"Can I come in, J.?" spoke the broker, from the hall. And even through the thick curtains they could hear how his voice rang with excitement and anxiety. "Can I come in? I followed the servant right up, you see. I know--" "Yes, yes. Come in," answered Jadwin. Laura, her face flushing, threw a fold of the couch cover over her costume as Gretry, his hat still on his head, stepped quickly into the room. Jadwin met him half way, and Laura from her place on the couch heard the rapidly spoken words between the general and his lieutenant. "Now we're in for it!" Gretry exclaimed. "Yes--well?" Jadwin's voice was as incisive and quick as the fall of an axe. "I've just found out," said Gretry, "that Crookes and his crowd are going to take hold to-morrow. There'll be hell to pay in the morning. They are going to attack us the minute the gong goes." "Who's with them?" "I don't know; nobody does. Sweeny, of course. But he has a gang back of him--besides, he's got good credit with the banks. I told you you'd have to fight him sooner or later." "Well, we'll fight him then. Don't get scared. Crookes ain't the Great Mogul." "Holy Moses, I'd like to know who is, then." "_I_ am. And he's got to know it. There's not room for Crookes and me in this game. One of us two has got to control this market. If he gets in my way, by God, I'll smash him!" "Well, then, J., you and I have got to do some tall talking to-night. You'd better come down to the Grand Pacific Hotel right away. Court is there already. It was him, nervy little cuss, that found out about Crookes. Can you come now, at once? Good evening, Mrs. Jadwin. I'm sorry to take him from you, but business is business." No, it was not. To the wife of the great manipulator, listening with a sinking heart to this courier from the front, it was battle. The Battle of the Streets was again in array. Again the trumpet sounded, again the rush of thousands of feet filled all the air. Even here, here in her home, her husband's head upon her lap, in the quiet and stillness of her hour, the distant rumble came to her ears. Somewhere, far off there in the darkness of the night, the great forces were manoeuvring for position once more. To-morrow would come the grapple, and one or the other must fall--her husband or the enemy. How keep him to herself when the great conflict impended? She knew how the thunder of the captains and the shoutings appealed to him. She had seen him almost leap to his arms out of her embrace. He was all the man she had called him, and less strong, less eager, less brave, she would have loved him less. Yet she had lost him again, lost him at the very moment she believed she had won him back. "Don't go, don't go," she whispered to him, as he kissed her good-by. "Oh, dearest, don't go! This was my evening." "I must, I must, Laura. Good-by, old girl. Don't keep me--see, Sam is waiting." He kissed her hastily twice. "Now, Sam," he said, turning toward the broker. "Good night, Mrs. Jadwin."