was his temperament to evince a rugged contempt for humanity, rich
and poor alike. He was well aware that Schryhart, although
introduced, had never previously troubled to notice him.

"Mr. Cowperwood begs me to say," wrote Miss Antoinette Nowak, at
his dictation, "that he finds himself very much pressed for time
at present, but he would be glad to see Mr. Schryhart at his office
at any time."

This irritated the dominating, self-sufficient Schryhart a little,
but nevertheless he was satisfied that a conference could do no
harm in this instance--was advisable, in fact. So one Wednesday
afternoon he journeyed to the office of Cowperwood, and was most
hospitably received.

"How do you do, Mr. Schryhart," observed Cowperwood, cordially,
extending his hand. "I'm glad to see you again. I believe we met
once before several years ago."

"I think so myself," replied Mr. Schryhart, who was broad-shouldered,
square-headed, black-eyed, and with a short black mustache gracing
a firm upper lip. He had hard, dark, piercing eyes. "I see by
the papers, if they can be trusted," he said, coming direct to the
point, "that you are interesting yourself in local gas. Is that
true?"

"I'm afraid the papers cannot be generally relied on," replied
Cowperwood, quite blandly. "Would you mind telling me what makes
you interested to know whether I am or not?"