eral," Jenkins admitted.

The whole front page of the _World_ next morning was filled with the
Farnum story. As part of it there were interviews with Alice Frome, with
Captain Barclay, and with other passengers. The deadly note from O'Brien
to Green of the _Nancy Hanks_ occupied the place usually held by the
cartoon. Beneath it, exactly in the center of the page, was a leaded box
with the caption "A Challenge." It ran as follows:

The editor of the _World_ does not think his reputation important enough
to protect it at the expense of a woman. Yet he denies absolutely the
import of the charges made by the _Herald_ and the _Advocate._ That
the matter may be forever set at rest the _World_ challenges the papers
named to a searching investigation. It proposes:

(1) That the names of five representative citizens of Verden be
submitted to Governor Hawley by each of the three papers, and that
from this number be select a committee of five to sift thoroughly the
allegations;

(2) That the meetings of the committee be held in secret, no members of
the press being admitted, and that those composing it pledge themselves
never to divulge the names of any witnesses who may appear to give
evidence;

(3) That the _Herald,_ the _Advocate,_ and the _World_ severally agree
to print on the front page for a week the findings of the committee as
soon as received and exactly as received, without any editorial or other
comment whatsoever.

By the decision of this committee Jefferson Farnum pledges himself to
abide. If found guilty, he will at once resign from the editorial charge
of the _World_ and will leave Verden forever.

CHAPTER 19

The practical man is the man who knows what can't be done.
When he begins to let hope take the place of information in
this regard, he becomes a conservative. When prejudice takes
the place of hope, the mere conservative graduates into a
tory, or a justice of the supreme court. It's all a matter
of the chemistry of substitution.--Dr. G.L. Knapp.

THE SAFE MAN FURNISHES DIVERSION

Part 1

For once the machine had overplayed its hand. Caught unexpectedly by
Jeff's return, no effective counter attack was possible. Dunn's story
in the _World_ swept the city and the state like wildfire. It was a
crouched dramatic narrative and its effect was telling. From it only one
inference could be drawn. The big corporations, driven to the wall, had
attempted a desperate co