"It beats all the rest put together, to my mind."

"Perhaps I don't quite follow your meaning," commented the
other tentatively.

"Why man," Thorpe explained, hesitating a little in his
choice of words, but speaking with evident fervour;
"I was more anxious about you--and the way you'd take it--
than about anything else. I give you my word I was.
I couldn't tell at all how you'd feel about the thing.
You might think that it was all right, and then again
you might round on me--or no, I don't mean quite that--
but you might say it wasn't good enough for you, and wash
your hands of the whole affair. And I can't tell you what
a relief it is to find that you--that you're satisfied.
Now I can go ahead."

"Ah, yes--ahead," said the younger man, thoughtfully.
"Do you mind telling me--you see I'm quite in the dark
as to details--how much further ahead we are likely
to go? I comprehend the general nature of our advance--
but how far off is the goal you have in sight?"

"God knows!" answered Thorpe, with a rising thrill of
excitement in his voice. "I don't give it any limit.
I don't see why we should stop at all. We've got
them in such a position that--why, good heavens! we
can squeeze them to death, crush them like quartz."
He chuckled grimly at the suggestion of his simile.
"We'll get more ounces to the ton out of our crushings