"Now, since these things are true, I just came down here to ask you gentlemen what it is that you want? You've been criticizing me. We've thought enough of this thing to plan legislation in Congress and in the adjoining states where we are working. We've been at a lot of trouble one way or other. We've wanted to get a grip on this country which couldn't be shaken off by any political or industrial changes. That's just what I'm offering you here, gentlemen. Pretty much the whole business world will be yours. _I_ brought you this, didn't I? Now, do you want a nice gold fence around the world with diamond tips to the pickets; or what is it that you do want? Up to this time you've wanted what was impossible. Now I've shown you that the impossible _is_ possible. Here it is, on the table in front of you--here's the proof. Unless I am drunk or crazy, the future governors of the United States of America are sitting right here at this table." He touched the glass top lightly, gently, with his finger-tips, which had no tremor in them. John Rawn was completely master of himself. V "But it _has_ cost a lot of money, Rawn," began one director hesitatingly. "That's a relative term," answered Rawn. "I have all the details here among my figures. It is much or little, as you care to look at it--it doesn't seem much to me. We've run this thing down to rock-bed economy all the time. We cut our men a dollar a week last month, and it started a riot. We're trying to save all the money we can, of course--it's my money that is being spent just the same as yours, my time that is wasting, just the same as yours. I'm as eager as you to get my hands on this thing, and to get its hands on this country. But there's such a thing as losing by lack of confidence, and many and many a good thing has been lost by lack of money backed by nerve. What do you want, gentlemen? I can't do much more than I have done." "And it's enough!" cried the bearded man, his voice harsh, strident with his emotion. "We've got to have it! Let's stick, let's stick, fellows! They'll never shake us off. There is absolutely no limit to this thing." "Is that still the way you feel, Jim?" asked Standley from his end of the table. "Yes, it is; how about it, gentlemen?" answered Ackerman's deep voice. His eyes turned from one to the other, and found no dissent, although the air of each man was earnest, almost somber. "Shake hands, then!" called out the bearded man with enthusiasm, a man who had swayed millions by the force of his own convictions before that time. "Let's all shake hands, then, gentlemen," said John Rawn.