Threatens litigation. A hold-up, but he has
the drop. Am in doubt whether to shoot him now or later. Stop at
Chicago, and bring Harper. Bring him, understand? Unless Pendleton deal
is made, this means worse things than we ever dreamed of; but don't
wait. Leave Pendleton for later, and come home. If I follow my
inclinations, you will find me in jail for murder. ELKINS."

All night I sat, turning this over in my mind. Was it ruin, or would my
success here carry us through? Without a moment's sleep I ate my
breakfast, braced myself with coffee, engaged a berth for the return
journey, and promptly presented myself at Pendleton's office at ten.
Wearily we went over the precious contract, and I took my copy and
left.

All that day I rode in a sort of trance, in which I could see before my
eyes the forms of the hosts of those whom Jim had called "the captives
below decks," whose fortunes were dependent upon whether we striving,
foolish, scheming, passionate men went to the wall. A hundred times I
read in Jim's telegram the acuteness of our crisis; and a sense of our
danger swept dauntingly over my spirit. A hundred times I wished that I
might awake and find that the whole thing--Aladdin and his ring, the
palaces, gnomes, genies, and all--could pass away like a tale that is
told, and leave me back in the rusty little town where it found me.

I slept heavily that night, and was very much much more myself when I
went to see Harper in Chicago. He had received a message from Jim, and
was ready to go. He also had one for me, sent in his care, and just
arrived.

"You have saved the fight," said the message; "your success came just as
they were counting nine on us. With what you have done we can beat the
game yet. Bring Harper, and come on."

Harper, cool and collected, big and blonde, with a hail-fellow-well-met
manner which spoke eloquently of the West, was a great comfort to me. He
made light of the trouble.

"Cornish is no fool," said he, "and he isn't going to saw off the limb
he stands on."

I tried to take this view of it; but I knew, as he did not, the real
source of the enmity between Elkins and Cornish, and my fears returned.
Business differences might be smoothed over; but with two such men, the
quarrel of rivals in love meant nothing but the end of things between
them.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The "Dutchman's Mill" and What It Ground.

We sat in conclave about the table. I saw by the lined faces of E