"I mean this: You are to carry me with your brokers for ten thousand shares of the common stock of the Pearl Street trolley line on a ten-point margin. The account may be opened in the name of Mr. X; I, of course, being Mr. X. I apprehend that the party known as X will see his way clear to closing out the account very shortly after the formal announcement of your plans for the East Side transit merger--certainly within a few days. If there should be any losses you will stand them up to and including the ten-point margin. If there should be any profits they go, of course, to Mr. X. I do not anticipate that there will be any losses, and I do anticipate that there will be some profits. In payment for this friendly accommodation on your part, I for my part will engage to prevent the publication in _The Clarion_, or elsewhere, of the statements contained in those proofs and now standing in type in our composing room, subject to my order to print the story forthwith, or to withhold it, or to kill it outright." "Anything else, Mr. Foxman?" inquired Mr. Blake blandly. "Yes, one other thing: You are to give the necessary order now, in my presence, over the telephone to your brokers. After that you are to go with me to their offices to complete the transaction and to identify me properly as the Mr. X who is to be the owner of this particular account; also you are to explain to them that thereafter the account is subject to my orders and mine alone. I think that will be sufficient." "It would seem, Mr. Foxman, that you do not trust me to deal fairly with you in this matter?" "I do not have to trust you, Mr. Blake. And so I choose not to." "Exactly. And what guaranty have I that you will do your part?" "Only my word, Mr. Blake. You will observe now that the shoe is on the other foot. I do not have to trust you--whereas you do have to trust me. But if you need any guaranty other than the thought of where my self-interest lies in the matter I may tell you that in addition to the stocks which you are to carry for me I intend to invest in Pearl Street common to the full extent of my available cash resources, also on a ten-point margin. Here is the best proof of that." He hauled out his certified check for twenty-four thousand and some odd dollars and handed it over to Mr. Blake. Mr. Blake barely glanced at it and handed it back, at the same time reaching for his desk telephone.