d that--ah, that motto over there on the
wall." He went slowly to it and, stooping, read aloud:

"Lift up the weak, and cheer the strong,
Defend the truth, combat the wrong!
You'll find no scepter like the pen
To hold and sway the hearts of men."

"That was written by your Eugene Field," offered the girl. "Now read
the one on the opposite side. It is your _Tekel Upharsin_."

He went to the one she indicated, and read the spiritual admonition
from Bryant:

"Leave the vain, low strife
That makes men mad--the tug for wealth and power--
The passions and the cares that wither life,
And waste its little hour."

"Now," continued the girl, "that is only a suggestion to you of the
real handwriting on the wall. I put it there purposely, knowing that
some day you would come in here and read it."

Ames turned and looked at her in dumb wonder, as if she were some
uncanny creature, possessed of occult powers. Then the significance of
her words trickled through the portals of his thought.

"You mean, I suppose," he said, "that if I am not persuaded by the
second motto I shall feel the force of the first, as it sways you,
eh?"

"I mean, Mr. Ames," she replied steadily, "that the world is entering
upon a new era of thought, and that your carnal views and methods
belong to a day that is past. This century has no place for them; it
wearies of the things you represent; you are the epitome of that evil
which must have its little hour of night before the reality dawns."

He regarded her intently for some moments. "Am I to understand," he
asked, "that the Express, under its new management, is about to turn
muck-raker, and shovel mud at us men of wealth?"

"We are not considering the Express now, Mr. Ames," she replied. "It
is I alone who am warning you."

"Do Hitt and Haynerd bring against me the charges which you voiced a
moment ago? And do you intend to make the columns of your paper spicy
with your comments on my character and methods? I verily believe you
are declaring war!"

"We are in the business of declaring truth, Mr. Ames," she said
gently. "The Express serves all people. It will not shield you when
you are the willing tool of evil, nor will it condone your methods at
any price."

"War, eh? Very well," he replied with a bantering smile. "I came over
here this noon to get the policy of your paper. I accept your
chall