“Yes; old Lockman's brother-in-law. He's the other trustee of the estate. And do you suppose there's any rascality he doesn't know about?” “But he's a reformer!” cried the boy wildly. “Sure!” laughed Charlie. “He made a speech at the college commencement about representative government; I suppose you read it in the Express. But all the same, when the Democrats got in, his nibs came round and made his terms with Slattery, the new boss; and they get along so well it'll be his money that will put them in again next year.” “But WHY?” cried Samuel dazed. “For one thing,” said Charlie, “because he's got to have his man in the State legislature, to beat the child-labor bill.” “The child-labor bill!” “Surely. You knew he was fighting it, didn't you? They wanted to prevent children under fourteen from working in the cotton mills. Wygant sent Jack Pemberton up to the Capital for nothing at all but to beat that law.” Samuel sat with his hands clenched tightly. Before him there had come the vision of little Sophie Stedman with her wan and haggard face! “But why does he want the children in his mill?” he cried. “Why?” echoed Charlie. “Good God! Because he can pay them less and work them harder. Did you suppose he wanted them there for their health?” There was a long pause. The boy was wrestling with the most terrible specter that had yet laid hold upon him. “I don't believe he knows it!” he whispered half to himself. “I don't believe it!” “Who?” asked the other. “Dr. Vince!” said the boy. And he rose suddenly to his feet. “I will go and see him about it,” he said. “Go and see him!” echoed Charlie. “Yes. He will tell me!” Charlie was gazing at him with a broad grin. “I dare you!” he cried. “I am going,” said the boy simply; and the burglar slapped his thigh in delight. “Go on!” he chuckled. “Sock it to him, Sammy! And come back and tell me about it!” CHAPTER XXI “Dr. Vince is at lunch,” said the maid who answered the bell. “Please tell him I must see him at once,” said Samuel. “It's something very important.” He went in and sat down in the library, and the doctor came, looking anxious. “What is it now?” he asked. And Samuel turned to him a face of anguish. “Doctor,” he said, “I've just had a terrible experience.” “What is it, Samuel?” “I hardly know how to tell you,” said the boy. “I know a man--a very wicked man; and I went to him to try to convert him, and to bring him into the church. And he laughed at me, and at the church, too. He said there are wicked men in it--in St. Matthew's, Dr. Vince! He told me who they are, and what they are doing! And, doctor--I can't believe that you know about it--that you would let such things go on!” The other was staring at him in alarm. “My dear boy,” he said, “there are many wicked men in the world, and I cannot know everything.” “Ah, but this is terrible, doctor! You will have to find out about it--you cannot let such men stay in the church.”