ought to bear upon him.

"I suppose you understand what this means to you," Brady snapped,
angered by the unexpected refusal.

"Better than you do, I feel certain."

"What will the virtuous Mr. Gorham say when he finds out that you hold
all that stock?"

"He will give your statement no credence whatever."

"But we can prove it to him."

"On the contrary, you will find yourself unable to do this."

"Didn't Harris show you that list?"

"Yes; but that was some days ago."

"You've unloaded, eh? That won't help you any. We'll find out who's got
it."

"You need not take any trouble about the matter, as I am quite ready to
give you the necessary information. Miss Gorham now holds the shares."

"Gorham's daughter?" queried Harris. "Does he know it?"

"I really don't know whether Miss Gorham has advised her father or not;
that is her affair."

"Well, we'll see that he does know it," stormed Brady; "and will also
see that he knows how you've unloaded it on her."

"You may find some difficulty," Covington replied, suavely. "The
certificates, you know, never stood in my name. I simply acted as the
young lady's agent. If you can make any capital out of that, you are at
perfect liberty to do so. Was there any other detail in connection with
this matter which you wished to discuss with me? Mr. Harris and you have
been most confidential, and I might possibly feel inclined to
reciprocate."

"You know too damned much already," retorted Brady, savagely. "I was a
fool not to put the deal through before Gorham got into the game. After
that it was too late--the stockholders would never have stood for our
extra rake-off after he put them wise."

Harris's face paled. "You don't mean that there's danger of our getting
thrown down, do you?" he queried in a tense voice. "I've put every
dollar I own and some I don't own into this pool with you."

Brady struck him familiarly on the back and laughed. "You are in hard
when you show the white feather like that. Cheer up. There's no question
of being thrown down. What do you take me for? It's only a question of
whether or not we can get all there is in it--that's what I'm worrying
about. Gorham's been getting next to Littleton and Graham all summer.
I've tried to find out just what he was up to, but he's smarter in
covering his tracks than I am to uncover 'em, even if he ain't quite so
smart in some other directions. He's been in to see me several times,
and there hasn't been a wo