Universal Press is a power for evil and a dire menace to civilization."
To the eyes that read these words they were written
in letters of fire. They seemed to burn themselves
in Helen's brain. Could this terrible indictment
be true? Was it justified? At least it was the considered
verdict of the man she had promised to marry.
And it was directed against one who had her whole
allegiance, one who crowned with a princely reward
her loyal labors.
The Chief had many foes. So much was known to her. But like most other people she had been willing to regard that fact as a tribute to the peculiar nature of his talent. Saul Hartz's enemies were the first to own that his genius had enabled him to get so many strings into his hand that he was able to interfere too intimately with the inner workings of the body politic. He had made such a "corner" in public opinion and the subterranean forces which mold it that he had been able to upset the true balance of government throughout the world. Acute minds saw the time coming when the U. P. would have all nations at its mercy.
Helen Sholto knew that sinister charges had been brought against a portentous machine. But to her they had always remained vague. Now, however, they were taking shape. Once she had heard Mr. Hartz stigmatize John Endor as a fanatic. The moment was at hand when the two men must be
