a blacker darkness behind it.

"Did you see those three, Cairns?" asked Denis Quirk, who was racing
towards "The Mercury" office in company with his editor. "There's
mischief on foot when you see insects like those together."

"Ebenezer Brown has been having a card party," laughed Cairns. "Cards
and wine."

"And light talk? It's a pity there is no law for the destruction of
vermin of the human sort!"

"Did you see who was in the car?" Garnett asked Gerard.

"I think it was Quirk himself and Cairns," replied Gerard. "Probably
they have been writing an article about you; something hot and strong.
Quirk knows where to strike, and he hits hard."

Garnett's comment was hurled into the surrounding darkness; but his
companions heard it and laughed.

"I expect to return in six months' time," said Gerard; "possibly sooner.
Another six weeks later, and 'The Mercury' will probably need a new
proprietor. Why not buy it yourself and make me the editor, with Gifford
under me? You might do worse."

Outside the first hotel he suggested a drink. Gifford refused to enter
the bar, and went on towards his home; the others walked into the
private bar and called for whisky and soda.

"Did you ever see such a miser as Ebenezer Brown?" Gerard asked. "Dry
biscuits, dry apples, and that sour stuff! It makes me sick to see a
man like him, with all his money. He won't enjoy it here--nor hereafter,
if there is a hereafter," he added.

Garnett, a strict Calvinist, winced at the remark, but passed it over.
Gerard was too useful a man to quarrel with.

And so these two worthies walked home, laughing together, while Denis
Quirk and Cairns were preparing fresh powder and shot for the campaign
against reaction. When Councillor Garnett read the leading article in
"The Mercury" on "Ways and Means," after the first irritation he smiled
grimly.

"This can't go on for ever. We shall wear them out," he remarked to his
wife.

There was yet another question in the town, about which the feeling ran
high and bitterly. The council was desirous of building a more imposing
town hall, and the land they desired belonged to Ebenezer Brown.
Naturally, he asked twice the just value for it, and, as was now the
commonly accepted course of events, Councillor Garnett supported him.
Denis Quirk and the councillors, who now followed him, set resolutely to
work to prevent this spoliation. Had Denis not been there, the public
would have grumblingly accepted the p