s very kind in you. If
that's so as you say, I suppose he'll have to go. And he'll go all right
without any shoving when he sees that it is so. You go and tell just
what you've told me to Charlie Bannon. He's boss on this job."

Grady would have fared better with a man of quicker intelligence.
Peterson was so slow at catching the blackmailer's drift that he spoke
in perfectly good faith when he made the suggestion that he tell Bannon,
and Grady went away a good deal perplexed as to the best course to
pursue,--whether to go directly to Bannon, or to try the night boss
again.

As for Peterson, four or five times during his half-hour talk with
Bannon at the office that evening, he braced himself to tell the boss
what Grady had said, but it was not till just as Bannon was going home
that it finally came out. "Have you seen Grady lately?" Pete asked, as
calmly as he could.

"He was around here something more than a week ago; gave me a little
bombthrowers' anniversary oratory about oppressors and a watchful eye.
There's no use paying any attention to him yet. He thinks he's got some
trouble cooking for us on the stove, but we'll have to wait till he
turns it into the dish. He ain't as dangerous as he thinks he is."

"He's been around to see me lately--twice."

"He has! What did he want with you? When was it he came?"

"The first time about a week ago. That was nothing but a little friendly
talk, but----"

"Friendly! Him! What did he have to say?"

"Why, it was nothing. I don't remember. He wanted to know if I was laid
off, and I told him I was on the night shift."

"Was that all?"

"Pretty near. He wanted to know what we was in such a hurry about,
working nights, and I said we had to be through by January first. Then
he said he supposed it must be for some rich man who didn't care how
much it cost him; and I said yes, it was. That was all. He didn't mean
nothing. We were just passing the time of day. I don't see any harm in
that."

Bannon was leaning on the rail, his face away from Peterson. After a
while he spoke thoughtfully. "Well, that cinches it. I guess he meant to
hold us up, anyway, but now he knows we're a good thing."

"How's that? I don't see," said Peterson; but Bannon made no reply.

"What did he have to offer the next time he came around? More in the
same friendly way? When was it?"

"Just this afternoon. Why, he said he was afraid we'd have a strike on
our hands."

"He ought to know," said B