"I'm not through yet, Blaney."

"I haven't got time to talk with you," blustered the contractor. Jim stood
a moment looking him over. Blaney's eyes were fixed on the Irishman.

"How much did he give you?" asked Jim, quietly.

Blaney whirled around.

"Look out," he said. "I don't know what you're talking about, but a man
can't say that to me." His fists were clenched. Jim spoke without emotion.

"Drop it," he said. "I'm not here for my health. I knew all that some
hours ago. If I couldn't work it any better than you've done, I'd quit.
Now what I want you to do, Blaney--"

"See here, you've said enough!" Blaney was excited. "You can't come around
here and bulldoze me. We've bought that stock and we'll vote it as we
like, damn it; and you can go to hell!"

Jim looked at him thoughtfully; then he went to his buggy and drove back
to the hotel. He saw that Blaney was frightened, but he evidently was too
thoroughly bought up to be easily shaken. With what some men called his
"gameness" Jim dropped Blaney from his mind for the moment, and began to
plan for a desperate counter move. Before he reached the hotel the move
was decided upon, and Jim was placid.

The next man to see was Bridge. Jim paused at the hotel long enough to
send a message to the station agent to have a special ready in fifteen
minutes; then he went to the office of his lieutenant.