st move with the trend of the times."

Latisan had been revolving in his mind certain statements which he
proposed to make to the big men of the Comas. He had assorted and
classified those statements before he entered the castle of the great
corporation. With youth's optimism he had anticipated a certain measure
of sympathy--had in some degree pictured at least one kindly man in the
Comas outfit who would listen to a young chap's troubles.

Walking to the door, standing with his hand on the knob, he knew he must
go back to the woods with the dolorous prospect of being obliged to
fight to hold together the remnants of the Latisan business. He set his
teeth and opened the door. He would have gone without further words, but
the sallow man snapped a half threat which brought Ward around on his
heels.

"Mr. Latisan, I hope you will carry away with you the conviction that
fighting the Comas company will not get you anything."

Ward choked for a moment. Old John was stirring in him. A fettered yelp
was bulging in his throat, and the skin of the back of his head tingled
as if the hair were rising. But he spoke quietly when he allowed his
voice to squeeze past the repressed impulse. "There's a real fight ready
to break in the north country, sir."

"Do you propose to be captain?"

"I have no such ambition. But your Mr. Craig is forcing the issue. No
company is big enough to buck the law in our state."

"Look here, my good fellow!" The sallow man came around in his chair.
Ward immediately was more fully informed as to the personage's status.
"I am one of the attorneys of this corporation. I have been attending
to the special acts your legislature has passed in our behalf. We are
fully protected by law."

"The question is how much you'll be protected after facts are brought
out by a fight," replied Ward, stoutly. "I know the men who have been
sent down to the legislature from our parts and how they were elected.
But even such men get cold feet after the public gets wise."

"That'll be enough!" snapped the attorney. He turned to his desk again.

"Yes, it looks like it," agreed young Latisan; he did not bang the door
after him; he closed it softly.

The attorney was obliged to look around to assure himself that his
caller was not in the room. Then he pushed a button and commanded a
clerk to ask if Mr. Craig was still in the president's office. Informed
that Mr. Craig was there, the attorney went thither.

"I have just b