“But he has accused me,” retorted Boast. “Read this!”
Vance stepped hurriedly from behind the case, and drawing Louise gently back, stood face to face with Arthur Boast. He was calm and determined. “Where,” said he, “where have I accused you of murdering Rufus Grim? Point out the sentence in the article where your name even appears?”
“Well, you haven’t used my name, but you might as well have done so.”
“No,” said Vance, as his eyes gleamed with fiercest indignation and anger, “I have not accused you, Arthur Boast, but you, by this act, with your mob of hirelings behind you, have accused yourself. Now you must, and by the eternals, shall answer to the law. A guilty conscience,” he continued, “needs no accuser, and it is your accusing conscience that has prompted you to come here and publicly charge yourself with the crime. Neither you, nor your host of admirers on full pay, can intimidate me. If you can pass through the test of a thorough investigation, and can be proved innocent, then I will have no more to say, but until you do this, I shall publicly accuse you and denounce you as the murderer of Rufus Grim!”
Vance towered up like a giant before the writhing and shriveling form of J. Arthur Boast.
“Well, I don’t know that you have accused me in this editorial,” whined Boast, “and I don’t know as I need to take any steps of revenge until you dare to use my name in your paper. I guess I’ll wait and see what my lawyer advises. Fall back, boys, I have nothing farther to say at this interview.”
“But I have,” said Vance, in thundering tones, “and before long I shall have much to say.”