The Photo-Play Journal (Jul 1919-Feb 1921)

February, 19 2 1 "I've got you! And the forfeit is a kiss!" fight a whole flock of cows, and you both know I would." He shook hands with the ladies and escorted them to the door. Lean was up against a harder proposition than he knew. In the first place the cards were stacked against him in his fight for the League. And in the second place, he did not know that Milly was engaged. He was deeply in love. There was no doubt about that. And with every opportunity he had to meet Milly, he fell in deeper. Naturally he felt that his best opportunity to appear as a hero in her eyes would be to win the case against the milk trust. The check they had sent had been returned to them and it was with the keenest hope of victory that he entered the court on the day when the suit for an injunction against the trust was being tried. Milly was there and Mrs. Carraway as well as all the members of the League, eager to hear the arguments. But Judge Voris was on the bench. Leary realized that he was beaten as soon as he saw the Judge. He determined, however, to do his best. He sallied into the trust. He attacked them bitterly. He brought into court thin, starved babies and let the Judge watch them feed on rich, creamy milk which their mothers could not afford to buy for them. And he argued expertly, only to hear Judge Voris say after a few minutes' deliberation : "The counsel for the plaintiff has used much argument and little knowledge of the law. I therefore must deny the injunction restraining the defendants from raising prices." There was an angry murmur in the court. "That decision will be an excuse for raising prices another cent," Leary retorted. "Do you mean to insinuate that I am being bribed by the milk corporation?" Judge Voris demanded, his face growing red. Lean began to shake his head. But behind him he heard the murmurs of the public. They were saying "Yes," and nodding vigorously. "Yes," Leary replied. "You are fined twenty-five dollars for contempt of court," the Judge snapped. Leary smiled as he stuck his hand into a trouser pocket. The pocket was empty. Thence into his vest, his coat. Not a cent. He blushed furiously. Milly was there watching him. She saw his embarrassment. But Perkins came to his rescue, thrusting a handful of bills at him. "I refuse to pay it," said Leary, assuming the expression of a martyr. The bailiff approached him to place him under arrest, but Perkins was too quick. "Don't be a fool," he whispered. And Leary handed the money to the bailiff. "I'm not through," he said, turning to the Judge. "I'm not bested. I'm going to fight and floor the trust." Leary could see the expression of fear on the Judge's face. He could hear the cheers of the spectators. And he heard a man's voice, booming above the rest, crying: "What's the matter with nominating Leary for Mayor on an independent ticket?" A demonstration started, one of those riotous wild affairs in which ordinary folks are carried away by their emotions. The crowd thronged about Leary. They lifted him, 300 pounds and all, to their shoulders, and carried him out of the court and into the street. And he knew that although he had lost the case, he had made a hit with Milly, for he had seen her expression and had watched her participate in the cheers that resulted in his unexpected nomination. Meantime in the opposition camp panic had set in. Voris had been hurriedly named for mayor, so that the issue was clean cut. A conference was held. Everyone present knew that as far as truth and justice were concerned Leary was right and that the public knew he was right. So it was a question of discrediting him personally, if he was to be defeated. "We've got to make him look like a fool or a blackguard," Voris suggested. "Make him immoral, dishonest or ridiculous or he'll win the election, hands down. Couldn't we frame him?" One of his advisers suggested that French Kate, a woman he knew, would undoubtedly succeed in vamping Leary sufficiently to make things look bad for him. "But how can it be done ?" Voris asked. "Wait until I get Kate up here," the other replied. A little telephoning and the deed was done. The plan evolved called for a slow vamp toward Leary to be followed by a little session in Leary's office in the course of which Kate would sit on Leary's lap and a photographer concealed Finally she decided upon a manoeuver