whistled softly as he caught its import, and passed it on to Shields, an
attorney for the C. & S.C., an emotionless, noncommittal man.

"Hm--it looks as though that beat you," he said slowly.

Porter lost his nerve and his temper too for a moment. He rose quickly and
took a step toward the lawyer.

"Hell, man!" he exclaimed angrily. "We can't be beat. We've got to get out
of this some way. That's what you're here for." Then he recovered himself.
"I beg your pardon, Shields. Sit down, and we'll talk this business over."

For nearly an hour the three men sat in earnest consultation; then the
secretary was called in.

"Find out if Judge Black is in Truesdale," said Porter. "If he is, I want
to talk to him." Then he turned to Shields.

"That's our move," he said. "We can allege fraud on the ground that the
stock was issued secretly and with the purpose of influencing the
election. Black's the man for that business."

"It isn't much of a case, mind you," said Shields. "I'm afraid that
Weeks's action is not illegal, and that a court would sustain it, but it's
possible to raise a question that it will take time to decide."

"That's all we need," said Porter, with a sigh of relief. "If we raise the
question, Black will do the rest."

It was several minutes before the secretary came back from the telephone.