the most subtle and conscienceless rascals there are on the face of the earth."
"On which side of the ocean, Peter?"
"Oh, come, Stranleigh, I'm talking seriously. There's no room for genial persiflage in this business."
"Reproof accepted, Peter, in that spirit of humble admiration which I have always entertained for you. But, for the life of me, I cannot see how P. G. Flannigan can injure her father, even if he wishes to. He seems to have tied himself up, and not the other man at all, whom he apparently has left free."
"I may explain that when Sarsfield-Mitcham had completed his model, and had secured his patent, his money was exhausted, and it then became necessary to seek further capital. Naturally he turned to those who would be most likely to appreciate and understand the mechanism he had evolved; to those, in a word, who would adopt such an invention, should a test prove it successful. He found no difficulty in getting a hearing. That seems to be one good point in American business methods: the busiest and most successful man will always listen to a suggestion, and weigh it, no matter from what source it comes. He succeeded in interesting the engineering department belonging to one of P. G. Flannigan's railways, and gradually worked up and up, until at last there came the fateful inter-
