nger found him had pushed on as fast
as possible through deep, melting snow, but he did not mean to talk
about this. By and by he gave Agatha a humorous account of a small
accident at the mine, and she followed his lead. She had felt disturbed
and anxious, but now he had come she could smile. For all that she was
silent when they drove up a shabby street where the company's office was
situated at the top of an old building.

The office had two rooms; one very small, where a wheat-broker had a
desk and combined the secretary's duties with his regular business. The
other was larger, and when George and Scott went in was occupied by
Stormont, Gardner, and two or three other gentlemen. George imagined
they had come early to arrange their program.

"You are punctual, but I'm sorry I must ask you to wait," he said. "Miss
Strange will not be long and wishes to be present when we begin. She
holds the largest block of shares."

"Then I suppose Miss Strange must be indulged; but I don't know that her
holding is larger than these gentlemen's and mine," Stormont replied
with a meaning smile.

George saw he had been given a hint, but he and the others began to talk
good-humoredly. All knew that a struggle was coming, but polite
amenities were dignified and marked one's confidence. By and by the door
opened and Stormont frowned as Thirlwell came in with Agatha.

"We are glad to see Miss Strange, but Mr. Thirlwell owns none of the
company's stock," he said.

Thirlwell smiled, in a rather curious way, but said nothing and Agatha
replied: "Mr. Thirlwell is the manager; I asked him to come."

"Then I take back my objection," Stormont said with a bow. "I asked you
and Mr. Strange to meet us so that we could talk informally about some
business. Although we must call a shareholders' meeting if my
suggestions are approved, we hold enough stock between us to force
through any decision at which we arrive."

"To begin with, you had better state whose votes you command," said
George.

When Stormont gave the names the secretary opened the register and then
nodded. "If all who are present and the others Mr. Stormont mentions
agree, it would give a larger majority than our constitution requires."

"We'll take it for granted that the gentlemen would vote as Mr. Stormont
directs," said George, who looked disturbed. "We wait his proposition."

"My friends and I are dissatisfied with the way things are going. No ore
has been smelted; and,