k in me or my
efforts, so why worry?"

"But that's just what I did do," croaked the constable, reddening to
his temples. "I invested all I could and," he added dully, "I've got
it now."

"Ah! so that's it?"

"And I'd be grateful if you could tell me--"

"So you said one thing and did another!" The tones were like a knife.
"Well, that's your privilege, and none of my affair, and," he concluded
curtly, "I don't care to discuss it. Good evening."

But Manson was on his feet, too desperate to be denied. "It's not your
affair what I may have said or done? I'm a shareholder--a large one.
I've a right to come here and ask you a question. It's nothing
unreasonable--and you'll answer it." He stood over the smaller man,
dark and threatening.

Clark laughed in his face, till, with that extraordinary perception
which so frequently cleft to the essential essence of things, he
perceived that there was that which was more important than the fact
that Manson had been speculating and would certainly be bitten. His
attitude in public was worth something--at any rate in St. Marys.
Known universally as a critic and pessimist, it would be notable if
now, in the time of crisis, he became a supporter. Manson as a
shareholder did not matter, but officially he did matter. Very swiftly
Clark ran over this in his mind, while the big man waited, no longer a
menace but only a straw borne by the flood which was the creation of
Clark's imagination. There was no doubt in the latter's mind as to the
ultimate solution of present difficulties. He still believed, as he
always believed, in himself, in the country and in his enterprise. So,
very deliberately, he began to talk.

"You have asked me a very extraordinary question--that is from you--but
it appears," here the voice was a little sardonic, "that you had more
confidence in me than you admitted. Now you ask about the future. I
tell you that I never had more faith in the final outcome of affairs
than I have at this moment. There have been difficulties of which the
public knew nothing--and this is the only one which has become common
knowledge. Do you expect any one to build up a concern like this
without anxious moments? You know what St. Marys was seven years ago,
and I remember very distinctly your attitude toward myself. It has
taken seven years," here once more the voice was full of
contempt--"seven years and a crisis, to convert you. Speculators will
doubtless take a