thought. Bince had arrived late. His first question, as he entered the
small outer office where Mr. Compton's stenographer and his worked, was
addressed to Miss Edith Hudson.

"Is Mr. Torrance down yet?" he asked.

"Yes," replied the girl, "he has been here some time. Do you wish to
see him?"

Edith thought that the "No" which he snapped at her was a trifle more
emphatic than the circumstances seemed to warrant, nor could she help
but notice after he had entered his office the vehement manner in which
he slammed the door.

"I wonder what's eating him," thought Miss Hudson to herself. "Of
course he doesn't like Jimmy, but why is he so peeved because Jimmy came
to work this morning--I don't quite get it."

Almost immediately Bince sent for Krovac, and when the latter came and
stood before his desk the assistant general manager looked up at him
questioningly.

"Well?" he asked.

"Look at my chin," was Krovac's reply, "and he damn near killed the
other guy."

"Maybe you'll have better luck the next time," growled Bince.

"There ain't goin' to be no next time," asserted Krovac. "I don't tackle