"But Parlmee--Oh, it's too preposterous! For once in your career, at least, you're way off your trolley, Jack." "Prove it to me." "Why, it isn't necessary. Franklin Parlmee is a white man, as square as there ever was, and as honest as the day is long." "There are short days in midwinter." "But his object--he couldn't have an object, even if he were scoundrel enough to contemplate such a thing." "Couldn't he?" asked Stillman, in that odd, enigmatical way of his. "Why not?" "Why, he's practically engaged to Virginia Collier." "But without the consent of her father." "Yes, but--" "Bailey Weegman is said to have a great liking for Miss Collier. It was your theory that part of his object in seeking to wreck the Blue Stockings was to get old man Collier in a tight place and force his hand. Why couldn't Parlmee make the same sort of a play?" The persistence of the reporter began to irritate Locke, who felt his blood growing hot. Was his life beginning to tell on Stillman? Was it possible the pace he had traveled had begun to weaken his naturally keen judgment? "Even if Parlmee had conceived such a foolish scheme, he was in no position to carry it out, Jack. On the other hand, Weegman was. Furthermore, it's perfectly impossible to imagine Weegman acting as the tool and assistant of his rival, whom he hates bitterly. Forget it!" Unmoved, Stillman shook his head. "Didn't I say that Weegman was an egotistical dub, and an easy mark? He is naturally a rascal, and he thinks himself very clever, and so is just the sort to fall for a still cleverer rascal." Janet's cheeks were hot and her eyes full of resentful anger. It was difficult for her to sit there and hear Parlmee maligned, and she was confident that that was what she was doing. She could not remain quiet. "I know Frank Parlmee, Mr. Stillman," she asserted, "and Lefty is right about him. There's not a squarer man living." "How is it possible for Parlmee to use Weegman as a tool?" asked Locke. "Through Garrity," answered the reporter without hesitation. "But I don't see--"