"Not when I know a stock that's worth over a hundred has been pushed down on purpose to freeze me out." "You're not talking morality, Dan?" "Oh, no! You think I'm beaten. I know I'm not." "You're bluffing, Dan." "Find out." "To-morrow'll be too late." "Possibly, but if Gunther can buy it at 40 or 35, why should he pay 55 to me?" "I think he likes you, Dan," said Haggerdy slowly. "No. He wants to make sure of getting the stock. He doesn't want a scramble for it," said Drake. "I'm surprised to hear you talking such nonsense." Haggerdy rose, shaking his head impressively. "A mistake, Dan--a mistake." He waited a moment and then played his last card. "Of course, if you sell out in this, it's understood Gunther'll see you through on the rest. And that may mean the question of the roof over your head." "That means credit at the bank--that I'll be allowed to put up good collateral like a respectable member of the crowd?" "Phrase it as you will, that's it. Gunther will buy out your Trust Company holdings for what you paid for them and he'll see you through on Indiana Smelters--that means something saved out of the wreck--and, Dan, there's a big smash up just over the horizon." "I thought that was the proposition," said Drake, ruminating. "Well, Jim, it's more than ever no." "Why more than ever?" "Because this in good old-fashioned English means just one thing--getting out, saving my skin at the expense of others." "Quite so--every man for himself." "Not with me. I've given my word on the Coke and Iron deal. I'll see it through. Tell Gunther I'll sell out at 80 all or nothing, and give him twenty-four hours." Haggerdy stretched out his hand in farewell. "Are you sure of the other fellows, Dan?" he said slyly. "I don't give a damn what the other fellows may do. I've given my word and I stand by that." "I'm sorry for you, Dan," said Haggerdy, shaking his head ominously. "Telephone me if you change your mind." "Thanks for your wishes, but don't lose any sleep--expecting," said Drake, laughing. Bojo came out aghast. "You don't mean to say the Atlantic Trust is in danger," he cried, foreseeing all in a glance the structures that would go toppling. "It's in danger, all right," said Drake moodily, "but they won't--they don't dare let it close--impossible!" "And if you can't raise two million?" Drake shrugged his shoulders. "But surely there's some way," Bojo cried helplessly, "some friends--there must be a way to raise it. This house surely is worth twice that--it isn't mortgaged, is it?" "No, it's quite clear, but it belongs to my wife," said Drake, and again there came into his face that shadow of broken despair which Bojo had noticed a score of times. "But then--does she realize--" "Yes, she knows," said Drake to himself. It was easy to see that the interview with Haggerdy had profoundly convinced him. "Mrs. Drake's fortune outside of that is fully three millions, which I have given her--"