When you know how the Melliston Company feels toward you, you don't want to be impudent enough to insist on hanging on, do you ?" "I am certain that I speak for my partner, sir, when I state that we won't drop the contract until we have fulfilled it," Tom muttered, coolly, but with great firmness.
"What's all this dispute about anyway, Bascomb ?" a voice called cheerily from the hallway.
"Oh, it's you, is it, Prenter ?" asked Mr.Bascomb, turning and not looking overjoyed at the interruption.
Simon F.Prenter was treasurer of the Melliston Company.

Tom had met him at the time of signing the engineers' contract with the company.

Now Reade sprang up to place a chair for the new arrival.
"What was all the row about ?" Mr.Prenter asked affably.

He was a man of about forty-five, rather stout, with light blue eyes that looked at one with engaging candor.
"I have been suggesting to Reade that he might resign," replied Mr.
Bascomb, stiffly.
"Why ?" asked Prenter, opening his eyes wider.
"Because he has raised the mischief on this breakwater job.

He has all the men by their ears, and the camp in open mutiny." "So ?" asked Mr.Prenter, looking astonished.
"Exactly, and therefore I have called upon the young man to resign." "And he refuses ?" queried the treasurer.