ave-man.

"I'm in hopes that we can get together on some kind of a friendly
basis," entreated Fogg, humbly. "Simply fighting the thing over again
won't get us anywhere. I had to do certain things and I did them. You
spoke of my iron wishbone! Now about that _Montana_ matter--"

"I don't want any rehearsal, Mr. Fogg. What's your business with me?"

"It's hard to start unless I can feel that you'd listen to some
explanations and make some allowances. When a man works for Julius
Marston he has to forget himself and do--"

"I have worked for Julius Marston!"

"But not in the finance game, Mayo!" There was a tremble in the
promoter's voice. "Men are only shadows to him when it's a matter of big
finance. He gives his orders to have results produced. He doesn't stop
to think about the men concerned. It's the figures on his books he looks
at! He uses a man like he'd use a napkin at table!"

"As you used me! You have had good training!"

"Well, if the trick was passed on down, it's now being passed on up,"
stated Fogg, despondently. "I'm the goat, right now. Can't you view me
personally in this matter?"

"I don't want to. I would get up and use these fists on you, sore as
they are!"

"I'm afraid it's going to be a tough matter for us to settle," sighed
the promoter. "I thought I had everything tied up in the usual way. Damn
it, if it wasn't for a woman being mixed into it, the thing would have
worked out all right!" He let his temper loose. "You can never reckon on
business when a woman sticks in her fingers! I don't care if you are in
love with Marston's daughter, Mayo! She is like a lot of other cursed
high-flier girls who have always had more time and money than is
good for them. She is Trouble swishing petticoats! And you must have
considerable of a mortgage on her, seeing that she has double-crossed
her own father in order to pull your chestnuts out of the fire!"

Having not the least idea what Mr. Fogg was talking about, Mayo was
silent.

"You're a cool one! I must hand it to you!" snapped the promoter.

"You'd better leave the name of Miss Marston out of this business with
me, sir."

"How in blazes can I leave it out, seeing what she has done?"

And Mayo, not knowing what new outbreak had marked the activities of the
incomprehensible young lady, resumed his grim silence, his own interests
suggesting that watchful waiting would be his best policy.

"Well, what are you going to say about the papers?" deman