"That is very awkward. The syndicate’s money is deposited in his name, and he is the man to sign our checks." I saw the advantage of keeping this power in Wharton Kendrick’s hands, and suggested: "Possibly he can attend to that part of the business at the house. I can have a line of messengers to carry the checks back and forth." Coleman wrinkled his brows, and gave his head a forceful shake. "That won’t do. The arrangement would lose us forty minutes on every transaction. You had better get Kendrick to make out a check for the whole amount in favor of Nelson, and Nelson will look out for the details." I was far from satisfied that this was the best way out of the difficulty. It eliminated Wharton Kendrick as a factor in the operations of the syndicate, and I had a vague but controlling feeling that this would fit badly with his plans. But I could give no sound reason for dissent from the suggestion, and at last Coleman said: "Go to Kendrick, and ask him for the check. I’ll have Nelson and Partridge here by the time you get back, and we can talk the business over more fully." The Kendrick house was bright with lights as I reached it, and I was more annoyed than pleased to find Mr. Baldwin busily assisting Miss Kendrick, and directing the servants in the work of clearing up the broken glass and securing the open windows with boards. Mr. Baldwin recognized me in his most superior way, and assumed his most magnificent airs of proprietorship from the top of the ladder, as he waved a hammer as his baton of command. "Ah, Hampden," he said with a cool nod, "this is a fine mess your friends have made of things." "Gracious, me!" exclaimed Miss Kendrick. "Is that the way friends act? I’ve seen men play some pretty rough pranks in the name of friendship, but I’m sure I never knew them to go so far as they did with Mr. Hampden. It’s a mercy he wasn’t killed. You should have seen him when he came in from the fracas!" Mr. Baldwin appeared to be put out of countenance by this railing acknowledgment of my share in the defense of the house, and I judged by his tone that he considered it a reflection on him for being absent in the crisis. "I had been out of town," he said stiffly, apparently for my enlightenment, "and got in on the eight o’clock boat. Later I heard that your friends were on the war-path, and threatening to burn Nob Hill and Van Ness Avenue. Then I came up here to see if I could be of service, and found that it was all over--except the repairs." And with this attempt to set himself right, he resumed his air of importance. "Well, it’s very lucky you weren’t here," said Miss Kendrick. "I don’t doubt you would have got your head broken, and you’d never be able to stand up on that ladder if it was going around the way Mr. Hampden’s is. Oh," she cried suddenly, "what have you done with that bandage I put over your bump?" "It came off," I said weakly, bringing the damp and offending rag out of my pocket.