The dyspeptic director hesitated for an instant. "Put up or shut up!" exclaimed John Rawn roughly. "I'm going to buy you out, and throw you out, right here. We don't want any cold-foot sitting here with us. This has got to be a bunch of fighting men, and we don't want any quitters." "I'll not stand for that!" began the dyspeptic. "I want to say--" "You'll say nothing, and you'll stand for that," retorted Rawn. "I'll get you the cash here in copper pennies if you like, inside of five minutes. O.K. that paper, and cancel your right to vote. The meeting isn't called to order yet, and the books are not closed." "That's the talk!" growled a deep voice farther toward the end of the table. The general traffic man of earlier days, Ackerman, of St. Louis, was the speaker. "I'll take half of that myself, Rawn." "Yes, and divide it with me, Ackerman," nodded Standley, the railway president to whom Rawn had first brought his device. The dissatisfied director paled yet more. "Oh, well," said he, "if that's the way you feel about it, I'll just call your bluff. Here's my initials; and you're welcome to my stock." "Record it!" said Rawn tersely, throwing the memorandum across to the treasurer. "Have you got the stock here?" "Yes, right in my inside pocket," retorted the other savagely. "Pass it to the treasurer, then, if you please--that is to say, if you will take the assurance of myself and these gentlemen that we'll take up this memorandum." "Oh, of course I'll do that," assented the other grudgingly. "Then that'll be about all," said Mr. Rawn. "And as this is to be a directors' meeting, why, maybe--" The dyspeptic financier was already reaching for his hat and coat. II "I want _all_ you gentlemen to feel," said John Rawn calmly, "that there's a chance to lay down right here, if your feet are getting cold. Better quit now than later on. I won't work with men who haven't got heart in this thing. If any of you are scared, let me know. I couldn't take over all your stock myself, of course, but if you want to let go, I believe I can swing another company organization." They looked at him silently, here and there a gray head shaking in negation. Rawn's eye lighted. "That's the idea!" said he; "we'll all sit tight." He turned to catch the eye of the late director, who was now passing toward the door. "I'm going," said the latter importantly. "And good riddance!" said John Rawn calmly. "I'll take care of you for that, one of these days, Mr. Rawn!" "Why not now?" "You'll see what I'll do to you in the market!"