brushed her hair back from her face. The fellow spoke again in a low tone,
but beyond a slight compressing of her lips she did not seem to hear him.
Without a word, Bannon came forward, took him by the arm, and led him out
of the door. Still holding his arm, he took a step back, and (they stood
in the outer circle of the electric light) looked him over.

"Let's see," he said, "you're the man that was clerking here."

There was no reply. "And your name's--what?"

"Briggs."

"Well, Mr. Briggs, did you get a message from me?"

"I don't know what you mean," said the young man, his eyes on the ground.
"Max, he come around, but I wanted to wait and see you. He's a mean
cuss--"

"You see me now, don't you?"

"Yes." The reply was indistinct.

"You keep out of the office after this. If I catch you in there again, I
won't stop to talk. Now, clear out."

Briggs walked a little way, then turned. "Maybe you think you can lay me
off without notice--but you'll wish--"

Bannon turned back to the office, giving no heed to Briggs' last words:
"I've got you fixed already." He was thinking of the girl there on the