"Oh, come!" said Freet, "I didn't know you had anything personal in this, Mr. Saradokis. Manning and I are engineers, out for the good of the Projects." "Whatever your motives are, Mr. Freet," said Jim, "I don't like your methods and haven't since the Makon days. The water power will be opened to public bids and if you try to force me I'll tell what I guess." Freet laughed. "Don't be too sure of yourself, Jim! You are branded as my pupil. If I go, you will probably go." "O hell!" said Jim, starting for the door. "I'd rather go if I've got to spend my life fighting fellows like you. In this instance, though, I'm boss. I have the sale of the water power in my control." "Don't be too sure, Jim," said Freet, still smiling. Oscar followed Jim from the tent. Neither of them spoke while on the way to Jim's house where Pen and Jane were sitting with Mrs. Flynn. But in the kitchen Oscar made Jim wait while he told the three women what had occurred in the tent house. "Now all of you witness," he said, "that I'm through with that bunch. They played me for a sucker to influence the farmers against Mr. Manning and for the trust. When I think of the many different kinds of a fool I am I wish some good trained mule would come along and kick me." "That's all right, Oscar," said Jim, "you've been no bigger fool than I have. We'll get busy now, won't we?" Oscar flushed as Jim smiled at him. "Darn it, Mr. Manning," he said, "why haven't you looked at me that way before?" Then he laughed with the others. Then Pen spoke very uncertainly: "This settles it, of course. I shall go back to New York at once with Sara." The little group in the kitchen looked at Jim. His face was white and set. "Wait a day or so, Pen. I must get some sort of a plan formulated." "What am I to do with that man Freet hanging round?" asked Pen. "Come down for a day or so with me, Mrs. Pen," said Mrs. Ames. "That's a good idea," said Jim. "Freet won't stay after tomorrow, anyway. I can promise you that." "And I'll look out for the caged hyena," said Mrs. Flynn. "If God lets me live to spare my life, he'll get a tongue lashing from me that'll give him new respect for the Irish." Once more the group in the kitchen laughed, though tensely, and parted for the night. The next day Freet put in on the dam with Jim. Jim treated him with courtesy, showing him everything that he asked to see. Freet was very complimentary and told Jim he was a credit to his teacher. After a visit to the quarry Jim said suggestively: "You will want to take the six o'clock train, tonight, of course." Freet hesitated. Jim went on dryly. "Under the circumstances, it is hardly in good taste for you to remain. It might look as if you and I were having a gentleman's agreement on the price of dams." Freet laughed. "I had planned to take the six o'clock train. I quite finished my business with Saradokis last night. He's a brilliant business man. Too bad he has that silly whim about you."