ar," replied the local underwriter, somewhat impatiently. As
though he had not canvassed such obvious possibilities as these!

"Why not try Schermerhorn and Snow?" was Mr. Gunterson's next
suggestion.

The President broke into the discussion.

"They've been uptown managers of the Inland for twenty years. And Snow
is a big stockholder in the company. We would be wasting our time to
approach them."

There was a hint of contempt in his tone. A man who volunteered
helpful advice about a difficult situation without being in possession
of the most rudimentary information bearing on it was hardly worthy of
serious attention. Perhaps the keen ear of the Vice-President detected
this, for he flushed slightly, and was silent for a moment.

"I'll give the matter my attention," he said reassuringly to Cuyler.
"I'm a little out of touch with local affairs, but I know plenty of
first-rate uptown brokers, and I guess I can locate us to good
advantage. I'll see you about it later."

And he made his majestic exit.

The matter being now under his august advisement, it might have been
supposed that relief was in sight and a new and desirable connection as
good as made. But in less than a week from the time of this
conversation Mr. Cuyler again sought the President, and the expression
of his face could not have been misinterpreted.

"Well, what's the matter now?" Mr. Wintermuth inquired, as the local
underwriter seated himself.

"Who do you think is gone now?" said Cuyler, abruptly.

"Who?" demanded his superior officer.

"Jenkinson--and Hammond, Dow, and Company."

"Gone!" repeated the President, slowly. The brokers in question were
known to be on the most friendly terms with the company, and it was
generally supposed that the first choice of most of their business went
to the Guardian. "Gone! What do you mean? Nothing has happened to
either of those people! What are you talking of?"

"I mean they're gone, so far as the Guardian is concerned. We've taken
as much as ten thousand a year from each of those offices. And now
O'Connor's got them."

The President looked at him in silence.

"I knew something was the matter, and to-day I saw O'Connor and
Jenkinson at lunch, laughing and talking as familiar as though they'd
been friends for years. It's no use, sir--he's going after every
really good broker that we've got attached to us."

"But the Salamander can't take care of all their business. Why, those
two f