"Yes," said Brown eagerly. "What else?"
"You are to go out of the newspaper business."
There was another silence. Then Brown said, "I'll not do it!"
"Very well," returned Enoch, "then the Mexican affair will be published
as Curly has written it with all the attendant circumstances."
Again there was silence, with all the eyes in the room focused on the
pale, gentle face, opposite Enoch. The noise of street traffic beat
against the windows. Telephones sounded remotely in the outer office.
For ten minutes this was all. Then Brown in a husky voice said,
"Very well! Give me the document!"
"Not at all," returned Enoch, coolly. "This document goes into my
safety deposit box. In case of my death, it will be left to
responsible parties. When you die, it will be destroyed. I am not a
rich man, Mr. Brown, but I shall devote a part of my income to having
you watched; watched lest indirectly and by the underhand methods you
know so well you again attempt to influence public opinion. After
to-morrow, you are through."
"To-morrow! Impossible!" gasped Brown.
"Nothing is impossible except decency to a man of your capacity," said
Enoch. "To-morrow you publish a complete denial of your lies about me
and this Department and then you are no longer a newspaper publisher.
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