CHAPTER XV.
THE FIGHT.
The only reply which Peter received to his letter to the District-Attorney, was a mere formal reiteration of that officer's verbal statement, that the case would be taken up in its due order, after those which preceded it had been dealt with.

Peter knew enough of the numberless cases which never reach trial to understand that this meant in truth, the laying aside of the case, till it was killed by the statute of limitations.
On receiving this reply, Peter made another move, by going to three newspapers, and trying to see their managing editors.

One declined to see him.

A second merely told Peter, after his statement, which the editor only allowed him partly to explain, that he was very busy and could not take time to look into it, but that Peter might come again in about a month.

The third let Peter tell his story, and then shook his head: "I have no doubt you are right, but it isn't in shape for us to use.
Such a case rarely goes to trial for six months or a year, and so, if we begin an attack now, it will simply fall flat.