hat's final. Wire the Sequana Coal
Company that I want their report to-morrow, without fail. Wire
Collins, at Avon, to tell the Spinners' Union I have nothing to
discuss with them. Now send Hodson in."

As Hood was chief of the Ames legal department, and Willett the chief
of his army of secretaries, so Hodson was the captain of his force of
brokers, a keen, sagacious trader, whose knowledge of the market and
whose ability in the matter of stock trading was almost uncanny.

"What's your selection for to-day, Hodson?" asked Ames, as the man
entered.

Hodson laid on his desk three lists of suggested deals on the
exchanges of New York, London, and Paris. Ames glanced over them
hurriedly, drawing his pencil through certain that did not meet his
approval, and substituting others in which for particular reasons he
wished to trade that morning. "What's your reason for thinking I ought
to buy Public Utilities?" he asked, looking up at his broker.

"They have the letting of the Hudson river tunnel contract," replied
Hodson.

Ames studied the broker's face a moment. Then his own brightened, as
he began to divine the man's reason. "By George!" he ejaculated, "you
think there's quicksand along the proposed route?"

"I know it," said Hodson calmly.

"Pick up ten thousand shares, if you can get them," returned Ames
quickly. Then--"I'm going to attend a meeting of the Council of
American Grain Exchanges at two to-day. I want you to be just outside
the door."

Hodson nodded understandingly. Ames concluded, "I guess that's all.
I'm at the bank at ten; at the Board of Trade at ten-thirty; Stock
Exchange at eleven; and lunch at Rector's at twelve sharp, returning
here immediately afterward."

Hodson again bowed, and left the office to undertake his various
commissions.

For the next half hour Ames pored over the morning's quota of letters
and messages, making frequent notes, and often turning to the
telephone at his hand. Then he summoned a stenographer and rapidly
dictated a number of replies. Finally he again called Willett.

"In my next vacant hour, following the one devoted to Lafelle, I want
to see Reverend Darius Borwell," he directed. "Also," he continued,
"wire Strunz that I want a meeting of the Brewers' Union called at the
earliest possible date. By the way, ask Lafelle if he can spend the
night with me on board the _Cossack_, and if so, notify Captain
McCall. That will save an hour in the day. Here is a bundle of