e papers are back with a notice that the deal is off except
at a lower price. How'm I to make anything of this business, I'd like
to know, if you----"

Amidon was surprised that Stevens was ignoring his threat to resign;
but he was firm in his resolution to enforce discipline. The fact that
he himself had been so long in a state of fear and under control, made
the luxury of assuming the attitude of command an irresistible
temptation.

"Mr. Stevens," said he sternly, "have the kindness to read what is
painted on that door!"

Though he had no need, Mr. Stevens gazed in astonishment at the word
"Private."

"Kindly ask Mr. Alderson to step here a moment," went on Mr. Amidon.

Stevens stood mute, but Alderson overheard and came.

"You may draw Mr. Stevens a salary check to date, and a month in
advance, in lieu of notice," said Mr. Amidon. "Mr. Stevens, you are no
longer in the employ of this concern. Mr. Alderson, you may take
charge until a successor to Mr. Stevens is found. I should now regard
it as a favor if I might have my private office to myself and my
stenographer!"

Alderson took the paralyzed Stevens by the shoulders and walked him out
into the main office. Amidon's spirits rose, as he waited for the
check to come in for his signature. He stabbed his letters with the
paper-knife, and felt in a blissful state of general insurrection. The
subjection of the past fortnight seemed to fall from him. After he had
signed the check, he turned to Miss Strong.

"If you please," said he, in a voice of tense stridency, "I will give
you a few letters."

The stenographer, who seemed to regard the events of the past few
minutes as nothing short of a cataclysm, flutteringly leafed over her
book, and just as Amidon began wondering what he could think of to put
into a letter, she burst into tears. Amidon closed his desk with a
bang, and giving Alderson orders covering his absence, walked out into
the streets, full of the joy of gratified destructiveness. He met
Alvord, and temerariously agreed to go with him to the lodge that
evening. He finally found Blodgett, and informed him of what had been
the result of his first morning in the office.

"Well, it's your business, Florian," said he, "but you'll need somebody
who knows something about your affairs. And if you go on attending
lodge meetings where you don't know the passwords, and nosing into
houses where you don't intend to go, and discharging all the trus