and the next day."

He stepped down from the counter and moved toward the stairway. It
was not worth while to use the elevator for the ride of only one
floor. Estelle managed to join him, and they mounted the steps
together.

"Do you think we'll pull through all right?" she asked quietly.

"We've got to!" Arthur told her, setting his chin firmly. "We've
simply got to."

The gray-haired president of the bank was waiting for them at the
top of the stairs.

"My name is Van Deventer," he said, shaking hands with Arthur,
who gave his own name.

"Where shall our emergency council sit?" he asked.

"The bank has a board room right over the safety vault. I dare say we
can accommodate everybody there--everybody in the council, anyway."

Arthur followed into the board-room, and the others trooped in
after him.

"I'm just assuming temporary leadership," Arthur explained, "because
it's imperative some things be done at once. Later on we can talk
about electing officials to direct our activities. Right now we
need food. How many of you can shoot?"