ve been brought in personal contact with the
stockholders and the directors. You have met the ideals, while I have
come face to face with the actualities. For this reason I tell you that
you are undertaking a more serious campaign than you realize, and I also
tell you that, strong as you are, compromise and conciliation will
eventually be required."

"Do I, then, stand alone?"

Covington resented the suggestion.

"There should be no question in your mind as to where I stand," he said.
"My personal relations with you, and my hope of an even closer
relationship, make any discussion unnecessary. But I see the situation
from a viewpoint which you cannot, and my duty clearly demands that I
express myself to you with complete frankness. I do not suggest that you
give up your ideals--I simply urge you to compromise with them in order
to win greater victories in the future."

"Covington," replied Gorham, with decision, "you know how much I value
your judgment, how firmly I rely upon your loyalty. Because of this, I
shall move with even greater care than so serious a crisis as this
inevitably demands. Yet it is only fair to say to you now that I can see
but one outcome. There are many conflicts which arise in life which
admit of compromise--but you cannot compromise with truth, with virtue,
or with honor. These attributes either exist, or they do not--there are
no half-ways. Suppose you do a little thinking, too, along my line. Then
we'll join together, taking advantage of this new knowledge which has
come to us, and force the issue where we see the necessity. We are both
trying to accomplish the same results, but are considering different
routes. Think it over, my friend, and I feel sure that you will see that
I am right."

His interview with Gorham left Covington with certain well-defined
conclusions: Gorham would never yield one iota from his position, and
his associates would not rest until they had wiped out this affront they
had received. It would be necessary for him to take sides openly with
Gorham or else make definite sacrifices. Yet he must hold the position
he now had with the directors so as to be Gorham's successor in case the
affair turned in that direction; and, most important of all, he must
fortify himself still further against the breaking of the storm, which
he knew would sooner or later come upon him.

In military conflicts there are various methods of winning a victory.
When the adversary appears too