of the impossibility of communicating with you while you were en
route, I conformed to her wishes. Our by-laws, as you know, stipulate
that no meeting of the board shall be called without formal written
notice to each director mailed twenty-four hours previously."

"What the devil do you mean, Sexton, by conforming to her wishes?
Miss Sumner is not a director of this company." Pennington's voice
was harsh and trembled with apprehension.

"Miss Sumner controls forty per cent. of the Laguna Grande stock,
sir. I took that into consideration."

"You lie!" Pennington all but screamed. "You took into consideration
your job as secretary and general manager. Damnation!"

He rose and commenced pacing up and down his office. Suddenly he
paused. Sexton still stood beside his desk, watching him
respectfully. "You fool!" he snarled. "Get out of here and leave me
alone."

Sexton departed promptly, glancing at his watch as he did so. It
lacked five minutes of two. He passed Shirley Sumner in the general
office.

"Shirley," Pennington began in a hoarse voice as she entered his
office, "what is the meaning of this directors' meeting you have
requested?"

"Be seated, Uncle Seth," the girl answered quietly. "If you will only
be quiet and reasonable, perhaps we can dispense with this directors'