Page:Tongues of Flame (1924).pdf/262

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"You're treating me rather badly, Mr. Boland," Henry remonstrated, "saying some pretty harsh things to me, and I know they seem justified; but they're not. You'll see they are not. You have ordained that I shall be fighting you for a time—for the sake of simple justice to some humble creatures all of whom have trusted me and some of whom have trusted you. The result of that fight will vindicate me, Mr. Boland; vindicate my judgment. I expect, when it is over, that you will invite me back to your friendship and your confidence, with a frank confession that you are entirely wrong. It is this—this faith in you——"

"Faith in me?" roared the insulted magnate, only to be rendered freshly speechless by another example of youth's magnificent assurance.

"In you," affirmed Henry with low emphasis. "I accept your present ultimatum because I know it will be withdrawn. I go under your displeasure, but I believe I shall return under your favor. I am sorry for what you have said to me, but have not resented it too greatly because you are today a man beside yourself, deceived by bad advisors, a man whose business counselors have become mere toadies and flatterers. We are about to part—you in anger, I in sorrow. You have been a friend and a father to me. I am grateful. Yet today you have called me ingrate and traitor. Mr. Boland, I believe I have never been so loyal to you as now—never done you so great a service as that which I am about to do."

Mr. Boland's expression during the latter part of this speech had been one of utter incapacity to believe what he was hearing. "You—you n-n-nut!" he exploded.