office which I was
ready to take, but only as a sacrifice and a duty. It is to prevent
wrong that I interfered. So do not think it means a loss to me to
retire."

"Peter, do what you intended to do. We must not compromise with wrong
even for her sake."

The two shook hands, "I do not think they will ever use it, Ray," said
Peter. "But I may be mistaken, and cannot involve you in the
possibility, without your consent."

"Of course they'll use it," cried Ogden. "Scoundrels who could think of
such a thing, will use it without hesitation."

"No," said Peter. "A man who uses a coward's weapons, is a coward at
heart. We can prevent it, I think." Then he turned to Curlew. "Tell Mr.
Maguire about this interview. Tell him that I spared you, because you
are not the principal. But tell him from me, that if a word is breathed
against Mrs. Rivington, I swear that I'll search for him till I find
him, and when I find him I'll kill him with as little compunction as I
would a rattlesnake." Peter turned and going to his dressing-room,
washed away the ink from his hands.

Curlew shuffled out of the room, and, black as he was, went straight to
the Labor headquarters and told his story.

"And he'll do it too, Mr. Maguire," he said. "You should have seen his
look as he said it, and as he stood over me. I feel it yet."

"Do you think he means it?" said Ray to Ogden, when they were back in
Ray's room.

"I wouldn't think so if I hadn't seen his face as he stood over that
skunk. But if ever a man looked murder he did at that moment. And quiet
old Peter of all men!"

"We must talk to him. Do tell him that--"

"Do you dare do it?"

"But you--?"

"I don't. Unless he speaks I shall--"

"Ray and Ogden," said a quiet voice, "I wish you would write out what
you have just seen and heard. It may be needed in the future."

"Peter, let me speak," cried Ray. "You mustn't do what you said. Think
of such an end to your life. No matter what that scoundrel does, don't
end your life on a gallows. It--"

Peter held up his hand. "You don't know the American people, Ray. If
Maguire uses that lying story, I can kill him, and there isn't a jury in
the country which, when the truth was told, wouldn't acquit me. Maguire
knows it, too. We have heard the last of that threat, I'm sure."

Peter went back to his office. "I don't wonder," he thought, as he stood
looking at the ink-stains on his desk and floor, "that people think
politics nothing but tri