Under the pressure of Hal's vehemence, the Harrigan manner was failing; the Coal King's son was becoming a bewildered and quite ordinary youth. But there was a power greater than Hal behind him. He shook his head. “It's the old man's business, Hal. I've no right to butt in!”
The other, in his desperate need, turned to the rest of the party. His gaze, moving from one face to another, rested upon the magazine-cover countenance, with the brown eyes wide open, full of wonder.
“Jessie! What do you think about it?”
The girl started, and distress leaped into her face. “How do you mean, Hal?”
“Tell him he ought to save those lives!”
The moments seemed ages as Hal waited. It was a test, he realised. The brown eyes dropped. “I don't understand such things, Hal!”
“But, Jessie, I am explaining them! Here are men and boys being suffocated to death, in order to save a little money. Isn't that plain?”
“But how can I know, Hal?”
“I'm giving you my word, Jessie. Surely I wouldn't appeal to you unless I knew.”
Still she hesitated. And there came a swift note of feeling into his voice: “Jessie, dear!”