canal when his secretary approached again.

"What is it this time?"

"Hobbs is at the bank with the payroll check, and has just telephoned
up. I think you'd better speak to him, sir."

Clark's lips pressed tight and his eyes opened a little. Retracing his
steps, he listened to an agitated voice.

"Mr. Brewster states he has no authority to cash this check unless we
cover our overdraft. He would like to talk to you."

"Let him."

Again the receiver spoke, while Clark's face grew suddenly very grim.
"I think you'd better come up and see me," he said shortly.

Then he listened. "Very well," he snapped. His features were like a
mask. "I'm going down to the bank," he went on dryly to the secretary,
"for the first time in his life Mr. Brewster is unable to leave his
office and come up to mine when invited."

He drove into St. Marys followed by the glances of every man and woman
who caught sight of the erect figure. The town was full of confused
and conflicting rumors, but nothing had as yet crystallized. The
appearance of Clark in mid afternoon at the door of the bank, thickened
the air. It was known that people with whom he did business invariably
went to him. Not in years had he been to Brewster. But for all of
that he seemed as cheerful as usual, and took off his gray hat to Mrs.
Worden with accustomed and somewhat formal urbanity. Inside he found
Hobbs, his round, soft face looking unhealthily pallid, and Brewster
with his jaw stuck out, a determined expression on his young features.

"Well, what's the trouble?"

"Nothing very serious." Brewster spoke with a pleasant accent, but he
was confronting the most difficult hour of his life. "Just this check."

"What about it?"

"I can't make any further advances till your present acceptances are
met in Philadelphia. We have half a million of them."

"That payroll has got to be disbursed."

"I'm sorry, but I can't cash that check."

The lines on the older man's face tightened and deepened. "Mr.
Brewster, we have spent some fifteen millions of capital through your
bank. This amount is too small to discuss. Do you realize that, if
you persist, the men will go unpaid for the first time in seven years?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't help that." The young manager began to feel
more fortified.

"Is this because there's a temporary interruption at the rail mill?"
said Clark bitterly. "You're assuming a big responsibility."

"I regret that I can give