beyond. The world had been created for him; the cosmos
but expressed his Ego.

On the morning after his conversation with the Beaubien regarding the
social aspirations of Mrs. Hawley-Crowles, the financier sat at his
rich mahogany desk on the top floor of the Ames building in earnest
discussion with his lawyer, Alonzo Hood. The top floor of the tower
was divided into eight rooms. Two of these constituted Ames's inner
_sanctum_; one was Hood's private office; and the rest were devoted
to clerks and stenographers. A telegrapher occupied an alcove
adjoining Hood's room, and handled confidential messages over
private wires to the principal cities in the country. A private
telephone connected Ames's desk with the Beaubien mansion. Private
lines ran to the Stock Exchange and to various other points
throughout the city. The telegraph and telephone companies gave his
messages preference over all others. At a word he would be placed in
almost instant communication with New Orleans, San Francisco, London,
Berlin, or Cairo. Private lines and speaking tubes ran to every room
or floor of the building where a company, firm, or individual was
doing business. At the office of the Telegraph Service up-town he
maintained messengers who carried none but his own despatches. In
the railroad yards his private car stood always in readiness; and in
the harbor his yacht was kept constantly under steam. A motor car
stood ever in waiting in the street below, close to the shaft of a
private automatic elevator, which ran through the building for his
use alone. This elevator also penetrated the restaurant in the
basement of the building, where a private room and a special waiter
were always at the man's disposal. A private room and special
attendant were maintained in the Turkish baths adjoining, and he
had his own personal suite and valet at his favorite club up-town.

This morning he was at his desk, as usual, at eight o'clock. Before
him lay the various daily reports from his mines, his mills, his
railroads, and his bank. These disposed of, there followed a quick
survey of the day's appointments, arranged for him by his chief
secretary. Then he summoned Hood. As the latter entered, Ames was
absorbed in the legend of the stock ticker.

"C. and R. closed yesterday at twenty-six," he commented. Then,
swinging back in his chair, "What's Stolz doing?"

"For one thing, he has made Miss Fagin his private stenographer,"
replied Hood.

Ames chuckl