lly awe-stricken, hardly daring to touch with his
hands the polished oak at his back. He was in the great _hotel de ville_
whose exterior he had stared at many times without presuming or daring
to enter the broad portals.

Then there came a recess while the mayor examined papers at his desk.
The aldermen leaned back in their chairs with lighted cigars.

"Etienne," whispered the young man, deep resolve thrilling him, his
eyes blazing into the wondering gaze of the old man, "those men who sit
behind those desks can do something to save the children and the poor
folks in the tenements. But they must wake up, these men here must. You
and I must try to wake them up!"

Etienne's eyes opened wide. He did not in the least comprehend how he
could serve.

"I know you will not desert a friend, Etienne. I know you'll stand
behind me. I know you love the children. So be a brave man now!"

The next moment Etienne was so frightened that he feared he would drop
where he stood, because the young man raised his voice so that it rang
through the great hall and all eyes were turned that way.

"Your honor the mayor, and gentlemen; I am a stranger here. But I humbly
ask permission to address you."

"If you are a witness in the police matter you will be called on in your
turn after the recess," stated the mayor.

"I am not a witness in the police matter. I am here on other business."

"There is no other business before this meeting."

"But there should be, sir, for the business I have come on is a dreadful
matter. It is a matter of life and death."

A hush fell on those in the chamber, and the mayor and his aldermen
leaned forward, staring apprehensively. They had been warned that there
were dangerous labor-agitators in the city. Many meetings had been
broken up by the police at the request of Colonel Dodd, president of
the Consolidated Water Company, and other employers had backed him. This
tall young man had startled them with his sudden outbreak.

"It is a matter, gentlemen, which concerns every man, woman, and child
in this city--vitally concerns them every hour of the day--every hour
they are awake. You say you have no other business now except this
silly police investigation. For God's sake, wake up and attend to real
business--save the people's lives. Here you are in session and here are
the people to listen."

"State your complaint. Be very brief," commanded the mayor.

But Walker Farr, it was plain, possessed craft as