"Well, that's all over now," said Margrave, in a conciliatory tone. "I'm in the devil's own hole, Jim. I've been relying on your information; in fact, I've had it in mind to make you treasurer of the company when we get reorganized. That ought to show you what a lot of confidence I've been putting in you all this time that you've been watching me run into the soup clear up to my chin." "I'm honestly sorry,"--began Wheaton. "I had no idea you were depending on me. You ought to have known that I couldn't betray Mr. Porter." "You ought to be sorry," said Margrave dolefully. "But, look here, Jim, I don't believe you're going to do me up on this." "I'm not going to do anybody up; but I don't see what I can do to help you." "Well, I do. You gave me to understand that you were buying this stuff yourself. You still got what you had?" Margrave knew from the secretary of the company that Wheaton owned one hundred shares. He thrust his hands into his pockets and looked at Wheaton appealingly. "Yes," Wheaton answered reluctantly. He knew now why he had been summoned. "Now, how many shares have you, Jim?" with increasing amiability of tone and manner. "Just what I bought in the beginning; one hundred shares." Margrave took a pad from his desk and added one hundred to a short column of figures. He made the footing and regarded the total with careless interest before looking up. "How much do you want for that, Jim?" "To tell the truth, Mr. Margrave, I don't know that I want to sell it." "Now, Jim, you ain't going to hold me up on this? You've got me into a pretty mess, and I hope you're not going to keep on pushing me in." Wheaton crossed and recrossed his legs. There was Porter and there was Margrave. To whom did he owe allegiance? He resented the way in which Margrave had taken him to task; he could not see that he had been culpable, unless as against Porter. Yet Porter had told him nothing; if Porter had treated him with a little more frankness, he certainly would never have mentioned Traction to Margrave. "What I have wouldn't do you any good," he said finally. "But it might do me some harm! Now, you don't want these shares, Jim. You're entitled to a profit, and I'll pay you a fair price." "I can't do anything to hurt Mr. Porter," said Wheaton. He remembered just how the drawing-room at the Porters' looked, and the kindness and frankness of Evelyn Porter's eyes.