"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 right."
Camp cried, "All the more fool—" but Baldwin interrupted him by saying—
"That only shows what a mean cuss Cullen is. He ought to give you ten thousand, if he gives you a cent."
"Yes," cried Camp, "those letters are worth money, whether he's offered it or not."
"Mr. Cullen never so much as hinted paying me," said I.