cribe to it." And, bending down, Mr. Cord unlocked a drawer in
his desk and produced the issue of the preceding day.

"I notice you keep it locked up," said Eddie, and felt that he had
scored.

"I have to," replied Mr. Cord, "or else Crystal gets hold of it and
cuts it all up into extracts--she must have sent you some--before I
get a chance to read it. Besides, it shocks Tomes. You ought to talk
to Tomes, Eddie. He thinks about as you do--"

At this moment the door opened and Tomes himself entered.

"Mr. Moreton would like to see you, sir."

Even Cord's calm was a little disturbed by this unexpected news.

"Mr. Moreton!" he exclaimed. "Not--not--not--not?"

"No, sir," said Tomes, always in possession of accurate information.
"His brother, I believe."

"Show him in here," said Cord, and added to Eddie, as Tomes left the
room: "Well, here he is--the editor himself, Eddie. You can say it all
to him."

"I don't want to see such fellows," Verriman began.

"Stay and protect me, Eddie. He may have a bomb in his pocket."

"You don't really believe that he's come to--"

"No, Eddie, I don't. I think he's come like young Lochinvar--to dance
a little late at the wedding. To try to persuade me to accept that
lazy, good-looking brother of his as a son-in-law. He'll have quite a
job over that." Then, as the door opened, Mr. Cord's eyes concentrated
on it and his manner became a shade sharper. "Ah, Mr. Moreton, good
morning. Mr. Verriman--Mr. Moreton."

Ben was a good-looking young man, but it was his expression--at once
illuminated and determined--that made him unusual. And the effect of
his night and morning had been to intensify this, so that now, as he
stood a moment in the doorway, he was a very attractive and compelling
figure.

"I came to see my brother, Mr. Cord," he said, simply, "but I hear
he's not here any more. If I could speak to you alone for a few
minutes--" He glanced at Eddie, whom he instantly recognized as the
man who had not known how to talk to the woman in the world best worth
talking to.

"Oh, you may speak before Mr. Verriman," said Cord. "He knows the
situation--knows your brother--knows my children--knows about you.
In fact, we were just speaking about your paper when you came
in. However, I must tell you that Mr. Verriman doesn't approve of
_Liberty_. At least, I believe I understood you right, Eddie." And Mr.
Cord, having thus assured himself a few minutes to regain his poise,
leaned bac