, Mr. McGowan." The voice came as if
through tightly clenched teeth. "If you have any business that I can
attend to I am here to do it, but you can't remain here and abuse Mr.
Minott. My purpose in coming downstairs was to help you if I could, but
you must act like a man, not like a ruffian."

Murphy stepped quickly between the two men:

"Go easy, Mac," he cried in a conciliatory tone. "If the doctor's with
him ye can't see him. Hear what Mr. Breen has to say; ye got to wait
anyhow. Of course, Mr. Breen, Mr. McGowan is het up because the men is
gettin' ugly, and he ain't got money enough for his next pay-roll, and
the last one ain't all paid yit."

McGowan again shifted his hat--this time he canted it on one side. His
companion's warning had had its effect, for his voice was now pitched in
a lower key.

"There ain't no use talking pay-roll to Mr. Breen, Jim," he growled. "He
knows what it is; he gits up agin' it once in a while himself. If he'll
tell me just when I'm going to get my money I'll wait like any decent
man would wait, but I want to know, and I want to know now."

At that instant the door of the sitting-room opened, and Corinne,
shrinking as one in mortal fright, glided out and made a hurried escape
upstairs. Murphy sagged back against the wall and waited respectfully
for her to disappear. McGowan did not alter his position nor did he
remove his hat, though he waited until she had reached the landing
before speaking again:

"And now, what are you going to do, Mr. Breen?" he demanded in
threatening tones.

"Nothing," said Jack in his same even voice, his eyes never moving from
the contractor's. "Nothing, until you get into a different frame of
mind." Then he turned to Murphy: "When Mr. McGowan removes his hat, Mr.
Murphy, and shows some sign of being a gentleman I will take you both
into the next room and talk this matter over."

McGowan flushed scarlet and jerked his hat from his head.

"Well she come on me sudden like and I didn't see her till she'd got by.
Of course, if you've got anything to say, I'm here to listen, Where'll
we go?"

Jack turned and led the way into the sitting-room, where he motioned
them both to seats.

"And now what is the exact amount of your voucher?" he asked, when he
had drawn up a chair and sat facing them.

McGowan fumbled in his inside pocket and drew forth a slip of paper.

"A little short of ten thousand dollars," he answered in a business-like
tone of voice. "