y gave you."

He paused and drew closer.

"Now, Jim, this is your day, those fellows out there in the reception
hall can wait. You and I must have this thing out--man to man, heart to
heart. You can talk plainly and I'll answer squarely."

The little man stopped again and looked at the ceiling thoughtfully.

"I've got a proposition to make to you, so big you've got to hear it,
so big you can't get away from it, because you're not a fool. You are a
man of genius. You have eloquence and magnetism, intellect and will.
Among all the men I have met in this town I don't know one who is your
equal. There is no height to which you can not climb when once your
feet are on the ladder. And I'm going to put them there."

The assurance in Bivens's voice and the contagious enthusiasm with
which he spoke impressed Stuart.

Bivens was quick to recognize it and strike at once.

"Before I present my plans I want to show you that I can make good my
word. I have caused these reporters to be sent here to-day for the
purpose of giving the widest publicity to the facts about my fortune.
Another run has been planned to-morrow on one of my banks. I have
placed my money and securities in the next room so arranged that you
can verify my statements, and at the proper moment I shall ask these
reporters into the place and let them see with their own eyes. There
can be no more rumours in Wall Street about my financial status. Come
in here."

Bivens led the way into the room beyond, which was the meeting place of
the directors of his many corporations.

Stuart had scarcely passed the door when he stopped, struck dumb with
amazement. In the centre of the great office was a sight that held him
spellbound. An immense vermilion wood table six feet wide and fifty
feet in length filled the centre. On it the wizard had placed his
fortune of ninety millions of dollars. Twenty millions were in gold its
heavy weight sustained by extra stanchions. The coin, apparently all
new from the National mint, was carefully arranged around the edges of
the table in a solid bulwark two feet high.

Behind this gleaming yellow pile of gold he had placed his stocks and
bonds--each pile showing on its top layer the rich green, gold or
purple colours of its issue, each pile marked with a tag which showed
its total amount.

The effect was stunning. The whole scheme of decorations of the immense
room lent itself to the effects the financier had sought to produce.
The