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s　like　Fanshaw。　　Herron　never　admitted　it　to　himself；　but　in　fact　it　was　he　who　put　it　into　Fanshaw's　resourceless　mind　to　compass　the　revenge　of　publicity　in　another　way。

Fanshaw　was　denouncing　the　judge　for　sealing　the　divorce　testimony；　and　the　newspapers　for　being　so　timid　about　libel　laws　and　contempt　of　court。

〃If　a　newspaper　should　publish　the　testimony；〃　said　Herron；　〃Judge　Glassford　would　never　dare　bring　the　editor　before　him　for　contempt。　　His　record's　too　bad。　　I　happen　to　know　he　was　in　the　News…Record　office　no　longer　ago　than　last　month；　begging　for　the　suppression　of　an　article　that　might　have　caused　his　impeachment；　if　published。　　So　there's　one　paper　that　wouldn't　be　afraid　of　him。〃

〃Then　why　does　it　shield　the　scoundrel？〃

〃Perhaps；〃　replied　Herron；　his　hand　on　the　door　of　his　office　law…library；　〃it　hasn't　been　able　to　get　hold　of　a　copy　of　the　testimony。〃　　And　having　thus　dropped　the　seed　on　good　soil；　he　left。

Fanshaw　waited　several　weeks；　waited　until　certain　other　plans　of　his　and　Herron's　were　perfected。　　Then　he　suddenly　deluged　the　sinking　flames　of　the　divorce　discussion　with　a　huge　outpouring　of　oil。　　Indirectly　and　with　great　secrecy　he　sent　a　complete　copy　of　the　testimony　to　the　newspaper　Herron　had　mentioned；　the　most　sensational；　and　one　of　the　most　widely　circulated　in　New　York。

The　next　morning　Dumont　had　to　ring　three　times　for　his　secretary。　　When　Culver　finally　appeared　he　had　in　his　trembling　right　hand　a　copy　of　the　News…Record。　　His　face　suggested　that　he　was　its　owner；　publisher　and　responsible　editor；　and　that　he　expected　then　and　there　to　be　tortured　to　death　for　the　two　illustrated　pages　of　the　〃Great　Fanshaw…Dumont　Divorce！　　All　the　Testimony！　　Shocking　Revelations！〃

〃I　thought　it　necessary　for　you　to　know　this　without　delay；　sir；〃　he　said　in　a　shaky　voice；　as　he　held　out　the　newspaper　to　his　master。

Dumont　grew　sickly　yellow　with　the　first　glance　at　those　head…lines。　　He　had　long　been　used　to　seeing　extensive　and　highly　unflattering　accounts　of　himself　and　his　doings　in　print；　but　theretofore　every　open　attack　had　been　on　some　public　matter　where　a　newspaper　〃pounding〃　might　be　attributed　to　politics　or　stock…jobbery。　　Hereit　was　a　verbatim　official　report；　and　of　a　private　scandal；　more　dangerous　to　his　financial　standing　than　the　fiercest　assault　upon　his　honesty　as　a　financier；　for　it　tore　away　the　foundation　of　reputationprivate　character。　　A　faithful　transcript　throughout；　it　portrayed　him　as　a　bag　of　slimy　gold　and　gilded　slime。　　He　hated　his　own　face　staring　out　at　him　from　a　three…column　cut　in　the　center　of　the　first　pageits　heavy　jaw；　its　cynical　mouth；　its　impudent　eyes。　　〃Do　I　look　like　THAT？〃　he　thought。　　He　was　like　one　who；　walking　along　the　streets；　catches　sight　of　his　own　image　in　a　show…window　mirror　and　before　he　recognizes　it；　sees　himself　as　others　see　him。　　He　flushed　to　his　temples　at　the　contrast　with　the　smaller　cut　beside　itthe　face　of　Pauline；　high　and　fine　icily　beautiful　as　always　in　her　New　York　days　when　her　features　were　in　repose。

Culver　shifted　from　one　weak　leg　to　the　other；　and　the　movement　reminded　Dumont　of　his　existence。　　〃That's　all。　　Clear　out！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　fell　back　into　his　big　chair　and　closed　his　eyes。　　He　thought　he　at　last　understood　publicity。

But　he　was　mistaken。

He　finished　dressing　and　choked　down　a　little　breakfast。　　As　he　advanced　toward　the　front　door　the　servant　there　coughed　uneasily　and　said：　　〃Beg　pardon；　sir；　but　I　fear　you　won't　be　able　to　get　out。〃

〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　demanded；　his　brows　contracting　and　his　lips　beginning　to　slide　back　in　a　snarlit　promised　to　be　a　sad　morning　for　human　curs　of　all　kinds　who　did　not　scurry　out　of　the　lion's　way。

〃The　crowd；　sir；〃　said　the　servant。　　And　he　drew　aside　the　curtain　across　the　glass　in　one　of　the　inside　pair　of　great　double　doors　of　the　palace　entrance。　　〃It's　quite　safe　to　look；　sir。　　They　can't　see　through　the　outside　doors　as　far　as　this。〃

Dumont　peered　through　the　bronze　fretwork。　　A　closely　packed　mass　of　people　was　choking　the　sidewalk　and　streethis　brougham　was　like　an　island　in　a　troubled　lake。　　He　saw　several　policementhey　were　trying　to　move　the　crowd　on；　but　not　trying　sincerely。　　He　saw　three　huge　cameras；　their　operators　under　the　black　cloths；　their　lenses　pointed　at　the　doorwaiting　for　him　to　appear。　　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　completely　lost　his　nerve。　　Not　only　publicity；　the　papera　lifeless　sheet　of　print；　but　also　publicity；　the　publicwith　living　eyes　to　peer　and　living　voices　to　jeer。　　He　looked　helplessly；　appealingly　at　the　〃cur〃　he　had　itched　to　kick　the　moment　before。

〃What　the　devil　shall　I　do？〃　he　asked　in　a　voice　without　a　trace　of　courage。

〃I　don't　know；　sir；〃　replied　the　servant。　　〃The　basement　door　wouldn't　help　very　much；　would　it？〃

The　basement　door　was　in　front　also。　　〃Idiot！　　Is　there　no　way　out　at　the　rear？〃　he　asked。

〃Only　over　the　fences；　sir；〃　said　the　servant；　perfectly　matter…of…fact。　　Having　no　imagination；　his　mind　made　no　picture　of　the　great　captain　of　industry　scrambling　over　back　fences　like　a　stray　cat　flying　from　a　brick。

Dumont　turned　back　and　into　his　first…floor　sitting…room。　　He　unlocked　his　stand　of　brandy　bottles；　poured　out　an　enormous　drink　and　gulped　it　down。　　His　stomach　reeled；　then　his　head。　　He　went　to　the　window　and　looked　outthere　must　have　been　five　hundred　people　in　the　street；　and　vehicles　were　making　their　way　slowly　and　with　difficulty；　drivers　gaping　at　the　house　and　joking　with　the　crowd；　newsboys；　bent　sidewise　to　balance　their　huge　bundles　of　papers；　were　darting　in　and　out；　and　even　through　the　thick　plate　glass　he　could　hear：　　〃All　about　Millionaire　Dumont's　disgrace！〃

He　went　through　to　a　rear　window。　　No；　there　was　a　continuous　wall；　a　high　brick　wall。　　A　servant　came　and　told　him　he　was　wanted　at　the　telephone。　　It　was　Giddings；　who　said　in　a　voice　that　was　striving　in　vain　to　be　calm　against　the　pressure　of　some　intense　excitement：　　〃You　are　coming　down　to…day；　Mr。　Dumont？〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Dumont；　snapping　the　word　out　as　short　and　savage　as　the　crack　of　a　lash。

〃There　are　disquieting　rumors　of　a　raid　on　us。〃

〃Who's　to　do　the　raiding？〃

〃They　say　it's　Patterson　and　Fanning…Smith　and　Cassell　and　Herron。　　It's　a　raid　for　control。〃

Dumont　snorted　scornfully。　　〃Don't　fret。　　We're　all　right。　　I'll　be　down　soon。〃　　And　he　hung　up　the　receiver；　muttering：　　〃The　ass！　　I　must　kick　him　out！　　He's　an　old　woman　the　instant　I　turn　my　back。〃

He　had　intended　not　to　go　down；　but　to　shut　himself　in　with　the　brandy　bottle　until　nightfall。　　This　news　made　his　presence　in　the　Street　imperative。　　〃They　couldn't　have　sprung　at　me　at　a　worse　time；〃　he　muttered。　　〃But　I　can　take　care　of　'em！〃

He　returned　to　the　library；　took　another　drink；　larger　than　the　first。　　His　blood　began　to　pound　through　his　veins　and　to　rush　along　under　the　surface　of　his　skin　like　a　sheet　of　fire。　　Waves　of　fury　surged　into　his　brain；　making　him　dizzy；　confusing　his　sighthe　could　scarcely　refrain　from　grinding　his　teeth。　　He　descended　to　the　basement；　his　step　unsteady。

〃A　ladder；〃　he　ordered　in　a　thick　voice。

He　led　the　way　to　the　rear　wall。　　A　dozen　men…servants　swarming　about；　tried　to　assist　him。　　He　ordered　them　aside　and　began　to　climb。　　As　the　upper　part　of　his　body　rose　above　the　wall…line　he　heard　a　triumphant　shout；　many　voices　crying：　　〃There　he　is！　　There　he　is！〃

The　lot　round　the　corner　from　his　place　was　not　built　upon；　and　there；　in　the　side　street；　was　a　rapidly　swelling　crowd；　the　camera…bearers　　hastily　putting　their　instruments　in　position；　the　black　cloths　fluttering　like　palls　or　pirate　flags。　　With　a　roaring　howl　he　released　his　hold　upon　the　ladder　and　shook　both　fists；　his　swollen　face　blazing　between　them。　　He　tottered；　fell　backward；　crashed　upon　the　stone　flooring　of　the　area。　　His　head　struck　with　a　crack　that　made　the　women…servants　scream。　　The　men　lifted　him　and　carried　him　into　the　house。　　He　was　not　stunned；　he　tried　to　stand。　　But　he　staggered　back　into　the　arms　of　his　valet　and　his　butler。

〃Brandy！〃　he　gasped。

He　took　a　third　drinkand　became　unconscious。　　When　the　doctor　arrived　he　was　raving　in　a　high　fever。　　For　years　he　had　drunk　to　excessbut　theretofore　only　when　HE　chose；　never　when　his　appetite　chose；　never　when　his　affairs　needed　a　clear　brain。　　Now　appetite；　long　lying　in　wait　for　him；　had　found　him　helpless　in　the　clutches　of　rage　and　fear；　and　had　stolen　away　his　mind。

The　news　was　telephoned　to　the　office　at　half…past　eleven　o'clock。　　〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　said　Giddings。　　〃He'd　only　make　things　worse　if　he　were　to　come　now。〃

Giddings　was　apparently　right。　　From　a　tower　of　strength；　supporting　alone；　yet　with　ease；　National　Woolens；　and　the　vast　structure　based　upon　it；　Dumont　had　crumbled　into　an　obstruction　and　a　weakness。　　There　is　an　abysmal　difference　between　everybody　knowing　a　thing　privately　and　everybody　knowing　precisely　the　same　thing　publicly。　　In　that　newspaper　exposure　there　was　no　fact　of　importance　that　was　not　known　to　the　entire　Street；　to　his　chief　supporters　in　his　great　syndicate　of　ranches；　railroads；　factories；　steamship　lines　and　selling　agencies。　　But　the　tremendous　blare　of　publicity　acted　like　Joshua's　horns　at　Jericho。　　The　solid　walls　of　his　public　reputation　tottered；　toppled；　fell　flat。

There　had　been　a　tight　money…market　for　two　weeks。　　Though　there　had　been　uneasiness　as　to　all　the　small　and　many　of　the　large　〃industrials；〃　belief　in　National　Woolens　and　in　the　stability　of　John　Dumont　had　remained　strong。　　But　of　all　the　cowards　that　stand　sentinel　for　capital；　the　most　craven　is　Confidence。　　At　the　deafening　crash　of　the　fall　of　Dumont's　private　character；　Confidence　girded　its　loins　and　tightened　its　vocal　cords　to　be　in　readiness　for　a　shrieking　flight。

Dumont　ruled；　through　a　parent　and　central　corporation；　the　National　Woolens　Company；　which　held　a　majority　of　the　stock　in　each　of　the　seventeen　corporations　constituting　the　trust。　　His　control　was　in　part　through　ownership　of　Woolens　stock　but　chiefly　through　proxies　sent　him　by　thousands　of　small　stock…holders　because　they　had　confidence　in　his　abilities。　　To　wrest　control　from　him　it　was　necessary　for　the　rai