on as fair
game for every kind of parasite. Not a day passes in which attempts are
not made to bleed them. Some of these cases are pathetic. It had cost
the Railroad many times fifteen thousand dollars to fight Galligan's
case. But if they had paid it, they would have laid themselves open to
thousands of similar demands. Dividends would dwindle. The stockholders
have a right to a fair return on their money. Galligan claims that there
was a defective sill on the car which is said to have caused the wreck.
If damages are paid on that basis, it means the daily inspection of
every car which passes over their lines. And more than that: there are
certain defects, as in the present case, which an inspection would not
reveal. When a man accepts employment on a railroad he assumes a certain
amount of personal risk,--it's not precisely a chambermaid's job. And
the lawyer who defends such cases, whatever his personal feelings may
be, cannot afford to be swayed by them. He must take the larger view."

"Why didn't you tell me about it before?" she asked.

"Well, I didn't think it of enough importance--these things are all in
the day's work."

"But Mr. Krebs? How strange that he should be here, connected with the
case!"

I made an effort to control myself.

"Your old friend," I said. "I believe you have a sentiment about him."

She looked up at me.

"Scarcely that," she replied gravely, with the literalness that often
characterized her, "but he isn't a person easily forgotten. He may be
queer, one may not agree with his views, but after the experience I had
with him I've never been able to look at him in the way George does, for
instance, or even as father does."

"Or even as I do," I supplied.

"Well, perhaps not even as you do," she answered calmly. "I believe you
once told me, however, that you thought him a fanatic, but sincere."

"He's certainly a fanatic!" I exclaimed.

"But sincere, Hugh-you still think him sincere."

"You seem a good deal concerned about a man you've laid eyes on but
once."

She considered this.

"Yes, it is surprising," she admitted, "but it's true. I was sorry
for him, but I admired him. I was not only impressed by his courage in
taking charge of me, but also by the trust and affection the work-people
showed. He must be a good man, however mistaken he may be in the methods
he employs. And life is cruel to those people."

"Life is-life," I observed. "Neither you nor I nor Krebs is able to