Behind them, despised and uncountenanced by the Oriental elect, were crowded the native women, who, down in their hearts, loathed the usurpers.

It was Chase's hope that the husbands of these simple women would ultimately stand at his side in the fight for supremacy--and they were vastly in the majority.

If he could convince these men that his dealings with them were honest, Von Blitz could "go hang." He faced the crowd, knowing that all there were against him.

"Von Blitz!" he called suddenly.

The German started and stepped back involuntarily, as if he had been reprimanded.
"I've called this meeting in order to give you a chance to say to my face some of the things you are saying behind my back.