Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: Cover] [Illustration: Gordon Marriott Page 38] THE TURN OF THE BALANCE By BRAND WHITLOCK Author of The Happy Average Her Infinite Variety The 13th District With Illustrations by JAY HAMBIDGE INDIANAPOLIS THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY PUBLISHERS COPYRIGHT 1907 THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY MARCH TO THE MEMORY OF SAMUEL M. JONES Died July 12, 1904 On the other hand, a boy was bound to defend them against anything that he thought slighting or insulting; and you did not have to verify the fact that anything had been said or done; you merely had to hear that it had. It once fell to my boy to avenge such a reported wrong from a boy who had not many friends in school, a timid creature whom the mere accusation frightened half out of his wits, and who wildly protested his innocence. He ran, and my boy followed with the other boys after him, till they overtook the culprit and brought him to bay against a high board fence; and there my boy struck him in his imploring face. He tried to feel like a righteous champion, but he felt like a brutal ruffian. He long had the sight of that terrified, weeping face, and with shame and sickness of heart he cowered before it. It was pretty nearly the last of his fighting; and though he came off victor, he felt that he would rather be beaten himself than do another such act of justice. In fact, it seems best to be very careful how we try to do justice in this world, and mostly to leave retribution of all kinds to God, who really knows about things; and content ourselves as much as possible with mercy, whose mistakes are not so irreparable. _From_ "A BOY’S TOWN" _By_ WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS THE TURN OF THE BALANCE BOOK I THE TURN OF THE BALANCE I