together flatwise for
the walls of the bins, but its bulk was impressive. Bannon measured it
with his eye and whistled. "I wish that had been down on our job ten days
ago," he said, presently. "I'd be taking a vacation now if it had."

"Well, it was ready then. You can tell by the color."

"What's the matter with the G.&M. anyway? They don't seem to be hauling
very much. I noticed that last night when I came up. I'm no good at
sleeping on the train."

"Search me," said Dennis. "They've tied us up for these two weeks. I've
kicked for cars, and the old man--that's Sloan--he's kicked, but here we
are yet--can't move hand or foot."

"Who's Sloan?"

"Oh, he's the whole thing. Owns the First National Bank and the trolley
line and the Ledyard Salt and Lumber Company and most of the downtown real
estate."

"Where can I find him? Is he in town?"

"I guess so. He's got an office across the river. Just ask anybody where
the Sloan Building is."

"Likely to be there as early as this?" asked Bannon, looking at his watch.

"Sure, if he's in town."

Bannon slipped his watch into his pocket. "Much obliged," he said. "Glad
to have met you. Good morning;" and, turning, he walked rapidly away down
the plank wagon road.

In Sloan's office he stated his errand as briefly as on the former
occasion, adding only that he had already seen Dennis.

"I guess he told you all there is to tell," said the magnate. "We can't
make the G.&M. give us cars. I've told Dennis to stir 'em up as hard as he
could. I guess we'll have to wait."

"I can't wait."

"What else can you do? It's every bit as bad for us as it is for you, and
you can rest assured that we'll do all we can." As if the cadence of his
last sentence were not sufficiently recognizable as a formula of
dismissal, he picked up a letter that lay on his desk and began reading
it.

"This isn't an ordinary kick," said Bannon sharply. "It isn't just a case
of us having to pay a big delay forfeit. There's a reason why our job's
got to be done on time. I want to know the reason why the G.&M. won't give
you cars. It ain't because they haven't got them."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because there's three big strings of empties within twenty miles of here
this minute. I saw them when I came up this morning."

For a minute Sloan said nothing, only traced designs on the blotter with
his pencil. Bannon saw that there was no longer any question of arousing
his interest. At last he spoke