you'll be scared of
speculating too."

"But suppose we can prove to you," said Sweeny, all at once, "that
we're not speculating--that the other fellow, this fool Bull is doing
the speculating?"

"I'll go into anything in the way of legitimate trading," answered
Cressler, getting up from the table. "You convince me that your clique
is not a speculative clique, and I'll come in. But I don't see how your
deal can be anything else."

"Will you meet us here to-morrow?" asked Sweeny, as they got into their
overcoats.

"It won't do you any good," persisted Cressler.

"Well, will you meet us just the same?" the other insisted. And in the
end Cressler accepted.

On the steps of the restaurant they parted, and the two leaders watched
Cressler's broad, stooped shoulders disappear down the street.

"He's as good as in already," Sweeny declared. "I'll fix him to-morrow.
Once a speculator, always a speculator. He was the cock of the cow-yard
in his day, and the thing is in the blood. He gave himself clean, clean
away when he let out he was afraid o' speculating. You can't be afraid
of anything that ain't got a hold on you. Y' understand me now?"

"Well," observed Freye, "we've got to get him in."

"Talk to me about that now," Sweeny answered. "I'm new to some parts o'
this scheme o' yours yet. Why is Crookes so keen on having him in? I'm
not so keen. We could get along without him. He ain't so god-awful
rich, y' know."

"No, but he's a solid, conservative cash grain man," answered Freye,
"who hasn't been associated with speculating for years. Crookes has got
to have that element in the clique before we can approach Stires & Co.
We may have to get a pile of money from them, and they're apt to be
scary and cautious. Cressler being in, do you see, gives the clique a
substantial, conservative character. You let Crookes manage it. He
knows his business."

"Say," exclaimed Sweeny, an idea occurring to him, "I thought Crookes
was going to put us wise to-day. He must know by now who the Big Bull
is."

"No doubt he does know," answered the other. "He'll tell us when he's
ready. But I think I could copper the individual. There was a great big
jag of wheat sold to Liverpool a little while ago through Gretry,
Converse & Co., who've been acting for Curtis Jadwin for a good many
years."

"Oh, Jadwin, hey? Hi! we're after big game now, I'm thinking."

"But look here," warned Freye. "Here's a point. Cressler is not to know
by th