After thinking it all over, he sent for Covington, and as the younger man entered he handed him the communication.

“Have you seen this before?” Gorham asked.

“Yes; Litchfield just showed it to me.”

“What does it mean?”

“Compromise, I hope,” Covington replied.  “Nothing else can prevent a great calamity to the Companies.  I am even more certain of this now than before.”

“How do they know anything about my personal affairs?”

“I can’t imagine, unless through some one of the secret-service men.”

“You, of course, have made no reference to it?”

“Certainly not.”  Covington resented the suggestion.

“Now, about this last statement—­what does that mean?”

“It is a complete mystery to me.  Of course, there’s nothing in it?”

Gorham looked at him with a flash in his eye which he had learned to respect.  “Do I need to answer that question?”

Covington’s watchful mind noted the evasion.  Gorham had not actually denied it.

“Of course not,” he responded; “but they claim to have indisputable evidence.  I tried to find out what it was, but knowing how close I am to you, they are holding that back until the meeting.”

“Indisputable evidence, have they?  I should like to see it!  Please have a call signed by the secretary and sent out at once for a special meeting of the Board to be held to-morrow afternoon at four o’clock.  Send with it a waiver of the usual five days’ notice.  More than a majority of the Board are in the city, and they will be as eager as I am to dispose of this matter.”

The formalities in opening the meeting were brief, and the business in hand was taken up with a promptness which showed the strong desire dominating both sides to have the issue met squarely and settled once for all.  It was an interesting study to watch the expressions on the various faces.  Men who seldom allowed their bearing to reflect the emotions influencing them, gave every evidence of their full appreciation that a crisis was upon them.  With the possible exception of Covington, Gorham showed less than any of them the effect of the tense strain which the situation developed.  At the last meeting, the committee had witnessed an exhibition of the latent reserve force which lay beneath the impassive exterior, so they needed no further warning that the quiet yet flashing eyes, the firm setting of the mouth, the head bent forward, the general bearing—­alert and decisive—­all attested a foeman worthy of their steel.  It was his business life now against theirs, but they believed themselves strong enough to force the struggle.