Oakley rose in his good esteem; he had liked him, and he was justifying his good opinion. He beamed benevolently on the young man, and thawed out of his habitual reserve into a genial, ponderous frankness. “You have done well,” he said, glancing through the order-book with evident satisfaction. “Of course,” explained Oakley, “I am going to make a cut in wages this spring, if you agree to it, but I haven't the figures for this yet.” The general nodded. He approved of cuts on principle. “That's always a wise move,” he said. “Will they stand it?” “They'll have to.” And Oakley laughed rather nervously. He appreciated that his reforms were likely to make him very unpopular in Antioch. “They shouldn't object. If the road changes hands it will kill their town.” “I suppose so,” agreed Cornish, indifferently. “And half a loaf is lots better than no loaf,” added Oakley. Again the general nodded his approval. That was the very pith and Gospel of his financial code, and he held it as greatly to his own credit that he had always been perfectly willing to offer halfloaves. “What sort of shape is the shop in?” he asked, after a moment's silence. “Very good on the whole.” “I am glad to hear you say so. I spent over a hundred thousand dollars on the plant originally.” “Of course, the equipment can hardly be called modern, but it will do for the sort of work for which I am bidding,” Oakley explained. “Well, it will be an interesting problem for a young man, Oakley. If you pull the property up it will be greatly to your credit. I was going to offer you another position, but we will let that go over for the present. I am very much pleased, though, with all you have done, very much pleased, indeed. I go abroad in about two weeks. My youngest daughter is to be married in London to the Earl of Minchester.” The title rolled glibly from the great man's lips. “So you'll have the fight, if it is a fight, all to yourself. I'll see that Holloway does what you say. He's the only one you'll have to look to in my absence, but you won't be able to count on him for anything; he gets limp in a crisis. Just don't make the mistake of asking his advice.” “I'd rather have no advice,” interrupted Dan, hastily, “unless it's yours,” he added. “I'll see that you are not bothered. You are the sort of fellow who will do better with a free hand, and that is what I intend you shall have.” “Thank you,” said Oakley, his heart warming with the other's praise. “I shall be back in three months, and then, if your schemes have worked out at all as we expect, why, we can consider putting the property in better shape.”--A part of Oakley's plan.--“As you say, it's gone down so there won't be much but the right of way presently.” “I hope that eventually there'll be profits,” said Oakley, whose mind was beginning to reach out into the future.