“You damned blackmailer!” The Judge bent upon him a fierce, inquiring scrutiny in which, oddly enough, there was a kind of haggard hopefulness.  “And out of such stories,” he sneered, “you are going to try to make political capital against the Tocsin, are you?”

“No,” said Joe.  “It was necessary in the interests of my client for me to know pretty thoroughly just what property you own, and I think I do.  These pieces I’ve mentioned are about all you have not mortgaged.  You couldn’t do that without exposure, and you’ve kept a controlling interest in the Tocsin clear, too—­for the sake of its influence, I suppose.  Now, do you want to hear any more, or will you agree to meet me at Miss Tabor’s this evening?”

Whatever the look of hopefulness had signified, it fled from Pike’s face during this speech, but he asked with some show of contempt, “Do you think it likely?”

“Very well,” said Joe, “if you want me to speak here.”  And he came a little closer to him.  “You bought a big block of Granger Gas for Roger Tabor,” he began, in a low voice.  “Before his death you sold everything he had, except the old house, put it all into cash for him, and bought that stock; you signed the check as his attorney-in-fact, and it came back to you through the Washington National, where Norbert Flitcroft handled it.  He has a good memory, and when he told me what he knew, I had him to do some tracing; did a little myself, also.  Judge Pike, I must tell you that you stand in danger of the law.  You were the custodian of that stock for Roger Tabor; it was transferred in blank; though I think you meant to be `legal’ at that time, and that was merely for convenience in case Roger had wished you to sell it for him.  But just after his death you found yourself saddled with distillery stock, which was going bad on your hands.  Other speculations of yours were failing at the same time; you had to have money—­you filed your report as administrator, crediting Miss Tabor with your own stock which you knew was going to the wall, and transferred hers to yourself.  Then you sold it because you needed ready money.  You used her fortune to save yourself—­but you were horribly afraid!  No matter how rotten your transactions had been, you had always kept inside the law; and now that you had gone outside of it, you were frightened.  You didn’t dare come flat out to Miss Tabor with the statement that her fortune had gone; it had been in your charge all the time and things might look ugly.  So you put it off, perhaps from day to day.  You didn’t dare tell her until you were forced to, and to avoid the confession you sent her the income which was rightfully hers.  That was your great weakness.”

Joe had spoken with great rapidity, though keeping his voice low, and he lowered it again, as he continued:  “Judge Pike, what chance have you to be believed in court when you swear that you sent her twenty thousand dollars out of the goodness of your heart?  Do you think she believed you?  It was the very proof to her that you had robbed her.  For she knew you!  Do you want to hear more now?  Do you think this is a good place for it?  Do you wish me to go over the details of each step I have taken against you, to land you at the bar where this poor fellow your paper is hounding stands to-day?”