ay. Nevertheless, I sha'n't
quit."

"You _must!_" Roswell cried, impatiently. "You can't defy us."

"The devil I can't!" It was Gray's turn to blaze. "That's exactly what
I'm doing. I defy you to get your money out. I defy you to interfere
with me in the slightest or to wring a particle of mercy out of me. I
knew this would come, sooner or later, and I planned accordingly. What
d'you think I am, eh? I tell you I've got him! Otherwise he'd never
squeal about this--army matter. Now then, tell your crowd to try and
pull out! That's not a threat, sir, for they have played fair with me,
and I sha'n't sacrifice a penny of their money--unless they force me to
do so. But--I'm in control. I'm sitting pretty. They can't unseat me,
and I warn them not to try."

"You are making a great mistake. We will find a way to--to _pull_ you
off."

"Ever try to pull a bulldog out of a fight when he had the other dog
down and his teeth in its throat? I have. There's something rather
horrible about it--rather beastly and shocking. And there's always the
danger of losing a hand." The speaker rose. He hesitated, before
leaving, to say: "Your son served with honor, Mr. Roswell. I know how
you must feel about this--other matter, therefore I shall spare you the
embarrassment of declining my hand."

The financier's face reddened; rather stiffly he said, "You know
whether you have a right to offer it."

Instantly the departing visitor extended his palm, and Roswell realized
that he had seldom seen a man more deeply moved. "Thanks! I--It is a
blow to lose your support, but--nothing can swerve me. Meanwhile, I'm
glad that we do not part as enemies."

When he had gone, when he had passed out with head up and shoulders
square, the banker shivered slightly. Audibly he murmured: "God, what a
man! What a hatred!"

The Briskows had just moved into their new home, and the place was
still in some confusion when Gray mounted the steps. Pa answered the
bell in his shirt sleeves and with a claw hammer in his hand, for he
had been hanging pictures. He favored his visitor with a wide smile of
welcome and a hearty greeting-quite a feat, inasmuch as his mouth was
full of nails--then, having rid it of its contents, he explained:

"We got a slave that tends the door, but I 'ain't got gentled up to
bells an' things yet. Allie's away an' Ma's layin' down, so--"

"Ma isn't ill, I hope?"

"N--no. Just ailin'. I thought mebbe one of the neighbors had run in to