"Yes, this is the situation: you can't run for the legislature; you don't want to! You have squeezed every dollar you can get out of the Democrats here." She sniffed at the word. "They have lost confidence in you as manager of their political ends. They've begun to suspect your game. It's only a question of hours, I might say of one hour, before you get your walking papers, so to speak; for they are mad, Mike Prim. They are as angry as men always are when they realize that they've been duped and robbed----" "If you were not a woman you couldn't sit there and say such things to me. Anyhow, I won't stand it! What's your business, as you call it?" he exclaimed, heaving his huge bulk from the chair and coming to his feet. "Sit down! Sit down, Mr. Prim. I am here to make you a definite proposition!" "Make it!" he growled, still standing, his feet wide apart, glowering down at her. "The Co-Citizens' Foundation is prepared to purchase your papers----" "My papers?" "Yes, your letters, your political correspondence." "Think they are valuable?" "We can get on without them, but we are willing to pay a reasonable price for them. We know that they are valuable to a certain extent." "How?" "You remember your conversation with Stark Coleman the day you threatened him with certain letters you had of his and of other prominent citizens here. Miss Adams heard what you said on that occasion." "So she's added eavesdropping to her other accomplishments?" he exclaimed venomously. "Not eavesdropping, but Coleman left the door slightly ajar; she had come back up here to get some papers from Judge Regis, and, hearing such interesting conversation going on, naturally she listened. What will you take for these letters?" she demanded. "I'd have to think about it," he said, sitting down. "I'll buy them now or not at all'" she said. "Aim to publish them?" he asked, grinning. He was beginning to be in a very good humour. "That's our affair, but I don't mind telling you that we do not intend to publish them." "And if I refuse?" he held out. "In that case you must abide by the consequences, you and the men who wrote the letters. We shall publish all we know about them, what you yourself claimed for them, and leave the next grand jury to make the proper investigations." "Humph!" "Naturally we should try to see to it that you did not escape," she added. "What will you pay for them?" he demanded. "Five hundred dollars for every scrap of paper in this desk, and immunity for you--for turning state's evidence you know!" "They are worth more than that," he said, taking no notice of the insult. They bargained back and forth. Prim was really in a hurry to close the trade. He wished to be able to handle Coleman when he came in. It was five minutes to ten o'clock when they finally closed the deal. "But I can't take a check," he objected suddenly.