"You might bring your plans before the citizens’ meeting this afternoon," said Coleman shortly. Partridge had been studying the ticker intently, and now growled: "There’s somebody raising the devil out there in the stock-market. He’s got the El Dorado Bank behind him by the looks of things, and he’s whacking at prices with a sledge-hammer." The name of this modern practitioner in the black art was on the tip of my tongue, but I kept it from escaping. If Wharton Kendrick had not revealed it in the course of the previous raid, it was evidently my cue to keep still. The contest grew hotter as the day advanced. The waiting-room was filled with anxious men, and we watched with concern the growing total of advances we had been compelled to make. The Sundown Bank had to be rescued twice from imminent failure, and two other banks called upon us for loans. We had groaned at the character of the collateral offered by the Sundowners, but there was no help for it. We had to advance enough to keep their doors from closing, or the wreck would have begun; and once under way at this troublous juncture we saw no limit to the ruin ahead. But at last it was over. Three o’clock came, the banks closed, and rumor and fear could only threaten of trouble to come. "Well, there’s a hard day gone," said Partridge with a sigh of relief. "And another one just beginning," said Coleman placidly. "How do we stand now?" asked Nelson. "We paid out three million seven hundred and ninety-eight thousand," I returned, glancing at the figures. "That leaves us--?" "Three million five hundred and twenty-two thousand." "That is too small a margin for safety," said Coleman with decision. "This thing isn’t over yet. I thought we would have enough to carry us through, but I see we must have more. You’ll have to get out, Partridge, and you, too, Nelson, and see what can be done in the way of raising more money." "I suppose it has got to be done," said Partridge. "We can’t afford to go broke now." And Nelson nodded assent. Coleman then turned to me: "It’s time we were going over to the citizens’ meeting," he said. "I’ve promised to preside. We are to meet in the Chamber of Commerce rooms, over here." And taking me by the arm, he led me out of the office. During the stress of the day’s business, we had come into close relations, and I had been more than ever impressed with the vigorous sense of this man. He displayed on that small field all the qualities of leadership demanded in the management of a nation. His resource and calm strength of mind inspired me with an unwonted warmth of admiration, and I could even then think only with regret of the ruler and statesman who had been smothered into the habit of a painstaking merchant. The generous emotions of hero-worship thrilled within me, and I was delighted to find that my admiration was repaid with a show of liking and confidence.