der him."

"You mistake me. I mean that the grinder is the only man who knows
whether a stone is safe."

"Well, but this grinder does not pretend his stone is safe. All he says
is, safe or not, he'll run it out. So now the question is, will you
pay four shillings from your box for this blockhead's loss of time in
hanging and racing a new stone?"

All the four secretaries opened their eyes with surprise at this. But
Grotait merely said he had no authority to do that; the funds of the
Union were set apart for specified purposes.

"Very likely," said Henry, getting warm: "but, when there's life to be
TAKEN, your Union can find money irregularly; so why grudge it, when
there's life to be saved perhaps, and ten times cheaper than you pay for
blood?"

"Young man," said Grotait, severely, "did you come here to insult us
with these worn-out slanders?"

"No, but I came to see whether you secretaries, who can find pounds to
assassinate men, and blow up women and children with gunpowder, can find
shillings to secure the life of one of your own members; he risks it
every time he mounts his horsing."

"Well, sir, the application is without precedent, and I must decline it;
but this I beg to do as courteously, as the application has been made
uncourteously."

"Oh, it is easy to be polite, when you've got no heart."

"You are the first ever brought that charge against me."

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself," said Potter, warmly. "No heart!
Mr. Grotait is known for a good husband, a tender father, and the truest
friend in Hillsborough."

The others echoed these sentiments warmly and sincerely; for, as strange
as it may appear to those who have not studied human nature at first
hand, every word of this eulogy was strictly true.

"Thank you, gentlemen," said Grotait. "But we must make allowances. Mr.
Little is smarting under a gross and dastardly outrage, and also under
a fair defeat; and thinks his opponents must be monsters. Now I should
like to show him the contrary. Let Simmons take care of himself. You
have given him good advice, and much to your credit: now have you
nothing to say to us, on your own account?"

"Not a word," said Henry, steadily

"But suppose I could suggest a way by which you could carry on your
trade in Hillsborough, and offend nobody?"

"I should decline to hear it even. You and I are at war on that. You
have done your worst, and I shall do my best to make you all smart for
it, the moment