to see what I'm signing," Nelson warned. A growl was his answer.

For an interminable time the only sound in the office was the
scratching of that pen. When at last it came to an end, Gray rose,
thrust the loose sheets into Nelson's hand, then, indicating the vacant
chair, said:

"Sign that!"

The wretched recipient of this curt command read the lines carefully.
He read them twice, thrice, for his mind no longer functioned clearly.
He raised a sick face, finally, and shook his head.

"Wouldn't I be a fool?" he queried.

"Listen, you--" Gray's body was shaking, his words were uneven. "I'm
sorry for Bell, but not for you. I'll never forget nor forgive what you
did to me. Nothing can undo that. Disgrace clings to a man. You're
going to get yours, now, and you can't squirm out of it, or lie out of
it, no matter how you try, for I sha'n't let you. You're ruined,
discredited, blown up, but--I don't think I want to send you to the
penitentiary. I'd rather see you walking the streets with dandruff on
your collar. I'd rather keep you to look at. Anyhow, you'll have to
sign that."

"If you'll guarantee to keep this bank matter quiet--if you'll protect
me, I'll sign. Otherwise, you can go to hell. We'll beat it out,
somehow. We can do it."

Inflexibly Gray asserted: "I'm going to turn you over, whether or no.
But I'll help Bell get the money to repay those loans. He'll probably
manage to save himself and--save you, too."

"I won't do it!" Nelson flung down the pen. "Not on those conditions.
You can't bulldoze me. It's your day to crow, but, I warn you, don't
push me too far."

Gray voiced an epithet. It was low pitched, but its explosive force,
the impelling fury back of it, fairly caused the room to vibrate. He
was white of lip, his rage had reached the foaming point.

"Don't make me lay hands on you--choke you into it," he cried,
hoarsely. "If you do, by God, I'll finish you!"

Like a man fighting some hypnotic influence stronger than his will,
Henry Nelson took up the pen and signed his name waveringly. The next
moment Gray smote the door to Briskow's office a heavy blow and, as it
flew open, he barked:

"Come in here! All three of you!" He stood aside as Gus, Bennett Swope,
and Senator Lowe entered. "Yonder is a statement which I want you to
read and witness. When you've done that, I'm going to tell you why
Henry Nelson signed it. The rest will be up to you."

It was midafternoon. Swope and Lowe had left the