take advantage of the new
relations created by Covington himself. Watching his opportunity, he
opened up the subject with a proper air of mystery.

"I wish you would advise me, Mr. Covington."

The words may have caused surprise, but Covington turned to the boy as
though his remark were perfectly natural.

"I shall be glad to if I can," he said.

"You see, I don't quite know where I stand just now. There's evidently
going to be a struggle between the chief and the committee, and I'd like
to be put in right. How do you think it's going to turn out?"

Covington did not doubt the sincerity which Allen's words and tone
apparently expressed.

"There is only one possible outcome," he replied, frankly. "Mr. Gorham
will have to compromise or they will find a way to take his power away
from him."

"But you don't think he will, do you?"

"He's bound to. No man except a fool is going to let his ideals rob him
of his power, and Robert Gorham is no fool."

"No, but those ideals are pretty well developed."

"Of course they are, and he will hold to them as long as he can; but
when Litchfield and the others begin to take real action, as they will
soon, he will see things differently."

"Then you advise me to stick to him?"

Covington looked at him critically. "If I were you," he said, carefully,
"I would stick to the Companies. I am with him, of course, but the
clerks have no special obligation to any one. You have been closer to
him than the others, but I don't suppose that is any reason why you
shouldn't look out for yourself if a break comes. But personally, I'm
not expecting any break."

"I never saw any one cotton so to anything as Mr. Gorham does to those
ideals of his," Allen continued. "I believe he talks them all day and
dreams them all night. It would break his heart to be obliged to take
back water."

Covington laughed at the boy's simplicity. "Mr. Gorham was in business
long before the Consolidated Companies was born, and from what they tell
me he was a clever one even back there. His ideals didn't trouble him
any then, yet he succeeded. He figures that it is necessary for him to
test his strength against the committee at this point, and he has
accomplished all he wants. He will play with them for a time, and
eventually make a compromise which will fool them into thinking that
they have carried their point, but which in reality will give him a
still stronger grip on the Companies. Mr. Gorham has taught me