squalified. He should go elsewhere. Hitherto in my
life I had followed the code of a smaller game, in which we seldom
pressed an advantage to the limit or cut our pound of flesh from out a
vital part. Now I had voluntarily associated myself with other men in a
venture I believed was big, fair, and square, and I was learning that
the rule of their game was thumbs down--give nothing--take everything. I
might have retired, but I was already deep in, with resources pledged to
the limit; and what would my reluctance to press our advantage with
Clark, Ward & Co. be considered but fool sentimentality? If I insisted
on my view, what would happen? The people who had followed me so
far--and their number was thousands and their quality, measured by any
heart and soul standard, more human than any of those whom Rogers was
thumb-screwing--as well as I myself, would be surely ruined. If I went
on, at least I could care for those I had brought along with me. I
looked at the complication fairly and squarely, weighed my duty with
such powers of judgment as I possessed, and decided, wisely or
unwisely, that it was best to go on. Wisely or unwisely I made up my
mind to accept the responsibility of acting as fireman to the
engine--and to bide my time. That time, thank God, is here now.

I reported to Mr. Rogers. His fox-trap jaws, with their bone-and
heart-and soul-crushing teeth, came together with a snap, and when they
relaxed his lips parted into one of his marrow-chilling smiles.

"I thought so," said he. "Those able gentlemen are loaded, Lawson,
loaded, and without a by-your-leave have made up their minds that Mr.
Rockefeller and myself are only in business to draw their load to some
convenient safe-deposit vault, from which they can from time to time
take it out to pay for palaces, yachts, fast horses, and society crowns.
Lawson, don't tell me of their plight. Don't waste my time with their
pleadings." The tiger was awake, his cage rattled; it was raw-meat time.
I watched. Presently he snapped: "What do you suppose they would answer
were they in our position? This: 'Give us the additional 50,000 shares
we have demanded quick, or take the consequences.' They are able
business men, so what they would do is just good enough for us to do.
Take back this answer: 'You have the only proposition we will make;
decide at once!'"

I looked at him. I said not a word--I could not. Perhaps my thoughts
were miles and ages away to scenes where Cae