Boy-ee, I can sleep again, now that I know it wasn't you."

The implication caught at Hal's throat.

"Why, Dad," he said lamely, "if you'd only come to me and asked--"

"Somehow I couldn't. I was waiting for you to tell me." He slid his big
hand over Hal's shoulder, and clutched him in a sudden, jerky squeeze,
his face averted.

"Now, that's off our minds," he said, in a loud and hearty voice. "We
can--"

"Wait a minute. Father, you saw the story in the 'Clarion,'--the story
of Milly's death?"

"Yes, I saw that."

"Well?"

"I suppose you did what you thought was right, Boy-ee."

"I did what I had to do. I hated it."

"I'm glad to know that much, anyway."

"But I'd do it again, exactly the same."

The Doctor turned troubled eyes on his son. "Hasn't there been enough
judging of each other between you and me, Boy-ee?" he asked sorrowfully.

In wretched uncertainty how to meet this appeal, Hal hesitated. He was
saved from decision by the return of McGuire Ellis.

"No movement yet from the enemy's camp," he reported. "I just had a
telephone from Hale's club."

"Perhaps they won't come, after all," surmised Hal.

"There's pretty hot talk going. Somebody's been helping along by
serving free drinks."

"Now who could that be, I wonder?"

"Maybe some of our tenement-owning politician friends who aren't keen
about having to-morrow's 'Clarion' appear."

"We ought to have a reporter down there, Mac."

"Denton's there. Well, as there's nothing doing, I'll tackle a little
work." And seating himself at his desk beside the broad window Ellis
proceeded to annihilate some telegraph copy, fresh off the wire. With
the big tenement story spread, the morrow's paper would be straitened
for space. Excusing himself to his father, Hal stepped into his private
office--and recoiled in uttermost amazement. There, standing in the
further doorway, lovely, palpitant, with the color flushing in her
cheeks and the breath fluttering in her throat, stood Esme Elliot.

"Oh!" she gasped, stretching out her hands to him. "I've tried so to get
you by 'phone. There's a mob coming--"

"Yes, I know," said Hal gently. He led her to a chair. "We're ready for
them."

"Are you? I'm so glad. I was afraid you wouldn't know in time."

"How did you find out?"

"I've been working with Mr. Hale down in the district. I heard rumors of
it. Then I listened to what the people said, and I hurried here in my
car to warn you. They're drunk, and me