"Sorry to disappoint you this afternoon, and take up your evening," he
said; "but I found some business that needed more immediate attention.
There was a little matter that had to be looked after in person." And
the Wolf's fangs showed in a cruel smile, which assured me that the
"little matter" had terminated unhappily for the other man.

I airily professed myself happy to be at his service at any time.

"Yes, yes," he said; "but let's see your memoranda. Did you do well
this afternoon?"

"No-o," I returned apologetically. "Not so well as I wished."

He took the papers and looked over them carefully.

"Thirty-one hundred," he said reflectively. "Those sales were all
right. Well, I was afraid you couldn't get above three thousand. I
didn't get more than two thousand in the other Boards and on the
Street."

"That was the best I could do," I said modestly. "They average at
sixty-five. Omega got away from us this afternoon like a runaway
horse."

"Yes, yes," said the King of the Street, studying his papers with drawn
brows. "That's all right. I'll have to wait a bit before going
further." I bowed as became one who had no idea of the plans ahead.

"And now," said Doddridge Knapp, turning on me a keen and lowering