The doctor shook his head. “Mr. Ames stands as the claim of omnipotent evil,” was his laconic reply.
And when the meal was ended, the girl went her way, pondering deeply. “No cotton crop! What––what did he mean?” But that was something too dark to be reported to the Express.
Three weeks from the day he had his brush with Carmen in the presence of the President, Ames, the great corruptionist, the master manipulator, again returned from a visit to Washington, and in a dangerous frame of mind. What might have been his mental state had he known that the train which drew his private car also brought Carmen back to New York, can only be conjectured. It was fortunate, no doubt, that both were kept in ignorance of that fact, and that, while the great externalization of the human mind’s “claim” of business sulked alone in his luxurious apartments, the little follower after righteousness sat in one of the stuffy day coaches up ahead, holding tired, fretful babies, amusing restless children, and soothing away the long hours to weary, care-worn mothers.
When the financier’s car drew into the station his valets breathed great sighs of relief, and his French chef and negro porter mopped the perspiration from their troubled brows, while silently offering peans of gratitude for safe delivery. When the surly giant descended the car steps his waiting footman drew back in alarm, as he caught his master’s black looks. When he threw himself into the limousine, his chauffeur drew a low whistle and sent a timidly significant glance in the direction of the lackey. And when at last he flung open the doors of his private office and loudly summoned Hood, that capable and generally fearless individual quaked with dire foreboding.
“The Express––I want a libel suit brought against it at once! Draw it for half a million! File it in Judge Penny’s court!”
“Yes, sir,” responded the lawyer meekly. “The grounds?”
“Damn the grounds!” shouted Ames. Then, in a voice trembling with anger: “Have you read the last week’s issues? Then find your grounds in them! Make that girl a defendant too!”
“She has no financial interest in the paper, sir. And, as for 187 the reports which they have published––I hardly think we can establish a case from them––”
“What? With Judge Penny sitting? If you and he can’t make out a case against them, then I’ll get a judge and a lawyer who can! I want that bill filed to-morrow!” bringing his fist down upon the desk.