rd. The next second I was in the
storm-centre. The room was small. Suddenly it became full of arms and
legs and hands waving and gesticulating, and fists banging and
brandishing; gnashing teeth and a convulsed face in which the eyes
actually burned and rained fire; and the language--such a torrent of
vilification and denunciation I have never heard, mingled with oaths so
intense, so picturesque, so varied that the assortment would have driven
an old-time East Indiaman skipper green with jealousy. I was horrified
for an instant, then surprised, and after that, if it had not been for
my position as the cause of it all, I should have been interested in the
exhibition as a performance.

I could hear a stirring and a movement outside. The clerks were
evidently aware of the scene. Forms passed rapidly across the
ground-glass walls. After a time Rogers controlled himself. Then he said
to me in a voice still vibrant with passion:

"Lawson, tell me--put it in short, plain language--do you mean to say
that after coming to me of your own accord and agreeing to do certain
things, and then returning here to this very office, admitting that you
had tricked me; after my overlooking that breach of faith and agreeing
to take half the collateral simply because it was all you could raise,
and because I desired to assist _you_--do you mean to say you have the
audacity to tell me to my face that the whole thing is a lie and you
have imposed on me?"

"I mean, Mr. Rogers, to tell you that Mr. Addicks has just proved to me
that he has no bonds; that he is a liar and worse."

"Oh, he is, is he? But does that justify you in coming?--oh!----"

Again he was off. When he stopped for breath I raised my voice and made
it loud and emphatic enough to convince even a man temporarily insane
that my part as audience and victim had ended. I said:

"Mr. Rogers, I can't say more than that I apologize for the part I've
been made to play in this transaction, and I'll leave your office
prepared to take any kind of medicine, however harsh it may be, that you
will deal out on account of all this. Not only will I take it, but I'll
think you are right in administering it."

Rogers once more got himself under control. I stepped toward the door.

"One minute, Lawson--one minute. What are you going to do? Go back to
your associate, that gentlemanly, square-dealing fellow in
Philadelphia?"

"Mr. Rogers," I replied, "I ask no mercy at your hands, but there's a