"I should say so!" he retorted gaily. "Say, girlie, I'll give you the swellest meal of your young life to-night! Chicago Water Front and Terminal, Great Lakes and Canadian Southern, Mohawk and Housatonic, Bluff Creek and Iowa Central. '_Oh, Mabel_!'" It was at just about this period of the celebration that Mr. Tutt entered the outer office and sent in his name; and as Mr. Badger was at the height of his good humor he condescended to see him. "I have called," said Mr. Tutt, "in regard to the bonds belonging to my client, Mrs. Effingham. I see you have them on the desk there in front of you. Unfortunately she has changed her mind. She has decided not to have you dispose of her securities." Mr. Badger's expression instantly became hostile and defiant. "It's too late!" he replied. "I have paid off her note and I am going to carry out the rest of the arrangement." "Oh," said Mr. Tutt, "so you are going to sell all her securities and put the proceeds into your bogus oil company--whether she wishes it or not? If you do the district attorney will get after you." "I stand on my rights," snarled Badger. "Anyhow I can sell enough of the securities to pay myself back my ten thousand dollars." "And then you'll steal the rest?" inquired Mr. Tutt. "Be careful, my dear sir! Remember there is such a thing as equity, and such a place as Sing Sing." Badger gave a cynical laugh. "You're too late, my friend! I've got a written order--_a written order_--from your client, as you call her. She can't go back on it now. I've got the bonds and I'm going to dispose of them." "Very well," said Mr. Tutt tolerantly. "You can do as you see fit. But"--and he produced ten genuine one-thousand-dollar bills and exhibited them to Mr. Badger at a safe distance--"I now on behalf of Mrs. Effingham make you a legal tender of the ten thousand dollars you have just paid out to cancel her note, and I demand the return of the securities. Incidentally I beg to inform you that they are not worth the paper they are printed on." "Indeed!" sneered Badger. "Well, my dear! old friend, you might have saved yourself the trouble of coming round here. You and your client can go straight to hell. _You_ can keep the money; _I'll_ keep the bonds. See?" Mr. Tutt sighed and shook his head hopelessly. Then he put the bills back into his pocket and started slowly for the door. "You absolutely and finally decline to give up the securities?" he asked plaintively. "Absolutely and finally?" mocked Mr. Badger with a sweeping bow.