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child；　he　really　loved　his　father。　　The　death　of　the　mother　years　before　had　left　him　without　other　opportunity　for　affection　in　the　home；　since　he　had　neither　brother　nor　sister。　　He　loved　his　father　with　a　depth　of　feeling　that　made　between　the　two　a　real　camaraderie；　despite　great　differences　in　temperament。　In　that　simple　and　sincere　regard　which　he　bore　for　his　father；　the　boy　revealed　a　heart　ready　for　love；　willing　to　give　of　itself　its　best　for　the　one　beloved。　　Beyond　that；　as　yet；　there　was　little　to　be　said　of　him　with　exactness。　　He　was　a　spoiled　child　of　fortune；　if　you　wish　to　have　it　so。　　Certainly；　he　was　only　a　drone　in　the　world's　hive。　　Thus　far；　he　had　enjoyed　the　good　things　of　life；　without　ever　doing　aught　to　deserve　them　by　contributing　in　returnsave　by　his　smiles　and　his　genial　air　of　happiness。

In　the　twenty…three　years　of　his　life；　every　gift　that　money　could　lavish　had　been　his。　　If　the　sum　total　of　benefit　was　small；　at　least　there　remained　the　consoling　fact　that　the　harm　was　even　less。　　Luxury　had　not　sapped　the　strength　of　him。　　He　had　not　grown　vicious；　as　have　so　many　of　his　fellows　among　the　sons　of　the　rich。　　Some　instinct　held　him　aloof　from　the　grosser　vices。　　His　were　the　trifling　faults　that　had　their　origin　chiefly　in　the　joy　of　life；　which　manifest　occasionally　in　riotous　extravagancies；　of　a　sort　actually　to　harm　none；　however　absurd　and　useless　they　may　be。

So　much　one　might　see　by　a　glance　into　the　face。　　He　was　well　groomed；　of　course；　healthy；　all　a…tingle　with　vitality。　　And　in　the　clear　eyes；　which　avoided　no　man's　gaze；　nor　sought　any　woman's　unseemly；　there　showed　a　soul　untainted；　not　yet　developed；　not　yet　debased。　Through　all　his　days；　Dick　Gilder　had　walked　gladly；　in　the　content　that　springs　to　the　call　of　one　possessed　of　a　capacity　for　enjoyment；　possessed；　too；　of　every　means　for　the　gratification　of　desire。　　As　yet；　the　man　of　him　was　unrevealed　in　its　integrity。　　No　test　had　been　put　upon　him。　　The　fires　of　suffering　had　not　tried　the　dross　of　him。　　What　real　worth　might　lie　under　this　sunny　surface　the　future　must　determine。　　There　showed　now　only　this　one　significant　fact：　that；　in　the　first　moment　of　his　return　from　journeyings　abroad；　he　sought　his　father　with　all　eagerness；　and　was　sorely　grieved　because　the　meeting　must　still　be　delayed。　　It　was　a　little　thing；　perhaps。　　Yet；　it　was　capable　of　meaning　much　concerning　the　nature　of　the　lad。　　It　revealed　surely　a　tender　heart；　one　responsive　to　a　pure　love。　And　to　one　of　his　class；　there　are　many　forces　ever　present　to　atrophy　such　simple；　wholesome　power　of　loving。　The　ability　to　love　cleanly　and　absolutely　is　the　supreme　virtue。

Sarah　explained　that　Mr。　Gilder　had　been　called　to　the　Court　of　General　Sessions　by　the　judge。

Dick　interrupted　her　with　a　gust　of　laughter。

〃What's　Dad　been　doing　now？〃　　he　demanded；　his　eyes　twinkling。　　Then；　a　reminiscent　grin　shaped　itself　on　his　lips。　　〃Remember　the　time　that　fresh　cop　arrested　him　for　speeding？　　Wasn't　he　wild？　　I　thought　he　would　have　the　whole　police　force　discharged。〃　　He　smiled　again。　　〃The　trouble　is；〃　he　declared　sedately；　〃that　sort　of　thing　requires　practice。　　Now；　when　I'm　arrested　for　speeding；　I'm　not　in　the　least　flusteredoh；　not　a　little　bit！　But　poor　Dad！　That　one　experience　of　his　almost　soured　his　whole　life。　　It　was　near　the　death　of　himalso；　of　the　city's　finest。〃

By　this　time；　the　secretary　had　regained　her　usual　poise；　which　had　been　somewhat　disturbed　by　the　irruption　of　the　young　man。　　Her　round　face　shone　delightedly　as　she　regarded　him。　　There　was　a　maternal　note　of　rebuke　in　her　voice　as　she　spoke：

〃Why；　we　didn't　expect　you　back　for　two　or　three　months　yet。〃

Once　again；　Dick　laughed；　with　an　infectious　gaiety　that　brought　a　smile　of　response　to　the　secretary's　lips。

〃Sadie；〃　he　explained　confidentially；　〃don't　you　dare　ever　to　let　the　old　man　know。　　He　would　be　all　swollen　up。　　It's　bad　to　let　a　parent　swell　up。　　But　the　truth　is；　Sadie；　I　got　kind　of　homesick　for　Dadyes；　just　that！〃　He　spoke　the　words　with　a　sort　of　shamefaced　wonder。　It　is　not　easy　for　an　Anglo…Saxon　to　confess　the　realities　of　affection　in　vital　intimacies。　　He　repeated　the　phrase　in　a　curiously　appreciative　hesitation；　as　one　astounded　by　his　own　emotion。　　〃Yes；　homesick　for　Dad！〃　

Then；　to　cover　an　excess　of　sincere　feeling；　he　continued；　with　a　burst　of　laughter：

〃Besides；　Sadie；　I　was　broke。〃

The　secretary　sniffed。

〃The　cable　would　have　handled　that　end　of　it；　I　guess；〃　she　said；　succinctly。

There　was　no　word　of　contradiction　from　Dick；　who；　from　ample　experience；　knew　that　any　demand　for　funds　would　have　received　answer　from　the　father。

〃But　what　is　Dad　doing　in　court？〃　　he　demanded。

Sarah　explained　the　matter　with　her　usual　conciseness：

〃One　of　the　girls　was　arrested　for　stealing。〃

The　nature　of　the　son　was　shown　then　clearly　in　one　of　its　best　aspects。　　At　once；　he　exhibited　his　instinct　toward　the　quality　of　mercy；　and；　too；　his　trust　in　the　father　whom　he　loved；　by　his　eager　comment。

〃And　Dad　went　to　court　to　get　her　out　of　the　scrape。　That's　just　like　the　old　man！〃　

Sarah；　however；　showed　no　hint　of　enthusiasm。　　Her　mind　was　ever　of　the　prosaic　sort；　little　prone　to　flights。　In　that　prosaic　quality；　was　to　be　found　the　explanation　of　her　dependability　as　a　private　secretary。　　So；　now；　she　merely　made　a　terse　statement。

〃She　was　tried　to…day；　and　convicted。　　The　judge　sent　for　Mr。　Gilder　to　come　down　this　morning　and　have　a　talk　with　him　about　the　sentence。〃

There　was　no　lessening　of　the　expression　of　certainty　on　the　young　man's　face。　　He　loved　his　father；　and　he　trusted　where　he　loved。

〃It　will　be　all　right；〃　he　declared；　in　a　tone　of　entire　conviction。　　〃Dad's　heart　is　as　big　as　a　barrel。　　He'll　get　her　off。〃

Then；　of　a　sudden；　Dick　gave　a　violent　start。　　He　added　a　convincing　groan。

〃Oh；　Lord！〃　he　exclaimed；　dismally。　　There　was　shame　in　his　voice。　　〃I　forgot　all　about　it！〃　

The　secretary　regarded　him　with　an　expression　of　amazement。

〃All　about　what？〃　　she　questioned。

Dick　assumed　an　air　vastly　more　confidential　than　at　any　time　hitherto。　　He　leaned　toward　the　secretary's　desk；　and　spoke　with　a　new　seriousness　of　manner：

〃Sadie；　have　you　any　money？　　I'm　broker　My　taxi'　has　been　waiting　outside　all　this　time。〃

〃Why；　yes；〃　the　secretary　said；　cheerfully。　　〃If　you　will〃

Dick　was　discreet　enough　to　turn　his　attention　to　a　picture　on　the　wall　opposite　while　Sarah　went　through　those　acrobatic　performances　obligatory　on　women　who　take　no　chances　of　losing　money　by　carrying　it　in　purses。

〃There！〃　she　called　after　a　few　panting　seconds；　and　exhibited　a　flushed　face。

Dick　turned　eagerly　and　seized　the　banknote　offered　him。

〃Mighty　much　obliged；　Sadie；〃　he　said；　enthusiastically。　〃But　I　must　run。　　Otherwise；　this　wouldn't　be　enough　for　the　fare！〃　And；　so　saying；　he　darted　out　of　the　room。



CHAPTER　III。　ONLY　THREE　YEARS。　

When；　at　last；　the　owner　of　the　store　entered　the　office；　his　face　showed　extreme　irritation。　　He　did　not　vouchsafe　any　greeting　to　the　secretary；　who　regarded　him　with　an　accurate　perception　of　his　mood。　　With　a　diplomacy　born　of　long　experience；　in　her　first　speech　Sarah　afforded　an　agreeable　diversion　to　her　employer's　line　of　thought。

〃Mr。　Hastings；　of　the　Empire　store；　called　you　up；　Mr。　Gilder；　and　asked　me　to　let　him　know　when　you　returned。　　Shall　I　get　him　on　the　wire？〃　

The　man's　face　lightened　instantly；　and　there　was　even　the　beginning　of　a　smile　on　his　lips　as　he　seated　himself　at　the　great　mahogany　desk。

〃Yes；　yes！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　evident　enthusiasm。　The　smile　grew　in　the　short　interval　before　the　connection　was　made。　　When；　finally；　he　addressed　his　friend　over　the　telephone；　his　tones　were　of　the　cheerfulest。

〃Oh；　good　morning。　　Yes；　certainly。　　Four　will　suit　me　admirably。。。。　Sunday？　　Yes；　if　you　like。　　We　can　go　out　after　church；　and　have　luncheon　at　the　country　club。〃　　After　listening　a　moment；　he　laughed　in　a　pleased　fashion　that　had　in　it　a　suggestion　of　conscious　superiority。　　〃My　dear　fellow；〃　he　declared　briskly；　〃you　couldn't　beat　me　in　a　thousand　years。　　Why；　I　made　the　eighteen　holes　in　ninety…two　only　last　week。〃　　He　laughed　again　at　the　answer　over　the　wire；　then　hung　up　the　receiver　and　pushed　the　telephone　aside；　as　he　turned　his　attention　to　the　papers　neatly　arranged　on　the　desk　ready　to　his　hand。

The　curiosity　of　the　secretary　could　not　be　longer　delayed。

〃What　did　they　do　with　the　Turner　girl？〃　　she　inquired　in　an　elaborately　casual　manner。

Gilder　did　not　look　up　from　the　heap　of　papers；　but　answered　rather　harshly；　while　once　again　his　expression　grew　forbidding。

〃I　don't　knowI　couldn't　wait；〃　he　said。　　He　made　a　petulant　gesture　as　he　went　on：　〃I　don't　see　why　Judge　Lawlor　bothered　me　about　the　matter。　　He　is　the　one　to　impose　sentence；　not　I。　　I　am　hours　behind　with　my　work　now。〃

For　a　few　minutes　he　gave　himself　up　to　the　routine　of　business；　distributing　the　correspondence　and　other　various　papers　for　the　action　of　subordinates；　and　speaking　his　orders　occasionally　to　the　attentive　secretary　with　a　quickness　and　precision　that　proclaimed　the　capable　executive。　　The　observer　would　have　realized　at　once　that　here　was　a　man　obviously　fitted　to　the　control　of　large　affairs。　　The　ability　that　marches　inevitably　to　success　showed　unmistakably　in　the　face　and　form；　and　in　the　fashion　of　speech。　　Edward　Gilder　was　a　big　man　physically；　plainly　the　possessor　of　that　abundant　vital　energy　which　is　a　prime　requisite　for　achievement　in　the　ordering　of　modern　business　concerns。　　Force　was；　indeed；　the　dominant　quality　of　the　man。　　His　tall　figure　was　proportionately　broad；　and　he　was　heavily　fleshed。　　In　fact；　the　body　was　too　ponderous。　　Perhaps；　in　that　characteristic　might　be　found　a　clue　to　the　chief　fault　in　his　nature。　　For　he　was　ponderous；　spiritually　and　mentally；　as　well　as　materially。　　The　fact　was　displayed　suggestively　in　the　face；　which　was　too　heavy　with　its　prominent　jowls　and　aggressive　chin　and　rather　bulbous　nose。　　But　there　was　nothing　flabby　anywhere。　The　ample　features　showed　no　trace　of　weakness；　only　a　rude；　abounding　strength。　　There　was　no　lighter　touch　anywhere。　　Evidently　a