"It's a case where it would be wrong not to bribe--if you want to use so harsh a word," said Baxter, his face tinged the least bit with red. "It is either to satisfy Mr. Foley or to lose a summer's work and have the men and their families suffer from the loss of a summer's wages. It's a choice between evils. I'll leave to the gentlemen here, which is the greater." "Oh, give your conscience a snooze, Driscoll!" growled Murphy. "I think Baxter's reasoning is good," said Bobbs. Isaacs corroborated him with a nod. "It's smooth reasoning, but it's rotten!--as rotten as hell!" He glared about on the four men. "Are you all in for Baxter's plan?" "We haven't heard it all yet," said Bobbs. "You've heard enough to guess the rest," snorted Driscoll. "I think it's worth tryin'," said Murphy. "Why, yes," said Bobbs. "We can do no less than that," said Isaacs. "Then you'll try it without me!" Driscoll shouted. "I resign from this committee, and resign quick!" He grabbed his hat from Baxter's desk and stamped toward the door. Mr. Baxter's smooth voice stopped him as his hand was on the knob. "Even if you do withdraw, of course you'll keep secret what we have proposed." Driscoll gulped for a moment before he could speak; his face deepened its purplish red, and his eyes snapped and snapped. "Damn you, Baxter, what sort d'you think I am!" he exploded. "Of course!" He opened the door, there was a furious slam, and he was gone. The four men looked at each other questioningly. Baxter broke the silence. "A good fellow," he said with a touch of pity. "But his ideas are too inelastic for the business world." "He ought to be runnin' a girls' boardin' school," commented Murphy. "Perhaps it's just as well he withdrew," said Baxter. "I take it we're pretty much of one mind." "Anything to settle the strike--that's me," said Murphy. "Come on now, Baxter; give us the whole plan. Just handin' a roll over to Foley ain't goin' to settle it. That'd do if it was his strike. But it ain't. It's the union's--about three thousand men. How are you goin' to bring the union around?" "The money brings Foley around; Foley brings the union around. It's very simple." "As simple as two and two makes seven," growled Murphy. "Give us the whole thing." Baxter outlined his entire plan, as he expected it to work out. "That sounds good," said Bobbs. "But are you certain we can buy Foley off?" "Sure thing," replied Murphy, answering for Baxter. "If we offer him enough." "How much do you think it'll take?" asked Isaacs. Baxter named a figure. "So much as that!" cried Isaacs. "That isn't very much, coming from the Association," said Baxter. "You're losing as much in a week as your assessment would come to." "I suppose you want the whole Association to know all about this," remarked Murphy. "Only we four are to know anything." "How'll you get the Association to give you the money then?" Murphy followed up.