liked him."

"He must have heard what you said about Graham," reflected Jason. "I'm
rather sorry for that. He's quite capable of carrying tales to Billy
that might lead him to misconstrue your attitude."

"Let him! I guess it won't be such an awful misconstruction at that!
Graham was never farther in his life than this minute from his
partnership."

"Well--of course--a partnership wouldn't quite march with my idea!"
Jason Bolt lighted a cigar rather nervously as he broached a subject
dear to his heart. "Not a partnership--no. But if we were to
incorporate and borrow the capital we ought to have, he might
reasonably expect a good block of stock on the most advantageous
terms----"

"We--are--not--going--to--incorporate!" Varr's slow words carried the
emphasis of sheer exasperation. "I have told you before that I do not
intend to do so."

"Still, Simon, our position warrants it--our increased business almost
demands it--"

"I have said I won't!"

"Yes--yes, I heard you. I would not have brought up the subject now
except that we will have an opportunity during the next week to get
some dope on the possibilities. Judge Taylor can tell us all about the
legal end of it, but Herman Krech can give us pointers on the practical
side--"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Oh--didn't I tell you?" Artful Mr. Bolt's surprise was well
simulated. "Why, he's a New York stockbroker who has made barrels of
money. He married a girl named Jean Graham, an old friend of my
wife's. Mary has tried two or three times to get them for a visit, and
they are finally coming to-morrow for a week."

"He can stay a year for all of me." Varr brought his open hand down
with a loud smack on the arm of his chair. "Once and for all, Jason,
we are not going to incorporate!"

"We could expand and make a lot more money."

"We'll make more money without expanding!"

When a youngster at school, some one had told Jason Bolt that the
constant dropping of water will in time wear away the hardest rock. He
had never forgotten this valuable piece of knowledge, possibly because
he had so frequently demonstrated its truth on the person of his
unsuspecting partner. No one could argue Varr into doing anything,
much less drive him, but Jason had more than once succeeded in
overcoming that granite obstinacy by a species of gentle, persistent
nagging. So adept had he become in this delicate accomplishment that
Simon Varr would have sworn at the