“I’ve come to prevent trouble,” he explained.
“I’m glad to hear it, because, as we both have the same wish, it ought to simplify things,” Aynsley responded. “Since yours is the party with a grievance, you’d better tell me what you want.”
“A written promise that you won’t keep a Jap here after to-morrow morning.”
“I can’t give it,” said Aynsley firmly. “I’ll undertake to hire no more and to let these fellows go when they have finished the work I engaged them for, if that will do.”
“It won’t; I can’t take that answer back to the boys. You must fire the Japs right off.”
Aynsley leaned forward on the table with a patient sigh.
“Don’t you understand that when two parties meet to arrange terms they can’t both have all they want? The only chance of a settlement lies in a mutual compromise.”
“You’re wrong,” said the stranger grimly. “The thing can be settled straight off if one of them gives in.”
“Is that what you propose to do?”
“No, sir! I don’t budge an inch! The boys wouldn’t let me, even if I thought it wise.”