ournal like the _Eagle_ finds it needful to
denounce so sternly the state of the public streets in Mertonville, it
is time for the people to act. We ministers must hold a council right
away."

Mary remembered a political editorial she had taken from a New York
paper, and had cut down to fit the _Eagle_; but its effect was
something unexpected.

A deeper voice on her left spoke next.

"There was serious talk among the hotel-men and innkeepers of mobbing
the _Eagle_ office to-day!"

"That," thought Mary, "must be the high-license editorial from that
Philadelphia weekly."

"We must _act_, Judge Edwards!" exclaimed another voice. "Nobody knows
Murdoch's politics, but his denunciation of the prevailing corruption
is terrible. There's a storm rising. The Republican Committee has
called a special meeting to consider the matter, and we Democrats must
do the same. The _Eagle_ is right about it, too; but it was a daring
step for him to take."

"That's the editorial from the Chicago daily," thought Mary; "the last
part was from that Boston paper! Oh, dear me! What have I done?"

She had to ask herself that question a dozen times that evening, and
she wished Jack had been there to hear what was said.

The sociable went gayly on, nevertheless, and all the while Jack sat in
Mrs. Murdoch's dining-room, his face fairly glowing red with the
interest he took in something spread out upon the table before him. It
was a large map of New York city that he had found in the _Eagle_
office and brought to the house.

CHAPTER IX.

NEARER THE CITY.

Mary Ogden would have withdrawn into some quiet corner, at the
sociable, if it had not been for Elder Holloway and Miss Glidden, who
seemed determined to prevent her from being overlooked. All those who
had called upon Mrs. Murdoch knew that Mary had had something to do
with that extraordinary number of the _Eagle_, and they told others,
but Mrs. Murdoch escaped all discussion about the _Eagle_ by saying she
had not read it, and referring every one to Miss Ogden.

Mary was glad when the evening was over. After hearing the comments of
the public, there was something about their way of editing the paper
that seemed almost dishonest.

Jack was still up when she came home.

"I've used my time better than if I'd gone to the party," he said.
"I've studied the map of New York. I'd know just how to go around, if
I was there. I am going to study it all the time I'm here."