scandal like this raised at this time. There may be just enough
people to believe that there is some basis for the suspicion to
turn the tide against me. If it were earlier in the campaign, I
might accept the issue, fight it out to a finish, and in the turn
of events I should have really the best sort of campaign material.
But it is too late now to expose such a knavish trick on the
Saturday before election."

"Can't we buy them off?" I ventured, perplexed beyond measure at
this new and unexpected turn of events.

"No, I won't," persisted Carton, shutting his square jaw doggedly.
"I won't be held up--even if that is possible."

"Miss Ashton on the wire," announced a boy from the outer office.

The look on Carton's face was a study. I saw directly what was the
trouble--far more important to him than a mere election.

"Tell her--I'm out--will be back soon," he muttered, for the first
time hesitating to speak to her.

"You see," he continued blackly, "I'll fight if it takes my last
dollar, but I won't allow myself to be blackmailed out of a cent--
no, not a cent," he thundered, a heightened look of determination
fixing the lines on his face as he brought his fist down with a
rattling bang on the desk.

Kennedy was saying nothing. He was letting Carton ease his mind of
the load which had been suddenly thrust upon it. Carton was now