Yet this letter assumed that the order would be accepted and the goods turned out without any hesitancy on the part of the manufacturers, and upon the usual terms. The Bogata Company ignored the possibility of the Hapwood-Diller Company having heard of its financial embarrassments. The letter and accompanying order were sent, Ethel was sure, in a spirit of bravado. To use a common phrase, the Bogata people were “trying to put something over.” If the scheme went through, all well and good. The Hapwood-Diller Company might be made the means of saving the Bogata people from actual and complete collapse. Ethel knew, however, that her employing concern was in no shape to assume such a burden. Yet if the firm ordering the goods finally pulled out of its quagmire of financial difficulty, its friendship rather than its enmity was to be desired. Her mind centered upon the matter, the logical circumstances connected with it marching in slow procession through her brain. She was acquainted with every important order now on the factory’s books. Even Jim Mayberry had no better grasp of the details of the factory’s affairs than Ethel Clayton. Suddenly she got up and went to a file cabinet wherein was listed the particulars of all orders as yet unfinished. She began to figure with pencil and pad upon the already promised output of the factory and its possible output when the force was driven at top speed. Her calculations led her to certain unmistakable conclusions. She went back to her desk, calmly wrote the letter, typed it, and took the letter and her figures in to Barton. He was about to close his desk for the day. “Do you think you have succeeded?” he asked, smiling and taking the typed sheet from her hand. But in a moment he glanced up quickly and with a slight frown. “What is this you say here, Miss Clayton? We cannot accept the order because of work already contracted for? Why, that----” “Is the plain truth, Mr. Barton!” she exclaimed, putting forward her array of figures. “The factory is now working maximum hours and with a full crew in all departments. I have heard you say yourself that either extra help or overtime cuts into the profits rather than increases them. To fulfill contracts we have accepted, if you took on this of the Bogata Company, we would have to run the machines longer hours and pay extra wages. The Bogata people offer no price for their work to cover such an increased cost. My letter embodies the actual truth without going into particulars; but my statements can be easily proved if they are inclined to be critical.” Barton’s face had been gradually lighting up, and it was with real admiration that he said at her conclusion: “Fine! I’ll sign that and you can put it in the mail in the morning. Has John gone to the post-office?” “Yes, Mr. Barton.” “The morning will do,” said the general manager, affixing his signature to the letter. “You certainly are a capable assistant.”