ussion began. Gradually Osterman, by dint of his
clamour, his strident reiteration, the plausibility of his glib, ready
assertions, the ease with which he extricated himself when apparently
driven to a corner, completely won over old Broderson to his way of
thinking. Osterman bewildered him with his volubility, the lightning
rapidity with which he leaped from one subject to another, garrulous,
witty, flamboyant, terrifying the old man with pictures of the swift
approach of ruin, the imminence of danger.

Annixter, who led the argument against him--loving argument though he
did--appeared to poor advantage, unable to present his side effectively.
He called Osterman a fool, a goat, a senseless, crazy-headed jackass,
but was unable to refute his assertions. His debate was the clumsy
heaving of brickbats, brutal, direct. He contradicted everything
Osterman said as a matter of principle, made conflicting assertions,
declarations that were absolutely inconsistent, and when Osterman or
Harran used these against him, could only exclaim:

"Well, in a way it's so, and then again in a way it isn't."

But suddenly Osterman discovered a new argument. "If we swing this
deal," he cried, "we've got old jelly-belly Behrman right where we want
him."

"He's the man that does us every time," cried Harran. "If there is dirty
work to be done in which the railroad doesn't wish to appear, it is
S. Behrman who does it. If the freight rates are to be 'adjusted' to
squeeze us a little harder, it is S. Behrman who regulates what we can
stand. If there's a judge to be bought, it is S. Behrman who does
the bargaining. If there is a jury to be bribed, it is S. Behrman
who handles the money. If there is an election to be jobbed, it is S.
Behrman who manipulates it. It's Behrman here and Behrman there. It is
Behrman we come against every time we make a move. It is Behrman who has
the grip of us and will never let go till he has squeezed us bone dry.
Why, when I think of it all sometimes I wonder I keep my hands off the
man."

Osterman got on his feet; leaning across the table, gesturing wildly
with his right hand, his serio-comic face, with its bald forehead
and stiff, red ears, was inflamed with excitement. He took the floor,
creating an impression, attracting all attention to himself, playing to
the gallery, gesticulating, clamourous, full of noise.

"Well, now is your chance to get even," he vociferated. "It is now or
never. You can take it an