the serenity of his mind at the beginning of their interview, the
news he had to impart would serve as an effective detonator, after
which it would be every man for himself. It was not the effect of
his report concerning the firm's unprofitable Cuban connections
which O'Reilly feared would cause the decks to heave and the ship
to rock--Samuel Carter could take calmly the most disturbing
financial reverse--it was the blow to his pride at learning that
anybody could prefer another girl to his daughter. Johnnie shook
his shoulders and stamped his feet, but the chill in his bones
refused to go.

He did gain courage, however, by thinking of Rosa Varona as he had
last seen her, with arms outstretched, with eyes tear-filled, with
yearning lips aquiver at his going. The picture warmed him
magically, and it was with a restored determination to make a
clean breast of the matter and face the worst that he took the
elevator.

The office force of the Carter Importing Company looked up when
the firm's Cuban representative entered the door, but its
personnel having changed as the result of one of those periodical
disruptions that occurred in the inner office, he was not
recognized until he presented himself to Mr. Slack, Samuel
Carter's private and intimidated secretary.

Mr. Slack smiled wanly, and extended a clammy, nerveless hand as
cold and limber as a dead fish.

"You're expected," said he. "Mr. Carter is waiting to see you
before leaving for California."