The Irish standard., 1910-06-04
THE FOURTH
ESTATE
Novelized by
FREDERICK R. TOOMBS
From the Great Play
Of the Same Name by
Joseph Medill Patter.
son and Harriet Ford.
Copyright. 1909. by Joseph Medill
Patterson and Harriet Ford.

$COSc yOUI Nll0Ch.
Brand thought to palliate her. He
seated himself on a corner of the man.
aging EDITORS desk and bent toward
her as she sat in chair near him.
Now, Judith, let me try to explain"
he said entreatingly. Il think l can
make you understand. You see, the
Lansing Iron company owned lot Of
valuable properties-ore ranges. ma
chinery, railroad trackage. etc. If it
had been managed halfway it would
now be a wealth producing business.
but some Of our spectators down
town were trying to get hold of it to
gamble with. They wanted to milk
it. as the saying is, by watering it,
They did have stock market battle
or two. which profited nobody but the
lawyers on both sides. But they final
~ got it by juggling it into receiv-
ership, which they never could have
done if a United States judge had not
been willing to exceed his functions.
That judge was your father.
"Since the works shut down." he
went on strongly. 1.-The men are out Of
employment, and the gamblers have
got rich because the company's gone
broke. That's just what happened,
and that's all said"
But 1t wasn't your facts, l tell you
It was your insinuation that was
false'
mot Observation-Disclosures
"But it wasn't true-it wasn't true"
"Oh. yes. it was true, and more.'
Judith verged on the hysterical
again.
If you loved me as you pretend to,
no matter if you thought it true or not,
you could not have written that arti-
cle."
Cant you see that wasn't writing
about your father, but about a United
States judge who
She moved farther. away from him.
"That's splitting hairs. Wheeler"
He walked to her side.
judith. please-please don't let's
:. quarrel about this" 49,.
\ The girl turned to him impulsively.
"Oh, Wheeler. we were Oh the
verge of it, weren't we?" He cast
his arms around her. You're sorry,
aren't you?" She looked fondly into
his face. "And you will take back
that article. won't you?'
"You mustn't ask me to do that;
can't" looking at her earnestly.
You can't?" 4~.;
"No."
Judith drew away from him a step
or two. She surveyed him coldly.
wheeler. came here thinking only
of my father, but suddenly find my
self facing a much more serious ques-
tion-not what kind of man he is,
but what kind of man are you"
Brand was deeply cut by her manner
and her information.
judith. If you only knew the truth.
all of it. things can't tell you. you'd
be with me heart and soul in what I'm
trying to do"
He caught her in his arms again.
"Whatever I've done or whatever
I may do love you" he insisted pas
sionately.
Judith showed equal fervor as she
said:
And you're more to me than my
father, but for my sake you mustn't
work against him. How could we
ever be happy together If you did?
You'll do this for me. Wheeler, just
this? l want you to carry out your
ideals and live up to your high pur-
poses in every other way. but you
must not attack him. Promise me
that you'll never do it again. Won't
you promise me that?, And you'll re-
tract that article you had this morn
ing. You'll do this for me. just this?"
"Judith-it's the truth-and. knowing
that, would you have me retract it,"
eyes,"
II can't"
Judith began to take of the engage.
ment ring Brand had given her.
"You don't mean to do that" he
cried in amazement
II most certainly do"
He was almost frantic. He grasped
her hand.
Il won't let you mean 1t. can't let
you 20 without your ring. You may
be Judge Bartelmy's daughter. but you
are going to be my wife. You've worn
nv ring for month, and you must
wear it forever"
The girl passed his passionate ap-
peal by without needing it. She tossed
back her pretty head defantly, snatch
ed the ring from her finger and threw
it on the managing EDITORS desk.
"I'll not wear 1t again." she exclaim-
ed resolutely. ''unless-until you come
to your sensc.." So expressing herself.
she stalked majesticaliy across the
room.
Judith called Brand in despera-
ton. fearing that she was about to
leave him.
Twill you do what I ask" she
queried imperiously.
II cannot" he answered simply.
The judges daughter tossed her
head independently. caught her SKIRT
in her hand. turned her back swiftly