Briggs. "I investigated him thoroughly."

Until then Miss Kilgour had always had a high opinion of Peter Briggs's
acumen. She promptly revised that estimate, reflecting that age is bound
to dull a person's senses and cloud his judgment.

XXI

THE HONORABLE LION CONFERS WITH COLONEL TIGER

All his people in the offices of the Honorable Archer Converse noticed
that the chief was not amiable that day. His usual dignified composure
was wholly lacking. He gave off orders fretfully, he slapped papers
about on his desk when he worked there; every now and then he glanced
up at the portrait of his distinguished father and muttered under
his breath. He had called for more documents relating to state health
statistics, reports on water systems, and had despatched a clerk to
the capital city to secure certain additional facts, figures, and
literature. The junior members of his law firm knew that he had taken
much to heart the case of the citizens of Danburg, who had been blocked
in their honest efforts to build a water system and who now
charged various high interests with conspiracy. The litigation was
important--the issues revolutionary. But the juniors had never seen the
chief fussed up by any law case before.

Then something really did happen!

The three citizens of Danburg who had occasionally conferred with him
came into his office and lined up in front of him. Mr. Davis scratched
his chin and blinked meekly, Mr. Erskine exhibited his nervousness by
running his fingers around inside his collar, and Mr. Owen fairly oozed
unspoken apology.

"Look here, gentlemen," snapped Mr. Converse, "I'm not ready for you. I
told you not to come until next week. I have an immense mass of material
to study. You're only wasting time--mine and yours--coming here to-day."

"Well, you see, your honor," stammered Davis, "we came to-day so as to
save you more trouble and work."

"Work!" echoed Mr. Converse, seizing the arms of his chair and shoving
an astonished face forward.

"Why--why--you see we've decided not to push this case any further.
And whatever is owing to you--name the sum." He did not relish the
glow which was coming into the attorney's eyes, nor the grim wrinkles
settling about the thin lips. "So that there won't be any hard feelings,
in any way," Davis hastened to say.

"What has happened to you men all of a sudden?" demanded the lawyer.
"Explain! Speak up!"

Davis's face was red, and he found much difficulty in