rd to make me think that things ain't going
through just as we planned 'em; but if they are, what's he monkeying
round with those other fellows for? That's what I want to know. If our
friend here feels like reciprocating, as he says he does, now's his
chance."

Covington watched the two men closely. He may have enjoyed the fact that
the course of the conversation had turned, but if so he gave no evidence
of it.

"You have placed me in possession of certain information which obviously
would not assist in carrying out your plans," he remarked, suggestively.
"Now, this whole transaction, as I informed Mr. Harris, is in Mr.
Gorham's hands. Under certain conditions, I might not feel it incumbent
upon me to interfere."

"And those are?" asked Harris.

"That you forget my insignificant part in the purchase of Miss Gorham's
stock," he replied. "It is not of great concern to me, and you are
perfectly free to communicate it to Mr. Gorham if you choose; but in
view of certain things which have occurred since, I should be glad to
have the matter dropped if agreeable to you."

"That's easy enough," Brady remarked, showing signs of relief. "Is that
all?"

"Yes," Covington replied; "I am not as avaricious as you are in
exacting my pound of flesh. Now, one other thing in order to give good
measure: it may interest you to know that Mr. Gorham went over the
contract with me yesterday in detail, and he is going to accept it as it
stands, paying you the price you named."

"You saw what it stipulated, Covington? It covers everything just as we
turn it over. He can find out all in good time what three lines ain't
included, and also the price his precious Companies will have to pay for
them."

"He appeared to be perfectly satisfied," Covington continued, calmly. "I
should judge that everything was all right."

"Then he's been wastin' time," growled Brady, "and he can have all the
pink teas he wants with Littleton and Graham. We directors have the
authority, anyhow; nobody could stop us. Who the devil is Gorham to
dictate to me? He thinks he's the whole show, he does. It makes me sick
to see him swellin' around with that girl wife of his. She's a stunner
all right, and I don't blame him; but who the devil is she? Somebody's
divorced wife, ain't she, Covington? Does anybody know anything about
her? He ain't so much." He took out his watch and looked at it
mechanically. "I guess I'm gettin' old to have these nervous spells--it
ain't