“Now,” said Baldwin, who kept cool, “we know you are not risking loss of position and the State’s prison for nothing, and we want to know what there is in it for you?”
“I wouldn’t stake my chance of State’s prison against yours, gentlemen. And, while I may lose my position, I’ll be a long way from starvation.”
“That doesn’t tell us what Cullen gives you to take the risk.”
“Mr. Cullen hasn’t given, or even hinted that he’ll give, anything.”
“And Mr. Gordon hasn’t asked, and, if I know him, wouldn’t take a cent for what he has done,” said Fred, rising from the floor.
“You mean to say you are doing it for nothing?” exclaimed Camp, incredulously.
“That’s about the truth of it,” I said; though I thought of Madge as I said it, and felt guilty in suggesting that she was nothing.
“Then what is your motive?” cried Baldwin.
If there had been any use, I should have replied, “The right;” but I knew that they would only think I was posing if I said it. Instead I replied: “Mr. Cullen’s party has the stock majority in their favor, and would have won a fair fight if you had played fair. Since you didn’t, I’m doing my best to put things to rights.”
Camp cried, “All the more fool—” but Baldwin interrupted him by saying,—