how much power he has. The men whose plans he
has upset will be hating him as men hate only those whom they fear."

"Yes--I believe that," said Jane. "So, you see, I'm not blindly
prejudiced."

"For a long time there have been rumors that they might kill him----"

"Absurd!" cried Jane angrily. "Miss Gordon, no matter how prejudiced
you may be--and I'll admit there are many things to justify you in
feeling strongly--but no matter how you may feel, your good sense must
tell you that men like my father don't commit murder."

"I understand perfectly," replied Selma. "They don't commit murder,
and they don't order murder. I'll even say that I don't think they
would tolerate murder, even for their benefit. But you don't know how
things are done in business nowadays. The men like your father have to
use men of the Kelly and the House sort--you know who they are?"

"Yes," said Jane.

"The Kellys and the Houses give general orders to their lieutenants.
The lieutenants pass the orders along--and down. And so on, until all
sorts of men are engaged in doing all sorts of work. Dirty, clean,
criminal--all sorts. Some of these men, baffled in what they are
trying to do to earn their pay--baffled by Victor Dorn--plot against
him." Again that sad, bitter laugh. "My dear Miss Hastings, to kill a
cat there are a thousand ways besides skinning it alive."

"You are prejudiced," said Jane, in the manner of one who could not be
convinced.

Selma made an impatient gesture. "Again I say, no matter. Victor
laughs at our fears----"

"I knew it," said Jane triumphantly. "He is less foolish than his
followers."

"He simply does not think about himself," replied Selma. "And he is
right. But it is our business to think about him, because we need him.
Where could we find another like him?"

"Yes, I suppose your movement WOULD die out, if he were not behind it."

Selma smiled peculiarly. "I think you don't quite understand what we
are about," said she. "You've accepted the ignorant notion of your
class that we are a lot of silly roosters trying to crow one sun out of
the heavens and another into it. The facts are somewhat different.
Your class is saying, 'To-day will last forever,' while we are saying,
'No, to-day will run its course--will be succeeded by to-morrow. Let
us not live like the fool who thinks only of the day. Let us be
sensible, intelligent, let us realize that there will be to-morrow and
that it, too,