York half--ninety five percent, really--of Stoner
and Black, Inc., is a Big Time Operator. So we get this damned
nincompoop of a major, who doesn't know a f-u-s-e from a f-u-z-e, direct
from a Wall Street desk."

"So what?" One must have heard Ralph Kinnison say those two words to
realize how much meaning they can be made to carry.

"So what!" the girl blazed, wringing her hands. "Ever since you have
been over here I have been expecting you to blow up--to smash
something--in spite of the dozens of times you have told me 'a fighter
can not slug effectively, Celeste, until he gets both feet firmly
planted.' When--_when_--are you going to get your feet planted?"

"Never, I'm afraid," he said glumly, and she stared. "So I'll have to
start slugging with at least one foot in the air."

That startled her. "Explain, please?"

"I wanted _proof_. Stuff that I could take to the District--that I could
use to tack some hides out flat on a barn door with. Do I get it? I do
not. Not a shred. Neither can you. What chance do you think there is of
ever getting any real proof?"

"Very little," Celeste admitted. "But you can at least smash Pettler,
Wilson, and that crowd. _How_ I hate those slimy snakes! I wish that you
could smash Tom Keller, the poisonous moron!"

"Not so much moron--although he acts like one at times--as an ignorant
puppet with a head swelled three sizes too big for his hat. But you can
quit yapping about slugging--fireworks are due to start at two o'clock
tomorrow afternoon, when Drake is going to reject tonight's run of
shell."

"Really? But I don't see how either Pettler or Wilson come in."

"They don't. A fight with those small fry--even smashing them--wouldn't
make enough noise. Keller."

"Keller!" Celeste squealed. "But you'll...."

"I know I'll get fired. So what? By tackling him I can raise enough hell
so that the Big Shots will have to cut out at least some of the rough
stuff. You'll probably get fired too, you know--you've been too close to
me for your own good."

"Not me." She shook her head vigorously. "The minute they terminate you,
I quit. Poof! Who cares? Besides, I can get a better job in Townville."

"Without leaving the Project. That's what I figured. It's the boys I'm
worried about. I've been getting them ready for this for weeks."

"But they will quit, too. Your Siberians--your Inspectors--of a surety
they will quit, every one!"

"They won't release them; and what Stoner and Black