terward. They know their man in the district attorney's
office, and----"

"Do you mean George Remington?" This from his wife, with flashing eyes.

"I mean," explained E. Eliot unabashed, "that for some reason they feel
safe with George Remington in the district attorney's office, or they
would not kidnap me to prevent his defeat! That is the cold-blooded
situation."

"This party," E. Eliot smiled, "is given at the country home of Mike
the Goat, as nearly as I can figure it out. Mike is a right-hand man
of Noonan. Noonan is a right-hand man of Benjie Doolittle and Wesley
Norton, and they are all a part of the system that holds Martin Jaffry's
industries under the amiable beneficence of our sacred protective
tariff! Hail, hail, the gang's all here--what do we care now, my dear?
And because you are here and are part of the heaven-born combination
for the public good, I am content to go through the rigors of one night
without a nightie for the sake of the cause!"

"But they don't know who I am!" protested Mrs. Remington. "And----"

"Exactly, and for that reason they don't know who you are not. Tomorrow
the whole town will be looking for you, and Noonan will hear who you are
and where you are. Then! Say, girl--_say, girl,_ it _will_ be grist for
our mill! Fancy the headlines all over the United States:

'GANG KIDNAPS CANDIDATE'S WIFE MYSTERY SHROUDS PLOT CANDIDATE REMINGTON
IS SILENT.'"

"But he won't be silent," protested the indignant Genevieve.

"I tell you, he'll denounce it from the platform. He'll never let this
outrage----"

"Well, my dear," said the imperturbable E. Eliot, "when he denounces
this plot he'll have to denounce Doolittle and Noonan, and probably
Norton, and maybe his Uncle Martin Jaffry. Somebody is paying big money
for this job! I said the headlines will declare:

'CANDIDATE REMINGTON is SILENT But Still Maintains That Women Are
Protected from Rigors of Cruel World by Man's Chivalry.'"

"Oh, Miss Eliot, don't! How can you? Oh, I know George will not let this
outrage----"

"Of course not," hooted E. Eliot. "The sturdy oak will support the
clinging vine! But while he is doing it he will be defeated. And if he
doesn't protest he will be defeated, for I shall talk!"

"George Remington will face defeat like a gentleman, Miss Eliot; have no
fear of that. He will speak out, no matter what happens." "And when he
speaks, when he tells the truth about this whole alliance between
the greedy, ruthle