"Now we, the guests, have taken the affair into our hands inasmuch as we propose to keep the hotel open and make the ladies and children, at least, as comfortable as may be. And we shall not let you leave, Mr. Bangs, until you have done all in your power to repair the damage you have already done." "What can I do?" snarled the manager. "I'm not going to pay for heat and light and for service in a hotel which I no longer manage." "You are legally in charge here until the Court puts you out." "I'll not run this hotel for that Giddings after he's served me in dispossess proceedings," Bangs said, turned sullen. "You will help us make the house as comfortable as possible until we can communicate with this Giddings and inform him of what has occurred," said Ryder quietly but severely. "You have given orders for everything to shut down at nine o'clock. You must rescind that command." "You can none of you get away after that hour," Bangs said. "Nor at that time," said Ryder promptly. "If any of your guests are going on that jerkwater train they are already over there at the station. But the stampede of the help must be stopped." "What do you want me to do?" growled Bangs, rather afraid of this determined John Ryder. "To tell the engineers to keep the dynamos and boilers running as long as they have a shovelful of coal. Likewise to send word throughout the building for all employees who wish to retain their situations under the new management----" "What new management?" cried Bangs, leaping up again. "The management which will follow your régime," Ryder told him coolly. "You do not suppose for a moment, do you, that the owners of this property will allow the hotel to close?" Bangs grinned like an angry dog. "I don't care a hang what they do," he said. "I only know I'm out of it." "You're not out of it yet, Mr. Bangs," Ryder grimly said. "Telephone to the engine room at once." The manager picked up the receiver with bad grace. "You are intimidating me," he complained. "You bet we are!" exclaimed the man with his back to the door. "And thank your lucky stars we don't manhandle you in the bargain." Ryder raised his hand for silence and the manager gave the order to the engineer. "Now," said Ryder, "call the head chef and have him inform the kitchen help that the hotel will not be closed and that their wages will be paid." "Who's going to pay 'em?" demanded Bangs. "You do as you are told. The courts will decide that." Bangs began to bluster; then he caught the look in the eye of the man with his back against the door and he once more subsided. Together, Ryder and the burly committeeman were too much for Bangs' courage. The steward was called in; likewise George, the clerk on duty. The two were told, Bangs agreeing doggedly, that the employees of the hotel were to be pacified and the guests to be made as comfortable as possible until Giddings could be communicated with.