then took it. After which, he