emonstrate the methods which the
Consolidated Companies is obliged to meet and those which it proposes to
employ."

"I don't know that this interests me much," interrupted Brady,
ill-humoredly. "Our business is done, ain't it?"

"Not quite," Gorham continued, scarcely heeding the break. "On behalf of
the Consolidated Companies, and exercising the rights vested in me by my
Board of Directors, I have just handed to you, Mr. Brady, a certified
check for one hundred thousand dollars. Why it should go to you instead
of to Mr. Collins you probably know better than I--it is enough that you
have his authority to receive it. I happen to be aware that this check
represents fifty thousand dollars more than Mr. Collins paid to get the
franchise through the Board of Aldermen, so it is fair to assume that
the price of twelve city fathers is the same as two private citizens."

Harris found some difficulty in restraining Brady at this point, but
their joint uncertainty regarding Gorham's ultimate purpose resulted in
preserving silence.

"In addition to the check for the franchise," he continued, "I have also
handed to Mr. Brady other certified checks for some twenty million
dollars beyond the par value of the stocks of the various companies
included in the merger which has just been consummated."

"What are you kickin' about?" demanded Brady. "Ain't that the price you
agreed to?"

"It is; and I consider the properties worth the price or I should not
have agreed to it."

"The stockholders ought to be satisfied, hadn't they? They're gettin'
good returns."

"Yes, they ought to be satisfied, and I have no doubt they are."

"Then what's the point, friend--what's all this palaver?"

"I was just coming to that. There are three short lines which are not
mentioned in that contract. May I ask if there was any special reason
for their omission?"

"That's our business," snarled Brady.

"I know it is," Gorham replied, sharply, "and I'm going to ask you to
attend to it right now."

"We'll attend to it when we get good and ready." Brady squared himself
for the issue. "If you was as smart as you think you are, you'd have
thought of those three lines before you cashed up."

"I didn't overlook them," Gorham replied. "I can buy them cheaper now."

Brady was amused and showed his appreciation of the speaker's humor in
his sidelong glance at Harris.

"You think so, do you?" he calmed himself enough to reply. "I presume
you've settled o