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 pany by us voting our fifteen per cent. through you; but we control you that way, because if we held off on our fifteen per cent. you would lose your majority. That way we could assume responsibility for your not making any wild mistakes again, because we wouldn't let you; and that way we could guarantee the bonds. We've still got confidence in you; other people haven't. But they've still got confidence in us."

The young man's face was a study. "Do I understand that if I transfer fifteen per cent. of my stock to you, your institutions will join in underwriting our bond issue?"

"Today!" declared Blodgett with solemn emphasis.

There was silence while George's brain card-indexed this affirmation. If it were just a matter of "playing the game"—well, he could do that, he could stand punishment when it came his turn. And in this case it was true that, originally, he had been catapulted into power by this great game of business the rules of which he had had no part in making. Yes, if necessary he was now ready to prove himself a good loser as he had formerly proved a good winner. But there was another phase to the matter. He must also represent others than himself in this crisis. Milton Morris and his associates had welcomed George's control and had faith in it—would George now be justified in passing it