militia, if Manson can't handle it. Bowers tells me
I can do very little from a point of law, and we look to you for
protection."

"The militia won't help you much." Filmer's voice was a little shaky.
His son was in the militia, but he himself had never taken that body
very seriously. It was a matter of uniform, a band and a field day or
two in the year--that was all.

"Well, Bowers tells me that if we kill any one in protecting the place
we'll have a nasty time of it, so it's up to you. If the local militia
are no good, get some up from Toronto. I warn you they'll be needed.
Ask Belding if you like, he saw it all."

He leaned back and began a cold blooded survey of the situation. He
was not in any way desperate, but he turned involuntarily to the
resources of his own brain for some solution. It was certain that no
immediate help could be expected from Philadelphia. He was left quite
officially and deliberately to stem the tide as best he could, and, in
spite of the gravity of the moment, smiled at the thought that his
directors leaned on him in their extremity. They did not know what to
do, therefore he must know. Then suddenly his mind reverted to Semple,
and he spent the next few moments in profound thought. "Get hold of
Mr. Semple," he said to his secretary, "and bring him here."

In half an hour Semple appeared, flustered and a little pale. A visit
to the works just now filled him with apprehension. It seemed like
smoking in a magazine.

"What's the matter?" said Clark, smiling at his agitation.

Semple drew a long breath and, noting the thickness of the office
walls, felt a little safer.

"That's what I was going to ask _you_."

"Only a slight difficulty that you will help to put right."

Semple stared with astonishment. The bottom had apparently fallen out
of the works, but Clark was as cool as ever.

"Help?" he demanded, puzzled. Clark evidently did not stand to lose
much in the smash. "You're holding these fellows, aren't you?"

"Yes, for the immediate present, but we'll have to do more. That's
where you come in."

The member for Algoma was at sea, and said so.

"You represent the Government here," went on Clark, "and we've spent
seventeen million dollars in these works. Do you see the conclusion?"

"No, I don't."

"Your government must help us over the stile. Just so long as those
men remain unpaid, life won't be very safe in St. Marys."

Semple looked round apprehensive