The old dog raised his eyebrows, as if to say that was what he had been waiting for all along. "Of course," I went on, "that is what you have been working for, and that is why the Mercantile people come down on us at this moment. You think you have got us where you can squeeze the life out of us. Well, you have." "You are a smart young man, Harrington," the great packer replied genially. "But you have got into a big game. You'd much better have listened to Carmichael when he offered you a chance with us." [Illustration: _"Only this," I said slowly, "I don't sell out to you."_] "Thanks!" I said glumly. "Now, why can't we avoid a fight and settle this matter between ourselves? There might be something good in it for you." "I know the way you settle such matters." "According to your own talk, there isn't much left for you folks." "Only this," I said slowly, and I walked back to his desk and leaned over it: "I don't sell out to you. We default. The bonds will be foreclosed, and maybe your crowd will hold the majority of 'em. But when we get into the courts, Mr. Strauss, on a receivership, I go before the judge and tell the story. I have the papers, too. And part of that story will have to do with certain agreements which our company has made with you and the other packers. And more than that, behind these arrangements there are a lot more of the same kind in our safe that we got from Dround and others. Now, if you want the whole story of the packing business aired in court and in the papers throughout the country, you'll have your wish." "Pshaw!" he said coolly, "you don't suppose that bluff counts! They can't do a thing to us." "Maybe not," I replied. "Nothing more than a congressional investigation, perhaps. And that might block your little game." "Go on, young feller!" he exclaimed contemptuously. "That's all. I want you to know that I am in this fight to the end, and if it ruins me and my friends, I will see that it hurts you. Now, if you want to fight, let the bank call this money." We had some more talk on the same subject, and, though the great packer maintained an air of indifference, I thought I had made some impression on him. Then we parted, and the old fellow paid me the compliment of seeing me as far as the door of his office. From Strauss's place I went to the telegraph office, wired for the money in New York, and in due time presented myself at the Mercantile Bank ready to take up the notes, as I had told Strauss. The president of the bank was waiting for me with a flurried look on his face. "You have come in to renew your paper, Mr. Harrington?" he remarked, as if there had been no trouble between us. "No," I said; "I have come to pay what we owe. I don't do any more business with you." "We have reconsidered the matter, and we shall be very glad to renew your paper." Strauss had seen the point to my remarks, and concluded to retreat!