In all
of the advertising it was frankly stated that our license was
provisional, subject to withdrawal if the company did not keep
within laws. That very frankness was an advertisement. It was
something different. It struck home where it was meant to strike--
among small and unfledged investors. It roped them in by
thousands. The shares were ten dollars each, and non-assessable.
Five out of six orders were from one to five shares; ninety-nine
out of every hundred were not above ten shares. It was damnable.
The very people for whom I wanted the north to fight had been
humbugged to the tune of a million and a quarter dollars. Within a
year Brokaw and the others had floated a scheme which was worse
than any trust, for the trusts pay back a part of their steals in
dividends. And _I_ was responsible! Do you realize that, Greggy?
It was I who started the project. It was my reports from the north
which chiefly induced people to buy. And this company--a company
of robbers licensed under the law--I am its founder and its vice-
president!"
Philip dropped back into his chair. The face that he turned to
Gregson was damp with perspiration, though the room was chilly.
"You stayed in," said Gregson.
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