ow
unfit he was for the office of judge; but he had up to that time hidden
the full truth from himself. Now, to hide it was impossible. Hugo had
fully exposed himself in all his unfitness of the man of narrow upper
class prejudices, the man of no instinct or enthusiasm for right,
justice and liberty. "Really, it's a crime to nominate such a chap as
that," he muttered. "Yet we've got to do it. How Selma Gordon's eyes
would shame me, if she could see me now!"

Davy had the familiar fondness for laying on the secret penitential
scourge--wherewith we buy from our complacent consciences license to
indulge in the sins our appetites or ambitions crave.

Judge Lansing--you have never seen a man who LOOKED the judge more
ideally than did gray haired, gray bearded, open browed Robert
Lansing--Judge Lansing was all ready for his part in the farce. He
knew Hugo and helped him over the difficult places and cut him short as
soon as he had made enough of his speech to give an inkling of what he
was demanding. The Judge was persuaded to deliver himself of a
high-minded and eloquent denunciation of those who had misled the court
and the county prosecutor. He pointed out--in weighty judicial
language--that Victor Dorn had by his conduct during several years
invited just such a series of calamities as had beset him. But he went
on to say that Dorn's reputation and fondness for speech and action
bordering on the lawless did not withdraw from him the protection of
the law. In spite of himself the law would protect him. The
injunctions were dissolved and the indictments were quashed.

The news of the impending application, published in the morning papers,
had crowded the court room. When the Judge finished a tremendous cheer
went up. The cheer passed on to the throng outside, and when Davy and
Hugo appeared in the corridor they were borne upon the shoulders of
workingmen and were not released until they had made speeches. Davy's
manly simplicity and clearness covered the stammering vagueness of hero
Galland.

As Davy was gradually clearing himself of the eager handshakers and
back-slappers, Selma suddenly appeared before him. Her eyes were
shining and her whole body seemed to be irradiating emotion of
admiration and gratitude. "Thank you--oh, thank you!" she said,
pressing his hand. "How I have misjudged you!"

Davy did not wince. He had now quite forgotten the part selfish
ambition had played in his gallant rush to th