decision lets them in for？〃
〃All right；〃 said the judge； who knew an order when he heard one； 〃I
guess we can find an error。〃 He was not a little frightened by the
report of Mr。 Gorse's wrath； for election…day was approaching。 〃Say； you
wouldn't take me for a sentimental man； now； would you？〃
I smiled at the notion of it。
〃Well； I'll own up to you this kind of got under my skin。 That Galligan
is a fine…looking fellow； if there ever was one； and he'll never be of a
bit of use any more。 Of course the case was plain sailing； and they
ought to have had the verdict； but that lawyer of his handled it to the
queen's taste； if I do say so。 He made me feel real bad； by God；as if
it was my own son Ed who'd been battered up。 Lord； I can't forget the
look in that man Galligan's eyes。 I hate to go through it again； and
reverse it； but I guess I'll have to； now。〃
The Judge sat gazing at the flames playing over his gas log。
〃Who was the lawyer？〃 I asked。
〃A man by the name of Krebs；〃 he replied。 〃Never heard of him before。
He's just moved to the city。〃
〃This city？〃 I ejaculated。
The Judge glanced at me interestedly。
〃This city； of course。 What do you know about him？〃
〃Well；〃 I answered； when I had recovered a little from the shockfor it
was a distinct shock〃he lived in Elkington。 He was the man who stirred
up the trouble in the legislature about Bill 709。〃
The Judge slapped his knee。
〃That fellow！〃 he exclaimed； and ruminated。 〃Why didn't somebody tell
me？〃 he added； complainingly。 〃Why didn't Miller Gorse let me know about
it； instead of licking up a fuss after it's all over？〃。。。
Of all men of my acquaintance I had thought the Judge the last to grow
maudlin over the misfortunes of those who were weak or unfortunate enough
to be defeated and crushed in the struggle for existence； and it was not
without food for reflection that I departed from his presence。 To make
Mr。 Bering 〃feel bad〃 was no small achievement； and Krebs had been
responsible for it； of course；not Galligan。 Krebs had turned up once
more！ It seemed as though he were destined to haunt me。 Well； I made up
my mind that he should not disturb me again； at any rate： I； at least；
had learned to eliminate sentimentality from business； and it was not
without deprecation I remembered my experience with him at the Capital；
when he had made me temporarily ashamed of my connection with Bill 709。
I had got over that。 And when I entered the court room （the tribunal
having graciously granted a rehearing on the ground that it had committed
an error in the law！） my feelings were of lively curiosity and zest。 I
had no disposition to underrate his abilities； but I was fortified by the
consciousness of a series of triumphs behind me； by a sense of
association with prevailing forces against which he was helpless。 I
could afford to take a superior attitude in regard to one who was
destined always to be dramatic。
As the case proceeded I was rather disappointed on the whole that he was
not dramaticnot even as dramatic as he had been when he defied the
powers in the Legislature。 He had changed but little； he still wore ill…
fitting clothes； but I was forced to acknowledge that he seemed to have
gained in self…control； in presence。 He had nodded at me before the case
was called； as he sat beside his maimed client； and I had been on the
alert for a hint of reproach in his glance： there was none。 I smiled
back at him。。。。
He did not rant。 He seemed to have rather a remarkable knowledge of the
law。 In a conversational tone he described the sufferings of the man in
the flannel shirt beside him； but there could be no question of the fact
that he did produce an effect。 The spectators were plainly moved； and it
was undeniable that some of the judges wore rather a sheepish look as
they toyed with their watch chains or moved the stationery in front of
them。 They had seen maimed men before； they had heard impassioned；
sentimental lawyers talk about wives and families and God and justice。
Krebs did none of this。 Just how he managed to bring the thing home to
those judges； to make them ashamed of their role； just how he managedin
spite of my fortified attitude to revive something of that sense of
discomfort I had experienced at the State House is difficult to say。 It
was because； I think； he contrived through the intensity of his own
sympathy to enter into the body of the man whose cause he pleaded； to
feel the despair in Galligan's soulan impression that was curiously
conveyed despite the dignified limits to which he confined his speech。
It was strange that I began to be rather sorry for him； that I felt a
certain reluctant regret that he should thus squander his powers against
overwhelming odds。 What was the use of it all！
At the end his voice became more vibrantthough he did not raise itas
he condemned the Railroad for its indifference to human life； for its
contention that men were cheaper than rolling…stock。
I encountered him afterward in the corridor。 I had made a point of
seeking him out； perhaps from some vague determination to prove that our
last meeting in the little restaurant at the Capital had left no traces
of embarrassment in me： I was； in fact； rather aggressively anxious to
reveal myself to him as one who has thriven on the views he condemned； as
one in whose unity of mind there is no rift。 He was alone； apparently
waiting for someone； leaning against a steam radiator in one of his
awkward； angular poses； looking out of the court…house window。
〃How are you？〃 I said blithely。 〃So you've left Elkington for a wider
field。〃 I wondered whether my alert cousin…in…law； George Hutchins； had
made it too hot for him。
He turned to me unexpectedly a face of profound melancholy； his
expression had in it； oddly； a trace of sternness； and I was somewhat
taken aback by this evidence that he was still bearing vicariously the
troubles of his client。 So deep had been the thought I had apparently
interrupted that he did not realize my presence at first。
〃Oh； it's you； Paret。 Yes； I've left Elkington；〃 he said。
〃Something of a surprise to run up against you suddenly； like this。〃
〃I expected to see you；〃 he answered gravely； and the slight emphasis he
gave the pronoun implied not only a complete knowledge of the situation
and of the part I had taken in it； but also a greater rebuke than if his
accusation had been direct。 But I clung to my affability。
〃If I can do anything for you； let me know；〃 I told him。 He said
nothing； he did not even smile。 At this moment he was opportunely joined
by a man who had the appearance of a labour leader； and I walked away。 I
was resentful； my mood； in brief； was that of a man who has done
something foolish and is inclined to talk to himself aloud： but the mood
was complicated； made the more irritating by the paradoxical fact that
that last look he had given me seemed to have borne the traces of
affection。。。。
It is perhaps needless to add that the court reversed its former
decision。
XVI。
The Pilot published a series of sensational articles and editorials about
the Galligan matter； a picture of Galligan； an account of the destitute
state of his wife and family。 The time had not yet arrived when such
newspapers dared to attack the probity of our courts； but a system of law
that permitted such palpable injustice because of technicalities was
bitterly denounced。 What chance had a poor man against such a moloch as
the railroad； even with a lawyer of such ability as had been exhibited by
Hermann Krebs？ Krebs was praised； and the attention of Mr。 Lawler's
readers was called to the fact that Krebs was the man who； some years
before； had opposed single…handed in the legislature the notorious Bill
No。 709。 It was well known in certain circlesthe editorial went on to
saythat this legislation had been drawn by Theodore Watling in the
interests of the Boyne Iron Works； etc。； etc。 Hugh Paret had learned at
the feet of an able master。 This first sight of my name thus
opprobriously flung to the multitude gave me an unpleasant shock。 I had
seen Mr。 Scherer attacked； Mr。 Gorse attacked； and Mr。 Watling： I had all
along realized； vaguely； that my turn would come； and I thought myself to
have acquired a compensating philosophy。 I threw the sheet into the
waste basket； presently picked it out again and reread the sentence
containing my name。 Well； there were certain penalties that every career
must pay。 I had become； at last； a marked man； and I recognized the fact
that this assault would be the forerunner of many。
I tried to derive some comfort and amusement from the thought of certain
operations of mine that Mr。 Lawler had not discovered； that would have
been matters of peculiar interest to his innocent public： certain extra…
legal operations at the time when the Bovine corporation was being
formed； for instance。 And how they would have licked their chops had
they learned of that manoeuvre by which I had managed to have one of Mr。
Scherer's subsidiary companies in another state； with property and assets
amounting to more than twenty millions； reorganized under the laws of Ne