"Exactly," interrupted Dummer. "And I do."

"Probably," replied Peter quietly, "You may know New York, Mr. Dummer,
but you don't know me. That case shall be tried."

"Well," laughed Dummer, "if you'll agree not to press the civil suits,
till that's out of the way, we shall have no need to compromise.
Good-day."

The next morning Peter went to the District Attorney's office, and
inquired for him.

"He's gone to Bar Harbor for a couple of weeks' vacation," he was told.

"Whom must I see in his stead?" And after some time Peter was brought
face to face with the acting official.

"Mr. Nelson told me he should present the Coldman case to the grand jury
to-day, and finding he has left the city, I wish to know who has it in
charge?" asked Peter.

"He left all the presentments with me," the deputy replied, "but there
was no such case as that."

"Could he have left it with some one else to attend to?"

"No."

Peter went back to his office, took down the Code and went over certain
sections. His eyes had rather a sad look as they gazed at his wall,