e. But there was no pleasure in his tone when a moment later
he sent for Mr. Gunterson.

"Look here," he said, "I'm afraid these Eastern Conference people mean
trouble. We've been assuming that the excepted cities were
safe--nothing could happen there. Well, I don't believe they're as
safe as we thought. Read what Osgood says about Boston. Boston! where
we've got as fine a business as any company of our size in the field.
Look at that!"

With a dignified reticence Mr. Gunterson took the letter, and in a rich
silence he perused it. Then, with a calm smile, he gave his decision.

"Mr. Osgood's evident alarm may be well founded--perhaps not. But at
all events, I believe our interests at Boston should be protected by
some one of authority, and I shall go up myself on the five o'clock
this afternoon."

On the five o'clock Mr. Gunterson left New York, and at a seasonable
hour on Tuesday morning he started forth upon his travels from his
Boston hotel. In search of a target at which he could aim, he went
first to Mr. Osgood, to ask his aid in locating that target. Mr.
Osgood, who had hoped that Mr. Wintermuth himself would come, felt a
tremor of premonitory dismay at the sight of this deputy; and his
subsequent talk with Mr. Gunterson did nothing to allay his
apprehension. In fact, it was his covert reflection that if Hancher
was right, it was all over; the man whom Wintermuth sent was of no
assistance.

In point of truth, it _was_ all over. It was barely possible that a
strong and determined man could have effected something had he known
how to set about it--but Mr. Gunterson did not know how. No hack actor
suddenly confronted with a strange and difficult part felt more inept
than he. He conceived that within him was the power to deliver a
tremendous blow--but he could not find its mark. Aimlessly he
consulted his acquaintances along Kilby Street. The agents of the
influential Conference companies, primed to resist interviews, greeted
him affably, congratulated him on his new connection, and blandly
denied all knowledge of any radical move in process. That night Mr.
Gunterson, having accomplished absolutely nothing, returned to his
hotel with an uneasy feeling of dissatisfaction with the day.

Wednesday came. Gunterson, hesitant, undecided, in need of help, early
sought his only ally, Mr. Osgood. At the door of their offices he met
Mr. Osgood and Mr. Cole on their way to the meeting of the Board. The