General Wilson shook his head with sympathetic concern when I had finished my tale. "That has a bad look," he said. "You can’t get through, unless you get help. Now if it was only fifty thousand, why, I would strain my authority so far as to let you have it--or, by Jove, I’d advance it out of my own pocket, to help Wharton. But the chances are that you’ll want ten times that amount, so I can’t risk it. You can count on my services, though, if you have to call a meeting of the creditors. I’m famous for managing such affairs, and in Chicago they have a joke about Wilson’s Elixir Vitæ for Broken-down Corporations. If the business stops, I can put it on its feet, if anybody can. Why, I’ve managed twenty big failures if I’ve managed one, and I brought ’em all through with flying colors. It wasn’t three years ago that I was called in to help Seymour, Peters and Blair. They had failed for four million, and their affairs were in the devil of a tangle. I wouldn’t have touched the thing for money, but I couldn’t resist the pleading of my old friend Seymour. He came to me crying like a baby, and was ready to blow his brains out if I failed him. So I took hold, worked like a beaver for three weeks--night and day--got the creditors to scale their claims and take six-, nine- and twelve-months’ notes, and had the concern going smoothly inside of thirty days. To-day you’ll find Seymour, Peters and Blair one of the soundest firms in Chicago. Why, I’ve reorganized three railroads, and--" General Wilson’s flow of reminiscence was interrupted by the sudden entry of Brown. I saw by his distressed face as he beckoned me that a crisis had arrived. "What is it?" I asked. "You can speak before General Wilson. He is our counsel now." "The El Dorado Bank has just presented notes for a hundred and fifty thousand," he gasped. The El Dorado Bank! I had no need of second sight to tell me from whose hand the blow had come. Peter Bolton had brought together another packet of Wharton Kendrick’s paper, and had put it through the bank for collection. My heart sank, and my face must have grown as long and white as Brown’s. Was the game up at last? Had the struggle ended in defeat? "I’m afraid you’re going to need my services," said General Wilson with a shake of his head. "Send out a hurry call to Kendrick’s friends, and if they don’t come to time, I’ll see you through a meeting of the creditors." General Wilson spoke with professional cheerfulness, as though he would convince me that a meeting of the creditors was one of the pleasurable experiences of life. As he spoke, the door opened, and I was startled to see Laura Kendrick enter. Her face was flushed, and excitement sparkled in her eyes. She paused irresolute, as she saw the two men with me, and I jumped to my feet and hastened to meet her. "Am I too late?" she gasped. "Too late?" I echoed in wonder.