Just then they is a ring at the telephone. The maid makes a entrance and claims Mr. Jared Rushton is wanted. In about five minutes, Jared comes back and apologizes. "My boss, Mr. Hamilton," he says. "I've always got to let him know where he can get in touch with me after office hours. I gave him your phone number before I came here to-night." He turns to Alex. "That's what it is to be a valuable man," he says. "The boss wants me to get all the data together for an estimate on one of the biggest contracts we've ever had a whack at. That means I'll be up all night, so I'll have to leave now. Our four big contract experts are scattered 'round the country and the boss will have to go after this one himself to-morrow. There will be a conference at the Hotel Dubois, and--" Alex jumps up, his eyes flashin'. "Why can't _you_ go after that contract?" he shoots out. Jared looks like he's been hit on the chin. "_Me_?" he stammers. "Why--why--" "Why, why, nothin'!" butts in Alex. "Here's a chance for you to show Miss Evans, your boss, and the rest of the world what's in you. If your boss calls on you for the figures in this thing, then you must know more about it than he does, or anybody else in the office. Can you get him on the phone?" "But--but I have never sold anything in my life!" says Jared. "You don't understand this thing at all. It requires experience and--oh, it's silly to even think of it! Why--" "Yeh?" butts in Alex. "What's his number?" He rushes to the phone. "Say, listen--please!" pleads Jared; "it's not a bit regular and--why, he'd fire me out of hand if I ever did anything like this!" "The number!" bawls Alex, with the receiver off the hook. "Riverside 33,312," stammers Jared, wringin' his hands. "But look here, you mustn't--" Alex gets the number and Jared falls back in a chair, and mutters somethin' about bein' ruined for life. In another minute, Alex is announcin' to somebody that Mr. Jared Rushton wishes to speak to Mr. Hamilton on a matter of the greatest importance. Jared lets forth a wail like a dyin' fish or the like, and then Alex grabs him by the arms. "Now, go to it!" he says. "Tell him you want a chance at this contract yourself. Say you know more about it than anyone else and have been plannin' the thing for weeks. You don't _think_ you can land this contract--you _know_ it!" "But," wails Jared, "I _don't_ know--" Alex shoves him over to the phone.