's got good credit with the banks. I told you you'd
have to fight him sooner or later."

"Well, we'll fight him then. Don't get scared. Crookes ain't the Great
Mogul."

"Holy Moses, I'd like to know who is, then."

"_I_ am. And he's got to know it. There's not room for Crookes and me
in this game. One of us two has got to control this market. If he gets
in my way, by God, I'll smash him!"

"Well, then, J., you and I have got to do some tall talking to-night.
You'd better come down to the Grand Pacific Hotel right away. Court is
there already. It was him, nervy little cuss, that found out about
Crookes. Can you come now, at once? Good evening, Mrs. Jadwin. I'm
sorry to take him from you, but business is business."

No, it was not. To the wife of the great manipulator, listening with a
sinking heart to this courier from the front, it was battle. The Battle
of the Streets was again in array. Again the trumpet sounded, again the
rush of thousands of feet filled all the air. Even here, here in her
home, her husband's head upon her lap, in the quiet and stillness of
her hour, the distant rumble came to her ears. Somewhere, far off there
in the darkness of the night, the great forces were manoeuvring for
position once more. To-morrow would come the grapple, and one or the
other must fall--her husband or the enemy. How keep him to herself when
the great conflict impended? She knew how the thunder of the captains
and the shoutings appealed to him. She had seen him almost leap to his
arms out of her embrace. He was all the man she had called him, and
less strong, less eager, less brave, she would have loved him less.

Yet she had lost him again, lost him at the very moment she believed
she had won him back.

"Don't go, don't go," she whispered to him, as he kissed her good-by.
"Oh, dearest, don't go! This was my evening."

"I must, I must, Laura. Good-by, old girl. Don't keep me--see, Sam is
waiting."

He kissed her hastily twice.

"Now, Sam," he said, turning toward the broker.

"Good night, Mrs. Jadwin."

"Good-by, old girl."

They turned toward the door.

"You see, young Court was down there at the bank, and he noticed that
checks--"

The voices died away as the hangings of the entrance fell to place. The
front door clashed and closed.

Laura sat upright in her place, listening, one fist pressed against her
lips.

There was no more noise. The silence of the vast empty house widened
around her at the shu