e trial," and it was awaited with intense interest by five thousand
people.

CHAPTER XIV.

NEW YORK JUSTICE.

Peter saw the District Attorney the next morning for a few moments, and
handed over to him certain memoranda of details that had not appeared in
the committing court's record.

"It shall go before the grand jury day after to-morrow," that official
told him, without much apparent interest in the matter.

"How soon can it be tried, if they find a true bill? asked Peter.

"Can't say," replied the official.

"I merely wished to know," said Peter, "because three of the witnesses
are away, and I want to have them back in time."

"Probably a couple of weeks," yawned the man, and Peter, taking the
hint, departed.

The rest of the morning was spent in drawing up the papers in three
civil suits against the rich brewer. Peter filed them as soon as
completed, and took the necessary steps for their prompt service.

These produced an almost immediate result, in the shape of a call the
next morning from the same lawyer who had defended the milkmen in the
preliminary examination. Peter, as he returned from his midday meal, met
the lawyer on the stairs.

"Ah, Mr. Stirling. Good-morning," said the man, whose name was Dummer.
"I've just left your office, finding it closed."

"Come in," said Peter.

The lawyer glanced around the plain room, and a quiet look of
satisfaction came over his face. The two sat down.

"About those cases, Mr. Stirling?"

"Well?"

"For reasons you can easily understand, we don't wish them to come to
trial."

"Well?"

"And we take it for granted that your clients will be quite willing to
settle them."

"We will talk about that, after the criminal trial is over"

"Why not now?"

"Because we hope to make Coldman speak the truth in the trial, and thus
be able to reach Bohlmann."

"You're wasting your time."

"Not if there's the smallest chance of sending the brewer to prison."

"There isn't. Coldman will stick to what he said if the thing is ever
tried, which it won't be."

Peter eyed Dummer without changing a muscle. "The District Attorney
told me that it ought to be in the courts in a couple of weeks."

Dummer smiled blandly, and slowly closed one eye. "The District Attorney
tries to tell the truth," he said, "and I have no doubt he thought that
was what he was telling you. Now, name your figure?"

"The civil suits will not be compromised till the criminal one is