The prospective loss of Klein was a rather serious one. Clayton,
seated behind his great desk, eyed him keenly, and then stooped to
bribery. He mentioned a change in the wage scale, with bonuses to
all foremen and rollers. He knew Klein's pride in the mill, and he
outlined briefly the growth that was about to be developed. But
the boss roller remained obdurate. He understood that such things
were to be, but it was not necessary that he assist Germany's enemies
against her. Against the determination in his heavy square figure
Clayton argued in vain. When, ten minutes later, he went into the
conference room, followed by a secretary with a sheaf of papers, the
mill was minus a boss roller, and there was rankling in his mind
Klein's last words.

"I haf no objection, Mr. Spencer, to your making money out of this
war, but I will not."

There had been no insolence in his tone. He had gone out, with his
heavy German stolidity of mien unchanged, and had closed the door
behind him with quiet finality.




CHAPTER IV

Graham left the conference that morning in a rather exalted mood.
The old mill was coming into its own at last. He had a sense of
boyish triumph in the new developments, a feeling of being a part
of big activities that would bring rich rewards. And he felt a