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Then the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor

Abel had already been sending considerable sums of money to the British Red Cross for the relief of his coxmtrymen since that dreadful day in September 1939 on which the Nazis had marched into Poland, later to ain divide his hoed a fierce battle~ both within the De America into the war even if now it had to be on the side of the Russians His efforts so far had been fruitless, but on that December Sunday, with every radio station across the country blaring out the details to an incredulous nation, Abel knew that America must now be committed to the war On I I December he listened to President Roosevelt tell the nation that Germany and Italy had officially declared war on the United States Abel had every intention of joining in, but first he had a private declaration of war he wished to make~ and to that end he placed a call to Curds Fenton at the Continental Trust Bank

Over the years Abel had grown to trust Fenton!s judgment and had kept hiained overall control in order to keep a close link between the group and Continental Trust

Curds Fenton came on the line, his usual formal and always polite self

’How roup’s reserve account?’ asked Abel, Curtis Fenton picked out the filethe days when he could put all Mr Rosncrvski’s affairs into one file

He scanned soures

’A little under two million dollars,’he said

’Good,1 said Abel ’I want you to look into a newly formed bank called Lester, Kane and Coe they control and if there are any conditions under which they would be willing to sell All this e of the bank’s chairHe was glad that Abel Rosnovski could not see his surprised fa to do with William Kane? Fenton had also read in the WaU Street Journal about theof the two famous family banks What with Pearl Harbor and his wife’s headache, he too had nearly ed his ratulatory wire to William Kane He pencilled a note on the botto to Abel’s instructions

’When you have a full rundoant to be briefed in person, nothing on paper’

’Yes, Mr Rosnovski’

I suppose so on between those two, Curtis Fenton added silently to himself, but I’m damned if I do

Abel continued ’I’d also like to know in your quarterly reports the details of every official statement issued by Lester’s and which companies they are involved with’

’Certainly, Mr Rosnovski’

’Thank you, Mr Fenton By the way,me to open a new Baron in Montreal’

’The war doesn’t worry you, Mr Rosnovski?’

’Good God, no If the Germans reach Montreal we can all close down, Continental Trust included In any case, we beat the bastards last tiain The only difference is that this time I’ll be able to join the action Good day, Mr Fenton!

Will I ever understand what goes on in theup the phone His thoughts switched back io Abel’s other request, for the details of Lest&s shares That worried hier had any connection with Rosnovski, he feared where thisin Lester~s He decided against giving his views to Rosnovski for the ti the day would come when one of them would explain what they were both up to

Abel also wondered if he should tell Curtis Fenton why he wanted to buy stock in Lester’s but came to the conclusion that the fewer the number of people who knew of his plan, the better

He put William Kane temporarily out of his e, as now a vice president of the Baron Group He had grown along with Abel and was now hisin his office on the forty - second floor of the Chicago Baron, Abel looked down at Lake Michigan, on as known as the Gold Coast, but his own thoughts returned to Poland He wondered if he would ever live to see his castle again, noell inside the Russian borders under Stalin’s control Abel kneould never settle in Poland, but he still wanted his castle restored to hinificent hohts were interrupted by George