m, and I don't
know you. Do you think I'd take your word against his?"

"That letter doesn't prove blackmail," said Bannon, "but it smells of
it. And there's the same smell about everything Grady has done. When he
came to my office a day or two after that hoist accident, I tried to
find out what he wanted, and he gave me nothing but oratory. I tried to
pin him down to something definite, but my stenographer was there and
Grady didn't have a suggestion to make. Then by straining his neck and
asking questions, he found out we were in a hurry, that the elevator was
no good unless it was done by January first, and that we had all the
money we needed.

"Two days after he sent me that letter. Look at it again. Why does he
want to take both of us to Chicago on Sunday morning, when he can see me
any time at my office on the job?" Bannon spread the letter open before
Carver's face. "Why doesn't he say right here what it is he wants, if
it's anything he dares to put in black and white? I didn't pay any
attention to that letter; it didn't deserve any. And then will you tell
me why he came to my room at night to see me instead of to my office in
the daytime? I can prove that he did. Does all that look as if I tried
to bribe him? Forget that we're talking about Grady, and tell me what
you think it looks like."

Carver was silent for a moment. "That wouldn't do any good," he said at
last. "If you had proof that I could act on, I might be able to help
you. I haven't any jurisdiction in the internal affairs of that lodge;
but if you could offer proof that he is what you say he is, I could tell
them that if they continued to support him, the federation withdraws its
support. But I don't see that I can help you as it is. I don't see any
reason why I should."

"I'll tell you why you should. Because if there's any chance that what
I've said is true, it will be a lot better for your credit to have the
thing settled quietly. And it won't be settled quietly if we have to
fight. It isn't very much you have to do; just satisfy yourself as to
how things are going down there. See whether we're square, or Grady is.
Then when the scrap comes on you'll know how to act. That's all. Do your
investigating in advance."

"That's just what I haven't any right to do. I can't mix up in the
business till it comes before me in the regular way."

"Well," said Bannon, with a smile, "if you can't do it yourself, maybe
some man you have confidence in would