d allowed himself to raise his voice and express some

e presence of his host. In fact, Mr. Daunt asserted that the host was par

accepted him as a safe and sane business man. I talked to him as I would to the gentlemen who put their feet under my table. I know how to be cautious in the case of men I meet in places of business. But you bring this man to your house and you put me next to him with the assurance that he is a

ggested Corson, referring to the outburst with wh

o warning. I dealt with him, gentlem

sel a man like you about the ordinary pr

y with me. You told me he was as square as a brick wh

rough and through. But I haven't been keeping in touch as close

l you allowed me to go on and e

believe it's as bad as it has been represented to me. And even as it stand

ow

time being, Daunt! It isn't a m

se of a friend, Corson," growled the banker. "I wish I had taken a few

do so much talking before you

r in his countenance-he looks as good and reliable as a cer

ght to indorse him." Th

hear you condemn Stewa

ence! For instance, he's a damnation fin

as you outlined them to me when we first discussed the matter," Corson insisted. "Morrison has a good business head on him. He

others, an equal amount of common stock for a bonus. I assured him that we would be able to pay dividends on the common. And he asked me particularly if I was certain that dividends would be paid on the common. I gave him that assurance as a financier who knows his card." Daunt had been attempting to curb his pass

erably uncertain in regard to Stewart Morrison's

enjoying it, and said he must hurry away and dance with Miss Corson. What did he mean by saying that I ought to be ashamed of myself? What did h

"This new job as mayor seems to be playing some sort of a devil's trick with Stewart. I'll admit, Daunt, that I didn't relish some of the priggish preachment on politics mouthed by hi

rade his tuppenny mayor's business. I paid no attention to his vaporings on the water question. I've heard plenty of franchise

has made a clean change of all his nature in this shift of some of his ideas, you'd better

ecretary steppe

the ballroom and tell hi

an had departed, "and your position enables you to take a broad view of b

ly! Loya

development of the water-power here. Every single unit shoul

deci

he country at large. If this Morrison proposes to play the bigoted demagogue in the matter, exciting the people to attempt impractical control that will paralyze the whole proposition, he must be steppe

make Stewar

easing his turgid neck against a

fter a time, tap

in the ballroom, sir. A

ve inquired of

ot find Mi

s all right! I gave her a bit of a commission. It's in regard to Morriso

r a tete-a-tete interview; now he was particularly assisted by remembrance of Stewart's habits in the old d

is knuckles, his elbow propped on his knee. His forehead

ned the girl, "we are

ut I need Stewart urgen

ttle while ago. But this conferen

tewart, with a decisive snap in his tone. "

e later. There is a small matter to be set

a, with a fine assumption of parliamentary dignity. "But I have t

t concerns a matter of courtesy between guests in my home, and I'm anx

r rose p

carrying on her little play of procedure. "But do I have your solemn promise, Senator Co

romi

ll hurry back," said the girl, addre

ur duties to our guests

the distant music. "The guests are having a gorgeous time all by themselves. I'll be waiting here," she warned. "Rem

Morrison assured her.

na

en his two guests. Daunt was bristling;

ce, as you feel it, so that Mr. Morrison can assure

Now that Senator Corson is present-now that we have a broad-minded r

me lines?" inquire

that Corson may understand just how

ll gain you nothing from me. My mind remains the same. And Miss Corson i

a little while to go ov

rs

on a repetition, sir. I

ing, on suc

unmannerly treatment of my business, Morr

gree in that," c

ghter the same promise

ew

ana was playing! You can go right o

se." He added in his own mind that he did not intend to allow a certain topic between him and

gnity cracking wide and showing the coarser grain of his nature. "I made you a square business

tened to do. We go on from where we left off. Therefore, I c

I ought to be as

thumb and forefinger together to make a circle and poised his hand over his head. "I don't wear one of these. I have no right to wear one. Halo, I mean! I'm no prig or preacher

s being done or what is proposed to be done, in this particular case your consolidation means that you've got to mulct the people to pay unreasonably high charges on stock. It isn't a square deal. My property was developed on real money. I know what it pays and ought to pay

him with your own ears

say to that

o be considered in the light of new development," said

stating the principle. You can't comp

er this protection-of-t

, with

because a man has secured a franchise, and his charter permits him to build a dam across a river or the mouth of a lake, he is thereby entitled to all the power and control and profit he can get from that river or lake without retu

the soviet doctrine that the state can break ex

d when operators flagrantly abuse the public that way! I'm going to propose a legislative bill that will oblige water-power corporations to submit in public reports our state engineers' figure

ayed instant

m heavily interested financially in Daunt's syndicate, because I believe in developing our grand old state. I bring this

ll is responsible for more than two hundred good homes in the city of Marion, built, owned, and occupied by our workers. And in order to clean

usions," roared Daunt. He shook

I based the conclusions on your own statement to me that you proposed to make my syndicate holdings more valuable by a legislative measure that would per

on for the good of the consuming public. Competition i

er kilowatt after competitors shall have been sandbagged according to that legislative measure," drawled the mayor

f-way in business, in my house, taking my indorsement of you. When I recommended you I was not aware that you had been ma

r. I don't want to spoil my case by leaving you half informed. Mr. Daunt and I have reac

the understanding you mention includes the obligation to for

onfidences in my persona

son," retur

y suggests your course in

or! What do you expect me to do?" dem

t," volunteered Daunt. "You

rced into an interview with you when I much rather

you have no right to them. I expect you to show a gentlem

t much, as your mutual

rted-prevented from going on with my work, simply because Mr. Silas Daunt is among the men I'm fighting. I'm exactly where I was before Mr. Daunt talked to me. I propose to l

nes wholly approved by general usage-simply to indulge an impractical whim for which you'll get no thanks-taking a nonsensic

underst

enator, carried far by his indignati

d

ing in all the public timbe

stay asleep and let lands go for a dollar or so an acre-lands t

sked. That's as far as a bus

up to guard their last great heritage-the water-power that they still own! I'll keep 'em awake, if I've

rs, they will make you let go of your wild scheme," bellowed the banker. "By

host. "They can hear o

nd on the knob. "We will not let go!" he said, calmly. "We won't let go-and th