“It isn’t Steeloid,” said Caine, “It’s nothing that really concerns me. But I thought you would want to know about it.” “Fire away, then,” vouchsafed Caleb, “Have a cigar? These with the gold-an’-red life belts are nice to look at. But if you want something that tastes better’n it looks, try one of the panatelas. The ones without illustrations on ’em. Now what is it?” “It’s about Miss Shevlin,” began Caine, with reluctance. Conover’s massive calm fled. He brought down his crossed legs from the desk corner with a bang and whirled his chair about. “Speak it out, quick!” he ordered sharply. “Ain’t sick, is she?” “No, no. This is different. You’ve heard of Ex-Governor Parkman’s plan to start an anti-graft crusade, of course?” “Sure!” grinned Caleb, “Them croosades are as certain as measles. Ev’ry city goes through ’em ev’ry once in so often. They don’t do any real hurt and they can’t tie up _my_ bus’ness so’s to bother me any. Let ’em croosade till they’re black in the face. It’ll be good for you noospaper fellers, an’ it won’t harm anybody it’s aimed at. But,” uneasily, “what’s that got to do with Dey?” “I’m coming to the point if you’ll give me a chance. Parkman’s preparing a set of tables showing not only how municipal funds are squandered at present but how they were misspent in the past. In the course of his investigations, he has come to the City Hall and the County Court House.” “Well?” queried Conover, “What then? Both of ’em was built ten years ago. That’s over an’ done with.” “The Shevlin Contracting Company did the work,” interpolated Caine. “What of that? Neither building’s caved in, has it?” “Not yet. Though, if all Parkman claims is true, I don’t know why they haven’t. He came to me this morning with the whole story. Proofs, affidavits and all. He wants to give the _Star_ first chance to publish the exposure. I told him to come back at noon, and--” “What exposure?” asked Caleb in perplexity. “It seems he took pains to hunt up the original specifications on both buildings,” resumed Caine, “And then he hired an architectural expert to go over the plans and the work and see how the two agreed. Thus far, he has found cheap foundations and sandstone bedding where the best concrete and granite were called for. Stucco has been used in no less than four corridors where the plans called for marble. The ‘solid marble pillars’ on the east portico are ‘composition,’ shells filled with cement. Then the facade--”