"Let me tell you something," he went on.

His eyes opened again with a steady ruthless purpose in them, that the man before him was too intent on his own pose to see.

Barclay put a weight upon the white sheet of paper that he had spread over his letter to Bob Hendricks and then went on.

"Say, Brownwell, let me tell you something.

This town is right in the balance; you can help." Something seemed to hold Barclay back, but he took the plunge.