to his chair. Davis whipped the
long roll of plans out from under his arm, held the roll by one end, and
swung it like a bat-stick. But he did not strike at Dodd, as the magnate
seemed to apprehend.

He swung over the colonels' head and swept the top of the desk clean
of everything; vases, bouquets, _objets d'art_, all went rolling and
smashing to the floor.

Colonel Dodd ducked low and held his square head in his hands as if
he feared that the next assault would be on that. But Davis led his
associates out of the room through the door which Briggs had flung open,
summoned by the crash in his master's holy of holies.

For the first time, perhaps, in the history of that private office the
door leading into the anteroom was left open and unguarded. Briggs ran
into the room, his coat-tails streaming, his inquisitive beak stretched
forward. On his heels followed the tall young man who had been waiting
in the anteroom. It was Walker Farr, who closed the door behind him,
shutting out the curious anteroom clients who flocked and peered.

When the colonel lifted his head he found himself looking squarely into
the eyes of this tall young man whom he in no way remembered.

Briggs went down on his hands and knees and began to pick up the debris.

One of the bouquets had rolled to the colonel's feet, and he stooped
with some difficulty, recovered it, and laid it across his knees. He
gazed past Farr with a frown--with a significant, dismissing jerk of
his head. The young man turned in time to see the capitalist's handsome
secretary. The amazing riot in the sanctuary of her employer had brought
her from behind the screen. Uncertainty and alarm were in her eyes
and excitement had flushed her cheeks. Against the background of the
gorgeous screen she seemed a veritable apparition of loveliness, and
while Farr stared, frankly admiring her, recognizing her, exchanging
that startled recognition with her, she disappeared.

"How do you dare to come into my private office in this fashion?"

"I have waited in that anteroom every day for ten days, trying to get an
audience. The door was open just now and I came in."

"It's your own fault if you haven't seen me. I see men who have business
with me and who send in an explanation of that business."

"So I have been told by that man," stated Farr, pointing to Briggs, who
was groping about on the carpet. "But my business with you couldn't be
discussed through a third party."

"Now that y