"I don't know but what there's something in what Osterman says.

We'd have the naming of the Commission and we'd name honest men." Annixter struck the table with his fist in exasperation.
"Honest men!" he shouted; "the kind of men you could get to go into such a scheme would have to be DIS-honest to begin with." Broderson, shifting uneasily in his place, fingering his beard with a vague, uncertain gesture, spoke again: "It would be the CHANCE of them--our Commissioners--selling out against the certainty of Shelgrim doing us up.

That is," he hastened to add, "ALMOST a certainty; pretty near a certainty." "Of course, it would be a chance," exclaimed Osterman.

"But it's come to the point where we've got to take chances, risk a big stake to make a big strike, and risk is better than sure failure." "I can be no party to a scheme of avowed bribery and corruption, Mr.
Osterman," declared Magnus, a ring of severity in his voice.

"I am surprised, sir, that you should even broach the subject in my hearing." "And," cried Annixter, "it can't be done." "I don't know," muttered Harran, "maybe it just wants a little spark like this to fire the whole train." Magnus glanced at his son in considerable surprise.