poured out eager questions at Ridgway. It was not for
several minutes that Virginia recollected to ask again who was the man
they had decided upon.

Her betrothed found some inner source of pleasure that brought out a
sardonic smile. "He's a slap in the face at both Harley and me."

"I can't think who--is he honest?"

"As the day."

"And capable?"

"Oh, yes. He's competent enough."

"Presentable?"

"Yes. He'll do the State credit, or rather he would if he were going to
be elected."

"Then I give it up."

He was leaning forward to tell, when the sharp buzz of the electric
door-bell, continued and sustained, diverted the attention of all of
them.

Ridgway put down his napkin. "Probably some one to see me."

He had risen to his feet when the maid opened the door of the
dining-room.

"A gentleman to see Mr. Ridgway. He says it is very important."

From the dining-room they could hear the murmur of quick voices, and
soon Ridgway returned. He was a transformed man. His eyes were hard as
diamonds, and there was the bulldog look of the fighter about his mouth
and chin.

"What is it, Waring?" cried Virginia.

"Trouble in the mines. An hour ago Harley's men rushed the Taurus and
the New York, and drove my men out. One of my shift-foremen and two of
his drillers were killed by an explosion set off by Mike Donleavy, a
foreman in the Copper King."

"Did they mean to kill them?" asked the girl whitely.

"I suppose not. But they took the chance. It's murder just the same--by
Jove, it's a club with which to beat the legislators into line."

He stopped, his brain busy solving the problem as to how he might best
turn this development to his own advantage. Part of his equipment was
his ability to decide swiftly and surely issues as they came to him.
Now he strode to the telephone and began massing his forces.

"Main 234--Yes--Yes--This the Sun?--Give me Brayton--Hello, Brayton.
Get out a special edition at once charging Harley with murder. Run the
word as a red headline clear across the page. Show that Vance Edwards
and the other boys were killed while on duty by an attack ordered by
Harley. Point out that this is the logical result of his course. Don't
mince words. Give it him right from the shoulder. Rush it, and be sure
a copy of the paper is on the desk of every legislator before the
session opens this morning. Have a reliable man there to see that every
man gets one. Scatter the paper broadcast among the mi