A flash of her anger returned and she pointed at Obadiah. "My boys are raised in poverty while _he_ stands there in the pride of his wealth. When he got the mill he never used it. He closed it, throwing good people who had worked for us for years out of employment. They had to move away and sacrifice their little homes. It brought sorrow to them as well as to me. He, Obadiah Dale, is to blame for all of this." Aunt Kate wiped a tear from her eye. "Daddy," Virginia said softly, "did you know the harm that you were doing to all of these people?" Her eyes searched his, as if to discover his answer before he could utter it, and her tones beseeched him to justify her love at the altar of her heart. Obadiah stiffened. He held up his head and returned the look of his daughter squarely. He knew that he was giving battle for her love, aye, even for her respect. The old man was a fighter. "No!" he cried. "It is unjust to charge me with all of the sorrows and tribulations of this family. I built the first mill in this country--took the chances of opening the industry. The Brenton mill was established to compete with me. There was room for one big plant here and only one. Augustus Curtis knew it and expected to put me out of business. Mrs. Curtis"--Obadiah's voice was firm now--"you have said some hard things about me today in the presence of my daughter and sister. I am entitled in common justice to my defence. I started in business without a dollar. Much worse off, I think, than your husband. Business has been a battle of supremacy with me. I have taken hard licks and I have given them. I have fought my way. Remember, I had to. A man must win or lose in business and many are the weapons used. I struck with the first one at hand and hit the man in front of me. Do you blame a soldier for the suffering of the dependents of those he kills in battle? I think not. Mrs. Curtis," he continued, "you never met me before." "No," she admitted. "How did you recognize me?" "My husband pointed you out to me in South Ridgefield," she sobbed. "Did you ever advertise the fact that you were running that mill?" "I was afraid to," she moaned. "I used my husband's name." "You see," said Obadiah to Virginia. "I had no way of knowing that a woman was running the Brenton mill. I plead guilty to fighting _men_. When I get whipped I smile. When I put a man out of business he starts another. He doesn't sit down and cry and blame me for what happens to his family ever afterwards. I never fought a woman in all of my life." "It's true, Obadiah. You used to talk back but you never fought with me. I am afraid that you are going to have to get a camel through a needle's eye; but you wouldn't fight a woman," interjected Aunt Kate. Obadiah disregarded his sister's fears and went on, "Did you ever hear of Dalton, the New York manufacturer?" Mrs. Curtis nodded.