“We'll leave Warren out of the matter,” Paul interrupted, almost fiercely. “My proposition to you is this, Mr. Hoag. I do not want to leave you, because certain things I have got under way in your interests cannot well be carried out by any one else, and it would be wrong for me to cause you to lose. Still, I know my value. If I didn't I'd not have brains enough to manage your affairs as I am managing them. Only this afternoon I have had the offer of the superintendency of the Doran Cotton Mills. The pay is double my present salary--with various chances of promotion.” “What--what? You say that you--you say that Doran--” But Hoag's utterance had failed him completely. He stood quivering from head to foot, his lip hanging low, his teeth parted, his breath hissing as it passed through them. “I don't want to quarrel with you,” Paul softened. “It is wrong for two men to quarrel--especially wrong for one who has learned the full evil of it as I have, and we need not do it now. But I have certain human rights which, for reasons of your own, you ignore, and are trying to trample underfoot. It is my right to help my mother, and any one else I see fit to help. I cannot do these things if I work for you for less than my services are worth on the market. I want to remain here, and if you will pay me the price offered by Doran I will do so, otherwise I shall leave you.” “Pay you--pay you two hundred a month”--Hoag gasped--“pay you double what you now get so that you can spend it on a lazy, good-for-nothin' scamp? Not on your life! I'll see the last one of you dead first, an' laid out stark an' cold.” “Then it is settled,” Paul answered, calmly. “I told Doran I'd let him have my decision in the morning. I'll leave you on the first of next month.” “You can go an' be damned,” Hoag swore under his breath, and raised his clenched fist and shook it in Paul's face. “Git out o' my sight.” And with that ultimatum Hoag stalked out to the platform. Paul looked at him regretfully a moment and then turned away. He failed to see his employer at the supper-table. He was at work in his room near bedtime when he heard a heavy, dragging step on the stairs. The next moment Hoag leaned in the open doorway. His face was flushed with drink; there was a thwarted glare in his bloodshot eyes. “I reckon you meant what you said about Doran?” he began, sullenly. “Yes, I simply stated the facts,” Paul answered. “You said you'd keep on with me for the price Doran's willin' to pay?” “Yes,” Paul returned, with dignity. “I meant to put it that way.” “Well, I reckon”--in blended chagrin and anger--“you are worth as much to me as you are to him. The offer comes through enemies of mine who want to injure me--fellers that stand in with Doran--a gang o' narrow church elders over there, who have got it in for me. You stay on, an' I'll try not to kick any more over your private matters. Do you understand?” “I think so.”