Now the influence by which Clark forced and carried out this interview with Wimperley need not be succinctly described, nor the half amused, half resentful surrender with which Wimperley finally said, "Show him in," but it is indicative of that power of hypnosis which Clark could exert at will, and by means of which, time and time again, he dissolved antagonism into support and the murky solution of criticism into the clean precipitate of confident reassurance. Wimperley knew perfectly well that, once admitted, Clark would convert him to his own present belief, whatever that might be, and that under Clark's magnetic persuasion he would shortly find himself treading a totally unexpected path. "Good morning. I'd like to have fifteen minutes." Clark was inwardly amused, but he spoke with perfect gravity. Wimperley drew a long breath. He knew what could happen in fifteen minutes. "What's the scheme now?" "Power and pulp," said Clark briefly, and, turning to a large railway map on the wall laid a finger on the point where Lake Superior falls into Lake Huron. "Go ahead." "I have acquired the right to develop any desired quantity of energy. This can be done for eighty dollars a horsepower. The country to the north is full of pulp wood, but the people up there don't know it." Wimperley felt a throb of interest. The power question in Philadelphia was up at the moment, but it was power developed from coal and it came high. "What else?" he said evenly, "and how do you know it?" "Seven different lumbermen have offered to contract for ten thousand cords a year. That's all I had time to talk to. The point is that each has individual knowledge of good stands of timber in his own locality but the thing has never been collated. Now look here," went on Clark, with a new light in his gray eyes--"there's power and wood; excellent transportation; iron ore--without question--in the hills; limestone at hand; cheap labor; no local competition, and--" "Wait a minute," struck in Wimperley hastily and pressed a bell. "Telephone Mr. Riggs and Mr. Stoughton and see if they can come over for a moment," he said to his secretary, then, turning to Clark, "better wait for them." Silence fell in the office. Both men were thinking hard. Wimperley, beginning to be resigned, had, in a burst of revolt, visualized Riggs and Stoughton as those most likely to help with the barricade which Clark was already beginning to shatter, and Clark, his face as imperturbable as ever, marveled not at all at his own influence, but was busy reviewing the strategic moves which were to convert the two for whom he waited. Presently they entered, shook hands with a certain stiffness and sat down. A glance at Clark revealed the reason for Wimperley's summons. They, too, had in former years come under the spell. "Now," said Wimperley briefly. Clark recapitulated, and the three listened, their faces devoid of expression save when their eyes involuntarily sought each other.