s surrender, and the tone in which it was made, stirred me
more than all else. She had trusted me and I had failed. I would not
have it so.

"Miss Colton," I said, earnestly, "suppose--suppose I should go ahead
and make this fight, on my own hook. Suppose I should give Davis the
'instructions' he is begging for. Have I permission to do it?"

She looked at me in surprise. "Of course," she said, simply.

"Do you mean it? It may mean complete smash. I am no railroad man, no
stock manipulator. I have an idea and if this trouble were mine I should
act upon it. But it is not mine. It is your father's--and yours. I may
be crazy to risk such a thing--"

She stepped forward. "Do it," she commanded. "I tell you to do it. If it
fails I will take the responsibility."

"That you shall not do. But I will take the chance. Phin!"

"Yup; here I be."

"Send this message at once: 'Try your hardest to get hold of any shares
you can, at almost any figure in reason, before the market opens. When
it opens begin buying everything offered.' Got that?"

"Yup. I've got it."

"Sign it 'Colton' and send it along. I am using your father's name," I
added, turning to her. "It seems to me the only way to avoid suspicion
and get action. No one must know that 'Big Jim' is critically ill; you
understand that."

"Yes, I understand. But," hesitatingly, "to buy may mean paying
tremendous prices, may it not? Can we--"

"We must. Here is Davis's reply coming. What is it, Phin?"

Cahoon read off the message as the receiver clicked.

"You are insane. Buying at such prices will be suicide."

"Tell him no. Tell him to let it leak out that Colton is seizing the
opportunity to clinch his control of the road. The other crowd will
think, if he is willing to buy at any price, that he cannot be so short
as they supposed. Send all that, Phin. It is a bluff, Miss Colton,
nothing but a bluff, but it may win. God knows I hope it will."

She did not answer. Together we waited for the reply. It came as
follows:

All right if you say so, of course, but still think it suicide. I am
off on the still hunt for those shares but don't believe one to be had,
Consolidated bunch too sharp for that. Stay by the wire. Will report
when I can. Good luck and good-by.

"He's gone, I cal'late," observed Phineas. "Need me any more, do you
think?"

"Yes. You must stay here all night, just as I told you."

"Right you be. Send word to the old woman, that's all, if