"Look here, my good fellow!" The sallow man came around in his chair. Ward immediately was more fully informed as to the personage's status. "I am one of the attorneys of this corporation. I have been attending to the special acts your legislature has passed in our behalf. We are fully protected by law." "The question is how much you'll be protected after facts are brought out by a fight," replied Ward, stoutly. "I know the men who have been sent down to the legislature from our parts and how they were elected. But even such men get cold feet after the public gets wise." "That'll be enough!" snapped the attorney. He turned to his desk again. "Yes, it looks like it," agreed young Latisan; he did not bang the door after him; he closed it softly. The attorney was obliged to look around to assure himself that his caller was not in the room. Then he pushed a button and commanded a clerk to ask if Mr. Craig was still in the president's office. Informed that Mr. Craig was there, the attorney went thither. "I have just been bothered by that young chap, Latisan, from the Tomah region," reported Dawes, the attorney. "He threatens a fight which will rip the cover off affairs in the north country. How about what's underneath, provided the cover is ripped off, Craig?" "Everything sweet as a nut! Any other kind of talk is bluff and blackmail. So that's young Latisan's latest move, eh?" he ejaculated, squinting appraisingly at Dawes and turning full gaze of candor's fine assumption on Horatio Marlow, the president. "Just who is this young Latisan?" inquired Marlow. "Oh, only the son of one of the independents who are sticking out on a hold-up against us. Did he name his price, Dawes?" "He didn't try to sell anything," acknowledged the attorney. "Craig, let me ask you, are you moving along the lines of the law we have behind us in those special acts I steered through?" "Sure thing!" asserted the field director, boldly. "We've got to ask for more from the next legislature," stated the lawyer. The president came in with a warning. "Credit is touchy these days, Mr. Craig. We're going into the market for big money for further development. It's easy for reports to be made very hurtful." "I'm achieving results up there," insisted Craig, doggedly. "We're very much pleased with conditions," agreed the president. "We're able to show capital a constantly widening control of properties and natural advantages. But remember Achilles's heel, Mr. Craig." "I haven't been able to fight 'em with feathers all the time," confessed the field director. "There wasn't much law operating up there when I grabbed in. I have done the best I could, and if I have been obliged to use a club once in a while I have made the fight turn something for the corporation." He exhibited the pride of the man who had accomplished.