Hamilton Burton spread on the table several sheets of paper, drawn from the breast-pocket of his evening-coat and previously from Ruferton's portfolio. "That memoranda in the hands of certain civic-reform societies would sound the death knell of your political future. You talk of what evidence you want--that would satisfy a grand jury." The master schemer glanced hurriedly at the too-familiar contents of the typed pages and gasped. "A half-million dollars!" he exclaimed weakly. "Incontrovertible evidence," Hamilton assured him, "as to how you, while a member of the state senate, spent five hundred thousand dollars to secure the Coal and Ore charter. Malfeasance, bribery--you know the legal terms in which such conduct might be defined better than I." For a moment Hendricks laughed--then with a well-simulated coolness he retorted. "A weapon hardly available to your hand, Mr. Burton. You will recall that I acted for you. To accuse me as agent would be to convict yourself as principal." But Hamilton's laugh was the more confident. "Think again. I may have erred in granting you too free a hand as an agent, but I left the details to you. My only offense was over-confidence in you. It was not I who debauched a senate. Moreover, this accusation will not come from me--ostensibly. It will come through the press tomorrow morning--and come hot." Hendricks drew back a step and his face paled. "By God!" he exclaimed in a voice of betrayed bitterness. "There is only one name for this--sheer blackmail." "In that case," warned Burton ominously, "I would, in your position, refrain from using any name. I have neither the time to bargain nor the inclination to plead. The bull that charges my railroad train must take his chance. The engine will not stop. You can rise with me to power and rely on my stanch friendship, or--well, there won't be much left to go down with Malone." The two men stood facing each other, one implacably resolute, the other in a torture of quandary. At last, Burton added: "You may believe me when I tell you that I cannot be legally touched in this matter and that you can be sent to Sing Sing. Choose your course--and choose quickly. I offer you a fair chance between uniting your fortunes with a rising dynasty and shackling them to one which is tottering." Hendricks took a step in the direction of the door. "From here," he said, "I go direct to the district attorney." Burton stretched a hand toward the telephone and smiled as he suggested. "Whom you will find so busy with preparations for prosecuting you that he will not at once find leisure to prosecute for you." Hendricks sought to veil his terror under a seeming of bluster. "Will you buy the district attorney, too? Some men are not purchasable." "That may resolve itself into a matter of price. I am not shopping in ten-cent stores, Mr. Hendricks."