r. Maverick, with all your
knowledge of brains and nerves, of occult causes and mysterious effects!
So it happens that sometimes a simple, direct truth is the greatest
puzzle of all.

The schools and clubs had not been neglected with all this excitement.
But this winter Mary Moran had been teacher at a small salary; and a
bakery and refreshment or dining room had been opened down stairs, which
really made quite a little money. Wholesomely cooked food was offered
for sale, with bread, rolls, and biscuit. The club had also given two
successful suppers. When Jane Morgan was home, Sylvie was relieved of
the actual care: she would have it. She had come back to Yerbury a
thousand dollars richer for her relative's death, and she and Jack were
drawing plans for a co-operative store.

CHAPTER XXI.

"I'D rather lose five thousand dollars than do it."

Jack Darcy leaned back in his office-chair. He had just made up the
third half-yearly account. It was bad enough. They had known this all
along, and had not concealed it from the men. Now it was to be
confronted in black and white, with searching eyes.

It was not that they had not made any thing: that would have been
endurable, considering the kind of winter. But they had gone back, and
eaten up the profits of last year.

"You see, there co-operation comes in," said Bob Winston. "It isn't
_your_ loss alone. It's mine and every man's. That's what we agreed to
when we went in. Labor and capital should share in the ups and downs.
See here, Jack, I've learned a good deal myself. I have more sympathy
with employers. Gad! what a pull we've had this winter! If it hadn't
been for your fairy godmother"--

"Well, it must be done!" and Jack pulled a long face. "There, it is all
ready to print. Now old fellow, we must brace ourselves up for the shot
and shell. We'll have to do the fighting all over again. If every man
had as easy, philosophical a mind as you, or as sensible, reasonable a
one as Cameron, I should not have so many misgivings."

The statement was printed and distributed. The men looked blue and
cross. Had they really lost nearly all of last year's balance?

Winston asked them to stop one evening while he went into a slight
explanation. He was well armed. Without having a logical mind or
parliamentary training, he had a woman's quick intuitions, and often
jumped at very decent conclusions with hardly a glance at the premises.
He had a way of massing his forces,