“Come, Ethel, let us start for home.”

The ride is finished in silence.  Neither Harvey nor Ethel feels in the mood to talk.  On reaching the Purdy mansion the riders dismount, and go at once to the library, where Gorman Purely is waiting for them.

“Harvey, I am surprised that you should interfere with my orders,” is Mr. Purdy’s salutation.  “Sheriff Marlin has just telephoned me.  He tells me that you opposed his evicting the widow, and that the miners are now likely to make serious trouble.  This is the second time to-day you have attempted to defeat my plans.  I cannot understand what object you have in antagonizing me.”

“You certainly misunderstand my motives,” replies Trueman.  “It is because I have your interests at heart that I cannot see you pursue a course that will lead to disastrous consequences.”

“Do you put your judgment above mine?” asks the Coal King, sarcastically.

“In ordinary business matters, in affairs of finance and in the conduct of the mines I should not presume to dispute your judgment.  But on the propriety of assembling the Coal and Iron Police and of evicting a woman who has the sympathy of the entire mining district I believe that I am better able to judge of the effect these acts will have than you are, for I come into close contact with the people.”

“The sheriff tells me you have placed a thousand dollars to the credit of the widow at the Company’s store.  Is this so?”

“I intend to do so.”

“It shall not be done, sir, not if I have the power to prevent it,” declares the Coal King emphatically, rising and pacing the floor.  “You must be out of your mind to make such a move, now, of all times, to offer encouragement to the lawless element.”

“He did nothing wrong,” interposes Ethel.  “He prevented the sheriff and his men from injuring the woman and her child.”

“Not another word!” Gorman Purdy speaks in a tone he has never employed when addressing his daughter.

“This matter must be settled, once and for all,” he continues, addressing Harvey.  “There can be but one head of the Paradise Coal Company.  I wish to know if you will cease interfering with my orders?”

“I have never objected to carrying out any order of yours that was legal.  As long as I am in your employ I shall continue to do as I have done.  But to tell you that I will do your bidding, whether legal or not, that is something I cannot bring myself to do,” Trueman replies, looking the Coal King squarely in the eye.

“I shall have no one in my employ who cannot obey me,” Purdy says.  He then rehearses what he has done for Trueman; how he has advanced him to the position of counsel to the company.  “And all the thanks I receive is your opposition, now that I need your support,” he states, and without waiting for a reply hurries from the room.

When Ethel and Harvey go to the dining room they find that the irate Coal King has gone to his private apartment, where his dinner is being served.