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94 it her duty, but Barney was invited just for his own charming self.

Roger Patterson smiled cynically as he thought of this. "If one has to balance himself on the brink of ruin," he drawled, "it's just as well to have a kindhearted fool hold the reins as any other person."

Before nine the next morning, Roger Patterson presented himself at Barney Creighton's office. As luck would have it, Barney had already arrived downtown. He listened to Roger Patterson's plea for leniency.

"If I could only have a little time," that was the drift of all his arguments.

"For the safety of the public," drawled Barney, "it might be quite a good idea."

Roger Patterson smiled in spite of himself. "Scarcely complimentary," said he.

"I only compliment the men to whom I sell," said Barney cynically. "It's one of the new business policies which I have just adopted. Another is, to hold a man to his contract at any cost. I am running a business office, not a kindergarten. If a signed contract is of no consequence, what is there upon which to base business?"

"Can't we come to terms in some way?" begged Roger Patterson.

"Yes, by delivering the stock."

"I can't."

"Then give me a check for the margin."

"I haven't enough available cash. Everything is going against me lately."