Britt waved his hand in cheerful greeting.  “Prophet Elias, hand me that text about the way of the transgressor being a hard one to travel, and I’ll take it in a meek and lowly spirit and be much obliged.”  There was no sarcasm in Britt’s tone; on the contrary, his manner agreed with his profession regarding meekness.  The Prophet swapped stares with Files, who stood in the tavern door; that Elias was greatly impressed was evident, because he withheld speech.

That situation had enough drawing power to bring the brother to the cottage door; he appeared, his spider in his hand.

“Good morning, Usial,” called Tasper.  “I own up that you’re a convincing writer.  According to your request, you see I’m giving you your right name.  The voters are giving you honors.  Who knows what another issue of The Hornet may get for you?” Britt’s tone was one of bluff sincerity.

Egypt’s Pharaoh did not seem to be a bit put out because no one replied to him in this astonishing levee.  He descended from the porch and strolled off toward Britt Block, puffing his cigar.

He found the cashier alone in the bank.  Vaniman hastened to put in the first word.  “President Britt, I’m ready to wind up my affairs, and I hope you see the wisdom in holding our talk strictly to the business in hand.”

The president walked in past the grille and sat down at the table; by the mere look he gave the young man Britt succeeded in climaxing the succession of the morning’s surprises; Vaniman had more reason than the others to be amazed.

“Frank, I’m sorry!” There was wistful fervor in the declaration; for the first time in their association the president had called the cashier by his Christian name.

Vaniman had risen from his stool; he sat down again and goggled at Britt.

“If the two of us begin to apologize, we’ll get all snarled up,” went on the president.  “Real men can get down to cases in a better way.  I did a lot of thinking last night; probably you did, too.  The hell fire I went through yesterday would upset any man.  To-day I’m scorched and sensible.  I went after something I couldn’t get.  Just now I don’t ask you to stay here permanently.  You can stay right along if you want to, I’ll say that here and now!  But if you’re bound to go—­later—­go when you can leave on the square, after you have broken another man into the job, if you feel you don’t want it.  I’ll send you away then with my best wishes and a clean bill!  Please don’t make me crawl any more’n I’m doing!”

It was an appeal to Youth’s hale generosity—­and generosity dominated all the other qualities in Vaniman’s nature.  “I’ll stay, Mr. Britt,” he blurted.  “After what you have said I can’t help staying.”

The banker rose and stretched out his hand.  “Men can put more into a grip of the fist than women can into an afternoon of gabble, Frank.”

After the vigorous clasp of palm in palm, Britt had something more to say.  “Vona was terribly stirred up last night, and nobody can blame her.  She served notice on me that she was done in the bank.  But she needs the money and you and I need her help.  Go up and ask her to walk back in here as if nothing had happened.  And tell her that what I said about the raise in her pay holds good.”