same; it won't alter one grain of sand in all that land, or twist one
blade of grass around sideways.

"Nothing is going to be lost--not one pile out of the docks, not one
railroad spike, not one ounce of steam out of the gauge of a
ferry-boat. The cars will go on running, whether I hold the paper or
somebody else holds it. The tide has set toward Oakland. People are
beginning to pour in. We're selling building lots again. There is no
stopping that tide. No matter what happens to me or the paper, them
three hundred thousand folks are coming in the same. And there'll be
cars to carry them around, and houses to hold them, and good water for
them to drink and electricity to give them light, and all the rest."

By this time Hegan had arrived in an automobile. The honk of it came
in through the open window, and they saw, it stop alongside the big red
machine. In the car were Unwin and Harrison, while Jones sat with the
chauffeur.

"I'll see Hegan," Daylight told Dede. "There's no need for the rest.
They can wait in the machine."

"Is he drunk?" Hegan whispered to Dede at the door.

She shook her head and showed him in.

"Good morning, Larry," was Daylight's greeting. "Sit down and rest
your feet. You sure seem to be in a flutter."

"I am," the little Irishman snapped back. "Grimshaw and Hodgkins are
going to smash if something isn't done quick. Why didn't you come to
the office? What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing," Daylight drawled lazily. "Except let them smash, I guess--"

"But--"

"I've had no dealings with Grimshaw and Hodgkins. I don't owe them
anything. Besides, I'm going to smash myself. Look here, Larry, you
know me. You know when I make up my mind I mean it. Well, I've sure
made up my mind. I'm tired of the whole game. I'm letting go of it as
fast as I can, and a smash is the quickest way to let go."

Hegan stared at his chief, then passed his horror-stricken gaze on to
Dede, who nodded in sympathy.

"So let her smash, Larry," Daylight went on. "All you've got to do is
to protect yourself and all our friends. Now you listen to me while I
tell you what to do. Everything is in good shape to do it. Nobody
must get hurt. Everybody that stood by me must come through without
damage. All the back wages and salaries must be paid pronto. All the
money I've switched away from the water company, the street cars, and
the ferries must be switched back. And you won't get hurt