of his self-exile under
circumstances infinitely more acceptable!"

"It is a question of what one has within, isn't it?" Merry asked, "that
something which keeps one from being satisfied with anything less than
the most and the best that life can give him and he can give to life."

Huntington looked at her with undisguised admiration. "You couldn't have
stated it better if you had taken all the college courses in the world,"
he said. "You're a wonderful little girl, Miss Merry, and if you don't
let your heart play pranks with that well-balanced head of yours you
will certainly achieve your great ambition."

They were near the hotel now, and the conversation had strayed so far
from the original subject that the girl did not follow him.

"My great ambition?" she asked. "And that is--"

"I won't tell you until we're up the steps."

"Well?" she demanded archly, as at length they stood on the piazza.

"You will marry a man who will let you contribute your share to the real
life which you will jointly live."

The laughing response which he had looked for was not spoken, but to his
amazement Merry turned from him without a word and disappeared within
the hallway.

* * * * *

XIV

* * * * *

Thatcher and Cosden chartered one of the hotel carriages the next
morning and started on a tour of inspection over the route plotted out
by Duncan for the proposed trolley-line. After passing beyond the town
limits, and with the long stretch of superb coral road ahead of them,
Thatcher turned to his companion.

"Why can't we get together on the Consolidated Machinery?" he asked
pointedly.

"The public demands that your nefarious trust be compelled to recognize
its rights," Cosden replied smiling.

"Good!" Thatcher smiled in response. "Now that you have that piffle off
your chest, please go on."

"This time we have the goods," Cosden added significantly.

"If you are so sure of it, why don't you show them to us? Then we can
tell whether it's a real hold-up or merely an attempt."

"That's just the point, and the sooner your crowd realizes it the less
time you will waste. This is not a hold-up game; we have the goods, and
we can make a better thing by operating than by selling out."

"You have courage to buck up against an organization as strong as ours."

"Not only courage but capital enough to see us through."

The antiquated stage-coach, plying b