What if she should find him
out?
* * * * *
When the famous "coal conspiracy" was formed, three of the men conspicuous
in it were among their intimates--that is, their families were often at his
house and he and Marian were often at theirs. Yet he had never made a more
relentless attack. Nor did he, either in the news columns or on the
editorial page, conceal the connection of his three friends with the
conspiracy.
"Mrs. Mercer was here this morning," Marian said as they were waiting for
the butler to announce dinner. She was flushed and embarrassed.
Howard laughed. "And did she tell you what a dreadful husband you had?"
"Oh, she didn't blame you at all. She said they all knew how perfectly
upright you were. Only, she said you did not understand and were doing Mr.
Mercer a great injustice."
"Well, what do you think?"
"Why--I can't believe--is it possible, dear--I was just reading one of your
editorials. Can Mr. Mercer be in such a scheme? The way she told it to me,
he and the others were really doing a lot of people a valuable service,
putting their property on a paying basis, enabling the railroads to meet
their expenses and to keep thousands and thousands of men employed."
"Poor Mercer!" Howard said ironically.
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