at length of time. So take my advice, if you want to hold
her, get that money quick, and don't be so damned particular how you
get it, either."

Madison started quickly to his feet, his fists clenched. Savagely he
exclaimed:

"Of course, you know you've got the best of me----"

"How?" demanded Brockton coolly.

"We're guests. I have to control myself."

"No one's listening," said the broker.

"'Tisn't that," snapped the other impatiently. "If it was anywhere but
here, if there was any way to avoid all the nasty scandal, I'd come
a-shootin' for you and you know it----"

"You're a fighter, eh?" sneered Brockton.

"Perhaps," snapped the journalist. There was a dangerous gleam in his
eye, as he went on: "Let me tell you this. I don't know how you make
your money, but I know what you do with it. You buy yourself a small
circle of sycophants; you pay them well for feeding your vanity, and
then you pose with a certain frank admission of vice and degradation.
And those who aren't quite as brazen as you call it manhood. Manhood?"
he echoed contemptuously. "Why, you don't know what the word means!
Yours is the attitude of a pup and a cur."

Brockton turned. His lips were compressed, his eyes flashed. Starting
angrily forward he exclaimed:

"Wait a minute, young man, or I'll----"

Madison gave one stride towards him, and for a moment both men stood
confronting each other, their fists clenched. Their primal instincts
were aroused. Like wild beasts, full of savage hatred, they were hungry
and ready to fly at each other's throats.

"You'll what?" demanded Madison, raising his fist.

"Lose my temper and make a damned fool of myself," retorted the broker
retaining his _sang froid_ only by the greatest effort. With an
attempt at jocularity he went on: "That's something I've not done
for--let me see--why, it must be nearly twenty years--oh, yes--fully
that----"

He smiled and Madison, disarmed, fell back. In a sulky undertone, the
Westerner grumbled:

"Possibly it's been about that length of time since you were human,
eh?"

"Possibly--but you see, Mr. Madison, after all, you're at fault----"

"Yes?"

"Yes, the very first thing you did was to lose your temper. Now people
who always lose their temper will never make a lot of money, and you
admit that that is a great necessity--I mean now--to you----"

Turning on his heel, Madison picked up a newspaper and slammed it down
angrily on a seat.

"I can't stand for th