ground
later. The next time he would try to fight fire with fire. But for
the present, shrewd man that he was, he was prepared to compromise.

Thereafter, dissembling his chagrin as best he could, he kept on the
lookout for Cowperwood at both of the clubs of which he was a member;
but Cowperwood had avoided them during this period of excitement, and
Mahomet would have to go to the mountain. So one drowsy June afternoon
Mr. Schryhart called at Cowperwood's office. He had on a bright, new,
steel-gray suit and a straw hat. From his pocket, according to the
fashion of the time, protruded a neat, blue-bordered silk handkerchief,
and his feet were immaculate in new, shining Oxford ties.

"I'm sailing for Europe in a few days, Mr. Cowperwood," he remarked,
genially, "and I thought I'd drop round to see if you and I could reach
some agreement in regard to this gas situation. The officers of the
old companies naturally feel that they do not care to have a rival in
the field, and I'm sure that you are not interested in carrying on a
useless rate war that won't leave anybody any profit. I recall that you
were willing to compromise on a half-and-half basis with me before, and
I was wondering whether you were still of that mind."

"Sit down, sit down, Mr. Schryhart," remarked Cowperwood, cheerfully,
waving the new-comer to a chair. "I'm pleased to see you again. No,
I'm no more anxious for a rate war than you are. As a matter of fact,
I hope to avoid it; but, as you see, things have changed somewhat since
I saw you. The gentlemen who have organized and invested their money
in this new city gas company are perfectly willing--rather anxious, in
fact--to go on and establish a legitimate business. They feel all the
confidence in the world that they can do this, and I agree with them.
A compromise might be effected between the old and the new companies,
but not on the basis on which I was willing to settle some time ago. A
new company has been organized since then, stock issued, and a great
deal of money expended." (This was not true.) "That stock will have to
figure in any new agreement. I think a general union of all the
companies is desirable, but it will have to be on a basis of one, two,
three, or four shares--whatever is decided--at par for all stock
involved."

Mr. Schryhart pulled a long face. "Don't you think that's rather
steep?" he said, solemnly.

"Not at all, not at all!" replied Cowperwood. "You know these