go
after Elias M. Pierce, to the finish. Do this, and I'll back you with
the whole Certina income. Come on, now, Boyee. Be sensible."

Hal's reply came without hesitation. "I'm sorry, Dad: but I can't do it.
I've told you I'd stand or fall on what you've already given me. If I
can't pull through on that, I can't pull through at all. Let's
understand each other once and for all, Dad. I've got to try this thing
out to the end. And I won't ask or take one cent from you or any one
else, win or lose."

"All right, Boyee," returned his father sorrowfully. "You're wrong, dead
wrong. But I like your nerve. Only, let me tell you this. You think
you're going to keep on printing the news and the whole news and all
that sort of thing. I tell you, it can't be done."

"Why can't it be done?"

"Because, sooner or later, you'll bump up against your own interests so
hard that you'll have to quit."

"I don't see that at all, sir."

"No, you don't. But one of these days something in the news line will
come up that'll hit you right between the eyes, if ever it gets into
print. Then see what you'll do."

"I'll print it."

"No, you won't, Boyee. Human nature ain't built that way. You'll smother
it, and be glad you've got the power to."

"Dad, you believe I'm honest, don't you?"

"Too blamed honest in some ways."

"But you'd take my word?"

"Oh, that! Yes. For anything."

"Then I put my honor on this. If ever the time comes that I have to
suppress legitimate news to protect or aid my own interests, I'll own up
I'm beaten: I'll quit fighting, and I'll make the 'Clarion' a very
sucking dove of journalism. Is that plain?"

"Shake, Boyee. You've bought a horse. Just the same, I hate to let up on
Pierce. Sure you won't let me hire a New York lawyer for the libel
suit?"

"No. Thank you just as much, Dad. That's a 'Clarion' fight, and the
'Clarion's' money has got to back it."

It was the gist of this decision which, some days later, had reached
E.M. Pierce, and caused him such satisfaction. With the "Clarion"
depending upon its own resources, unbacked by the great reserve wealth
of Certina's proprietor, he confidently expected to wreck it and force
its suspension by an overwhelming verdict of damages. For, as Dr.
Surtaine had surmised, he held a card up his sleeve.

CHAPTER XX

THE LESSER TEMPTING

Seven days of the week did Mr. Harrington Surtaine labor, without by any
means doing all his work. For to the toil wh