A moment of rest and mental relaxation had descended upon the personal staff of Obadiah. His hive of commercial industry had, for the moment, ceased to buzz. Suddenly, the hall door was thrown open. Mr. Jones suffered a severe laceration from the point of his own blade. Even the artistic soul of Kelly was shaken by the abrupt intrusion. Hezekiah Wilkins entered. His manner was hurried. Not as a messenger bearing joyous news of great triumphs, but rather as an emissary charged with intelligence of bitter flavor, who desires to get rid of it, that he may turn to happier matters. Having been courteously advised by the bleeding outer guard that the manufacturer was not engaged at the moment, Hezekiah entered the inner citadel. Obadiah was reading a voluminous mass of typewritten pages which he laid aside at the coming of his attorney. Waving the lawyer to a chair, he intimated that he awaited the further pleasure of his legal adviser. Seating himself, Hezekiah shoved both of his feet as far in front of him as his short legs would permit. He studied the aspect of his shoes thus presented, as if he had never before appreciated their beauty. "Well?" Obadiah spoke curtly. "I wish to discuss the matter of that young man in the hospital. Curtis is his name--I think." "All right," Obadiah agreed. Hezekiah placed his palms together and gazed upwards as if in pious meditation upon the words which he was about to utter. Obadiah viewed the attitude of his adviser with disapprobation. "Go ahead," he urged roughly. "Don't take all day." The lawyer gave his employer a look of reproof. "It is very important," he announced with great calmness, "that legal matters be accurately presented so that the facts deduced shall afford a sound basis for correct judgment when appearing in court." Hezekiah explained with dignity. "I have found that a moment given to the correct logical presentation of facts tends to expedite a just solution of perplexing questions." As he ceased speaking, he appeared to drift away into a condition of deep cogitation under the very eyes of his employer. Before this display of profound thought, Obadiah was helpless. Properly chastened, he awaited in patience the outcome of the mental processes of his learned subordinate. After a period in which no sound was heard but the ticking of the clock, Hezekiah recovered from his abstraction with a start, and announced, "This young Curtis refuses to accept your check." "Bigger fool he," Obadiah responded with indifference. Hezekiah turned sharply upon the mill owner, "I don't agree with you at all," he rapped. Obadiah had great confidence in the judgment of his legal adviser. There had been times when failing to follow it had cost him money. He became uneasy. "Do you think that he has a case against me?" "I would rather have his chances before a jury than yours."