who have backed you have contributed with you and
made it possible. Mr. Clark, I have no fear for the future of the
works or of yourself."

Clark's lips curved into a rare smile. "Neither have I, sir."

His visitor departed, and he got on to the Philadelphia wire with the
curt information that two million dollars had been secured from the
Ontario government, and asked permission to continue work.
Simultaneously the news spread like a forest fire. The militia found
there was nothing to contend with. Merchants surveyed their looted
stores and swore vengeance, but in a modern Arcadia one cannot arrest
two thousand foreigners. There were blocks of buildings with fronts
smashed in; dangling knots of wires; prostrate electric light poles;
scattered stones and bolts and shivered fences, but the rioters, to a
man, were back, dandling their babies and waiting for the morrow. It
was as though a hurricane had blown fiercely through the town, and then
died over the encircling hills. And in the bank office Brewster was
thoughtfully reading two telegrams from Thorpe, one commending his
attitude for the past few weeks, the other authorizing him to credit
the Consolidated account with two million dollars.

A few days later Wimperley and Birch arrived. It was their answer to
Clark's suggestion that work be continued without delay and, as usual,
he quite correctly interpreted the manner of their reply. His energy
had saved the situation which it had created, but, in spite of this,
there was a new spirit in the financial circles of Philadelphia. He
was dubbed a dangerous man. He was, they considered, too swift as well
as too hypnotic. To continue to identify themselves with his
undertakings was deliberately boarding a runaway train. Added to this,
the interlinking of companies which had been presumed to be a factor of
strength was now shown as an element of weakness. When one lost money,
all lost it.

When Wimperley, unfolding his mind steadily and without interruption,
told Clark that the old regime was at an end, the latter, at first, was
not much impressed. But gradually the case became clearer.

"I don't say we don't trust you," he said, "but candidly, we're afraid
of you. Just two things are needed to secure the operation of the
works,--new money and new management; and it's possible the new crowd
won't want you. Philadelphia has been sucked dry so far as concerns
us."

"Any suggestions?" put in Clark quietly