_honest_ people, in this campaign, and that the people and I have
made no pledges to _Mister_ Genz. You've paid the scoundrel--"

"_Here!_" says Genz.

"The scoundrel!" Farwell repeated, his voice rising and rising, "paid
him for his information, and I tell you by that act and your silence
on such a matter you make yourself a party to a conspiracy."

"Shut the transom," says I to Crowder.

"_I'm_ under no pledge, I say," shouted Farwell, "and I do not
compound felonies. You're not conducting my campaign. I'm doing that,
and I don't conduct it along such lines. It's precisely the kind of
fraud and corruption that I intend to stamp out in this town, and this
is where I begin to work."

"How?" said I.

"You'll see--and you'll see soon! The penitentiaries are built for
just this--"

"_Sh, sh!_" said I, but he paid no attention.

"They say Gorgett owns the Grand Jury," he went on. "Well, let him!
Within a week I'll be mayor of this town--and Gorgett's Grand Jury
won't outlast his defeat very long. By his own confession this man
Genz is party to a conspiracy with Gorgett, and you and Crowder are
witnesses to the confession. I'll see that you have the pleasure of
giving your testimony before a Grand Jury of determined men. Do you