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318 he assured them that Colonel Halket had withdrawn from that freely and entirely, realizing what a mistake he had contemplated, and chagrined at having failed to comprehend more immediately the attitude of the people. Floyd begged them to believe that the spirit of their employer towards them was as friendly as it had ever been, and asked them to be patient, since, during Colonel Halket's illness, he himself must assume all the responsibilities. Tustin kept himself in the background, and this made Floyd's conciliatory attitude more possible. He wondered somewhat at Tustin's restraint, and began to conceive a greater respect for the man's shrewdness and judgment; he expected to hear almost any day a demand from the union for Farrell's discharge. But so far as he could learn, Hugh did not suffer so much as a threat in consequence of his defiant speech; Floyd continued to wonder at Tustin's moderation. He spoke of it to Gregg; the superintendent was skeptical.

"They may not think it's the time for it now, but they'll knife him one of these days," Gregg said. "They've got their share of vindictiveness,—and they're schemers."

"Well," Floyd answered, "I have n't any great confidence in Tustin; but we don't need to worry—as long as Farrell does n't."

The hours when he was not at the office, attending to business, Floyd spent in his grandfather's room or within call; although the physicians had predicted no danger of a sudden sinking. Colonel Halket seemed better satisfied if Floyd was at hand. As the days went by, he grew too weak to be propped up at the window, and his pastime of feeding the birds and looking down on the park was denied him. Then he asked for Floyd more often.

"It must bore you, I know," he said one afternoon, "but I'd rather have you sitting in the room with me than the nurse. She's a good woman, but her cheerful incredulity whenever I mention my approaching end an-