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"Scandal! My wife!" Dick staggered to his feet

"That is e all want to avoid, don't we?" Mr Early asked with his

fat smile

They looked at each other in silence Dick had a wild i, and to beg for ested that all sentie in his breast

"You've been devoting yourself, with a certain amount of success, to

digging out the hidden things in other men's careers," the tormentor

went on with a cheerful sneer "I suppose it has amused you I know it

amuses me, and it would doubtless amuse the public, to fix attention on

this little affair of your own You e: you and your kind are thin-skinned Billy Barry and his

kind are pachyderms"

He settled back comfortably in his chair and smiled benevolently at

Dick's white face

"Well?" Dick asked at last hoarsely

Mr Early carefully refolded the slip of paper, and tucked it away in

his vest pocket, but he spoke with engaging openness

"It's yours,franchise passes

over the mayor's veto If they fail to pass it, I shall know that you

and Mrs Percival are willing to stand a little public obloquy for the

sake of what you consider right Very creditable to you, I am sure, and