ded up with them, he could easily make an additional
thirty or forty millions. Think it over, and you will agree with me that
the possibilities are far beyond those of oil, and perhaps at the same
time you can account for the violent fluctuations in copper stocks and
the price of the metal during recent years. A man in such position could
absolutely _dictate_ to all new mines whose selling agency he could
secure under long-term contracts. When their stocks were up, he could
pinch them to the edge of bankruptcy by refusing to sell their metal or
advance them the cash they needed for operation. Now, don't you agree
with me that you overlooked one of the most important branches of the
copper business when you made no provision for taking in the selling
end?"

Again it crept into my mind that in comparison with the diabolic
astuteness of this man, such knowledge and experience of business as I
had gathered were as those of the primary student to the post-graduate
scholar's. Again, there was no quarreling with his logic or his
conclusions.

"It is common knowledge in Boston," I replied, "that copper commissions
on the surface and below constitute as soft graft as any one would ask
for, but no one suspected the possibilities you outline. Do you actually
mean to say that that is the way the business has been conducted in the
past?"

Mr. Rogers lowered his voice confidentially:

"I can only tell you, Lawson, that we have dug up some queer doings
during our investigation, and I think I can put my finger on a great
many millions of dollars now in the hands of certain mine officers
which could be recovered by the different companies they have been
acting as trustees of. It would be quite an eye-opener to some of your
pious Bostonians to know that the controlling officials of several mines
are silent partners in some of the big selling agencies."

There was a pregnant interval of silence. Perhaps the expression of my
face suggested the thronging thoughts which seethed through my head as I
said:

"But surely, Mr. Rogers, that's off our beat. We shall make money enough
along our lines without getting into that kind of a game."

Mr. Rogers swung his chair half round and looked straight at me. For a
long second he stared--sitting half upright, his long, fine hands
clasping the arms of the chair with a clutch like steel. He said not a
word. Then he replied:

"Of course, Lawson, we have no need for such methods in our affairs.