ated before
the grand jury by the narrow margin of one vote. Yet he was much liked
as a human sinner who had no pretenses about him, and who told a good
story surpassingly well.

Ten minutes later Mr. Neal and Mr. West met in a private room at
Berringer's, having arrived thither by different routes. Over a table,
the door shut against all-comers, Mr. Neal went at once to the point,
apologizing diffidently for a "butting in" which Mr. West might resent,
but which he, Mr. West's friend, could no longer be restrained from. The
_Post_, he continued, had been going along splendidly--"better'n under
Cowles even--everybody says so--" and then, to the sorrow and
disappointment of the new editor's admirers, up had come this dashed old
reformatory business and spoiled everything.

West, whose thoughts had unconsciously run back to his last private talk
with Plonny--the talk about getting in line--good-naturedly asked his
friend if he was really lined up with the wire-pulling moss-backs who
were fighting the reformatory bill.

"You just watch me and see," said Plonny, with humorous reproachfulness.
"No charge f'r lookin', and rain checks given in case of wet grounds."

"Then for once in your life, anyhow, you've called the turn wrong,
Plonny. This institution is absolutely necessary for the moral and
social upbuilding of the State. It would be necessary if it cost five
times one hundred thousand dollars, and it's as sure to come as judgment
day."

"Ain't it funny!" mused Plonny. "Take a man like you, with fine high
ideas and all, and let anything come up and pass itself off f'r a maw'l
question and he'll go off half-cocked ten times out of ten."

"Half-cocked!" laughed West. "We've been studying this question three
years."

"Yes, and began your studies with your minds all made up."

Plonny fastened upon the young man a gaze in which superior wisdom
struggled unsuccessfully with overwhelming affection. "You know what it
is, Mr. West? You've been took in, you've bit on a con game like a
hungry pike. Excuse my speaking so plain, but I told you a long time ago
I was mightily interested in you."

"Speak as plain as you like, Plonny. In fact, my only request at the
moment is that you will speak plainer still. Who is it that has taken me
in, and who is working this little con game you mention?"

"Rev. George Dayne of the Charities," said Plonny at once. "You
mentioned wire-pulling just now. Lemme tell you that in the Rev. Geo