hile Alfreton, who saw a way out of his difficulties,
was hard to restrain. Winston long afterwards remembered that horrible
suspense, but he showed no sign of what he was enduring then, and was
only a trifle quieter than usual when he and Alfreton entered Graham's
office one morning. It was busier than ever, while the men who
hastened in and out seemed to reveal by attitude and voice that they
felt something was going to happen.

"In sellers' favor!" said the broker. "Everybody with a few dollars is
hammering prices one way or the other. Nothing but wheat to be heard
of in this city. Well, we'll simmer down when the turn comes, and
though I'm piling up dollars, I'll be thankful. Hallo, Thomson,
anything going on now?"

"Chicago buying," said the clerk. "Now it's Liverpool! Sellers
holding off. Wanting a two-eighths more the cental."

The telephone bell tinkled again, and there was a trace of excitement
in the face of the man who answered it. "Walthew has got news ahead of
us," he said. "Chicago bears caved in. Buying orders from Liverpool
broke them. Got it there strong."

Winston tapped Alfreton's shoulder. "Now is the time. Tell him to
buy," he said. "We'll wait outside until you've put this deal through,
Graham."

It was twenty minutes before Graham came out to them. "I'll let you
have your contracts, Mr. Alfreton, and my man on the market just fixed
them in time," he said. "They're up a penny on the cental in Liverpool
now, and nobody will sell, while here in Winnipeg they're falling over
each other to buy. Never had such a circus since the trade began."

Alfreton, who seemed to quiver, turned to his companion, and then
forgot what he had to tell him. Winston had straightened himself, and
his eyes were shining, while the lad was puzzled by his face. Still,
save for the little tremor in it his voice was very quiet.

"It has come at last," he said. "Two farms would not have covered your
losses, Alfreton, if you had waited until to-morrow. Have supper with
us, Graham--if you like it, lakes of champagne."

"I want my head, but I'll come," said Graham, with a curious smile. "I
don't know that it wouldn't pay me to hire yours just now."

Then Winston turned suddenly, and running down the stairway shook the
man awaiting him by the arm.

"The flood's with us now," he said. "Find Colonel Barrington, and make
him cover everything before he's ruined. Dane, you and I, and a few
others, wil