s head of the construction department,
touch ten thousand a year, on a job as big as ours--with a liberal
provision for Mr. Frisbie, besides."

Ford blew reflective smoke rings toward the ceiling for a full minute or
more before he said quietly: "Do I understand that you are authorized to
guarantee me ten thousand a year in commissions from the MacMorrogh
Brothers, Mr. Eckstein?"

Eckstein laughed.

"You forget that I'm only a clerk, and an onlooker, as you may say. But
if you accept MacMorrogh's bid, and he doesn't do the square thing by
you and Mr. Frisbie, you may call me in as a witness, Mr. Ford. Does
that clear up the doubt?"

"Perfectly," was the quiet rejoinder. "Under these conditions, I suppose
it is up to me to wire the executive committee, withdrawing my
objections to the MacMorroghs, isn't it?"

"That is the one thing Mr. MacMorrogh asks." The secretary whipped out a
note-book and pencil. "Shall I take your message? I can send it when I
go back to the office."

"Thank you," said Ford; then he began to dictate, slowly and
methodically: "To S.J. Colbrith, care McVeigh and Mackie, New York. This
is to recall my objections to MacMorrogh Brothers, as stated in letter
of the twenty-fifth from Chicago. Further investigation develops the
fact that they are quite honest and capable, and that they will pay me
ten thousand dollars a year for withdrawing my opposition."

Eckstein's pencil had stopped and he was gasping for breath.

"Great Scott!" he ejaculated. "That won't do, Mr. Ford! You can't put
a thing like that into a telegram to the president!"

[Illustration: Eckstein's pencil had stopped and he was gasping for
breath]

"Why not?" was the cool inquiry. "You said it was perfectly legitimate,
didn't you?"

"Yes, but--" the entrance of a waiter to clear the table provided a
merciful stop-gap, and Eckstein, hurriedly consulting his watch,
switched abruptly. "By Jove! I'm due at the office this minute to meet a
lot of cattlemen," he stammered, and escaped like a man hastening for
first aid to the mistaken.

Ford laughed long and silently when he found himself alone in the
private dining-room; and he was still chuckling by fits and starts when,
after an afternoon spent with Auditor Evans, he recounted his adventure
to Frisbie over the Brown cafe dinner table that evening. But Frisbie
took all the humor out of the luncheon episode when he said soberly:

"He laughs best who laughs last, Stuart. Eckste