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 nounced Mr. Blodgett, as sparing the victim's agony by not prolonging it.

The face of President Judson must have fallen considerably. His heart sank some fathoms certainly; he could feel it lying like a stone somewhere on the ocean floor of his diaphragm.

"There's a lot of people lost confidence in you," accused Silas Haley with a frown. "We helped you get steadied down once, and then you go rampagin' round like this and upset the whole financial equilibrium of the city."

"The whole financial—you compliment me," suggested George, and was able to smile brightly, judging by exterior appearances.

"Seems like with your control we aren't going to be able to absorb those bonds," explained Blodgett with a grave shake of his head.

"With my control?" asked George, giving over the assumed lightness of his manner. "Why, you are the very gentlemen who insisted on my control before you would underwrite the last ones."

"Exactly," said Tompkins dryly, "but now it's different. You've disappointed us."

"About the only way we could handle those bonds would be to have a change of control, wouldn't it?" Silas Haley inquired thoughtfully of Blodgett.

"Change of control?" asked George mystified,