“Setting aside any personal prejudice in the matter, what have you against the Public Utilities Corporation?” “It does n’t play fair. It is always begging for special privileges and then establishing them as rights after it has got them.” The lawyer reflected that this theory, presented and amplified editorially in The Guardian, would be unpleasantly difficult to refute. “After all, it performs a public service,” he pointed out, a bit lamely. “The public could do it for itself better and cheaper.” “That’s Embreeism. It’s Socialism.” “Call it what you like. It’s common sense.” “Let me advise you, in the friendliest spirit, not to take up any such scatter-brained theories in your paper. They’d wreck it.” “That may come later. I’ll tell you this now, Judge. We won’t support the transfer plan.” “I never thought you would,” said the lawyer calmly. “What’s the idea of this call, then?” “To suggest that you keep your hands off and let us fight it out in Council.” Jeremy laughed outright. “You don’t ask me to hold the easy mark while you go through his pockets. Only to stand by and not interfere.” Judge Dana grinned. “I don’t care much for the style of your metaphor,” he confessed. “Judge, I’m afraid it’s no go. You can easily bulldoze or bribe the Council, if we keep our hands off.” “Fair words, my boy! Fair words! Has n’t The Guardian ever done any bulldozing?” “Expect it has--in a good cause.” “This is a good cause. It’s going to be good for you as well as us--and the public.” “As how?” queried Jeremy. “Our plan is to present the new system to the public through a series of advertisements. Education, you understand. The modern way: through the press. Would you like to see the outline?” “Come to the point. What’s the amount?” Where the hand-perfected Garson would have seen hope in the question, the warier lawyer scented danger to his plans. Nevertheless he went ahead. “Five hundred, minimum. Perhaps as high as a thousand, if the public is slow to learn. Our total advertising appropriation this year,” stated Judge Dana with great deliberation, “will run to five thousand dollars. There is no reason why The Guardian should not get a half of it. At least a half.” “Did Mr. Clark ever get the message that I sent him by Garson, as to bribes?” “Bribes?” The lawyer looked properly startled. “I don’t know. I doubt it.” “I sent word to Clark that when I got ready to take bribes, I’d take them direct, in the form of cash.”