"Your Honor," mourned Mr. Tutt, "I have practised here for thirty years and this is the first time I have ever been insulted in open court. A strike suit? I hold in my hand"--he waved it threateningly at the tall hats--"a circular issued by these directors less than five years ago, in which they give the itemized value of this property as ten million dollars. Shortly after that circular was issued the stock sold in the open market at one dollar and ninety cents a share. In two years it sank to ten cents a share. Will a little water, a little rust, a little trouble with labor reduce the value of a great property like this from ten millions of dollars to one hundred thousand--one per cent of its appraised value? Either"--he fixed Chippingham with an exultant and terrifying glance--"they were lying then or they are lying now!" "Let me look at that circular," directed Judge Pollak. He took it from Mr. Tutt's eager hand, glanced through it and turned sharply upon the quaking Chippingham. "How long have you been attorney for Scherer, Hunn, Greenbaum & Beck?" "Twelve years, Your Honor." "Who is Wilson W. Elderberry?" "He is the secretary of the Horse's Neck Extension, Your Honor." "Is he in court?" From a distant corner Mr. Elderberry bashfully rose. "Come here!" ordered the court. And the Pooh-Bah of the Scherer-Hunn-Greenbaum-Beck enterprises came cringing to the bar. "Did you sign this circular in 1914?" demanded Judge Pollak. "Yes, Your Honor." "Were the statements contained in it true?" Elderberry squirmed. "Ye-es, Your Honor. That is--they were to the best of my knowledge and belief. I was, of course, obliged to take what information was at hand--and--er--and--" "Did you sign the other circular, issued last month, to the effect that the mine was practically valueless?" "Yes, sir." Elderberry studiously examined the moldings on the cornice of the judge's canopy. "Um!" remarked the court significantly. There was a flurry among the tall hats. Then Mr. Greenbaum sprang to his feet. "If you please, Your Honor," he announced, staccato, "we entirely disavow Mr. Elderberry's circular of 1914. It was issued without our knowledge or authority. It is no evidence that the mine was worth ten millions or any other amount at that time." "Oh! Oh!" choked Mr. Tutt, while Miss Wiggin giggled delightedly into her brief case. Judge Pollak bent upon Mr. Greenbaum a withering glance. "Did your firm sell any of its holdings in Horse's Neck after the issuance of that circular?" Greenbaum hesitated. He would have liked to wring that judge's neck. "Why--how do I know? We may have." "_Did_ you?" "Say 'yes,' for God's sake," hissed Chippingham "or you'll land in the pen!" "I am informed that we did," answered Greenbaum defiantly. "That is, I don't _say_ we did. Very likely we did. Our books would show. But I repeat--we disavow this circular and we deny any responsibility for this man, Elderberry."