the nation. A foreign importation, openly standing against the
home, the family and religion, may well be expected to foster such
crimes and to be a "culture-medium" for the growth of such vile
microbes as this man Armstrong, and others of his kind.

Turn on the light! Bring the social antiseptics! Let all the facts
be established; and when known, if--as we anticipate--they prove
this nasty conspiracy, let us make an end, now and forever, to this
un-American, immoral and filthy thing, Socialism! To this object
this paper now and henceforth pledges its policy; and all decent
publications, all citizens who love their country, their God, their
homes, their flag, will join with it in a nation-wide crusade to
choke this slimy monster of Anarchy and Free-love, and fling it
back into the Pit where it belongs.

Long live religion, purity and the flag! Down with Socialism!

Flint regarded this masterpiece with an approving eye. Then, chuckling
to himself, he arose and with slow steps advanced toward the dining-room
where already Catherine was awaiting him.

"Now," he murmured to himself, and smiled thinly, "now for a little
scene with Kate!"

CHAPTER XXIV.

CATHERINE'S SUPREME DECISION.

The meal was almost at an end--silently, like all their hours spent
together, now--before the old man sprang his _coup_. It was
characteristic of him to wait thus, to hold his fire till what he
conceived to be the opportune moment; never to act prematurely, under
any circumstances whatever.

"By the way, Kate," he remarked, casually, when coffee had been served
and he had motioned the butlers out of the room, "by the way, I've been
rather badly disappointed, today. Did you know that?"

"No, father," she answered. She never called him "daddy," now. "No, I'm
sorry to hear it. What's gone wrong?"

He looked at her a moment before replying, as though to gauge her mind
and the effect his announcement might have. Very charming she looked,
that evening, in a crepe de Chine gown with three-quarter lace sleeves
and an Oriental girdle--a wonderful Nile-green creation, very simple
(she had told herself) yet of staggering cost. A single white rose
graced her hair. The low-cut neck of the gown revealed a full, strong
bosom. Around her throat she wore a fine gold chain, with a French
20-franc piece and her Vassar Phi Beta Kappa key attached--the only
pendants she cared for.