The chief looked aggrieved.
"Why, I haven't said a word." Turning to his sergeant, he asked, "Have I, Maloney?"
"But these sensation-mongers have!" cried the judge angrily. "You are the only source from whom they could obtain the information."
"But what do I gain?" demanded the captain with affected innocence.
"Advertisement—promotion," replied the judge sternly. "These same papers speak of you as the greatest living chief—the greatest public official—oh, you know the political value of that sort of thing as well as I do."
The captain shrugged his shoulders.
"I can't help what they say about me," he growled.
"They might add that you are also the richest," added the judge quickly, "but I won't go into that."
Again Captain Clinton reddened and shifted restlessly on his chair. He did not relish the trend of the conversation.
"I don't like all this, Judge Brewster—'tain't fair—I ain't on trial."