record," he replied evasively. "When I have had time to look into the
matter more thoroughly--"

"Tut-tut, my dear man! Let us not straddle the fence. Business is a
game, and so is politics. Neither knows any sentiment. Suppose you
should favour this N.C.O. crowd in a mistaken idea that you were
doing the right thing, and that subsequently numberless fellow-
citizens developed the idea that you had not done your public duty?
Would some of them not be likely to invoke a recall election and
retire you and your city council--in disgrace?"

"I doubt if they could defeat me, Colonel."

"I have no such doubt," Pennington replied pointedly.

Poundstone looked up at him from under lowered lids. "Is that a
threat?" he demanded tremulously.

"My dear fellow! Threaten my guest!" Pennington laughed
patronizingly. "I am giving you advice, Poundstone--and rather good
advice, it strikes me. However, while we're on the subject, I have no
hesitancy in telling you that in the event of a disastrous decision
on your part, I should not feel justified in supporting you."

He might, with equal frankness, have said: "I would smash you." To
his guest his meaning was not obscure. Poundstone studied the pattern
of the rug, and Pennington, watching him sharply, saw that the man
was distressed. Then suddenly one of those brilliant inspirations, or
flashes of rare intuition, which had helped so materially to fashion
Pennington into a captain of industry, came to him. He resolved on a