erence, why in the devil don't you go back? I'll
propose the Guardian for membership, myself, and you'll be reinstated
within two weeks. I haven't done anything that any business man
wouldn't have done. Some agents have decided that they'd rather
represent the Salamander than the Guardian; in my opinion that's only
the exercise of good judgment. If people prefer to give risks to us
rather than you, they've a right to exercise the privilege of their
choice. My feeling toward the Guardian is exactly what it has always
been. If Mr. Wintermuth thinks he's been unfairly treated or that he
has a grievance against me, let him come to me with it himself, and I
will be glad to show him that he is wrong. But I don't care to go into
the matter any further with any one else."

"That is your answer, then?" Smith asked.

"Yes--it is," the other responded shortly.

Smith turned to the door.

"Sure you've nothing further to add?" he asked, his hand on the knob.

"Nothing whatever," said the President of the Salamander, and he turned
back to his desk.

"I'm afraid we'll have to fight," Smith reported to his chief.
"O'Connor says," he added, with legitimate malice, "that if you imagine
you have a grievance and will come to the office of the Salamander, he
will graciously consent to give you a hearing."

Mr. Wintermuth looked up, and a flash of his pristine shrewdness
gleamed in his eye.

"You're saying that--putting it that way to get me into a controversy
with the Salamander people, Richard," he said.

"Yes," admitted Smith, honestly; "but I wouldn't do it if I didn't
believe that eventually we'll have to fight that man on his own ground,
and beat him, too, before he'll leave us alone to conduct our business."

"Perhaps that is so."

"Then you'll let me close in on him when it becomes necessary?" the
other persisted.

"Possibly," said Mr. Wintermuth, cautiously; and more he would not say.

During the next few days Smith found himself a very busy man. There
were a thousand and one matters demanding his attention, for in the
three months' regime of his predecessor many things had come to loose
ends. All through Conference territory agents had to be reassured;
there were certain legal preparations to be made; definite instructions
for a new plan of campaign had to be given to field men and office
force. Smith found very little time to consider the two questions
which most interested him--of which one was the next