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diff --git a/old/51966-0.txt b/old/51966-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fca55e1..0000000 --- a/old/51966-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8371 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Last Penny, by Edwin Lefevre - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Last Penny - -Author: Edwin Lefevre - -Release Date: May 2, 2016 [EBook #51966] -Last Updated: March 15, 2018 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAST PENNY *** - - - - -Produced by David Widger from page images generously -provided by Google Books - - - - - - - - -THE LAST PENNY - -By Edwin Lefevre - -Harper And Brothers Publishers - -New York And London - -1917 - -[Illustration: 0008] - -[Illustration: 0011] - - - - -TO THE LAST PENNY - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THOMAS LEIGH, ex-boy, considered the dozen neckties before him a long -time, and finally decided to wait until after breakfast. - -It was his second day at home and his third day out of college. Already -his undergraduate life seemed far away. His triumphs--of personality -rather than of scholarship--lingered as a luminous mist that softened -the sterner realities and mellowed them goldenly. When one is young -reminiscences of one's youth are apt to take on a tinge of melancholy, -but Tommy, not having breakfasted, shook off the mood determinedly. He -was two hundred and fifty-five months old; therefore, he decided that no -great man ever crosses a bridge until he comes to it. Tommy's bridge -was still one long joy-ride ahead. The sign, “Slow down to four miles an -hour!” was not yet in sight. The selection of the necktie was a serious -matter because he was to lunch at Sherry's with the one sister and the -younger of the two cousins of Rivington Willetts. - -In the mean time he had an invitation to spend the first half of July -with Bull Wilson's folks at Gloucester, a week with “Van” Van Schaick -for the cruise at Newport, as long as he wished with Jimmy Maitland at -Mr. Maitland's camp in the Adirondacks, and he had given a half promise -to accompany Ellis Gladwin to Labrador for big game in the fall. - -He suddenly remembered that he was at his last ten-spot. There was the -Old Man to touch for fifty bucks. And also--sometime--he must have a -heart-to-heart talk of a business nature about his allowance. He and -his friends desired to take a post-graduate course. They proposed to -specialize on New York. - -Mr. Leigh always called him Thomas. This had saved Mr. Leigh at least -one thousand dollars a year during Tommy's four at college, by making -Tommy realize that he had no doting father. At times the boy had sent -his requests for an extra fifty with some misgivings--by reason of the -impelling cause of the request--but Mr. Leigh always sent the check for -the exact amount by return mail, and made no direct reference to -it. Instead he permitted himself an irrelevant phrase or two, like, -“Remember, Thomas, that you must have no conditions at the end of the -term.” - -Possibly because of a desire to play fair with a parent who had no sense -of humor, or perhaps it was because he was level-headed enough not to -overwork a good thing, at all events Tommy managed, sometimes pretty -narrowly, to escape the conditions. And being very popular, and knowing -that quotable wisdom was expected of him, he was rather careful of what -he said and did. - -He knew nothing about his father's business affairs, excepting that Mr. -Leigh was connected with the Metropolitan National Bank, which was a -very rich bank, and that he continued to live in the little house on -West Twelfth Street, because it was in that house that Mrs. Leigh had -lived her seventeen months of married life--it was where Tommy was bom -and where she died. The furniture was chiefly old family pieces which, -without his being aware of it, had made Tommy feel at home in the houses -of the very wealthy friends he had made at college. It is something to -have been American for two hundred years. Family furniture reminds you -of it every day. - -Tommy wondered, curiously rather than anxiously, how much his father -would allow him, and whether it would be wiser to argue like a man -against its inadequacy or to plead like a boy for an increase; then -whether he ought to get it in cash Saturday mornings or to have a -checking account at his father's bank. But one thing was certain--he -would not be led into reckless check-signing habits. His boy-financier -days were over. Those of his friends who had multi-millionaire fathers -were always complaining of being hard up. It was, therefore, not an -unfashionable thing to be. He surmised that his father was not really -rich, because he kept no motor, had no expensive personal habits, -belonged to no clubs, and never sent to Tommy at college more money than -Tommy asked for, and, moreover, sent it only when Tommy asked. Since his -Prep-school days Tommy had spent most of his vacations at boys' houses. -Mr. Leigh at times was invited to join him, or to become acquainted with -the families of Tommy's friends, but he never accepted. - -Tommy, having definitely decided not to make any plans until after his -first grown-up business talk with his father, looked at himself in the -mirror and put on his best serious look. He was satisfied with it. -He had successfully used it on mature business men when soliciting -advertisements for the college paper. - -He then decided to breakfast with his father, who had the eccentric habit -of leaving the house at exactly eight-forty a.m. - -It was actually only eight-eight when Tommy entered the dining-room. -Maggie, the elderly chambermaid and waitress, in her twenty-second -consecutive year of service, whom he always remembered as the only woman -who could be as taciturn as his father, looked surprised, but served him -oatmeal. It was a warm day in June, but this household ran in ruts. - -Mr. Leigh looked up from his newspaper. “Good morning, Thomas,” he said. -Then he resumed his _Tribune_. - -“Good morning, father,” said Tommy, and had a sense of having left his -salutation unfinished. He breakfasted in a sober, business-like way, -feeling age creeping upon him. Nevertheless, when he had finished he -hesitated to light a cigarette. He never had done it in the house, for -his father had expressed the wish that his son should not smoke until he -was of age. Tommy's twenty-first birthday had come off at college. - -Well, he was of age now. - -The smell of the vile thing made Mr. Leigh look at his son, frowning. -Then he ceased to frown. “Ah yes,” he observed, meditatively, “you are -of age. You are a man now.” - -“I suspect I am, father,” said Thomas, pleasantly. “In fact, I--” - -“Then it is time you heard man's talk!” - -Mr. Leigh took out his watch, looked at it, and put it back in his -pocket with a methodical leisureliness that made Tommy realize that Mr. -Leigh was a very old man, though he could not be more than fifty. Tommy -was silent, and was made subtly conscious that in not speaking he was -somehow playing safe. - -“Thomas, I have treated you as a boy during twenty-one years.” Mr. Leigh -paused just long enough for Tommy to wonder why he had not added “and -three months.” Mr. Leigh went on, with that same uncomfortable, senile -precision: “Your mother would have wished it. You are a man now and--” - -He closed his lips abruptly, but without any suggestion of temper or of -making a sudden decision, and rose, a bit stiffly. His face took on -a look of grim resolution that filled Tommy with that curious form of -indeterminate remorse with which we anticipate abstract accusations -against which there is no concrete defense. It seemed to make an utter -stranger of Mr. Leigh. Tommy saw before him a life with which his -own did not merge. He would have preferred a scolding as being more -paternal, more humanly flesh-and-blood. He was not frightened. - -He never had been wild; at the worst he had been a complacent shirker -of future responsibilities, with that more or less adventurous desire -to float on the tide that comes to American boys whose financial -necessities do not compel them to fix their anchorage definitely. At -college such boys are active citizens in their community, concerned -with sports and class politics, and the development of their immemorial -strategy against existing institutions. And for the same sad reason of -youth Tommy could not possibly know that he was now standing, not on a -rug in his father's dining-room, but on the top of life's first hill, -with a pleasant valley below him--and one steep mountain beyond. All -that his quick self-scrutinizing could do was to end in wondering which -particular exploit, thitherto deemed unknown to his father, was to be -the key-note of the impending speech. And for the life of him, without -seeking self-extenuation, he could not think of any serious enough to -bring so grimly determined a look on his father's face. - -Mr. Leigh folded the newspaper, and, without looking at his son, said, -harshly, “Come with me into the library.” - -Tommy followed his father into the particularly gloomy room at the back -of the second floor, where all the chairs were too uncomfortable for any -one to wish to read any book there. On the small black-walnut table were -the family Bible, an ivory paper-cutter, and a silver frame in which was -a fading photograph of his mother. - -“Sit down!” commanded the old man. There was a new note in the voice. - -Tommy sat down, the vague disquietude within him for the first time -rising to alarm. He wondered if his father's mind was sound, and -instantly dismissed the suspicion. It was too unpleasant to consider, -and, moreover, it seemed disloyal. Tommy was very strong on loyalty. His -college life had given it to him. - -Mr. Leigh looked, not at his son but at the photograph of his son's -mother, a long time it seemed to Tommy. At length he raised his head and -stared at his son. - -Tommy saw that the grimness had gone. There remained only calm resolve. -Knowing that the speech was about to begin, Tommy squared his shoulders. -He would answer “Yes” or “No” truthfully. He wasn't afraid now. - -“Thomas, the sacrifices I have made for you I do not begrudge,” said Mr. -Leigh, in a voice that did not tremble because an iron will would not -let it. “But it is well that you should know once for all that you -can never repay me in full. You are my only son. But--you cost me your -mother!” - -Tommy knew that his mother had paid for his life with her own--knew it -from Maggie, not from his father. To Tommy love and loyalty were among -the undoubted pleasures of life. Recriminations he looked upon as -evidences of a shabby soul. He repressed the desire to defend himself -against injustice and loyally said, “Yes, sir!” - -His father went on, “I have kept also an accurate account of what you -have cost me in cash.” - -Mr. Leigh went to his desk and took from a drawer a small book bound in -morocco. He came back to the table, sat down, motioned Tommy to a chair -beside him, opened the book at the first page, and showed Tommy: - -Thomas Francis Leigh, In acct. with William R. Leigh, Dr. - -Tommy felt that he was at the funeral services of some one he knew. His -father seemed to hesitate, then handed the little book to Tommy. The -morocco cover was black--the color of mourning. - -Mr. Leigh went on in the voice a man will use when he is staring not -through space, but across time: “Before you were born we were sure you -would be a boy. She formed great plans for you. It is just as well that -she did; it gave her the only happiness she ever got from you.” He -raised his eyes to Tommy's, and with a half frown that was not of anger, -said: “She was very extravagant in her gifts to you. She spent money -lavishly, months before you were born, on what she thought you would -love to have--large sums, all on paper, for we were very poor and had no -money whatever to put aside for the day when you should need it. She -told me many times that she did not wish you to have brothers or -sisters, because she already loved you so much that she felt she could -never love the others, and it would not be fair.” The old, old man -paused. Then he added, softly, “She had her wish, my son!” - -Tommy felt very uncomfortable. His mother was coming to life in his -heart. What for years had been a faint convention was now dramatizing in -blood and tears before his very eyes. He felt more like a son than ever -before, and--this was curious!--more like a son to his own father. And -his own father continued in a monotone: - -“But being a bookkeeper at a bank and being very, very poor, the only -inexpensive recreation I could think of was to keep your books for you. -So I debited you with every penny I spent for you. You will find that -the first item in that book was a lace cap which she bought for you at a -special sale, for $2.69. I didn't scold her for extravagance. Instead, I -gave up smoking. And--I have kept the cap, my son!” - -Tommy looked down, that he might not see his father's face. He read the -first item. The ink was pale, but the writing was legible. It was as his -father had said. And there were other items, all for baby clothes. He -read them one after another, dully, until he came to: - - Doctor Wyman..................................$218.50 - - Funeral expenses in full......................$191.15 - -The old man seemed to know, in some mysterious way, which particular -item Tommy was reading, for he said, suddenly, with a subtle note of -apology in his voice: - -“I loved her, my son! I loved her! You cost me her life! You did not -do it intentionally. But--but I felt you owed me something, and so -I--charged you with the expense incurred. She would have--fought for -you; but I held it against you and I wrote it down. And I wrote it down, -in black and white, that in my grief I might have an added grief, my -son!” - -Tommy looked up suddenly, and saw that his father was nodding toward -the photograph on the table, nodding again and again. And Tommy felt -himself becoming more and more a son--to both! He did not think -concretely of any one thing, but he felt that he was enveloped by a life -that does not die. That, after all, is the function of death. - -Presently Mr. Leigh ceased to nod at the photograph and looked at Tommy. -And in the same dispirited monotone, as though his very soul had kept -books for an eternity, said: - -“We talked over your life, my son. Months before you came she picked out -your schools and your college. It is to those that you have gone. She -had no social ambitions for herself. They were all for you. She wanted -you to be the intimate of those whom we called the best people in those -days. They are your friends to-day. I promised her that I would do as -she wished.” The old man looked at Tommy straight in the eyes. “You have -had everything you wished--at least, everything you ever asked me for. I -have kept my promise to her. And, my son, I do not begrudge the cost!” - -The way he looked when he said this made Tommy exceedingly -uncomfortable. It was plain that Mr. Leigh was much poorer than Tommy -had feared. In some way not quite fully grasped, Tommy Leigh realized -that all his plans--the plans he really had not formed!--were brought to -naught. And when his father spoke again Tommy listened with as poignant -an interest as before, but with distinctly less curiosity. - -“Her plans for you all were for your boyhood. After your graduation from -college I was to take charge of your business career, provide or suggest -or approve of your life's occupation. The day is here. I owe you -an explanation, that you may be helped to a decision following your -understanding of your position--and of mine!” He ceased to speak, -rose, took from the table the photograph of his wife, looked at it, and -muttered, “It is now between us men!” - -He carried the photograph to his bedroom. He returned presently and, -looking at Tommy full in the face, said with a touch of sternness that -had been absent from his voice while the photograph was on the table: - -“My son, when we married I was getting exactly eighteen dollars a week. -Your grandmother lived with us and paid the rent of this house, in -return for which she had her meals with us. When you were born I was -getting one thousand and forty dollars a year. This house--the only -house in which she lived with me--I kept after she died and after your -grandmother went away. I do not own it. It is too big for my needs--and -too small for my regrets. But I could not live anywhere else. And so I -have kept it all these years. My salary at the bank was raised to -fifteen hundred dollars when you were four years old, and later to -eighteen hundred dollars. For the last fourteen years my salary from the -bank has been twenty-five hundred dollars a year.” - -Tommy felt as if something as heavy as molten lead and as cold as frozen -air had been force-pumped into his heart and had filled it to bursting. - -“You have cost me, up to this day, a trifle over seventeen thousand -dollars. At school you cost me a little less than my salary. At college -you spent one thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight dollars for -your Freshman, two thousand and twelve dollars for your Sophomore, two -thousand one hundred and forty-six dollars for your Junior, and two -thousand three hundred and ninety-one dollars for your Senior year. Your -summer vacation expenses have added an average of four hundred dollars -a year to what you cost me since you were sixteen. But I have kept my -promise to her. I do not begrudge the cost!” - -There was a subtle defiance' in the old man's voice, and also a subtle -accusation. To Tommy his father's arithmetic had in it something not -only incomprehensible, but uncanny. The old man looked as if he expected -speech from his son, so Tommy stammered uncomfortably: - -“I--I suppose--your s-savings--” - -The grim lines came back to the old man's mouth. “I had the house rent -to pay, and my salary was what I have told you.” - -“I don't quite understand--” floundered Tommy. - -“You have had the college and the friends she wished you to have. When -you asked for money I always sent it to you. I asked no questions and -urged no economies.” - -“I had no idea--” began Tommy, and suddenly ceased to talk. There came a -question into his eyes. The past was over and done with. There remained -the future. What was expected of him? What was he to do? - -But the old man missed the question. All he saw was an interrogation, -and he said, “You wish to know how I did it?” - -This was not at all what Tommy really wished to know, but he nodded, -for, after all, his father's answer would be one of the many answers to -one of the many questions he had to ask. - -“My son”--Mr. Leigh spoke in a low voice, but looked unflinchingly at -his son--“I ask you, as a grown man, what does an old and trusted bank -employee always do who spends much more than his salary?” - -Tommy's soul became a frozen mass, numb, immobile. Then a flame smote -him full in the face, so intense that he put up his hands to protect -it. He stared unseeingly at his father. There flashed before him ten -thousand cinematograph nightmares that fleeted by before he could grasp -the details. He felt a slight nausea. He feared to breathe, because he -was afraid to find himself alive. - -“Father!” he gasped. - -Mr. Leigh's face was livid. He said, sternly, “I have kept my promise to -her!” - -“But why did you--why did you--keep me at college? Why didn't you tell -me you had no money?” - -“I did as she wished me to do. Believe me, my son, I am not sorry. But -it need not go on.” - -“No!” shouted Tommy. “No!” Then he added, feverishly: “Certainly not! -Certainly not!” He shook his head furiously. His brain was filled with -fragments of thoughts, shreds of fears, syncopated emotions that did -not quite crystallize, but were replaced by others again and again. But -uppermost in the boy's mind, not because he was selfish but because he -was young and, therefore, without the defensive weapons that experience -supplies, was this: I am the son of a thief! - -Then came the poignant realization that all that he had got from life -had been obtained under false pretenses. The systematic stealing for -years had gone to pay for his friendships and his good times. The -tradesmen's bills had been settled with other people's money. He was -innocent of any crime, but he had been the beneficiary of one. And the -boy for whom a father had done this asked himself why his father had -done it. And his only answer was that he now was the son of a thief. - -As the confusion in his mind grew less explosive, fear entered Tommy's -soul--the oldest of all civilized fears, the fear of discovery! He began -to read the newspaper head-lines of the inevitable to-morrow. He found -himself looking into the horror-stricken faces of those whom he loved -best, the warm-hearted companions of his later life, whose opinions -became more awful than the wrath of his Maker and more desirable than -His mercy. - -He would give his life, everything, if only discovery were averted until -he could return the money. If fate only waited! Where could he get the -money? Where was the source of money? - -His father was the natural person from whom to ask, from whom the answer -would come, and the habit of a lifetime could not be shaken off in an -instant. It was exquisite agony to be deprived abruptly of what had -become almost an instinct. - -And Tommy was not thinking of his father, not even to blame him, not -even to forgive him. He thought of himself, of his own life, of the -dreadful future that settled itself into the words: “If it were known!” - -“What shall I do?” he muttered, brokenly, gazing at his father with eyes -that did not see one face, but many--the faces of friends! - -“At your age I went to work,” said Mr. Leigh. The voice was neither -accusing nor sympathetic. It sounded very, very weary. - -“I want to! I want to! Right away!” cried Tommy, loudly. - -“I looked,” pursued Mr. Leigh, monotonously, “in the _Herald_ for 'Help -Wanted--Male.' I got my position with the bank that way, and I've been -there ever since.” - -“I will! Where is the _Herald?”_ said Tommy, without looking at his -father. He was afraid to see and to be seen. - -“I'll send in one from the corner. I must go now, Thomas.” - -The fear of being left alone, with his problems unsolved, with his fears -uncalmed, alone with the consciousness of utter helplessness, made Tommy -say, wildly: - -“But, father, I--You--I--” He ceased to flounder. It was not pleasant -to look upon his young face, pallid, drawn, with the nostrils pinched -as with physical pain, and fear made visible, almost palpable, in ten -thousand ways. - -“I must go! I must be in the bank--before the cashier. I--I--I have done -it since--since you went to Prep.-School.” The old man nodded his head -with a pitiful weariness. - -“But, father--” cried Tommy. - -“I must go!” There was a pause. Then in a firmer voice: “Don't lose your -grip, my son. I alone am responsible for my actions. I have done my duty -by her. From now on you must fight your own fights. I'll send in the -_Herald_. And, my son--” - -“Yes?” said Tommy, eagerly. What he prayed for was a miracle. He wished -to hear that there was no immediate danger. - -“You will need some pocket mo--” - -“No! No!” shrieked Tommy Leigh. His voice was shrill as a little boy's. - -Mr. Leigh's fists, unseen by Tommy, clenched tightly. But his voice -had an apologetic note. “Very well, my son. I--I must be in the bank -before--You must be a man. Good-by, my son!” - -Without another look at his only son Mr. Leigh walked out of the room, -his face grim, his lips pressed tightly together, his fists clenching -and unclenching. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -MAGGIE brought the _Herald_ to Tommy. He had remained in the library, -trying to think. When he discovered that he couldn't he rose and walked -about the gloomy little room, angry with himself because his emotions -prevented the cogs of his mind-machine from falling into their -appointed places. He decided that he must face his problem squarely, -systematically, calmly, efficiently. - -The first thing to do was not to walk about the library like a wild -beast in a menagerie cage. He lit a cigarette and resolutely sat down. - -He smoked away, and compelled himself to understand that his problem -consisted in evolving a plan or a set of plans having for an object the -accumulation of money. The amount was seventeen thousand dollars, since -that was what he had cost his father. It was there in black and white, -to the last penny, in the little book bound in mourning morocco. - -He stretched his hand toward the little book on the table, but drew it -back, empty. He would not read the items. It didn't matter how the money -had been spent. It was enough to know that all of it must be paid back. - -Seventeen thousand dollars! It did not mean any more to Tommy than five -thousand dollars or ten thousand dollars or any other number of dollars. - -He lit another cigarette. Presently the fear came upon him that it might -take a long time to earn the money, to earn any money. Discovery, the -discovery he so dreaded, had fleet feet. He must do something--and do it -at once. - -He took up the Herald and read the “Help Wanted--Male” column. He began -at the first line, and as he read on he was filled with surprise at the -number of men wanted by employers. He marked two private secretaryships -and a dozen selling agencies, which divulged no details, but promised -great and quick wealth to the right man. He knew that he would work like -a cyclone. He, therefore, must be the right man. In fact, he knew he -was! And then he came upon this: - -Wanted--A College Man. No high-brow, no football hero, no Happy Jack, no -erudite scholar, but a Man recently graduated from College, whose feet -are on _terra firma_ and the head not more than six feet one inch above -same. If he is a Man to-day we shall make him into The Man We Want -to-morrow. Apply X-Y-Z, P. O. Box 777, Dayton, Ohio. - -Thomas Leigh thrilled. It was a wonderful message. He clenched his own -fist to prove to himself that he himself was a man. He was willing to do -anything, therefore it did not matter what “X-Y-Z” wanted him to do. -And also this was in Dayton, Ohio. Whatever he did must be done far away -from New York. He hated New York because all the people he loved lived -there. - -He was about to light another cigarette when the thought came to -him that smoking was one of the habits he must give up as entailing -unnecessary expense. Unnecessary expenses meant delay in the full -settlement of the debt he had taken upon himself to pay. He threw -the unlighted cigarette on the table vindictively. He would work at -anything, night and day, like a madman! - -Thrilled by the intensity of his own resolve, his mind began to work -feverishly. He was no longer Tommy Leigh, but a man who did his thinking -in staccato exclamations. He sat down at his father's desk and wrote -what he could not have written the day before to save his life, for he -now saw himself as the man in Dayton evidently saw him. - -X-Y-Z, Dayton, Ohio: - -Sir,--I graduated from college last week. I am a twenty-one-year-old man -now. I will be Man until I shall be my own Man--and then perhaps yours -also. Ego plus Knowledge equals Xnth. Thomas Leigh, - -West Twelfth Street, - -New York City. - -He addressed the envelope, stamped it, and went out to drop it at the -corner letter-box. He did not intend to lose time. He realized, as firmly -as if he had been writing business aphorisms for a living, that time was -money. And he needed both. - -As soon as the letter was in the box he felt that his life's work had -begun. This lifted a great weight from his chest. He now could breathe -deeply. He did so. The oxygen filled his lungs. That brought back -composure--he was doing all he could. The consciousness of this gave him -courage. - -Courage has an inveterate habit of growing. By feeding on itself it -waxes greater, and thus its food-supply is never endangered. By the time -Tommy Leigh returned to his house, once the abode of fear, he was so -brave that he could think calmly. Thinking calmly is always conducive to -thinking forgivingly, and forgiveness strengthens love. - -“Poor old dad!” he said, and thought of how his father had loved his -mother and what he had done for his only son. He would stick to his -father through thick and thin. - -That much settled, Tommy thought of himself. That made him think of the -luncheon at Sherry's with Rivington Willetts. Marion Willetts would be -there. For a moment he thought he must beg off. It was like going to -a cabaret in deep mourning. But he reasoned that since he was going to -Dayton, this would be his social swansong, the leave-taking of his old -life, his final farewell to boyhood and Dame Pleasure. - -He was glad he had told his father he would not accept any more money. -He counted his cash. He had eleven dollars and seventy cents. He was -glad he had so little. It cheered him so that he was able to dress -with great care; but before he did so he answered some of the other -advertisements. - -At the luncheon he was a pleasant-faced chap, well set-up, with an air -of youth rather than of juvenility, as though he were a young business -man. If he had not come naturally by it this impression of business -manhood might have degenerated into one of those unfortunate assumptions -of superiority that so irritate in the young because the old know that -age is nothing to be proud of, age with its implied wisdom being the -most exasperating of all fallacies. - -With Tommy the impression of grown manhood imparted to his chatter a -quality of good fellowship deliberately put on out of admirable sympathy -for young people who very properly did not desire to be bored. A nice -chap, who could be trusted to be a stanch friend in comedy or tragedy! -The girls even thought he was interesting! - -He heard his chum Willetts gaily discuss plans for the summer, all -of which necessitated Mr. Thomas Leigh's presence at certain friendly -houses. But he said nothing until after the luncheon was over and -the talk had begun to drag desultorily, as it does when guests feel -“good-by” before they say it. - -“Well,” said Tommy, smiling pleasantly after the pause that followed -Marion's beginning to button a glove, “you might as well hear it now as -later. It will save postage. I am not going to see you after to-day!” - -“What!” cried Rivington. - -“That!” said Tommy. “My father told me this morning that there was -nothing doing for me in finance.” - -“Oh, they always tell you business is rotten,” said Rivington, -reassuringly. His own father, with hundreds of tenanted houses, always -talked that way. - -“Yes, but this time it's so.” - -“Oh!” exclaimed Marion, in distress, “did you talk back to--” - -“My child, no harsh words passed my lips nor his. I received honey with -quinine from old Doctor Fate. The father of your dear friend is down to -cases. The stuff simply isn't there; so it's me for commerce and -industry.” - -“What the heavens are you shooting at, Tommy?” - -“In plain English, it means that I've got to go to work, earn my own -cigarette money, cut my fastidious appetite in two, and hustle like a -squirrel in a peanut warehouse. I'm going to Dayton, Ohio.” - -“Oh, Tommy!” said Marion. She had ceased to fumble with her gloves, -and was looking at young Mr. Leigh with deep sympathy and a subtle -admiration. - -Tommy was made aware of both by the relatively simple expedient of -looking into her eyes. The conviction came upon him like a tidal wave -that this was the finest girl in the world. He shared his great trouble -with her, and that made her his as it had made him hers. - -She was overpoweringly beautiful! - -Then came the reaction. It could never be! Calmly stated, she knew that -he was going to do a man's work. But she did not know why, nor why he -must leave New York. He turned on her a pair of startled, fear-filled -eyes. - -She became serious as by magic. “What is it?” she whispered. - -The low tones brought her very close to him. Tommy wished to have no -secrets from her, but he could not tell her. She read his unwillingness -with the amazing intuition of women. Their relations subtly changed with -that exchange of glances. - -“I--I can't tell you--all the--the reasons,” he stammered, feeling -himself helpless against the drive of something within him that insisted -on talking. “I can't!” He paused, and then he whispered, pleadingly, -“And you mustn't ask me!” - -If she insisted he would confess, and he mustn't. - -“I wish I had the nerve,” broke in Rivington, his voice dripping -admiration and regret. “Tommy, you are some person, believe me!” - -Tommy had forgotten that Rivington was present. He turned to his friend -now. In his eyes, as in the eyes of the girl, Tommy saw hero-worship. -This unanimity made Tommy feel very like his own portrait painted by the -friendship of Rivington Willetts, Esquire. - -“Oh, pshaw!” he said, modestly. “I've got to do it. I wouldn't if I -didn't have to.” - -“Yes, you would,” contradicted Marion, positively. - -He in turn was too polite to contradict her. But a moment later, when -they shook hands at parting, he made his trusty right convey in detail -his acknowledgment that she knew everything. He was absolutely certain -she would understand the speech he had not expressed in the words he had -so carefully selected to speak silently with. - -Rivington made him promise to dine at the College Club that evening. A -lot of the fellows would surely be there. Tommy went--the more willingly -because he could not bear to talk to his father about the one subject -that seemed inevitable between them. And, moreover, while he did not -intend to talk about it with his comrades, he had always discussed -everything else with them for four years. Their presence would help to -make his own silence tolerable to himself. - -The most curious thing in the world happened. Instead of expressing -sympathy for Mr. Thomas Leigh's financial reverses, all of the boys -offered him nothing but congratulations on his pluck, his resolve, and -his profound philosophy. He felt himself elected by acclamation to a -position as the oldest and wisest of the greatest class in history, the -first of them all to become a man. - -The majority of his intimates were sons of millionaires, with not a snob -among them, the splendid democracy of their college having decreed that -snobbery was the unpardonable crime. - -But it was plain that none of them ever had expected labor to fall to -his lot. Now they felt certain of his success. They gravely discussed -methods for winning fame and fortune, and were not only profound, but -even cynical at times. They had quite a store of maxims which they -called the right dope. When they asked him what he was going to do -he smiled mysteriously and shook his head. He did this purely in -self-defense. But they said he was a deep one. - -He left them, immensely comforted. It was only when he was in his room -an hour later, trying to go to sleep, that the grim reality of his -tragedy came to him. What, he asked himself bitterly, could he do? He -was almost helpless in the grasp of the terrible monster called the -world. His hands were tied--almost in handcuffs. - -The thought made him close his teeth tightly. He would do it somehow. -Fate had tom from his bleeding heart the right to have friends. He would -regain the right. He fell asleep while in this fighting mood. - -When Tommy walked into the dining-room the next morning to have -breakfast with his father, he was surprised to find himself wondering -over the particular form of salutation. He desired his father to know -what his plans were and what caused them. And also his loyalty must be -made plain. Therefore, he said with a cheerfulness, he could not help -exaggerating: - -“Good morning, dad!” - -Mr. Leigh looked up quickly, almost apprehensively, at his only son. -Then he looked away and said, very quietly, “Good morning, my son.” - There was an awkward pause. Mr. Leigh could not see the smile of loyalty -that Tommy had forced his lips to show for his father's special benefit. -So Tommy decided that he must encourage Mr. Leigh verbally. He said, -with a brisk sort of earnestness: - -“Well, I answered several ads in the Herald. This is the one I -particularly like.” - -He took from his pocket the Dayton call and gave it to Mr. Leigh. - -Mr. Leigh took it with so pitiful an eagerness that Tommy felt very -sorry for him. When he finished reading Mr. Leigh frowned. Tommy -wondered why. - -Presently the old man asked, almost diffidently, “Do you think you--you -can meet the expected requirements?” - -Tommy's entire life-to-be passed pageant-like before his mind's eye in -a twinkling. The banners were proudly borne by Tommy's emotions; and -Tommy's resolve to do what he must was the drum-major. - -“Sure thing!” answered' Tommy. He felt the false note in his reply even -before he saw the change that came over his father's face. “Yes, sir,” - pursued Mr. Thomas Leigh, in a distinctly middle-aged voice. “I don't -know what he wants, but I know what I want. And if I want to be a man -and he wants me to be one, I can't see what's to hinder either of us. -My boy days are over, and I have got to pay back--I'm going to do what -I can to show I appreciate your”--here Tommy gulped--“the sacrifices -you've made for me. And--oh, father!” Tommy ceased to speak. He couldn't -help it. - -Mr. Leigh's face took on the grim look Tommy could never forget, and his -voice was harsh. - -“I have made no sacrifice for you. What your mother wished you to have I -have seen to it that you had. You owe me no thanks.” - -There was a long pause. Tommy didn't break it, because he did not know -what to say. And the reason was that he couldn't say all the things he -wished to say. But presently the old man said, gently: - -“My son, I--I should like to shake hands with you.” - -Tommy would have been happier if he could have thrown his arms about -his mother's neck and told her his craving to comfort himself by being -comforted. But he rose quickly, grasped his father's hand, and shook it -vehemently. He kept on shaking it, gripping it very tightly the while -and gulping as he shook, until Mr. Leigh said: - -“I'll be going now, Thomas. I must be at the bank before the--” - -Tommy dropped his father's hand very suddenly. - - - -CHAPTER III - - -AFTER his father left Tommy sat in the dining-room. The _Herald_ lay -unopened beside his plate, but he knew without trying that he could not -read. Presently he found that he could not sit quietly. He went out of -the house, that he might not think about the one thing that he could not -help thinking about. Thinking about it did not end the trouble. But on -the street he found that he did not wish to see front stoops or shop -windows, so he decided to walk in the park. There, surrounded by the new -green growth of grass and trees, he might be able to think of his own -new life, the life that was beginning to bud out. - -He thought about it without words, for that was the way his mind worked. -And it was not long before he began to take notice of the sun-loving -nurses and the blinking babies--human beings enjoying the azure smiles -of the sky. - -A girl on horseback cantered by. He looked up. Through the sparse fringe -of bushes that screened off the bridle path from the nurses' favorite -benches he saw Marion Willetts on a beautiful black. She also saw him -and reined up suddenly, as though he had commanded her to halt. He -walked toward her with outstretched hands. She urged her horse toward -him with a smile. “Why, Tommy, I thought you--” - -She had never before called him Tommy, as though that were his own -particular name, that differentiated him from all other Tommies. - -“I am waiting for a letter,” he explained at once, without going through -the formality of inquiring after her health, because he knew now that he -did not wish to go away. That made his departure the one important thing -in the world. Then, by one of those subtle reactions that often afflict -the young and healthy, the necessity of it became more urgent. He must -go to work far away from New York! And the second reaction, circling -back to his starting-point: To go away from the pleasant things of New -York meant a renunciation so tremendous that he felt himself entitled -to much credit. And that made him look quite serious. And that made -him smile the smile of the dead game sport who will not lie about it by -laughing boisterously. - -There was a silence as they shook hands. Neither knew what to say. -Perhaps that is why they took so long to shake hands. He knew that she -did not know the tragedy of his life, and so did she. It gave them a -point of contact. - -Finally she said, “I wish you had a horse so we could--” - -He shook his head and smiled. The smile made her feel the completeness -of Tommy's tragedy. Details were unnecessary; in fact, it was just as -well that she did not know them. It was all she could stand as it was. - -He had to speak. He said: “I wish so, too, Marion,” using her name for -the first time, reverently. “But I--I mustn't.” - -“I'm so sorry, Tommy,” she murmured. - -“Oh, well--” he said. Her horse began to show signs of impatience. It -made him ask, hastily, but very seriously: “I'd like to--May I write to -you, Marion?” - -“Will you, Tommy? Of course you will. Won't you?” - -There was not time for flippancy. He said, “Yes.” There were a million -things he wished to tell her. He selected the first, “Thank you, -Marion.” - -“D-don't m-mention it,” she said, reassuringly. - -He almost heard a voice crying, “All ashore that's goin' ashore!” It -made him say, hurriedly: “Good-by, Marion. You're a brick!” - -“It's you who are one,” she said. - -He held out his hand. “Good-by!” he said again, and looked straight into -her eyes. - -She looked away and said: “G-good-by, Tommy! Good luck!” - -“Thanks! I'll--I'll write!” And he turned away quickly. This compelled -him to relinquish the gauntleted little hand he was gripping so tightly. -The steel chain thus having snapped, he walked away and did not look -back. - -The fight had begun. His first battle was against his own desire to turn -his head and catch one more glimpse of her, to memorize her face. He -won! And in the hour of his first victory he felt very lonely. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - - -IT was in that mood that he decided to go home. The little house on -West Twelfth Street was the abode of misery. So much the better. - -He found some letters and a telegram waiting for him. He opened the -telegram, certain that it was an urgent invitation to join beloved -merrymakers--an invitation that he declined in advance with much -self-pity He read: - -Ask for Thompson. - -It was signed: - -Tecumseh Motor Company. - -He then saw that it came from Dayton, Ohio. The other letters were from -some of the other Herald advertisers. All but one were cordial requests -for his immediate services--and capital. The last asked for more details -about the business experience of Mr. Thomas P. Leigh. - -They did not interest him. He was too full of his romantic experiences. -The Dayton man was a hero--a Man! Tommy must become one. - -He saw very clearly that he must add ten years to his life. - -He did it! - -Then it became obvious that he must transform his hitherto juvenile -mind into a machine, beau-fully geared, perfectly lubricated, utterly -efficient. Since machines express themselves in terms of action and -accomplishment, Tommy began to pack up. - -His wearing apparel did not bother him, save for a passing regret that -he had no old clothes to be a mechanic in. But the succeeding vision of -overalls calmed him. What meant a second fight was the problem of -living in Dayton in a room which he must not decorate with the treasured -trophies of his college life. It was to a battle-field that he was -going. He took out of his trunk many of the cherished objects and -prepared to occupy a bomb-proof shelter instead of a cozy room. Second -victory! And it was an amazing thing, but when Mr. Leigh came home that -evening he found in his son no longer a boy of twenty-one, but a young -man. - -The sight of the father, whose tragedy was now his son's, gave -permanence to the change in the son. Tommy had passed the stage of -regrets and entered into the hope of fair play. Fate must give him a -sporting chance. He did not ask for the mischief to be undone suddenly -and miraculously; nothing need be wiped out; he asked only that time -might be given, a little time, until he could pay back that money. And -if he couldn't win, that he might have one privilege--to die fighting. -His father was his father. And the son's work would be the work of a son -in everything. Fairness, justice--and a little delay! - -Tommy shook hands with his father a trifle too warmly, but he smiled -pleasantly. “I'm leaving to-night on the nine-fourteen train, father.” - He had studied the time-tables and he had solved the perplexing problem -of how to raise the money to pay for the ticket. He had borrowed it from -two of the friends with whom he had lunched at the club. It wasn't very -much, but he wanted it to be clean money. - -Mr. Leigh looked surprised. Tommy felt the alarm and he hastened to -explain. “It's the Day-ton man,” he said, and he handed the telegram to -his father. - -Mr. Leigh kept his eyes on the yellow slip long enough to read the brief -message two hundred times. At length he looked up and met his son's -eyes. He made an obvious effort to speak calmly. - -“Have you thought carefully, Thomas? You know nothing about this man or -the character of the work. It may mean merely a waste of time.” - -“I know that I want to work.” - -“Yes, but it ought to be work that you are competent to do.” - -“I am not competent to do any work that calls for experience and -training. I have to learn, no matter where I go, and so--Father, I've -got to pay back what you have--spent for me! I must! It will take time, -but I'll do it, and the sooner I start, the better I'll feel.” - -Mr. Leigh looked at his son steadily, searchingly, almost hungrily. Then -the old man's gaze wavered and indecision came into his eyes. “Thomas, -I--” - -“I'll write you, father.” Tommy looked away, his father's face had grown -haggard so suddenly. - -He heard the old man say, “You must take enough money to pay for your -return in case you find the work uncongenial.” - -“I won't find any work uncongenial,” said Tommy, very positively. He -knew! - -“One can never tell, my son. It is wise to be prepared. I will give -you--” - -“No, no, father!” Then Tommy said, determinedly, “I cannot take any -money from you.” He looked at his father full in the eye. - -Mr. Leigh hesitated. Then he asked: “How do you expect to go? You can't -walk.” - -“No,” said Tommy, without anger; “I borrowed fifty dollars from -friends.” - -Mr. Leigh turned his head away. Then he walked out of the room. - -They had very little to say to each other at dinner. It was after Tommy -had ordered a taxi to take him and his trunk--if it had not been for the -trunk he would not have dreamed of spending so much--to the station that -Mr. Leigh said: - -“Thomas, I wish to explain to you--” - -“No, dad, please don't! There was such pain in the boy's voice that Mr. -Leigh took a step toward him. Tommy was suffocating. - -“My son, there is no need of your feeling that you--” - -“I don't! I understand perfectly!” Tommy shook his head--without looking -at his father. - -Mr. Leigh walked out of the room. Tommy took a step toward him and -halted abruptly--something was choking him. He began to pace up and down -the room, dreading the news of the arrival of the taxi and yet desiring -it above all things. - -Presently Mr. Leigh returned He had in his hand a little package. He -gave it to Tommy, who took it mechanically. - -“My son,” said Mr. Leigh, in a low voice, “your uncle Thomas gave this -to your mother--one hundred dollars in gold. She kept it for you. She -wrote on it, 'For Tommy's first scrape.' It is not my money. It was -hers. It is yours. Take it--for your first scrape. And, my son--” The -old man's speech seemed to fail him. Presently he went on: “You are -in no scrape. Your mother--Well, I have done my duty as I saw it. And, -Thomas--” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Remember that I am your father and that there is no wisdom in -unnecessary privations. You are not called upon to expiate my--my -weakness of character. If ever you find yourself suffering actual -want--” - -Tommy couldn't say what his pride urged. Instead he told his father, -“I'll wire for help if I really need it, dad.” Having said what he did -not think he would ever do, he made up his mind that he would take money -dripping with the blood of slaughtered orphans rather than increase this -old man's unhappiness. - -“Thank you, my son,” said the old man, very simply. - -“A nautomobile is out there waiting,” announced Maggie. - -“Tell the man to take the trunk,” Tommy told her. Then to the old man: -“Well, dad, it's good-by now. I'll write--often.” He held out his hand. - -Mr. Leigh came toward his son. His face was grim but his outstretched -hand trembled. “Good-by, my son! Good-by.” He grasped both Tommy's -hands in his and gripped them tightly. Then his voice broke and he said, -huskily: “My son! My son!” - -“Dad!” said Tommy, his eyes full of tears. “Oh, dad! It will be all -right! It's all right!” - -Mr. Leigh released his son's hands and walked away. - -Maggie came in and said, “Good-by, Master Thomas.” - -“Good-by, Maggie,” said Tommy. Then he threw his arms about her neck -and kissed her on her cheeks. “Take care of him, Maggie. If--anything -happens telegraph me. I'll send you my address.” - -“What can happen? He's as strong as he ever was,” said Maggie, calmly. - -Tommy went up-stairs to the library, where he was sure his father had -gone. Through the open door he saw his father pacing up and down the -room. He was shaking his head as men do when they are arguing with -themselves, and his hands were clenching and unclenching spasmodically. - -Thomas F. Leigh turned on his heels and walked down the stairs very -quietly. He had entered into his new life. It was a life of bitter -loneliness. - -He could have no friends, because his secret could not be shared. He -felt the loneliness in advance. It almost overwhelmed him. - -In the hall, as his hand grasped the knob of the street door, without -knowing that he craved to hear the sound of a living voice in order to -dispel the stifling silence that enveloped his soul, Tommy Leigh said, -aloud: - -“It's up to me to make good!” - - - - -CHAPTER V - - -WHEN Tommy arrived in Dayton he found his secret waiting for him in the -station, because his first thought on alighting from the Pullman was to -place the blame for his uncertain adventure. It was the need engendered -by the secret and nothing else that compelled him to face the unknown, -so that in the glad sunshine of this June day he was about to walk -gropingly. - -And because of the secret he must walk alone. There was no one on -whom he might call for aid or guidance. Without anticipating concrete -hostility, he feared vaguely. It forced him to an attitude of defense, -which in turn roused his fighting blood. - -He approached a uniformed porter and asked, a trifle sharply, “Can you -tell me where the Tecumseh Motor Company's works are?” - -“Sure!” cordially answered the man, and very explicitly told him. Tommy -listened intently. But the busy porter, not content with his own dark, -detailed directions, said at the end: “Come with me; I'll show you -exactly!” and led Tommy to the street, pointed and counted the blocks, -and gave him the turns, twice: - -Tommy thanked him, left his valise in the parcel-room, and started to -walk. - -The baggage-man's friendliness did not give to Tommy a sense of -co-operation. But as he walked the feeling of solitude within him became -exhilarating. He was still alone in a strange country, and he had burned -his ships. But the fight was on! - -He dramatized the battle--Thomas Francis Leigh against the entire world! - -When a man confronts that crisis in his life which consists of the utter -realization that he cannot call upon anybody for help, one of two things -happens: He thinks of life and surrenders; or he thinks of death and -fights. To die fighting takes on the aspect of the most precious of all -privileges. To earn it he begins by fighting. - -He walked on until he saw the sign, “Tecumseh Motor Company,” over the -largest of a half-dozen brick buildings. He wondered if it would ever -come to mean to him as a man what the college buildings had meant to him -as a boy. He would love to love that weather-beaten sign. But just as -he now saw that his life at college had been a four years' fight against -many things, so, too, there must be fighting here--much fighting -during an unknowable number of years. He was filled with a pugnacious -expectancy. The desire to strike, to strike hard and strike first, -became so intolerable that in the absence of something or somebody to -strike at he forced himself to consider the vital necessity of strategy. -He had forgotten the secret. It was just as well. The secret had done -its work. - -He saw the sign “Office,” walked toward it, and opened the door. There -was a railing. Behind it were desks. At the desks were men and women. -Nobody looked up; nobody paid any attention to him. People moved about, -came in, went out, neither friends nor foes. A peopled solitude--the -world! - -He approached the nearest desk. A young man was checking up rows of -figures on a stack of yellow sheets. Tommy waited a full minute. The -young man, obviously aware of Tommy's presence, and even annoyed by it, -did not look up. - -Tommy could not wait. He said, aggressively, “I want Thompson!” - -The clerk looked up. “Who d'ye want?” - -“Thompson.” - -“What Thompson?” - -Tommy wanted to fight, but he did not know which weapons to use in this -particular skirmish. He resorted to the oldest. He smiled and spoke, -quizzically, “Whom does a man mean when he says Thompson in this -office?” - -“Do you mean Mr. Thompson?” asked the clerk, rebukingly. - -“I may.” Tommy again smiled tantalizingly. He won. - -Having been made angry, the clerk became serious. He said, freezingly, -“Mr. Thompson, the president?” - -“Exactly!” interjected Tommy, kindly. - -“Well,” said the clerk, both rebukingly and self-defensively, “people -usually ask for Mr. Thompson.” - -“He himself evidently doesn't. He told me to ask for Thompson.” - -The clerk rose. “Appointment?” he asked. - -“Yep,” said Tommy. - -“What name?” - -Tommy pulled out the telegram, folded it, and giving it to the reluctant -clerk, said, paternally, “He'll know!” - -The clerk went into an inner office. Presently he returned. “This way,” - he said. - -Tommy followed. His mind was asking itself a thousand questions and not -answering a single one. - -He walked into a large room. It was characteristic of him that he took -in the room with a quick glance, feeling it was wise to size up the -ground before tackling the enemy, who, after all, might not prove to be -an enemy. There were big windows on three sides. One looked into a shop, -another into the street, and the third into the factory yard. A man sat -at a square, flat desk. There were no papers on it, only a pen-tray with -two fountain-pens and a dozen neatly sharpened lead-pencils. Also a row -of push-buttons, at least ten of them, all numbered. The walls were bare -save for a big calendar and an electric clock. The floor was of polished -hardwood. The desk stood on a large and beautiful Oriental rug. There -were but two chairs; on one of them Mr. Thompson sat. The other stood -beside the desk. Through an open door Tommy, with a quick glance, looked -into an adjoining room and saw a long, polished mahogany table with a -dozen mahogany arm-chairs about it. - -“Leigh?” asked the man at the desk. He was a young-looking man, stout, -with smooth-shaven, plump pink cheeks, that by inducing a belief in -potential dimples gave an impression of good nature. His eyes were -brown, clear, steady and bright, with a suggestion of fearlessness -rather than of aggressiveness. His head was well shaped and the hair -was dean-looking and neatly brushed. His forehead was smooth. Tommy felt -that there was a quick-moving and utterly reliable intelligence within -that cranium. It brought to him a sense of relief. In some unexplained -way he was sure that he need not bother to pick and choose his own words -in talking to Thompson. Whatever a man said, and even what he did not -say, would be caught, not spectacularly or over-alertly, but unerringly, -without effort, by this plump but efficient president. It stimulated -Tommy's mind and made it work quickly, and also inclined him to -frankness without exactly inducing an overwhelming desire to confide. -Understanding rather than sympathy was what he felt he would get from -the stranger. - -“Yes, sir. Thompson?” replied Tommy. - -“Yes.” - -Thompson looked at Tommy not at all quizzically, not at all -interestedly, not at all curiously, but steadily, without any suggestion -of the imminence of either a smile or a frown. - -Tommy returned the look neither nervously nor boldly. He was certain -that Thompson knew men in overalls and men in evening clothes, old men -and young men, equally well, equally understandingly. - -“What makes you think,” asked Thompson, “that you have the makings of a -man in you?” It was plain that he was not only listening, but observing. - -Tommy had expected that question, but not in those words. The directness -of it decided him to reply slowly, as the reasons came to him: - -“I know I have to be one. I have nobody to help me. I have no grudge -against anybody. I have no grouch against the world. I am not looking -for enemies, but I have no right to expect favors. I never had a -condition at college, but I am no learned scholar. I made the Scrub, -but never played on the Varsity. I held class offices, but never pulled -wires for myself. I did foolish things, but I'd as soon tell them to -you. I don't know any more than any chap of my age knows who never -thought of being where I am to-day, and never studied for a profession. -I have troubles--family troubles not of my own making--and they came to -me suddenly; in fact, the day before yesterday. It was up to me to whine -or to fight. I am here.” - -Thompson saw Tommy's face, Tommy's squared shoulders, and Tommy's -clenched fists. “I see!” he said. “And what do you want to do?” - -“Anything!” said Tommy, quickly. He saw Thompson's eyes. He corrected -himself. “Something!” - -“Experience?” - -“I graduated last week,” said Tommy, barely keeping his impatience out -of his voice. - -“Ever earn money?” - -“Not for myself. I solicited 'ads' for the college paper.” - -“Do well?” - -“Yes, I did well. I got 'ads' the paper never had before.” - -“Had others tried and failed?” - -“No. It was this way: I thought that the only advertisers who rightly -should be in the paper already were there. What we had to offer was -limited. I decided that the paper was an institution worth supporting -by others than the tradesmen who sold goods to the fellows. So I tackled -the fathers of my friends, men who ought to take an interest in the -college without thinking of dollars and cents. And I tackled bank -presidents and railroad men and manufacturers, put it up to them to do -good to the paper without expecting direct returns. I asked for 'ads' -in their homes on the ground that it was not business, anyhow, which it -wasn't. It may be bad form to try to make money for yourself out of -your hosts, but I didn't think it was bad form to ask a man anywhere to -subscribe to a worthy object. I didn't pose as a live wire. Anyhow, they -came across. I couldn't do that to-day. I wouldn't ask Mr. Willetts at -his home or on his yacht to buy one of your cars, but I would in his -office.” - -Tommy saw Thompson's look. It made him add: - -“I wouldn't expect to be as successful in asking them to give me money -for something as I was when I asked them to give me money for nothing. -If I have talked like an ass--” - -“You graduated last week,” interjected Thompson. Tommy flushed; then he -smiled. Thompson went on, unemotionally: “You don't talk like an ass. Do -you want to make money for yourself?” - -“Yes, I do,” answered Tommy, quickly. - -“And for us?” - -“That goes without saying. I can't make it for myself unless I first -make it for you.” - -“To make money for yourself, eh?” - -“Yes.” - -“That's why you are here?” - -“No. I am here because your advertisement appealed to me more than any -of the others I answered. I thought--Well, mine was an unusual case. And -yours was an unusual 'ad.' I was sure I had what you wanted. I hoped you -might see it.” - -“Didn't you think my 'ad' would appeal to thousands of young college -graduates?” - -“I didn't think of that. The message was addressed to me as surely as if -you had known me all my life.” - -“What made you so sure of that?” - -“I think,” said Tommy, thoughtfully, “it must have been my--the nature -of my trouble. You see, I was called upon very suddenly to take an -inventory of myself.” He paused and bit his lips. There were things he -must not hint at. - -“Yes?” - -“I found,” said Tommy, honestly, and, therefore, without any bitterness -whatever, “that I had nothing. I would have to become something. I -didn't know what, and I don't know now. I was what older people call -a young ass, and younger people call a nice fellow. Don't think I'm -conceit--” - -“Go ahead!” interrupted Thompson, with a slight frown. - -Tommy felt that the frown came from Thompson's annoyance at the implied -accusation that he might not understand. This gave Tommy courage, and -that made him desire to tell his story to Thompson, withholding only the -details he could not be expected to tell. - -“Look here, sir,” he said, earnestly, “whether you take me on or not, -I'll tell you. I have no mother. My father cannot help me. I--I shall -have to send money to him.” - -“Who paid for your education?” - -“He did, but he--can't now. I--I didn't expect it and--anyhow, there -is nobody that I can ask for help, and I don't want to. I want to earn -money. I may not be worth fifty cents a week to anybody at this moment, -but you might make me worth something to you.” - -“How?” - -“I don't know what you will ask me to do, and so I can't tell whether I -can make good here. But I'll make good somewhere, as sure as shooting.” - -“How do you know?” - -“I've got to. I don't expect to have a walkover, but even in my failures -I'll be learning, won't I? I haven't got any conceit that's got to -be knocked out of me. I've a lot to learn and very little to unlearn, -and--well, if you'll ask me questions I'll answer them.” - -“You will?” - -“Yes, I will,” said Tommy, flushing. He had to fight. He began to -fight distrust. He added, “I'll answer them without thinking whether my -answers will land the job or not.” - -“Why will you answer them that way?” - -“What's the use of bluffing? It doesn't work in the long run--and, -anyhow, I don't like it.” - -“You must learn to think quickly, so that you may always think before -answering,” said Thompson, decidedly. - -Tommy felt that this man had sized him for a careless, impetuous little -boy. Probably he had lost the job. If that was the case Thompson plainly -wasn't the man for him. Tommy, without knowing it, spoke defiantly. He -thought he was talking business to a business man. He said: - -“Well, I am not selling what you want, but what I've got, and--” - -“Where did you hear that?” interrupted Thompson. Then, after a keen -look at Tommy's puzzled eyes, said: “Excuse me, Mr. Leigh. You were -saying--?” - -“I think you wish to know what I am, and so I want to answer your -questions as truthfully and as quickly as I can.” - -“How much money have you got that you can call your own?” asked -Thompson. He showed more curiosity now than at any other time in their -interview. - -Tommy looked at Thompson's chubby, good-natured face and the steady -eyes. “I borrowed fifty dollars from friends to come out here with. But -I had this.” He put his hand in his inside pocket where his mother's -gift was. Then he brought out his hand--empty. - -“Yes?” said Thompson. There was an insistence in his voice that -perplexed Tommy, almost irritated him. - -“It's--I think' it is--a hundred dollars my mother--” Tommy paused. - -“I thought you had no mother?” Thompson raised his eyebrows and looked -puzzled rather than suspicious. - -Tommy impulsively took from his pocket the little package of gold -coins--the only money he could take from his father. He hesitated. -Finally he said: “I haven't opened it. Would you like to know what it -is?” - -“Please!” said Thompson, gently. - -Tommy decided to tell everything and go away, having learned a -lesson--not to talk too much about himself. “My mother died when I was -born. An uncle gave her a hundred dollars in gold. She saved it for -me. She wrote on it, 'For Tommy's first scrape.' I haven't opened it. I -don't want to. I'm in no scrape yet. But that's all I have that's mine, -and--” - -Thompson rose to his feet and held out his hand. His face was beaming -with good will. Tommy took the hand mechanically and instantly felt the -warm friendliness in Thompson's grasp. - -“Leigh, I'll take you on. And more than that, I'm your friend. I don't -know whether you'll make money or not, but I'll try you. I may have to -shift you from one place to another. I tell you now that I'm going to -give you every chance to find out where you fit best.” - -“Thank you, sir. I'll--” - -“Don't promise. You don't have to,” cut in Thompson. “Do you want to -know why I'm taking you on?” - -“Yes.” - -“Because you've sense enough to be yourself. It's the highest form of -wisdom. Sell what you've got, not what the other man wants. Never lie. -That way you never have to explain your blunders. Nobody can explain any -blunders. You told me what you had. I'll help you to acquire what there -is to acquire. Now tell me something--exactly how did you feel when you -walked into the office?” Tommy did not describe his own feelings, but -what he saw. He answered: “Well, I walked in and saw people at work -and nobody to ask me what I wanted. I suppose everybody who comes on -business knows exactly what he wants. But I had to ask for Thompson, and -nobody seemed to be there for the purpose of answering the particular -question I was told to ask. And it struck me that somebody might come -in who might be a little timid about disturbing clerks who were busy at -work, as I had to do.” - -“There should have been office-boys there.” - -“There weren't, so you haven't enough. It seemed to me every office of a -big concern should have a sort of information bureau. Of course I'm new -to business methods, but there are lots of people who have important -questions to ask and are afraid, and they ought to be encouraged.” Mr. -Thompson smiled. - -“Well,” said Tommy, defensively, “I've seen it with Freshmen at college. -It may not pay, but it's mighty comfortable to strangers.” - -Tommy, when he had made an end of speaking, was conscious that he had -talked like a kid. Mr. Thompson did not say anything in reply, but -pressed one of the buttons on his desk. Then he said to Tommy: - -“As a matter of fact, our main office, where most people usually go, is -not here, but in the Tecumseh Building down-town. I'm going to give you -a desk in the outer office here. You will be the information bureau. -When people come in you will ascertain what they want and direct them -accordingly. After you know where to find anybody and anything in the -plant come and see me again. You start with fifteen dollars a week. Are -you disappointed or pleased?” - -“Pleased.” - -He knew that Thompson later on would put him where he fitted best. In -the mean time he would be the best office-boy the company ever had. - -A clerk entered. Thompson said to him: “Miller, take Mr. Leigh to Mr. -Nevin. Tell him I want Mr. Leigh to know who is in charge of every -department and who is working there and at what, so that Mr. Leigh can -know where to direct anybody who asks for anything or anybody in the -place. If Mr. Leigh thinks there ought to be more office-boys he can -hire them. He'll be in charge of the information bureau. He'll need a -desk. He'll tell you where he wants it.” He turned to Tommy. “Ask for -Thompson--when you've learned your geography. Good luck, Leigh!” - -Tommy followed Miller out of the room. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -TOMMY, as he followed Mr. Nevin about, told himself that this was a new -world and that wisdom lay in behaving accordingly; but, to his dismay, -he found himself measuring his surroundings with the feet and inches -of his old life. He was again a Freshman at college. At college the -upper-classmen--old employees--naturally loved the old place. But so -did the Freshmen--in advance. He ought, therefore, to love the Tecumseh -Motor College. - -Strangely enough, not one of the men to whom he was introduced by Mr -Nevin seemed concerned with what the new-comer might do for the greater -glory of the shop. Boy-like, he attached more importance to the human -than to the mechanical or commercial side of life. This was wisdom that -with age he would, alas, unlearn! - -Tommy's life had been checked suddenly; the emergency brakes jammed down -with an abruptness that had jolted him clean out of his normal point of -view. What usually requires a dozen years and a hundred disillusionments -had been accomplished for him with one tremendous tragedy. His father's -deed not only fixed Tommy's life-destination, but made him feel that his -entire past could not now be an open book to his most trusted friends. -This gave him a sense of discomfort for which he could find no -alleviation except in resolving not to lie gratuitously about -anything else. But Tommy did not know that this was his reward for not -sacrificing his manhood to the secret. - -Mr. Thompson's orders were that he must familiarize himself with -everybody in the shop and also their work. Because he realized this -thoroughly he made up his mind, with a quickness that augured well for -his future, that he must not tie up with the clerks in the office. The -Tecumseh Company made and sold motor-cars. Therefore, the men with whom -Tommy must associate, in the intimacy of boarding-house life, should be -men from whom he could learn all about Tecumseh motors. - -The one compensation of tragedy is that it strengthens the strong; and -only the strong can help the world by first helping their own souls. The -secret was working for Tommy instead of against him. - -“I say, Mr. Nevin.” There was in Tommy's attitude toward his guide -not only the appeal of frankly acknowledged helplessness, but also a -suggestion of confidence in the other man's ability and willingness to -answer understandingly. - -Nevin smiled encouragingly. “What's troubling you, young man?” - -“I've got to find a boarding-house. I'm less particular about the grub -than about the boarders.” Mr. Nevin's face grew less friendly. Tommy -went on, “I'd like to live where the chaps in the shop eat.” - -“They mostly live at home,” said Nevin, friendly again. He liked young -Leigh's attitude of respectful familiarity. To Tommy Mr. Nevin was a -likable instructor at college. - -“I don't know whether I make myself plain to you, Mr. Nevin, but I'd -like to be among men who know all about motors--theory and practice, you -know. There must be some who board somewhere. If I could get in the same -house I'd be tickled to death, sir.” - -Nevin liked the “sir”-ing of young Leigh, which was not at all servile. -“Let's take a look round and I'll see whom I can recommend.” - -Nevin led the way, Tommy followed--at a distance, tactfully, to give Mr. -Nevin a chance to speak freely about T. F. Leigh. Nevin talked to three -or four men, but evidently their replies were not satisfactory. A young -man in overalls, his face smutted, his hands greasy, walked by in a -hurry. He was frowning. - -“There's your man!” said Nevin to Tommy, planting himself squarely in -the other's path. “Bill!” - -“Hello, Mr. Nevin! What's the trouble now that your great experts can't -locate?” - -“No trouble this time. Pleasure! Bill, do you live or do you board?” - -“I believe I board.” - -“Any room at the house for a friend of mine?” - -“I don't know. Mrs. Clayton's rather particular.” - -“She must be,” said Nevin. “Bill, shake hands with Mr. Leigh.” - -Tommy extended his hand. Bill looked at him, at the “swell clothes” and -the New York look and the dean hands, and held up his own grease-smeared -hands and shook his head. - -Tommy was confronted by his first crisis in Dayton in the shape of a -reluctant hand. Grease stood between him and friendship. By rights his -own hand ought to be oily and black. He was not conscious of the motives -for his own decision, but he stepped to a machine near by, grasped an -oily shaft with his right hand, and then held it, black and grease and -all, before Bill. Mr. Nevin laughed. Bill frowned. Tommy was serious. -Bill looked at Tommy. Then Bill shook hands. - -“If you don't mind I'd like to walk home with you to-night. I'll see -Mrs. Clayton and ask if she won't take me,” said Tommy. - -Bill was a little taller than Tommy and slender, with clean-cut -features, dark hair, very clear blue eyes, and that air of decision -that men have when they know what they know. He hesitated as he took in -Tommy's clothes and manner. He looked Tommy full in the face. Then he -said, positively: - -“She'll take you.” - -Mr. Nevin looked relieved. “Come on, Leigh,” he said to Tommy, who -thereupon nodded to Bill, said, “So long!” and followed Mr. Nevin. - -“I'm glad Bill took to you,” he told Tommy. “He is one of our best -mechanics, but he is as crotchety as a genius. He distrusts everybody on -general principles.” - -“Socialist?” asked Tommy. - -“Worse!” said Mr. Nevin. - -“Anarchist?” - -“Worse!” - -“Lunatic?” - -“Worse!” - -“Philanthropist?” - -“Worse!” - -“I give up,” said Tommy. - -“Inventor!” said Mr. Nevin. - -“Good!” Tommy spoke enthusiastically. This was life--to meet people -about whom his only knowledge came from newspaper-reading. - -“Leigh,” said Nevin, stopping abruptly, “are you a politician?” The -voice was intended to express jocularity, but Tommy thought he read in -Mr. Nevin's eyes a doubt closely bordering upon a suspicion. Tommy -felt his characteristic impulse to be as frankly autobiographical as he -dared. He did not know that he could not help being what the offspring -of two people to whom love meant everything must be. He wasn't aware -of heredity when he kept his eyes on Mr. Nevin's and replied very -earnestly: - -“Mr. Nevin, I'm going to tell you something that must not go any -further.” - -“I was only joking. I have no desire to pry into your private affairs,” - said Nevin, when he saw how serious Tommy had become. - -“I'm not going to tell you the story of my life,” Tommy explained, very -earnestly; “but something else, I really want to.” - -“Shoot ahead,” said Mr. Nevin. - -Tommy's position in the shop was a mystery, for Mr. Thompson's -instructions contained no explanation. - -“It's just this: I am alone in the world. I have no money and I have no -friends. I've got to make money and I want to have friends here. I'm not -a hand-shaker, but--” Tommy paused. - -“Yes?” Mr. Nevin looked a trifle uncomfortable, as men do when they -listen to another man telling the truth about himself. - -“I know I'm going to be damned lonesome. Do you know what it means to -have been called Tommy all your life by all the fellows you ever knew, -and all of a sudden to be flung into a crowd of strangers to whom you -cannot say, 'I'm one of you; please be friends'? I'm nobody but Leigh, -a stranger among strangers. And what I want to be is Tom Leigh to people -who will not be strangers. If I push myself they'll mistrust me. If I -don't they'll think I am stuck on myself. Sooner or later I'll have to -be Tom Leigh or get out. I'd rather be Tommy sooner because I don't want -to get out. Do you understand?” - -“Sure thing, Le--er--Tommy,” said Nevin, heartily. “And I'll be glad to -help all I can. Come to me any time you want any pointer about anything. -Those are Mr. Thompson's orders; I'd have to do it whether I wanted to -or not. But--this is straight!--I'll be glad to do it, my boy!” - -Mr. Nevin was surprised at his own warmth. He was a sort of -general-utility man and understudy of several subheads of departments, -a position created expressly for him by Mr. Thompson, who had a habit of -inventing positions to fit people on the curious theory that it was -God who made men and men who made jobs. In admitting to himself that -he liked young Leigh, Nevin classified the young man as another of -“Thompson's Experiments.” - -At quitting-time Tommy hastened to find Bill, whose full name, he had -ascertained, was William S. Byrnes. Bill was waiting for him. - -“I'll have to stop at the station and get my valise,” apologized Tommy. -“I have a trunk also, but I'd better find out if Mrs. Clayton will take -me.” - -“Get an expressman to take it up; she'll take you,” said Bill. He always -spoke with decision when he knew. - -They stopped at the station, where Tommy did exactly as Bill--the -upper-classman--said, and then they walked to the boarding-house. - -Bill was carrying his dinner-pail and Tommy his dress-suit case. They -walked in silence until Tommy shifted the valise. - -“Heavy?” asked Bill, without volunteering to take his turn carrying it. - -“No,” said Tommy, “but I wish I was carrying a dinner-pail like yours.” - -“I'll swap,” said Bill, stopping. - -“Oh no; I mean I'd like to feel I belonged in the shop.” - -“With the clothes you've got on?” said Bill. - -“I can't afford to get any other clothes just yet.” - -“You might save those for Sunday.” - -“No money,” said Tommy, and they walked on. - -He was aware that he was talking and acting like a little boy with a new -toy. But, on the other hand, he was very glad to find that the world was -not the monster he had feared. There was no need to be perennially on -your guard against all your fellow-men. They seemed willing enough -to take you for what you frankly acknowledged you were. And the -consciousness was not only a great relief, but a great encouragement, -by obviating the necessity of fighting with another man's weapons, as -happens when a man is trying to be what he thinks you want him to be. - -They arrived at the boarding-place, a neat little frame house, -commonplace as print and as easy to read. - -Bill took Tommy to the kitchen and introduced him to Mrs. Clayton. “I've -brought you another boarder.” - -Mrs. Clayton looked at Tommy dubiously. “I don't know,” she said. “The -front room is--” - -“The room next to mine will do,” said Bill. “The one Perkins had.” - -“Well--” she began, vaguely, looking at Tommy's clothes. - -“How much?” asked Tommy, anxiously. His tone seemed to reassure the -landlady. - -“Eight dollars a week,” she answered. “But when the front room--” - -“It's as much as I can afford to pay,” said Tommy, quickly. It wouldn't -leave much to send home out of the fifteen Thompson said he would pay. - -Seventeen thousand dollars! And there was need of haste! The tragedy -showed in the boy's face. - -“Of course that includes the dinner,” said Mrs. Clayton, hastily, “same -as Mr. Byrnes.” - -“Deal's closed,” said Bill. “Come on, Leigh.” - -“Thank you, Mrs. Clayton,” said Tommy, glad to find a home. He -impulsively held out his hand. - -Mrs. Clayton shook it warmly. As if by an afterthought, she asked, “You -are a stranger here?” - -“Yes, ma'am; I only got in this morning.” - -“He is in the office,” put in Bill, in the voice of an agency giving -financial rating. “Come on, Leigh.” - -Tommy followed Bill, who took him to the room lately occupied by -Perkins. A small, dingy room it was. The bed was wooden. The three -chairs were of different patterns. The wash-stand, pitcher, and basin -belonged to a bygone era. The carpet was piebald as to color and plain -bald as to nap. The table was of the kind that you know to be rickety -without having to touch it. Altogether it was so depressing that it -seemed eminently just. It epitomized the life of a working-man. - -It induced the mood of loneliness Tommy had felt when he stepped off the -train. But this time there was no exhilaration, no desire to dramatize -the glorious fight of Thomas Francis Leigh against the world. - -Tommy turned to his companion. “Look here,” he said, a trifle -hysterically, “I'm not going to call you Byrnes. Do you understand? You -are Bill. My name is not Leigh, but Tommy; not Tom--Tommy! If there is -going to be any--anything different I'll go somewhere else.” - -Tommy looked at Bill defiantly--and also hopefully. - -“All right,” said Bill, unconcernedly. “She gives pretty good grub. My -room is next door.” - -And then Tommy felt that his old world had been wiped off the map. He -was beginning his new life--with friends! A great chasm divided the two -periods. And in that knowledge Tommy found a comfort that he could not -have explained in words. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -TOMMY found it difficult during the first few days to adjust himself to -his new work. He had fixed his mind upon doing Herculean labors, in -the belief that the reward would thereby come the sooner. Moreover, -in taking on a heavy burden he had imagined he would find it easier to -expiate his own participation in his father's sin of love. Twice a -week Tommy wrote to Mr. Leigh, and told him never his new feelings, -but always his new problems. And the secret, after the manner of all -secrets, proved a bond, something to be shared by both. Tommy did not -realize it concretely, but it was his own sorrow that developed the -filial sense in him. - -His disappointment over the unimportance of his position he endeavored -to soothe by the thought that he was but a raw recruit still in the -training-camp. In a measure he had to create his own duties, and he was -forced to seek ways of extending their scope, of making himself into an -indispensable cog in Mr. Thompson's machine. - -The fact that he did not succeed made him study the harder. It isn't in -thinking yourself indispensable, but in trying to become so, that the -wisdom lies. - -His relations toward his fellow-employees crystallized very slowly, by -reason of his own consciousness that the shop could so easily do without -him. He neither helped them in their work nor was helped by them in -his. But it was not very long before he was able to indulge in -mild jocularities, which was a symptom of growing self-confidence. -Friendliness must come before friendship. - -As a matter of fact, he was learning by absorption, which is slow but -sure. He obtained his knowledge of the company's business, as it -were, in the abstract, lacking the grasp of the technical details -indispensable to a full understanding. But he found it all the easier, -later on, to acquire the details. In this Bill Byrnes was a great help -to him, for all that Bill appeared to have the specialist's indifference -toward what did not directly concern him. Young Mr. Brynes was all for -carburetors. He would more or less impatiently explain other parts of -the motor to Tommy, but on his own specialty he was positively eloquent, -so that Tommy inevitably began to think of the carburetor as the very -heart of the Tecumseh motor. He knew Bill was working on a new one in a -little workshop he had rigged up in Mrs. Clayton's woodshed, a holy -of holies full of the fascination of the unknown. Tommy must keep his -secret to himself, but he was sorry that Bill kept anything from him. -The fact that, after all, there could not be a full and fair exchange -between them alone kept Tommy from bitterly resenting Bill's incomplete -confidence in him. - -Mr. Thompson, to Tommy, was less a disappointment than an enigma; -and, worse, an enigma that constantly changed its phases. Tommy really -thought he had bared his soul to the young-looking president of the -Tecumseh Motor Company, and a man never can deliberately lose the sense -of reticence without wishing to replace it with a feeling of affection. -Mr. Thompson seemed unaware that Tommy's very existence in Tommy's mind -was a matter of Mr. Thompson's consent. He was neither cold nor warm in -his nods as he passed by Tommy's desk on his way to the private office. - -Suddenly Mr. Thompson developed a habit of using Tommy as errand-boy, -asking him to do what the twelve-year-olds could have done. And as this -was not done with either kindly smiles or impatient frowns, Tommy obeyed -all commands with alacrity and a highly intelligent curiosity. - -What did Mr. Thompson really expect to prove by them? In his efforts to -find hidden meanings in Mr. Thompson's casual requests Tommy developed a -habit of trying to see into the very heart of all things connected -with the company's affairs. Of course he did not always succeed, -and doubtless he wasted much mental energy, but the benefits of this -education, unconsciously acquired, soon began to tell in Tommy's -attitude toward everything and everybody. And since the change took -place within him he naturally was the last man to know it. - -One day Mr. Thompson rang for him. Tommy answered on the run. - -“Leigh,” said Mr. Thompson, rising from his chair, “sit down here.” Then -he pointed to a sheaf of papers on his desk. Tommy sat down. He looked -at the sheets on the desk before him and saw rows of figures. But -before he could learn what the figures represented Mr. Thompson took a -lead-pencil from the tray, gave it to Tommy, and said, “The first number -of all, Leigh?” - -Tommy looked at the top sheet. “Yes,” he said; “it's 8374--” - -“No. The first of the cardinal numbers!” - -“One?” - -“Don't ask me.” - -“One!” said Tommy, and blushed. - -“Of course.” Mr. Thompson spoke impatiently. “The beginning, the first -step. One! Did you ever study numbers?” - -“I--” began Tommy, not fully understanding the question. Then, since he -did not understand, he said, decidedly, “No, sir!” - -“Do you know anything of the significance of the number seven?” - -“In mathematics?” - -“In everything!” - -“No, sir.” - -“Ever hear of Pythagoras?” - -“The Greek philosopher?” - -“I see you don't. At all times, in all places, a mystical significance -has attached to the number seven. Ask a man to name a number between one -and ten, and nearly always he will answer, 'Seven!' Do you know why?” - -“No, sir. But I am not sure he would answer--” - -“Try it!” interrupted Mr. Thompson, almost rudely. “It is also a -well-known fact that in all religions seven has been the favorite -number. Greece had her Seven Sages. There were the Seven Sleepers of -Ephesus and Seven Wonders of the Old World. The Bible teems with sevens: -the Seven-branched Candlestick, the Seven Seals, the Seven Stars, the -Seven Lamps, and so forth. - -“Abraham sacrificed seven ewes; the span of life is seventy years, and -the first artificial division of time was the week--seven days. And the -Master multiplied seven loaves and fed the multitude, and there were -left seven baskets. And He told us to forgive our enemy seven times, aye -and until seventy times seven. And there are seven notes in music and -seven colors in the spectrum. Also the superstition about the seventh -son of a seventh son is found among all peoples.” - -“I see!” said Tommy, and wondered. - -Mr. Thompson looked at Tommy searchingly. Tommy's mind was working -away--and getting nowhere! - -Mr. Thompson now spoke sharply: “Take your pencil and strike out in -those sheets every odd number that comes after a one or a seven. Get -that?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Don't skip a single one. I've spent a lot of time explaining. Now rush. -Ready?” - -“Yes, sir,” said Tommy. - -“Go!” shouted Mr. Thompson, loudly, and looked at his stop-watch. - -Tommy went at it. His mind, still occupied with the magical virtues of -seven, and, therefore, with trying to discover what connection existed -between his own advancement and life-work and Mr. Thompson's amazing -instructions, did not work quite as smoothly as he wished. He was filled -with the fear of omitting numbers. He did not know that Mr. Thompson was -watching him intently, a look of irrepressible sympathy in his steady -brown eyes. And then Tommy suddenly realized that obedience was what was -wanted. From that moment on his mind was exclusively on his work. At -length he finished and looked up. - -“How many?” asked Mr. Thompson. - -Tommy counted. Mr. Thompson timed him. - -“Two hundred and eighty-seven,” said Tommy, presently. - -“Thank you; that's all,” said Mr. Thompson, impassively. - -Tommy felt an overwhelming desire to ask the inevitable question, but -he also felt in honor bound not to ask anything. This made him rise and -leave the room without the slightest delay. - -Mr. Thompson smiled--after Tommy passed out of the door. - -Just a week later Mr. Thompson stopped abruptly beside Tommy, who sat at -his desk, and said, without preamble: - -“Look round this room!” - -Tommy did so. - -“Again--all round the room!” said Thompson. - -Tommy obeyed unsmilingly. - -“Once more, slowly. Look at everything and everybody!” - -Tommy did so. This time he included both ceiling and floor, and in the -end his glance rested on Mr. Thompson's face. - -“Come with me,” said Mr. Thompson. - -Tommy followed the president into the private office. - -“Sit down, Leigh, and tell me what you saw. Name every object, -everything you remember--numbers and colors and sizes.” - -Tommy understood now what was expected of him and regretted that he had -not made a stronger effort at memorizing. He decided to visualize the -office and its contents. He closed his eyes and began at one corner of -the office, methodically working his way clear round. - -Mr. Thompson had a comptometer in his hand and registered as Tommy -spoke. - -“That's all I can remember.” - -“Ninety-six--less than a third. Color seems to be your weak point. Study -colors hereafter, but don't neglect form and size or numbers. Now tell -me how the people looked; how they impressed you. Frankly.” - -Tommy told him frankly how the clerks looked to him. - -“Come back here this afternoon at two-thirty-two sharp,” said Thompson. -And Tommy, after one look at the plump face and steady eyes, went away, -disappointed but honestly endeavoring to convince himself that Mr. -Thompson was not really and truly unfair. - -At two-thirty-two sharp--Tommy had taken the precaution not only to -go by the infallible electric dock over the cashier's desk, but -had predetermined exactly how many seconds to allow for the -twenty-eight-yard trip from his desk to Mr. Thompson's--Tommy reported -to Mr. Thompson. - -Mr. Thompson looked at the clock, then at Tommy. “Leigh,” he said, with -an impatient frown, “sell me a car!” - -Tommy, of course, had thought of the selling department as he had of -others. He had become acquainted with such agency inspectors as dropped -in to talk to Mr. Thompson, but that branch of the business did not -interest him as much as others. He knew what he ought to do, and tried -to recall all the devices of salesmanship he had ever heard or read -about. He was not very successful, for though his mind worked quickly, -no mind can ever work efficiently on insufficient knowledge or without -the purely verbal confidence that practice gives. - -He looked at Mr. Thompson, the man who was trying to find out what Tommy -Leigh was best fitted for. That made him once more think of Tommy Leigh -in terms of Tommy Leigh's needs. He must not bluff. He must not conceal -anything except the secret. Mr. Thompson was a square man. He must -be square with Mr. Thompson. Also Tommy Leigh must be to Mr. Thompson -exactly what Tommy Leigh was to himself. Now what was Mr. Thompson to -him? And, indeed, what was Mr. Thompson to Mr. Thompson? An expert, a -man who knew not only motors, but men, who knew more about everything -than any salesman could know. No salesman could talk to Mr. Thompson -effectively. - -Mr. Thompson was not an average man. He knew! And the average man was a -sort of Tommy Leigh--that is, he did not know much. - -And so, though Tommy did not know it, his secret, which by making -all other concealment intolerable, compelled him to be honest, again -compelled him to do the intelligent thing. It enabled him not only to -see clearly, but to speak truthfully. - -And when Mr. Thompson repeated impatiently: “Come! Come! Sell me a car!” - Tommy Leigh looked him boldly in the eye and answered confidently: - -“Can't!” - -“Why not?” - -“Because it is impossible.” - -“Why?” - -“You are you. You give me a problem that can't be answered except by an -answer to quite a different problem. You know cars. You have cars. You -make cars. You really don't want me to sell you a car. You want me to -talk to a groceryman who has never spent more than seventeen cents for -recreation, or to a speed maniac with ten thousand dollars a year pocket -money. It wouldn't be Thompson. Nobody could sell a car to Thompson. -Thompson doesn't need to be made aware that he wants to buy a car.” - -He was speaking from the bottom of his soul, and because he had been -honest to himself and to the man who had promised to befriend him, -Tommy's courage grew. It made him now look unblinkingly at the president -of the Tecumseh Motor Company. He saw neither displeasure nor approval -in the brown eyes. So to make sure he had made himself understood Tommy -added, positively: - -“It isn't that I think your question is an unfair one, but that the -problem isn't a problem, any more than if you ask, 'How old is a man who -wears a black necktie on his way to his office?' when you really want to -know if he limps.” - -“That's all,” said Mr. Thompson, and turned his back on Tommy. - -Tommy turned on his heel and walked out of the room, conscious that -he was a failure. He realized now that he had not made himself -indispensable. His information bureau could be shut up and no harm -whatever suffered by the company. In the tests to which Mr. Thompson had -subjected him he had not proven that there was first-class raw material -in him. Perhaps the tests were not fair; probably they were. Why, -indeed, should he expect favors? What business could be conducted on the -basis of unintelligent kindliness? - -And the crushing sense of failure made his secret rise before the poor -boy. He had intended to make restitution, and here he was good for -nothing! When discovery came where would he be? He gritted his teeth -and clenched his fists as the awful vision fleeted before his eyes--the -vision of what discovery would bring to him. He would take the blow! He -would be good for something! If not in Dayton, elsewhere. - -He had been a boy! He had been himself, as God made him. But now he -would be different! He would make Tommy Leigh a young man who would -secure his advancement by any and all means. To succeed he would bluff -and lie and-- - -No! Nobody had it easy, not even people who wouldn't fight. And now he -wanted to fight--fight with all his might! The harder the fight, -the better! Fight the world, life, hell, Thompson, everything, and -everybody, the more the better. He would die fighting, with his soul -full of rage. The great reward was the end of all trouble! - -When a man commits suicide in a really glorious way he grows calm. How -can petty annoyances disturb a heroic corpse? Tommy grew calm. He would -have to leave Dayton, but Dayton had taught him just one thing--that -beyond all question there was some place in the world where Thomas -Francis Leigh would prove his value! He felt even a sort of gratitude to -the head of the Tecumseh Motor Company, to whom he was indebted for -his education. He had learned more of life in the few weeks he had -been there than in the twenty-one years and three months he had spent -elsewhere. His gratitude brought in time that mood of genial melancholy -which is the heritage of youth, when youth, in the midst of life, feels -its own loneliness. And because youth also is generous, Tommy felt he -must share it with somebody. - -He decided to write, not to his father, but to Marion Willetts! He had -written to her only once, a bright and amusing letter--of course to be -read between the lines. She had answered. And her own letter, too, was -full of Tommy Leigh. She asked for details concerning the few hundred -things that Tommy intentionally had merely hinted at in his first. - -This second letter to her must be carefully written. It must both -express and conceal, say and leave unsaid. Every word must mean exactly -what he desired to convey, in precisely the way he wished her to get the -message. - -He closed his eyes and began to compose. - -Words never before had meant quite so much to Tommy. It was a literary -revelation, because Tommy was utterly unaware that he was writing his -first letter to his own twenty-one years and eighteen weeks! - -He had not quite finished his peroration when Mr. Thompson came out of -his office. Tommy looked up and saw him, saw the man who had written the -end of his Dayton chapter. He felt no resentment. Indeed, Mr. Thompson -had been more than kind. The fifteen dollars a week was really a gift; -Tommy acknowledged to himself that he hadn't given a just equivalent -therefor to the Tecumseh Motor Company. - -And Mr. Thompson also was the man who had made it possible for Tommy -to compose that wonderful unwritten letter to Marion, which by -crystallizing his own attitude toward life, work, duty, and earthly -happiness, had enabled Tommy Leigh to become acquainted with the -brand-new Tommy Leigh. - -Tommy stood up, for Mr. Thompson was walking straight toward him, and -smiled expectantly, hoping to receive some order, that he might carry -it out in full, now that he knew he had to leave, and, therefore, could -obey with an eager willingness unvitiated by hopes of advancement. - -“Tommy,” said Mr. Thompson, in the voice of an old and intimate friend, -“are you game for a quiet evening?” - -“Yes, sir,” said Tommy, not betraying his curiosity or his fear. - -“Will you dine with me at my house--seven sharp. We'll have a very quiet -time talking, just the two of us.” - -Mr. Thompson was smiling slightly. Tommy felt a wave of gratitude -surging within him. This man, being a gentleman, wished to break the -news gently. - -In his appreciation Tommy in turn felt honor bound to spare Mr. Thompson -every embarrassment. - -“Of course I shall be delighted. But I want to say, Mr. Thompson, that -you don't have to--er--” Tommy paused. - -“To what?” asked Mr. Thompson, puzzled. - -“To be so nice about telling me that I--I haven't made good with you. -You've done more than anybody else in the world would have done, more -than I had any reason to expect. And--” - -“What are you driving at?” interrupted Mr. Thompson. - -“You've made up your mind to let me go, haven't you?” asked Tommy, -bluntly. - -“Hell, no!” said Thompson. - -Tommy looked at him, wide-eyed. - -Thompson went on: “Seven. You know my house?” - -Tommy nodded as Mr. Thompson passed on. It was all he was able to do. -In point of fact he had to ask Martin, the cashier, where Mr. Thompson -lived. - -He didn't finish his letter to Marion. He was too busy dressing for -his first dinner in Dayton and trying to keep from singing. Whatever -happened eventually, this was a respite. He didn't even attach any -importance to Mrs. Clayton's look of awe as she saw Tommy in his dinner -clothes, nor to Billy's ironical, “Good-by, old carburetor!” as he left -the boarding-house on his way to Mr. Thompson's. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -MR. THOMPSON went in for etchings, and Tommy had to stop, look, and -listen. He was not bored, because his proud delight in Mr. Thompson's -versatility kept him awake. There were so many evidences of a wide -interest in the non-money-making things of life in this home that Tommy -found himself free from the oppression of his burden. Mrs. Thompson was -away on a visit to her people and the two men dined alone. - -Over the coffee in the library the talk finally drifted to Mr. Thompson. -From that to Mr. Thompson's “Experiments” at the factory was a short -step. Tommy had learned that all of these “Experiments” were at work in -the experimental shop and in the selling department, and that not all of -them were young men. Then Mr. Thompson talked about his advertisement in -the New York Herald. - -“I received many answers. I should have thrown yours away if you had not -given your age. It was too sophisticated and smart-Alecky. It didn't -mean anything--except the truth. Not knowing you, I was not sure it was -true. I can't stand puzzles, so I sent for you.” - -“I'm glad you did. It saved my life,” blurted Tommy. - -“Don't exaggerate, Leigh,” admonished Thompson, calmly. - -“I didn't,” said Tommy. “But I won't.” He couldn't tell Mr. Thompson, -first, what had compelled him to look in the nor, second, how he had -taken it for granted that his own answer would bring him employment. - -“Do you want to tell me about it?” asked Thompson, in a matter-of-fact -voice that nevertheless in some curious way showed sympathy--in advance. - -Tommy's eyes clouded with the pain of struggle. “I--can't, Mr. -Thompson,” he answered. - -Thompson's eyes did not leave Tommy's. “They called you Tommy at -college?” - -“Yes, sir--everybody,” answered Tommy. - -“It is not always a recommendation. A diminutive nickname is apt to keep -a man young. But there are degrees of youth, and superficial affection -often has a babying effect. I'll call you Tommy hereafter.” Mr. Thompson -said this in a musing voice. It made Tommy laugh, until Mr. Thompson -said, seriously, “A secret is hard on concentration, isn't it?” - -Tommy started. He couldn't help it. Mr. Thompson went on: - -“It makes the result of the concentration test I applied to you the -other day all the more remarkable. At your age, with your imagination -and the habit of introspection that an untold secret begets, it was -unfair to make the test even more difficult about the magical virtues -of the number seven. Crossing out all odd numbers after one and seven is -the common test. I have improved it, I think. I must have concentrated -imagination, if I can get it. You did very well. Of course you are no -wonder, Leigh--” - -“Certainly not!” interrupted Tommy, indignantly, before he stopped to -think that it was not an accusation. - -Thompson smiled. “But you did well enough to justify me in keeping -you--for a while longer, at all events.” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Now you must continue to study our work. Discover what you want to do; -then make sure it is what you really want. Then try to convince yourself -that it isn't. When you know, tell me. Do you want more money?” - -“Yes, I do, but I won't take it,” answered Tommy, very quickly. - -“Very well,” said Mr. Thompson, regarding the incident as closed. - -Tommy was perfectly sincere in his resolve not to accept unearned money. -Nevertheless, he felt a little disappointed at Mr. Thompson's prompt -acquiescence. Then Tommy realized more than ever that the joy of telling -the truth is in the instant acceptance of the truth by your hearers. It -is what makes it important for words to mean the same thing in all minds -at all times. If “no” always meant “no” there would be much less trouble -in this world. - -Tommy resolved to find out which part of the business appealed to him -the most, and then he would tell Mr. Thompson. Then there would be more -money to send home every week. He had sent so little! But he had paid -off the fifty dollars he borrowed to pay for his transportation to -Dayton. - -“Where do you live?” asked Mr. Thompson. - -Tommy told him; told him all about Mrs. Clayton and all about Bill and -Bill's carburetor mania. When Mr. Thompson spoke it was not to refer to -anything that Tommy had said. - -“Don't know much about the selling end of the business, do you?” he -asked. - -“No, sir.'' - -“Would you LIke to learn? Think before you speak.” - -Tommy thought. At length he said, “Yes, I would, very much.” - -“Think you'd like it?” - -Tommy's habit of being honest made him discover that he could not answer -either yes or no truthfully. So he decided, as usual when in doubt, to -tell the truth. Better to be considered an ass than a liar--easier and -safer. - -“I wasn't thinking of that. I was thinking that in the shop I can -learn only what a mechanic thinks of the product, and what the shipping -departments think of moving it away. What the buyer thinks, I don't -know. So I don't know whether I'd like to be a salesman.” - -“They get good money. You'd like that. Think again before you answer.” - -Tommy thought. To him money meant only one thing: Not what one hundred -thousand dollars, for instance, might buy for him, but what seventeen -thousand dollars--no more, no less--would do for his soul's peace. He -answered Mr. Thompson slowly: - -“I don't know which is the greater pleasure--doing work you really love -for fair pay, or making more money out of work you neither like nor -dislike. I--I don't know, Mr. Thompson,” he finished, and looked at his -chief dubiously. - -Mr. Thompson stared into space. “That's so,” he said at last, in a -perfunctory way. - -Tommy felt he had hit no bull's-eye, but he was neither sorry nor angry. -He bethought himself of his bedroom, where he could do his thinking -unstimulated and undepressed. He arose and said: - -“I've had a very nice time, Mr. Thompson, and you don't know how -grateful I am to you, sir.” - -“Yes, it's bedtime,” said Mr. Thompson, absently. Then he came back to -Tommy. “Tommy,” he said, “if you ever feel like coming to me to tell me -what an ignorant ass you think you are, do so. I'll agree with you; and -perhaps, after I listen to your reasons I'll even raise your salary on -the spot. If you get lonesome walk it off; don't come to me. But Mrs. -Thompson will introduce you to a lot of nice young people--” - -Tommy shook his head violently. “Thank you very much, Mr. Thompson. -But I'd--” He floundered till a ray of light showed him the way out. He -finished, “I'd be more than glad if Mrs. Thompson would let me call -once in a while so I could confidentially tell her what I think of her -husband.” - -Tommy smiled what he thought was a debonair smile. He wasn't going to -know nice young people who some day might read in the newspapers--And, -anyhow, he wasn't in Dayton to have a good time, but to sweat seventeen -thousand dollars' worth. - -“I see I can't do a damned thing for you, young man,” said Thompson, -evenly. He accompanied Tommy to the door. He held out his hand. -“Remember, when you want to tell me that you are not only an ignoramus, -but an ass, and, to boot, blind, come up and say it. Good night, Tommy!” - And he shook Tommy's hand firmly. - -“All I know,” thought Tommy to himself on the way home, “is that he is -the greatest thing that ever came down the pike.” - -He thought of the day when he could feel that he owed nothing and -dreaded nothing. - -He fell asleep thinking he ought to look into the selling end of the -business. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -TOMMY found, after his dinner with Mr. Thompson, that the -responsibility of learning the business by doing his own studying in his -own way did not weigh so heavily upon him. There were times, of course, -when the slowness of his own progress was not comfortable, but he -learned the most valuable of all lessons--to wit, that you cannot turn -raw material into finished product by one operation in one second. - -He now divided his time between the general business office in the -Tecumseh Building and the office at the works. In the morning he was -with the selling force, listening to the dictated replies to all sorts -of correspondence or to the explanations and pointers of men who looked -after the merchandising of the company's product. But his own interest -in the psychology of selling was not personal enough. He couldn't bring -himself to feel that in selling for the Tecumseh Company he was pleasing -Thomas Francis Leigh quite as much as the company. Of course it would -please him to succeed; but he acknowledged to himself that the pleasure -would not be because of the selling, but because of the success. He -could not project himself into his imaginary auditors, for the wonderful -possession of another's ears with which to hear his own voice was not to -him what it is to the bom pleader. - -He began to think that selling did not come natural to him, but he kept -on listening to the salesmen, grasping their point of view and at times -even sympathizing with it, but always feeling like a buyer himself--an -outsider. This gave him the buyer's point of view--an invaluable gift, -though he not only did not know it, but felt sorry he had it. To conceal -part of the truth, to be only technically veracious, to have a customer -say, “You did not tell me thus and so when you sold me that car!” was an -apprehension he could not quite shake off. All he could conceal was -one thing, and in his introspective moments at home he almost convinced -himself that his secret, by making it difficult for him to become an -enthusiastically unscrupulous salesman, was interfering materially with -the success of Thomas Francis Leigh. - -His afternoons he spent in his information bureau, or wandering about -the shop asking the various heads of the mechanical departments what -they were doing to correct one or another of the parts of the motor that -seemed to be regarded by customers as sources of trouble. When they told -him the customers were to blame, and that no car is utterly fool-proof, -he refused to abandon his buyer's point of view. He would argue, with -the valor of ignorance, against the mechanical experts--and learned much -without being aware of it. - -At home evenings he did not talk, but kept from brooding on his own -troubles by listening to Bill Byrnes. The young mechanic soon outgrew -his feeling of pity for the New-Yorker's profound ignorance, and then -developed a friendship that rose almost to enthusiasm--Tommy listened so -gratefully to Bill's monologues. - -On this evening Bill told Tommy that everything was wrong with the -work. Tommy was dying to ask for details, that he might sympathize more -intelligently, but Bill had not seen fit to enlighten him, and not for -worlds would he ask point-blank. So Tommy contented himself with looking -judicial and told Bill: - -“This carburetor business is becoming an obsession with you. Give it a -rest and then go back to it fresh. When you get a hobby and ride it to -death--'' - -“Grandpop,” interrupted Bill, unimpressed by Tommy's octogenarian -wisdom, “the moment I see a carburetor that suits me, no matter whose -it is, I'll have no more interest in the problem than I have in the -potatoes in the neighbors' cellars.” - -Tommy was not sure that Bill was deceiving himself. He, therefore, -observed, cynically, “All signs fail with inventors that don't invent.” - -Bill became so serious that Tommy felt he had hurt Bill's feelings. -Before he could explain his words away Bill said, slowly: - -“Let me tell you something, Tommy. You don't know what I've gone -through.” He hesitated, then he went on reluctantly, as though the -confession were forced out of him, “My father was a mouth-inventor!” - -“What was he?” asked Tommy, puzzled. - -“A mouth-inventor I call him. He always knew what ought to be done by -machine. He had mighty good ideas, but he never got as far as building a -working model or even making a rough drawing. My mother used to tell him -to go ahead and invent, and he'd promise he would. But all he ever did -was to talk about the machine that ought to be built, until somebody -else did it and copped the dough. Then he would tell my mother, 'There, -wasn't I right?'” - -Bill's face clouded and he stopped talking--to remember. - -“Didn't he ever finish anything?” Tommy meant to show a hopeful loyalty -to his friend's father. - -“Yes, he finished my mother,” answered Bill, savagely. “He got so he -would talk in the shop, and the men would stop their work to listen to -him, for he certainly had the gift of gab. He cost the shop too much, -and so my mother had to support him and us kids. She invented regular -grub for all of us, and it wore her out.” - -Bill paused and stared absently at Tommy, who tried to look as sorry as -he felt and feared he wasn't succeeding. Bill started slightly, like a -man awakening from a doze, and went on quietly: - -“Even as a kid I was crazy about machinery. I wanted to be a mechanic -and she hated the idea of it, but when she saw I was bound to be one -she simply would talk to me by the hour about the same thing--to do -my inventing with my hands instead of with my jaw. She's dead and he's -dead. I take after her on the matter of regular grub, but I haven't got -my father's nose for discovering what's needed ahead of everybody else. -I don't seem to be as interested in a brand-new machine as in a better -machine.” - -“The company would pay for any improvement you might make,” suggested -Tommy. - -“I'm not so sure,” said Bill, who was inventor enough to be suspicious. - -“Oh, shucks! Mr. Thompson is a square man,” retorted Tommy. - -“He's like all the rest. All business men are nothing but sure-thing -gamblers, and they never make their gambling roll big enough. Take the -case of the Tecumseh carburetor. It used to be a fine carburetor.” - -“Isn't it still?” - -“In a way. You see, the oil companies can't supply the demand for -high-grade gas, so what you get to-day is so much poorer than it was -five years ago that the old carburetor couldn't work with it at all. Now -the carburetor is one of the principal things the advertisements call -attention to in the Tecumseh.” Bill permitted himself a look of disgust. - -“What's the answer?” asked Tommy. - -“To be able to use bum gasoline. I've been working on this at odd -times.” - -“Why not at all times?” asked Tommy, with a stem frown. - -Bill could see by Tommy's face that Tommy would remain unconvinced by -any answer he might make. So he resorted to sarcasm. - -“You see, dear Mr. Leigh, when you work with the company's machine in -the company's shop in the company's time, the company has a claim on -your invention. Oh, yes, I could tell you a thousand stories of fellows -who--” - -Bill's voice grew so bitter that Tommy broke in: “You make me tired, -Bill. If you get to think that everybody's a crook, you'll find -everybody not only willing, but delighted to do you. Do you know why? -Because everybody that you take for a crook will take you for one, too.” - -“And if you talk like a kid, everybody will think you are a kid and -take away the nice little toy so you won't hurt yourself by being -independent.” - -“I bet if I went to Thompson--” - -“Yes, he'd smile like a grandfather, and pat you on the head and tell -you to stick to the office-boy brigade where you belong, and kindly -allow his high-priced experts to earn their wages. By heck! if I had a -little time and a little shop of my own--” - -“Well, you have the shop--” - -“And no machinery.” - -“What machinery do you need?” - -“Well, I have to get a generator. I'm dickering for one, but I am shy -fifty dollars. I tried the self-starter generator, but it doesn't -do what I want. So there you are--mouth-inventor.” Tommy saw Bill's -despairing look and asked, “Can't you borrow one from the shop?” - -“No.” - -“Fifty dollars,” mused Tommy, “isn't much. You're making your three and -a half a day--” - -“Yes, but I've got a sister who--well, she isn't right. My father's -fault.” He paused and corrected himself. “No, it wasn't. Just her luck. -When she was a baby my father thought of something and he yelled to -mother to tell her. And mother was frightened and dropped Charlotte. -The fall did something to her. Anyhow, she's got what they call arrested -development. She will never be able to amount to anything. So, of -course, I--Well, it takes a big bite out of the pay envelope”; and he -smiled defensively. - -“Of course,” agreed Tommy with conviction. Then he irrepressibly held -out his right hand toward Byrnes and said, nonchalantly, “Say, Bill, -I've got a hundred I'm not using.” - -“Keep it,” said Bill, shortly. - -“It's yours,” Tommy contradicted, pleasantly. “Then keep on keeping it -for me,” said Bill, and rose. He went toward his own room so quickly -that Tommy did not have time to pursue the subject further. At the -threshold Bill turned and said, “I'm much obliged, Tommy.” - -“Wait!” said Tommy, going toward him. But Bill slammed the door in his -face and locked it. It came to Tommy that Bill, too, had his cross to -bear, and it was not of his own making--the sister for whom he must -work, about whom he never talked. Yet Bill had shared his secret with -Tommy, and Tommy couldn't share his with anybody! The more he thought -about it the more he liked Bill. And the more he liked Bill the more he -desired to help Bill in his experiments with the carburetor. It was -a man's duty to help a friend. Tommy told himself so and agreed with -himself. - -He did not know that while his sense of duty was undergoing no -deterioration, the equally strong desire for recreation, for something -to make him forget his own trouble without resorting to cowardly or -ignoble devices, insisted upon making itself felt. Then the thrilling -thought came to him that besides helping Bill he was helping an -inventor to do something useful, something that might be the means -of accelerating the accumulation of the seventeen thousand dollars -he needed. That made the loan strictly business, he thought, with the -curious instinct of youth to cover the outside of a beautiful impulse -with sordid motives, deeming that a more mature wisdom. - -He had been sending three dollars a week regularly to his father. He had -put it delicately enough. “Please credit me with the inclosed and write -it down in the little black book. It's too one-sided as it is; too much -Dr. and not enough Cr.” This was all that he had written to his father -about his remittances. He had not asked what proportion of the debt was -rightfully his. He would not stop to separate the clean dollars from the -tainted, but give back the whole seventeen thousand. Nevertheless, he -now wished to do something else with his mother's hundred, and the gold -coins began to burn a hole in his pocket. - -One night after supper he said to Bill, “I've been thinking about our -experiments.” He paused to let the news sink in. - -“Oh, you have, have you?” retorted Bill, with the elaborate sarcasm of -the elder brother. - -“Yep. Now if gasoline is going to keep on becoming less and less -inflammable, what's the matter with going the whole hog and tackling -kerosene?” - -“Oh, shucks!” said Bill, disgustedly. Then meditatively, “I don't -know--” - -“I do,” said Tommy, decisively. “No scarcity of supply and cheaper.” - -“Yes, and more power units; go further and cost less. But it will be -more difficult--” - -“Sure thing. That's what you're here for. The first practical -kerosene-auto will make a goldmine look like a pile of wet sawdust.” - -“You're right,” said Bill. “But I've never tried--” - -“I'll help you,” said Tommy, kindly. “Don't talk about it; think!” This -was rank plagiarism from Thompson, and he wouldn't let Bill say another -word on the subject. Being compelled to do his thinking in silence made -Bill grow quite excited about it. Tommy saw the desire to experiment -show itself unmistakably in Bill's face. It made Tommy happy. He was -helping some one else. Therefore, he was not thinking of himself. -Therefore the secret slept. - -On the very next morning Tommy went to one of the engineers in the -experimental laboratory and asked, “Say, where can I get some literature -on kerosene-motors--” - -The engineer, La Grange, who had early taken a liking to Tommy, threw up -his hands, groaned, and cried, “Another!” - -“Another what?” asked Tommy. - -“Savior of the industry.” - -“Is everybody trying--” - -“Everybody--and then add a couple of millions on top of that. It's worse -than Mexico for revolutionists.” - -“I again ask,” remarked Tommy, severely, in order not to show his -disappointment, “where can I get some literature on the subject?” - -“You never read the technical papers?” - -“No.” - -“Do so.” - -“Got any files here?” persisted Tommy. It was evident that somebody had -beaten him to the great idea. - -“Yep, all of them, and several hundred tons of Patent Office Gazettes.” - -“Where be they?” asked Tommy, pleasantly. “In the library.” - -“Thank you; you are very helpful.” - -“Don't mention it. Say, Tommy, if you invent a kerosene-carburetor, -swallow it whole before you bring it up here, won't you, please?” - -“I'll cram it down your giraffe throat,” said Tommy, La Grange being -stout and short-necked. - -He spent an hour looking over the files, taking notes of the issues he -thought Bill would find useful. His disappointment over finding that so -many bright minds were at work on the same problem was tempered by his -stronger realization of the value of a working kerosene-carburetor. -His profit came in his own recognition of his own ignorance. Enthusiasm -isn't enough in this world. There must be knowledge. And other people -existed who had knowledge, experience, and brains. - -He went to the down-town office for the first time keenly interested in -the selling department. - -The more he thought about it the more important selling became. And -the reason was that he was now dramatizing his own sales of his own -kerosene-car. He would apply only sound selling methods when the -Bymes-Leigh carburetor was put on the Tecumseh cars; therefore he began -to study sound selling methods with a more sympathetic understanding. - -Mr. Grosvenor, the selling genius of the Tecumseh organization, was -greatly impressed by Tommy's intelligent questions. It made him say -to Mr. Thompson: “Young Leigh has suddenly taken hold in a surprising -manner, but he comes here mornings only. He'll spoil if he gets too -technical. I'd like to have him with me.” - -“Why?” asked Mr. Thompson, curiously. - -“Because he'll make a first-class--” - -“No, no! I mean why has he taken hold suddenly?” - -“He is no fool. He instinctively reduces all his problems to the basis -of 'Show me'--not Missouri distrust, but the desire really to know -and--” - -“Ah yes, the ideal juryman,” said Thompson, musingly. - -“I don't see it,” said Grosvenor. - -“The lawyers don't, either, hence it is all law or all emotion with -them. Well, you can't have Tommy yet awhile.” - -“Why not?” asked Grosvenor, curiously. He, too, learned from Thompson -and his experiments with human beings. - -“He hasn't reported to me yet.” - -“But he's crazy to begin,” protested Grosvenor. - -“No, he isn't. It is only that something has happened. Wait!” said -Thompson. “Now about the Chicago agency--” And they ceased to discuss -young Mr. Leigh. - -That same afternoon Thompson rang for Tommy. “Tommy,” he said, “I want -you to take one of our cars and play with it.” - -“Meaning?” asked Tommy. - -“Whatever you like. Company's car, company's time,” returned Mr. -Thompson, impassively. - -Tommy nodded. He saw, or thought he saw, usefulness to the company. Then -he thought of Tommy Leigh. This made him think of Bill. The car being -company's property, the Bymes-Leigh experiments with it also would be -company's property. - -“And Sundays?” he asked, and looked intently at Mr. Thompson. - -Thompson stared back. Then he frowned slightly and kept on staring into -Tommy's eyes. “H'm!” said Thompson, presently. - -Tommy would have given much to know what the chief was thinking about. -It fascinated him to watch the face and to wonder what the machine -within the well-shaped cranium was turning out in the way of conclusions -and decisions. Then the fear came to Tommy that Mr. Thompson might think -Tommy wanted to joy-ride on the Sabbath or break speed records or have -fun--Tommy who wanted no pleasure whatever in life until the seventeen -thousand was paid back! The boy's face clouded. He couldn't explain. - -“H'm!” again muttered Thompson, absently. Then his eyes grew alert -and he said: “Use one of my own cars instead. Company's time, my car. -Sundays, your time, your car.” - -Tommy's heart skipped a beat. Had Mr. Thompson guessed? It was -positively uncanny. Then Tommy asked, “Is it an old car?” - -Thompson looked sharply at Tommy. Then he said: “It isn't; but it is--so -far as you are concerned. I expect to have to repaint it.” - -Tommy hesitated. - -“Do you want to tell me about it?” asked Thompson. - -Tommy might have said there wasn't anything to tell. But he answered, “I -do, but I think I'd better wait.” - -“Very well, Tommy,” said Thompson, seriously. “Want your salary raised?” - -“Not yet!” said Tommy. Impulsively in a burst of gratitude he held out -his hand. Then he drew it back. - -“Shake hands, anyhow,” said Thompson; and Tommy did. - -“Mr. Thompson, I'll tell you--” - -“Not much you won't!” interrupted Mr. Thompson. “Run along, sonny!” - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THAT night after supper Tommy, who felt that his joy over the new car -was almost too great to be strictly moral, told Bill all about it and -saw Bill's flashing eyes at the thought of a car to experiment with, a -lack that he had often bemoaned. Tommy thought Bill was entitled to some -pleasure on his own account and, wishing to share his luck, he said, -earnestly: - -“I can't stand it any longer, Bill; you've simply got to take the fifty -dollars. I'll lend it to you or give it to you, or we'll go in cahoots -or on any basis you want; but if you don't invent my kerosene-carburetor -I'll bust.” - -“Yes, but how will I feel if nothing comes out of it?” said Bill, -gloomily. - -“What about my own feelings, you pin-head! I'll feel a thousand times -worse than you, if that's any comfort to you. I've mapped out my selling -campaign. Why, I've been selling a thousand kerosene-cars a day for two -weeks!” - -“Yes, but--” - -“You can't be an inventor. All inventors are dead sure of getting there -if you only give them time and money. And here I'm giving you capital -and from four to five Sundays a month!” - -“Don't be funny!” - -“In the event of honorable defeat I'll sell their measly gasoline-cars -instead of our kerosene wonders, so I'm all right. Will you take the -money, Bill?” - -“Yes!” shouted Bill, and frowned furiously. “By heck! I just will!” - -“Right! Are you sure you can get the generator for the money?” - -“Yes, I've got him down to fifty. We'll split even on the patent.” - -“And your work?” said Tommy, shaking his head. - -“And yours?” shrieked Bill, excitedly. “Whose idea was it? I won't go on -any other basis.” - -“You are a d--d fool,” said Tommy, severely. - -“So are you!” retorted Bill, so pugnaciously that Tommy laughed and -said, soothingly: - -“Let's not hoodoo the thing by counting the chickens before they are -hatched. You wait here.” - -Tommy went into his room, unlocked his trunk, and found the little -package of gold coins his mother had wrapped up. He read the faint but -still legible inscription: “For Tommy's first scrape.” - -In that shabby room in a strange city she came to him, the mother he had -never known, who had paid for his life with her own, the mother who had -loved him so much, whose love began before he was bora. - -“Poor mother!” he muttered. And he tried to see--in vain!--a mother's -smile on her lips and the blessed light in her eyes. He could not see -them, but he felt them, for he felt himself enveloped by her love as -though she had thrown a warm cloak about his chilled soul. A great -yearning came over him to love her. - -He raised the little package to his lips instinctively and kissed the -writing. And then, not instinctively, but deliberately, that his love -might go from him to her, he kissed it again and again, until the sense -of loss came and his eyes filled with tears for the mother he now not -only loved, but did not wish to lose. - -She had loved him without knowing him. She had planned for him--plans -that had come to naught notwithstanding his father's efforts to carry -them out. - -“Poor father!” he said. He heard his own words. He understood now that -his duty to his mother was his duty to his father. He must plan for his -father as his mother had planned for him. His father must come first in -everything! It was his father, not Tommy Leigh, whom he must save from -disgrace. - -The money must go to New York. It was not much, but it would help. It -was as much as he could save in thirty weeks. - -He hesitated. He saw his duty to his father. Then with the package still -unbroken in his hand he went back to Bill's room. - -“Bill!” said Tommy. His throat was dry. It made his voice husky. - -“What's the matter? Is it stolen?” asked Bill in alarm. Tommy's voice -had told him something was wrong. - -“No,” said Tommy. “Only I--I was thinking--” He paused. - -“Cold feet?” Bill smiled a heroic smile of resignation, the triumph of -friendship. He was blaming luck and no one else. - -Tommy saw the smile and divined the loyalty with a pang. Bill was a man! - -It really was Bill's money; the promise had been passed. He had been -guilty of a boyish impulse. This was his first scrape! He heard his -mother say he must not be thoughtless again. - -“No,” said Tommy, firmly, “but--Let me tell you, Bill. My uncle gave -this money to my mother before I was born--one hundred dollars in gold. -She saved it for me.” - -He showed Bill what she had written. Bill held the package near the -light and read slowly: “For Tommy's first scrape!” He looked at Tommy -uncomfortably. - -“She died when I was born,” said Tommy, who wanted to tell Bill -everything. - -“You can't use it,” said Bill, with decision. “Certainly I can.” - -“Not much; I won't take it!” - -“You'll have to,” said Tommy. - -Bill shook his head. - -“I'm sure,” said Tommy, seriously, “it's all right to use it for the -work.” - -“If it was mine I wouldn't even open the package if it was to save me -from jail,” said Bill. - -“Well, I will, to save myself from the insane-asylum,” said Tommy. -He hesitated, then he opened the package with fingers that trembled -slightly. There were ten gold eagles. Tommy counted out five and wrapped -up the other five. “Here, Bill,” he said. - -“No!” shouted Bill. His face was flushed. He put his hands in his -pockets determinedly, so he couldn't take the money. - -“There they are, on the table. Now lose them!” said Tommy, cuttingly. - -He walked out of Bill's room, put the package with the remaining fifty -dollars in his trunk and locked it. He wished he might save the original -coins. It struck him he might borrow the fifty dollars from Mr. Thompson -and give the gold coins as collateral. A fine notion! But to carry it -out he would have to explain. - -It was fully ten minutes before he went back to Bill's room. The coins -were on the table. Tommy thought of a jest, of a scolding, of what he -ought to say to Bill. In the end he said, very quietly: - -“Please put it away, Bill. And I'd like you to come with me. We'll go -out for a trolley ride.” - -“All right,” said Bill. He hesitated, then as Tommy started to go out -Bill put the money in his pocket-book and followed Tommy on tiptoe. - -The two boys went out of the house in silence. They boarded an open car -at the corner, sat together, rode to the end of the line, rode back, -walked to the house and entered--all in silence. They went into Bill's -room. They had been sitting there fully five minutes when Bill suddenly -said: - -“Say, Tommy?” - -“What?” - -“You know,” said Bill, timidly, “a kerosene-engine won't start cold.” - -“I know it,” said Tommy, who had read up on the subject just as he used -to bone at college just before examinations. - -“I've a notion--” - -“Have you tried it?” asked Tommy, sternly business-like. - -“Not yet, but I dope it out that--” - -“Nothing on paper; no mouth inventing,” interrupted Tommy, firmly. -“Practical experiments.” - -“You're right,” said Bill, with moody acquiescence. “I wish to heaven -I didn't have to go to the shop. Some things can't be done by one man -alone.” He looked at Tommy and hesitated. - -Tommy also hesitated. Then he said: “If you think I can help I'll be -glad to, Bill. But you must do exactly as you wish. I don't want to -pry--” - -“You big chump!” interrupted Bill, “I've been afraid to ask you. You -know I don't hit it right every time, and you may lose patience with me -and--” - -“Tut-tut, me child!” said Tommy. - -“Well, I'm only warning you.” - -“Bill, I'd like to talk all night, but I guess we'd better go to bed.” - -“I sha'n't sleep a wink all night,” Bill spoke accusingly. - -“Same here,” retorted Tommy. He was in bed trying not to think about -Bill's carburetor and the new cars he would sell by the thousand, when -his door opened. - -Bill stuck his head into the room. “Tommy!” he whispered. - -“Yes, what is it?” - -“I--I am much obliged.” - -“Did you wake me up to tell me that?” - -“Yes. And I have a sneaking notion--” - -“My business hours, Mr. Byrnes, are five a.m. to ten p.m.,” interrupted -Tommy, because what he really wanted was to listen to Bill all night, -and he knew he had to fight against the feeling that he was a kid -tickled to death with a new toy. - -“All right,” said Bill, meekly; “but I wanted to tell you I was much -obliged--” - -“You have. Now go to sleep.” - -“I can't!” - -“Then go to blazes.” - -“It's your fault!” - -“Good night, Bill.” - -“Good night, Tommy. Say, a coil in the manifold intake--” - -Tommy snored loudly. Bill's sigh was almost as audible. Then the door -closed softly. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -TOMMY devoted himself whole-souledly to the study of the car Mr. -Thompson had told him to play with. It delighted him to put flesh on -what hitherto had been but the bones of theory. He was certain the car -would make him very valuable to the Tecumseh Company as a salesman. As -soon as he could drive with confidence he began to drive with pleasure, -and as soon as he could do that he dragged Bill from the little shop in -Mrs. Clayton's woodshed and gave him a joy-ride. Together they made a -long list of improvements, nearly all of them suggested by Tommy, who, -not being a mechanic, found difficult and complicated what to Bill was -a simple matter to fix and adjust. “The Beginner's Delight” was what -Tommy, the salesman, called the Tecumseh car as it ought to be, the -car that would sell itself. Bill, the mechanic, called it “The D. P.'s -Dream.” - -Tommy at first dutifully reported the needed improvements to the men -in the shop, but they laughed at him and called him Daredevil Dick; or, -when they took him seriously, told him that the suggestions were either -impractical or unavailable, because they involved structural changes -that were either commercially extravagant or mechanically inexpedient. - -“In a piece of machinery, as in everything else in life, Tommy,” La -Grange told him one day, because he saw the disappointment in Tommy's -eyes, “we are up against a series of compromises. One must try to lose -as little as possible in one place in order to gain more somewhere else. -It is a matter of weighing profits and losses.” - -“You must be a bookkeeper under your vest,” retorted Tommy, “you are -so struck with the philosophical value of items. Life isn't a ledger. -'Profit-and-loss' was invented as a sort of wastebasket for the mistakes -industrial corporations make through their mechanical experts.” - -“Keep on discovering defects, Tommy,” laughed La Grange, “you'll make a -fine salesman yet.” Then he became serious. “As a matter of fact, some -of the best suggestions have come from laymen.” - -“Don't look at me. My trouble is that I am ahead of my time,” said -Tommy, haughtily, and went off to tell Bill his grievances. After that -they decided to jot down the suggestions, and if possible try them -out. But Tommy found that, as he understood the car better, fewer -improvements suggested themselves. He began to think the trouble was -with the buyers. - -His resolve to repay the seventeen thousand dollars was by now divested -of all heroics and, consequently, of self-pity. It had become a duty -thoroughly assimilated. But the reason why the secret had lost its power -to torture him beyond measure was that, beginning by hoping, he ended -by being convinced that, if discovery came, Mr. Thompson and Bill and -Grosvenor and La Grange and Nevin and the others would know that he was -not to blame. - -But when it occurred to him that his thoughts still were all of self, -the reaction was so strong that he almost yearned for discovery. He even -dramatized it. He saw the trial, heard the sentence, said good-by to -his father at the door of the jail, and then went back to his work in -Day-ton, to toil for the bank, to pay the debt just the same, to save -his wages, to make a new home and have it ready for his father. He would -pay with love what his father had paid for love. And then Tommy told -himself that it was not for him to see visions and dream dreams, but -to hustle and pay; so that the spur was just as sharp, but not quite so -cruelly applied. - -One morning Tommy, in his car, left the shop on his way to the country. -On Main Street near Fourth he saw Mr. Thompson on foot. Thompson held up -his hand. Tommy drew up alongside. - -“Give us a ride?” asked Thompson, pleasantly. - -Tommy gravely touched his cap with rigid fingers, and asked, “Where to, -sir?” - -“With you,” answered Thompson. - -“Get in.” And Tommy opened the rear door. - -Thompson shook his head, got in front, and sat beside Tommy. - -Tommy shifted gears more diffidently than usual. They clashed horridly. -His face grew red. - -“Excited?” asked Thompson, seriously. - -“Yes,” answered Tommy, frankly. - -“Get over it!” Thompson's advice was given in such a calm voice that -it did not help Tommy. Whereupon Thompson laughed and said, “Tommy, I -completely wrecked my first seven cars.” - -A great wave of gratitude surged within Tommy. It gave him mastery of -the machine. He drove on carefully and easily until he reached a -good stretch of road near the city limits. He let her out. He did not -remember when he had felt such perfect control. He slowed down when they -came to a crossroad. - -“Going to Columbus?” asked Mr. Thompson. - -“If you wish,” replied Tommy, nonchalantly. “Not to-day. Let me off at -the trolley line.” - -“I'll take you back,” said Tommy. - -“Does it interfere with your plans?” - -Interfere with his plans? This man who was paying him wages asked that -question! Did a finer man live anywhere? - -“Not a bit. I was only trying out--” Tommy stopped short. He had been -taking liberties with the carburetor by advice and with the consent of -Bill. And it was Thompson's car! “What?” asked Thompson. - -Tommy told him. - -“Lots of room for improvement in the Tecumseh, eh?” - -Mr. Thompson's voice was neither sarcastic nor admiring. - -Tommy answered, “We think so.” - -“Who is we?” - -“Me and Bill Byrnes,” smiled Tommy. - -“Lots of suggestions?” - -“Some.” - -“Decreasing as you learn?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Been in the testing-shop?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Tell 'em?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“All the suggestions?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Only at first?” - -“Right!” - -“Why did you stop?” - -“Well, we found out that some of the things we thought might be improved -couldn't be, by reason of expense or weight or something else. So we -decided to try to make sure our improvements would improve or could be -carried out before we spoke.” - -“Want to go into the shop?” - -“Not as a steady job. I'll never make a mechanic.” - -“Bill want to experiment in our testing department?” - -“I don't think so.” - -“Why not?” - -“He says it annoys him to have people round him when he wants to be -alone.” - -“Must be an inventor.” - -“Well,” apologized Tommy, “his father was.” Thompson laughed. “The -wisest things we say, my boy, are the things we say not knowing how -wise they are. And so La Grange and the others laughed when you casually -asked about the one thing you and Bill are so interested in?” Tommy -almost lost his grip on the wheel. He slowed down so that they barely -crawled, and asked, “Please, Mr. Thompson, did La Grange tell you?” - -“No; he's never spoken to me about you.” - -“Then how do you know?” - -Tommy looked into Mr. Thompson's face intently. Thompson answered very -quietly: “Didn't you?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“And didn't they?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Well, that's how I know.” - -Tommy could grasp only that it was obvious to Mr. Thompson. He gave up -trying to understand how such a mind worked, and began: - -“You see, Mr. Thompson, it's this way. We think--” - -“Don't tell me, Tommy,” interrupted Mr. Thompson, quickly. His face was -serious. He continued, “You and Bill work at it at home?” - -“Yes, sir. That is, he works and I look on.” - -“Quite right!” And Thompson relapsed into silence. - -Could it be that Thompson spied on them? Tommy almost blushed with -self-anger at the suspicion. This man was a wonder, that was all. He -didn't have to be a crook. If he wished to be, what defense could avail -against him? Moreover, he couldn't be a crook, that was all. - -Tommy drove him to the works. Mr. Thompson, without a word, got out. At -the door of the office he turned, faced Tommy, and said: - -“That's your car.” - -“I--I--don't understand--” - -“Your car.” - -“Oh, Mr. Thompson, I can't--” - -“Yes, you can, in my garage. Plenty of room.” - -“I didn't mean--exactly that,” floundered Tommy; but Mr. Thompson said, -thoughtfully: “You'd better stay with Mr. Grosvenor for a while. Want -your salary raised?” - -“Not yet. But, Mr. Thompson, I am--” - -“So am I!” And with that Mr. Thompson went into the office. - -Tommy, determinedly endeavoring not to consider the car his private -property, drove it to Mr. Thompson's garage and walked to the Tecumseh -Building. - -“I am to report to you again, Mr. Grosvenor,” he said to the head of the -sales department. “What for?” - -“Mr. Thompson's orders.” - -Grosvenor looked at Tommy and asked, “Anything else?” - -“All he said was that I'd better stay with you for a while.” - -“I am glad to have you, my boy. What do you want to do?” - -This question would have resembled a sentence from a fairy tale to Tommy -if he had not been accustomed to Mr. Thompson's ways. He answered: - -“Obey orders.” He meant it exactly, and he looked it. - -Grosvenor stared at him and then lost himself in thought. At length -he turned to Tommy a face utterly expressionless, but there was a -suggestion of play-acting about it that made him think of Mr. Thompson, -to whom an inscrutable face came so natural. - -Grosvenor said, “I want you to listen.” - -“Yes, sir”; and Tommy looked expectant. - -“That's all. You will sit in this office all day and listen.” - -“Very well, sir.” Tommy's eyes looked intelligently at Mr. Grosvenor, -who thereupon pointed to a desk in a corner of the room. - -Tommy sat down, looked at the empty pigeonholes, opened a drawer, saw -some scratch-pads there, took out one and laid it on the desk. Then he -looked to see if his lead-pencil was sharpened. It was. - -Mr. Grosvenor, who was watching him, smiled. - -“How do you like your new job, Tommy?” - -“Very much.” - -“What do you expect to learn?” - -“How to listen.” - -“And what will that teach you?” - -“I hope, for one thing, that it will teach me to understand Thompson.” - -“Some job, that,” said Mr. Grosvenor, seriously. Then, admiringly, -“Isn't he a wonder?” - -“He is more than that to me, Mr. Grosvenor,” said Tommy, earnestly. - -“And to me, too, my boy,” confessed Mr. Grosvenor, in a lowered voice. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -TOMMY used his ears to good advantage, and before long began to think -that he was on the verge of understanding the general policy of the -Tecumseh selling organization, and why Mr. Grosvenor did not try to sell -a Tecumseh car to every man in the United States. The only thing -that stood in the way of complete understanding was his own appalling -ignorance of the A B C of business. One morning he told Mr. Grosvenor he -thought it would be wise if he could learn step by step. For all answer -Mr. Grosvenor told him: “You are not here to learn details, but to -absorb general principles. Some day Mr. Thompson may tell you what to -specialize on. In the mean time just breathe, Tommy. Most people have a -habit of telling themselves that a certain thing is very difficult. From -that to saying it is impossible to understand is a short step, and that -keeps them from trying to understand. Details can be so complex and -intricate as to hide first principles.” - -Tommy nodded gratefully, but in his heart of hearts he yearned for -details, because he remembered that he had not seen any pleasure -in selling cars until he had begun to sell, in his mind, his own -kerosene-car. But he persevered, because he realized that the ability to -“see big” was the most valuable of all. If it could be acquired by hard -work he would get it. - -He had his more juvenile emotions pretty well under control by now, and -would have told himself so had he been introspective enough to ask the -question. And yet from time to time there came to him something like a -suspicion that he was having too easy a time, too pleasing a task. Did -anybody ever have such a job as his? The car gave him so much unearned -pleasure that he sometimes feared he was not doing his duty in full. -Whenever that thought, prompted by the lingering instinct of expiation, -came to him, Tommy took out of his weekly pay all but what was strictly -necessary to carry him over till next pay-day. And when he craved to -smoke, which was very often, and he conquered the craving, he thought of -the many blank pages on the Cr. side of the little black book at home in -New York, and he was glad that he had wished to smoke and still gladder -that he had not smoked. Prom some remote ancestor Tommy had his share, -fortunately not over-bulky, of the New England conscience. - -Bill was having all sorts of troubles, trying and untrying. At times -success seemed within reach, but an unscalable wall suddenly reared -itself before his very nose. And then Bill's anger expressed itself -both verbally and muscularly, a perfectly insane fury that made Tommy -despair, for he thought an inventor should, above all things, have -patience. But Bill's outbursts did not last over five minutes, after -which he would return to the attack smiling and so full of amiability -that it was a pleasure to watch him work and, later, to listen to him -explaining. - -To Tommy the most thrilling speeches in the world were Bill's, on the -subject of what the automobile industry would become when the Byrnes -carburetor was finished. Bill contented himself with seeing it on every -automobile in the world; but Tommy saw the seventeen thousand dollars -paid off. It would make him master of himself, czar of his destiny; so -that the remoter future ceased to be a problem worth considering. - -Tommy had so little to do with Mr. Thompson now that he did not even -wonder if Mr. Grosvenor ever spoke to the chief about him. One morning -the message came by telephone to Mr. Grosvenor's office that Mr. -Thompson wished to see Tommy at the works. Tommy instantly went. - -“Tommy,” said Mr. Thompson, abruptly, “do you now want to be a cog?” - -Tommy was not sure he understood. He realized that he was to be put to -work definitely as a small part of the Tecumseh machine, and wondered -what Mr. Thompson thought him best fitted for. He himself was not quite -sure what he'd like to be; indeed, the fear suddenly came to him that -he took an interest in too many things. But whatever Thompson said, he -would do. - -“I'm willing to be, sir.” - -“Have you picked it out yourself?” - -“You are the cog-picker, Mr. Thompson. You know more about it than I -do.” - -“I make mistakes,” said Thompson, frowning slightly. - -“If you make one in my case,” said Tommy, very seriously, “I'll tell -you--the moment I myself am absolutely sure of it.” - -“Now answer my first question,” said Thompson. - -“I am sorry to say I have not found out what cog I want to be.” It cost -Tommy a sharp pang to acknowledge his failure. That is why he looked -unflinchingly into Mr. Thompson's eyes as he spoke. - -“Is that all you can say?” Thompson's voice was so incurious that it -sounded cold. - -“Well, Mr. Thompson,” Tommy said, desperately, “the last cog always -seems to be my cog.” - -“Why didn't you say so at once?” - -“It didn't seem like an answer.” - -“It was more; it was a clue.” Mr. Thompson looked at Tommy a full minute -before he asked, “Are you still a college boy?” - -“I--I'm afraid I am, sir.” - -“Keep on being it. Listen to me. You will spend next month in the shop.” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Looking!” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“At the machinists and the engineers and the electricians and the -mechanics and the foundry-men and the laborers and the painters--at -everybody. You will look at them. But what I want you to see is men.” - -“Human beings?” - -Thompson nodded. Then he said: “Four weeks. Do you know Milton?” - -Tommy tried to recall. - -Thompson added: “John--poet.” - -“We read him--” - -“You don't know him. I have found him of great value in automobile -manufacturing.” - -Thompson said this so seriously that Tommy, instead of smiling, was -filled with admiration for Thompson, who went on, gravely: “He even had -in mind the particular job of Mr. Thomas Leigh--_Paradise Lost_, Eighth -Book. For your special benefit he wrote: - - “'To know - - That which before us lies in daily life - - Is the prime wisdom' - -“Report to me in one month.” And Mr. Thompson turned to his mail. - -Tommy left the room full of admiration for Mr. Thompson and of -misgivings about Mr. Thomas Leigh. He couldn't see very far ahead, so he -went to his old desk in the information bureau, sat down and made up his -mind to get back to first principles, as Mr. Grosvenor always preached. - -Mr. Thompson had said that Tommy must continue to be a college boy; -therefore, it was plain that for some reason, not quite so plain, Mr. -Thompson wished to get reports from a college boy. Then that he must -look at the workmen and see the human beings. By having no theories -about Thompson's motives and by not trying to make himself into any -kind of expert, he would be able to obey orders. The truth! Thompson was -paying for it; Thompson would get it from Thomas F. Leigh. - -For days Tommy wandered about from place to place, unable to speak -to most of his fellow-employees, who were too busy to indulge in -heart-to-heart talks with the official college boy who was studying -them. At lunch-time it was easier to mix with them as he wished, and he -ate out of his lunch-pail as if he were one of them. But there seemed -to be a barrier between them and himself, chiefly, he again decided, -because his job did not classify--and, therefore, they could not take -him into full membership. Moreover, his interest was in listening rather -than in talking, and that was almost fatal to perfect frankness, for -they didn't know why he was so interested in everything they did and -said. They did not quite regard him as a spy, but he was not a blood -brother. It was only when they began to tease him and to make clear his -abysmal ignorance of their business, and to poke fun at him in all sorts -of ways, that the ice was broken. He accepted it all so good-naturedly -and was so sincerely anxious to be friends that in the end they took him -in. Some of them even told him their troubles. - -Bill kept on working away at his experiments at home after shop hours, -with the usual violent changes in his moods. One evening after a -particularly explosive outburst, which ended by his shaking a clenched -fist at the carburetor, Bill shouted: - -“I'll make you do it yet, dodgast ye!” - -“Bill,” said Tommy, seriously, “tell your partner what the trouble is. -Begin at the beginning and use words of one syllable.” - -“What good will that do, you poor college dude?” - -“Well, it will enable me to give you a d--d good licking with a free -conscience,” said Tommy. “Did you never hear how often inventors' wives -have suggested the way out by means of the little door labeled Common -Sense? It is in _The Romances of Great Inventors_.” - -“Well, if you can find the way out of this you are a wonder.” - -“I am. Go on.” Bill looked at Tommy, who went on, cheerfully, “Be a -sport; loosen up.” After a moment Bill spoke calmly, “You know heat is -not enough to effect the perfect vaporization of the kerosene.” - -“What would be the effect of passing a whopper of an electric current -direct through the kerosene before you do anything else?” - -Tommy, as he said this, looked as wise as a woman does when she offers -advice because having no knowledge she can give no commands. - -“I don't know,” said Bill, indifferently. Then he repeated, “I don't -know,” less indifferently. Then he shouted: “I don't know, but, by heck, -I'm going to find out! Now get out of here!” - -“Will it explode?” asked Tommy. - -“No. But I can't work with anybody round me.” - -“Why can't you? Honestly now.” - -“Well,” said Bill, “I feel like a fool when I fail, and I have a rotten -temper, and--and--” Bill hesitated; then his face flushed. - -“Then what?” asked Tommy, curiously. “Well, I'm fond of you and I don't -want to have a fight when I'm out of my head. Now will you go or will -you stay?” - -“I'll go. If I ever landed on the point of the chin--” And shaking his -head dolefully, Tommy shook hands with Bill and left. - -There was always his automobile. He took Mrs. Clayton out for a -joy-ride. - -A few days later Bill said to Tommy at breakfast: “Your new high-tension -generator is a wonder. I can get a very high-frequency current--” - -“You can?” interrupted Tommy, with a frown. He did this merely to -encourage Bill, who thereupon explained: - -“Of course I'm using a step-up transformer with it, and something has -happened!” - -“Certainly”; and Tommy nodded wisely. He added: “I expected it to. But -you can't use that kind of generator on cars, can you?” - -“Oh, we'll have no trouble about the generator once I get what I'm -after.” - -“Sure of that?” - -“Oh yes,” said Bill, gloomily. - -“Then what's the trouble?” asked Tommy, alarmed by Bill's look. - -“I certainly do get the vaporization all right, all right.” - -“Great Scott! isn't that what you wanted?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then we've got it!” - -“Yes, but I don't know what does it,” said Bill in despair. - -“No smoke?” persisted Tommy. - -“Not a darned bit. The inside of the engine was clean as a whistle.” - Bill shook his head and frowned as at very unpleasant news. - -“Well,” observed Tommy, thoughtfully, “something has happened!” - -“Indeed?” Bill looked very polite. - -“You don't know what, and I don't, either. Therefore--” Tommy paused for -effect. - -Bill's elaborate sarcasm failed him. “Go on, you idiot!” he shouted. - -“Therefore, I will find out!” announced Tommy. - -“Ask La Grange and have him cop the whole cheese!” - -“No, William. You admit we've got to know what happens, don't you?” - -“Certainly. Otherwise, what will I get a patent on?” - -Tommy realized in a flash that Bill might have stumbled upon something -that would have far-reaching results on everybody concerned as well as -on the industry. What was now needed was plain to him. - -“William,” he said, slowly, “I will go to an altruist.” - -“A what?” - -“A college professor. We must prepare a lot of questions to ask and we -will get his answers. And then we must check up the answers by actual -experiment. See?” - -“No, I don't. But I see very clearly that if you give away--” - -“You make me tired,” said Tommy, pleasantly. “It's the suspicious farmer -who always buys the gold brick. What we need now is knowledge. We'll -go to one of those despised beings who have nothing to live for but to -know.” - -“But I tell you that if you go blabbing--” - -“We won't blab; he will. He loves to. He will make us rich by his speech, -and then he will thank us for having so patiently listened to his -lecture, and for doing him the honor of transmitting his thousands of -hours of study into thousands of dollars of cash for ourselves. That -is his reward, and we shall grant it to him unhesitatingly as befits -captains of industry. Bill, about all I got out of college was to know -where to go for information. Now don't talk. Look at the clock. Eat!” - -At dinner-time they again talked about it. That night Bill ran his -engine for Tommy's benefit. He took a power test and showed Tommy a -number of pieces of paper which Bill said were “cards.” They meant -nothing to Tommy, but Bill asserted they were great; and this confirmed -Tommy's judgment that the wise thing to do was to consult one of those -experts whose delight it is to clear those mysteries that have nothing -to do with the greatest mystery of all--moneymaking. On the next day he -asked guarded questions of La Grange and others, and gathered from their -answers that W. D. Jenkins, of the Case School at Cleveland, was the -great authority on the subject. So Tommy wrote to Professor Jenkins -asking for an interview, and while he waited for the answer asked -Williams, one of the Tecumseh lawyers, all about patents and patent -lawyers and the troubles of inventors, and, above all, the mistakes -of inventors. From him he learned about the vast amount of patent -litigation that might have been averted if the inventors and their -lawyers had only gone about their business intelligently. Tommy realized -that he must get the best lawyer available. Williams spoke very highly -of exactly three of his patent colleagues in the United States. The -nearest was Mr. Hudson Greene Kemble, at Cleveland, where Professor -Jenkins lived. - -When he spoke to Bill about it Bill asked: “How do you know he is -straight? If he is so smart, won't he see what a big thing--” - -“You still talk like the wise rube before he acquires three and a -half pounds of brass for two hundred and eighty dollars. A first-class -professional man doesn't have to be a crook to make money. Suppose -we've got to get what they call a basic patent? Don't you see it takes a -first-class man to fence it in so that we can keep all that is coming to -us, not only to-day but years from now when it comes to be used in ways -and places we don't even suspect at this moment? And inventors don't -always know the real reason why their invention works.” - -Tommy was really quoting from Williams, the company's lawyer, but he -looked so wisely business-like that Bill grudgingly admitted: - -“I guess you're right. But where is the money coming from? That's where -most inventors give up the lion's share--at the beginning.” - -“I don't know,” said Tommy, thoughtfully; “but I do know I'm going to -get it without money.” - -“If you can do that--” - -“What else can we do, you bonehead? We have no money and we must have -some light.” When Professor Jenkins's answer came Tommy and Bill, with -their list of questions all ready and the carburetor carefully packed, -asked for a day off and traveled by night to Cleveland. In Professor -Jenkins's office Tommy introduced himself and Bill with an ease and -fluency that Bill envied. Professor Jenkins appeared intelligently -interested. It was to Bill that he turned and asked: “What is it you -have, young man?” - -“I--we have a kerosene-carburetor that works like a charm,” answered -Bill. - -“Is that so?” - -The professor did not speak skeptically, but Bill said, defiantly: “It -gives perfect combustion, and we can start the engine cold even better -than with gasoline. Peach!” - -“Lots of people are working on that.” - -“Yes, sir; but you never saw one that did what ours does.” - -“What's the difference between yours and the others?” - -Bill hesitated. - -“Tell him,” said Tommy, frowning. - -“I don't know anything about the others except that they don't work.” - -“Show it to him,” commanded Tommy. - -Bill aimed a look at his partner, making clear who would be to blame if -somebody else got a patent on the selfsame carburetor, and then slowly -unwrapped the package. With his child before him Bill became loquacious, -and he began to explain it to the professor, who listened and asked -question, most of which Bill answered. Occasionally he said, “I -don't know,” and then Tommy would interject, “But it works, Professor -Jenkins.” - -Bill could not tell how high a voltage he was using nor the kind of -transformer. - -“The man I bought it from said it was a six-to-one transformer. There is -no marking on it.” - -The professor smiled, asked more questions, and finally Bill confessed -that it didn't work above nine hundred revolutions. - -“When we speed her up she begins to smoke like--” - -“She does smoke pretty badly,” interjected Tommy. - -“Why?” asked Jenkins. - -“Damfino!” said Bill, crossly. It had been a source of exasperation to -him. - -“That is what we are here to find out, sir,” put in Tommy, -deferentially. - -“I've tried every blamed thing I could think of,” said Bill. “If I only -knew why she works below nine hundred I might make it work when I speed -her up.” - -“H'm!” The professor was thinking over what Bill had told him. Then -he said: “Well, you evidently are using a very high current. I suspect -there must be some ionization there.” He paused. Then, more positively: -“I think you undoubtedly are ionizing the vapor. That would account for -what results you say you are getting.” - -“What is it that happens?” asked Bill, eagerly. - -Professor Jenkins delivered a short lecture on the ionization of gases, -a subject so dear to his heart that when he saw how absorbingly they -listened he took quite a personal liking to them. He suggested a long -series of tests and experiments, which Tommy jotted down in his own -private system of Freshman shorthand. At one of them Bill shook his head -so despairingly that Professor Jenkins told him, kindly: - -“If you care to have us make any of the tests for which you may lack the -proper appliances, we shall be glad to undertake them for you here.” - -“We can't tell you how grateful we are,” said Tommy, perceiving that the -end of the talk had come. “And please believe me when I tell you that -although we are not millionaires now, we hope you will let us consult -you professionally from time to time, and I promise you, sir, that -I--we--I--'' - -“Mr. Leigh, I shall be glad to help you. And”--Jenkins paused and -laughed--“my fee can wait. Let me hear from you how you make out with -the heavier oils. Mr. Byrnes's device is very ingenious. I think you are -in a very interesting field.” - -“Do you happen to know Mr. Hudson G. Kemble, the patent lawyer?” - -“Very well. Is he interested in your work?” - -“Not yet,” said Tommy; “but we expect him to be our legal adviser.” - -“Couldn't go to a better man. By the way, he is an alumnus of your -college, class of '91, I think.” - -“Then he must be what you say he is,” smiled Tommy, happily, while -Bill looked on more amazed than suspicious at the friendliness of the -conversation. - -Outside Bill and Tommy talked about it, until - -Bill said, “That's what happens, all right, all right--ionization!” - -“Sure thing!” agreed Tommy. “But we must make some more tests--” - -“Naw! I want to cinch this thing. Let's hike to the lawyer. Come on; we -haven't got time to waste.” - -They looked up Mr. Kemble's address in the telephone-book. Luck was with -them. Mr. Kemble was not very busy and could see them at once. They were -ushered into his private office. - -“Mr. Kemble,” said Tommy, so pleasantly that for a moment Bill thought -they were old friends, “your name was suggested to us by Mr. Homer -Williams, of Dayton. Professor Jenkins, of the Case School, also told us -we could not go to a better man. I have no letters of introduction, but -can you listen to us two minutes?” - -Kemble looked into Tommy's eyes steadily, appraisingly. Then he looked -at Bill, his glance resting on the package Bill carried under his -arm--the precious carburetor. - -“I'll listen,” said Kemble, not over-encouragingly. - -Tommy looked at him full in the face--and liked it. Kemble reminded him -of Thompson. The lawyer also was plump and round-faced and steady-eyed. -He impressed Tommy as being less interested in all phases of -human nature than Thompson, slightly colder, more methodical, less -imaginative, more concerned with exact figures. The mental machinery was -undoubtedly efficient, but worked at a leisurely rate and very safely--a -well-lubricated engine. - -“First, we have no money--now.” - -Tommy looked at Mr. Kemble. Mr. Kemble nodded. - -“Second, we think we have a big thing.” - -Tommy again looked at Mr. Kemble. This time Mr. Kemble looked at Tommy -and did not nod. Bill frowned, but Tommy went on, pleasantly: - -“Everybody that comes here doubtless thinks the same thing.” - -“Every inventor,” corrected Mr. Kemble. - -“But we have just left Professor Jenkins, of the Case School of Applied -Science.” - -“What did he say?” asked Mr. Kemble. - -“He was very much interested. He has a theory, which we must prove by a -long series of experiments he wants us to make.” Tommy paused. - -“Go on!” said Kemble, frowning slightly, as if he did not relish a story -in instalments. Bill bit his lip, but Tommy smiled pleasantly and went -on: - -“Mr. Kemble, we have no money, but kindly consider this: We went to -Professor Jenkins for science. We have come to you for legal advice. -Therefore, we have not done what ordinary fool inventors would do. -Whatever your fee may be we'll pay--in time. You will have to risk it. -But now is the time for you to say whether you want to hear any more or -not.” - -“And if I don't?” - -“Then we'll go back and save up money until we can return to this same -office with the cash. That means that some one else may beat us to the -Patent Office. We think we have a big thing--so big that it needs the -best patent lawyer we can get. Do you still want to take our case?” - -Kemble looked at Tommy's eager face a moment. Then he smiled and said: -“I'll listen, and then I'll tell you what I'll do. I may or I may not -take your case, for you may or you may not have a patent.” - -“This”--and Tommy pointed to Bill--“is the inventor, William S. Byrnes. -I am merely a friend--” - -“And partner!” interjected Bill. “Share and share alike!” - -“That's for later consideration,” said Tommy. - -“No, it's for now--fifty-fifty,” said Bill, pugnaciously. - -“I shouldn't quarrel about the division of the spoils if I were you,” - suggested Mr. Kemble. “Fool inventors always do. Suppose we first find -out whether it's worth quarreling about?” - -“Go on, Bill; you tell him,” said Tommy, and he began to study the notes -he had taken about the points Professor Jenkins had emphasized. - -“Well,” said Bill, confidently, “we've got a kerosene-carburetor that -works all right.” - -“All the time? Under all conditions?” asked Kemble, leaning back in his -chair with a suggestion of resignation. - -Bill did not like to admit at the very outset that his own child -misbehaved above nine hundred revolutions. - -“Well, you see, I'll tell you what we've got.” And Bill proceeded to do -so. From time to time Tommy interrupted to read aloud from his notes. -Then Mr. Kemble began, and Bill was more impressed by the lawyer's -questions than he had been by the scientist's, for they were the -questions Bill felt he himself would have asked a brother inventor. In -the end he admitted almost cheerfully that it didn't do so well when the -engine ran above nine hundred revolutions. He was sure the high currency -ionized the gas, but he somehow had not got it to ionizing fast enough. - -“Lots of engines,” he finished, defensively, “don't run any faster than -that.” - -“How much have you actually used this thing?” asked Kemble, coming back -to Bill's own. - -“On the bench. But we've tried it out pretty well,” answered Bill. He -produced his cards. - -Kemble studied them. - -“And it starts cold!” said Bill. - -“Is that so?” Kemble looked up quickly at Bill, for the first time -appearing to be really interested. - -“Yep!” he said, triumphantly. - -Since they thought this a very important point, Tommy asked the lawyer, -“Could we get a patent on that?” - -“Yes, if it's new,” answered Kemble. - -“Sure it's new. There isn't any other in the market,” said Bill. - -“That's a fact,” chimed in Tommy. - -“I'll have to look into that,” said the patent lawyer, calmly. - -“If there was any patent, people would be using it, wouldn't they?” - challenged Bill, unaware that all inventors make the same point at their -first interview with their patent lawyers. - -“That may be true,” was all that Kemble would admit. - -“What do you need besides this,” asked Bill, pointing to his carburetor, -“to file an application for a patent?” - -“Well, you'd better leave that here and find out what your dynamo and -transformer are. In fact, I think you'd better send them on to me. That -would be the easiest way. When did you first run this?” - -After some guessing, Bill told him. - -“You ought to keep a careful date record.” - -“What's that for?” - -“As a record of your priority in case somebody else has the same thing.” - -“We've got the priority all right,” Bill assured him. All inventors -always are sure of it. - -Tommy, who had begun to fidget uneasily, now asked Kemble, “About how -much is this going to cost us?” - -Kemble shook his head and smiled. “I can't tell you now. It depends upon -the experiments you make and the results you get.” - -“Can't we file an application now to protect ourselves?” persisted -Tommy, who knew how uneasy Bill felt about it. - -“Yes, I could do that. But I'd like to see Jenkins first. You'd better -plan to spend about two hundred and fifty dollars--” Kemble stopped -talking when he saw the consternation on both boys' faces. He had been -rather favorably impressed with them. He added, “Well, you send me the -generator and the transformer, and when I know more about it I'll let -you know more definitely.” - -“If I am going to make the experiments, how can I send them to you?” - -“I'll return them to you, and you can make your experiments after that.” - -“Mr. Kemble,” asked Tommy, “when shall we be safe in talking to an -outsider about this?” - -“You'd better wait until the application is filed,” answered the lawyer. - -“Thank Heaven we came to you,” said Tommy, fervently. “We are -fellow-alumni. Professor Jenkins told me you were '91. I am '14. I've -met Mr. Stuyvesant Willetts. He was '91, I think?” - -“Yes, I remember him,” said Mr. Kemble, with a new interest. - -Tommy was on the verge of saying that Stuyvesant Willetts's nephew -Rivington was his chum; but all he said was: - -“His nephew was in my class. I am with the Tecumseh Motor Company in -Dayton. And so is Byrnes here. Do you know Mr. Thompson?” asked Tommy. - -“Yes,” said Mr. Kemble. - -“Then,” said Tommy, determinedly, “I am about to pay you the biggest -compliment you'll ever get from a human being. Mr. Kemble, you remind me -of Mr. Thompson!” - -“Yes,” said Kemble, “we are so different.” - -“Not so different as you think,” contradicted Tommy. “Do you take our -case?” - -“Yes.” - -“You see, I was right,” laughed Tommy, and held out his hand. After a -barely perceptible hesitation Mr. Kemble took it. “Thank you, sir. Come -on, Bill, Mr. Kemble has all we've got.” They returned to Dayton excited -rather than elated. Bill contended there was no need of additional -proof, and that there was no sense in making the experiments that -Professor Jenkins had suggested. Six months with an equipment they did -not have put it out of the question. Tommy, not knowing exactly what to -say, told Bill that the experiments would fix exactly what happened -and how and why, and that they must be made. But Bill in his mind -was equipping a car with his kerosene-carburetor, planning certain -modifications in the position of the tank, and trying to install -a generator that would do for the self-starter as well as for the -ionization of the kerosene. He thought he saw how he could do all these -things; therefore his amiability returned. - -And Tommy began to think that the seventeen thousand dollars might be -paid off much sooner than he had expected. But in the next breath he -decided that a wise man has no right to look for miracles. Therefore, he -would not build castles in the air. Certainly not! But he couldn't help -thinking of his father's joy--not his own, but his father's--when the -seventeen thousand dollars should be paid back. - -No wisdom in counting your chickens prematurely. Certainly not! But what -a day of days that would be! In the mean time he must not allow himself -to feel too sure. Poor old dad! - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -ON the day his month was up Tommy reported to Mr. Thompson. The -president of the Tecumseh Motor Company was reading a legal document. He -put it down on the desk and looked at Tommy. - -“The month is up to-day, Mr. Thompson,” said Tommy. - -Mr. Thompson nodded. Then he asked, neither quizzically nor -over-seriously, “Do the men in the shop like you?” - -Tommy decided to tell the truth, unexplained and unexcused. “Yes, sir.” - -Thompson said, slowly: “The reason I wanted such a man as I advertised -for in the New York Herald was so that I might ask him the question I am -now going to ask you.” - -“Yes, sir,” said Tommy, and concentrated on listening. - -“What difference do you find between my Tecumseh works and your -college?” - -Tommy heard the question very plainly; he even saw it in large print -before his eyes. He repeated it to himself twice. This was not what he -had expected to report upon. He needed to do some new thinking before he -could answer. - -This delayed the words of the answer so that Tommy presently began to -worry. He knew that Mr. Thompson's mind worked with marvelous quickness. -He looked at the owner of that mind. It gave him courage. He said, -honestly: - -“Mr. Thompson, I wasn't expecting that question, and I have to think.” - -“Think away,” said Thompson, so cheerfully that Tommy blurted out: - -“May I do my thinking aloud?” - -“Do, Tommy. And don't be afraid to repeat or to walk back. I'll follow -you, and the crystallization also. Think about the differences.” Tommy -felt completely at his ease. “Well,” he began, and paused in order to -visualize the shop and the men and their daily duties, “you tell your -men what they must do to keep their jobs. Their product must always be -the same, day after day. At college they tell a man what he must do in -order that he himself may become the product of his own work. A man -here is a cog in a machine. At college he is both a cog and a complete -machine.” Tommy looked doubtfully at Mr. Thompson, who said: - -“You are right--and very wrong. In the men themselves, Tommy, what is -the difference?” - -“I should say,” Tommy spoke cautiously, as if he were feeling his way, -“that it was principally one of motives and, therefore, of--of rewards!” - -“Yes, yes, so you implied. Don't bother to write a thesis. Give me -your impressions both of the human units and of the aggregation.” Tommy -remembered the impressions of his first day at the plant. The -feeling had grown fainter as he had become better acquainted with his -fellow-workmen and they with him. - -“It's in the way the men feel. Of course,” he hastily explained, “that's -a childish way to put it. At college a man belongs to the college -twenty-four hours a day. If he makes one of the teams or the crew, it's -fine. But if he doesn't, so long as the college wins he is tickled to -death. I suppose at college a fellow has no family cares and--well, it -is complicated, isn't it?” And Tommy smiled helplessly at Mr. Thompson. - -“Tell me some more, Tommy,” said Mr. Thompson. - -Tommy, still thinking of differences, went on, bravely indifferent to -whether or not he was talking wisely. - -“I rather think here a man's duty is fixed too--too--well, too -mathematically. The exact reward of efficiency is fixed for him in -advance. It keeps the company and the men apart. The college is equally -the undergraduates and the faculty and the alumni and--It's hard to make -myself understood. I hadn't thought about this particular--” - -“Never mind all that, Tommy. What else can you think of now?” - -“I think the men don't belong entirely to the shop because the shop -doesn't belong entirely to them.” - -“Do you want them to be the owners?” - -“No, not the owners of the property, but to feel--” - -“Hold on. How can they be owners and not owners?” - -“Well, if you could find some way by which the owner also could be -a laborer and the laborer also an owner, I think you'd come close to -solving the problem.” - -“Yes, I would. But how?” Mr. Thompson smiled. - -“I don't know. I haven't the brains. But if I were boss I'd study it -out. It is pretty hard where so many men are employed. All I know now is -that the men, notwithstanding all the schemes to make them anxious to be -first-class workmen, are working for money.” - -“They can't all be artists or creative geniuses, with their double -rewards,” interrupted Thompson. - -“No; but here you pay them for the fixed thing. You don't pay them for -the unfixed thing, as the college does. That's why we love it.” - -“What is this unfixed thing and how can we pay for it?” - -“Well, a man gives labor for money; he doesn't give service for anything -but love.” - -“Don't any of our men love their work?” - -“Yes, lots of them. But they don't love the shop as we love the -college.” - -Thompson nodded thoughtfully. Then he asked, abruptly, “If you owned -this plant and were successful financially, what would you do?” Tommy -looked straight into his chief's eyes and answered, decisively, “I'd -hire Thompson to run it for me, and I'd never interfere with him.” - Thompson's face did not change. “What,” he asked, “would you expect -Thompson to do?” - -“To find out some way by which each man would do as much as he could -without thinking of exactly how much he must do to earn so many -dollars.” - -Thompson laughed. “Some job that, Tommy!” - -“That's why I'd hire you.” - -“And the dividends for the stockholders?” - -“They'd increase.” - -“Are you sure of that?” - -Tommy stiffened. “I know I've talked like a silly ass, Mr. Thompson. -But--” - -“That's why I hired you. From to-day on your salary will be thirty -dollars a week.” Tommy felt the blood rush to his cheeks. Also he then -and there composed a telegram to send to his father. Then it seemed to -him it couldn't be true. Then that though it was true, it couldn't last. - -“Mr. Thompson, I--I don't know how to thank you,” he stammered. - -“Then don't try. And although you are not entitled to it by our rules -and regulations, you will get two weeks' vacation, beginning Saturday, -on full pay at the new rate. I'm going away today myself. As for your -future--” He paused and frowned slightly. - -Tommy knew it! It couldn't last! - -“Yes, sir?” - -“I'm afraid I'm going to keep you.” And Mr. Thompson turned his back on -Tommy. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -TOMMY'S first thought after leaving Mr. Thompson's office was that -he ought to go to New York and see his father. But almost instantly he -dismissed it. The two weeks on full pay at the new salary were not given -to him as a vacation to be idle in, but as a heaven-sent opportunity to -help Bill ten hours a day. It was only later that he thought he would -also be helping himself in so doing. - -He told Bill the news, and before Bill's congratulations had more than -begun he suggested that Bill try to get two weeks off, so that they -could work together. - -“Nothing doing.” - -“How do you know?” - -“I've tried,” said Bill. - -Bill then told Tommy that he had made some changes in the apparatus, but -they had not helped a bit. - -“Are you thinking of a trip round the world just because you thought you -had a patent?” asked Tommy. - -“I was only thinking of you,” said Bill, quietly. He did not wish to -fight. He was not discouraged. In fact, the problem was so much bigger -than his original carburetor notion that he was quite reconciled to -working on it a thousand years if necessary. He knew he would solve it. -The tough part, of course, was that somebody else might reach the Patent -Office ahead of him. - -“You needn't think of me. Think of the work, old top,” said Tommy, -amiably. “If instead of being an Irish terrier you were an English -bulldog, you'd never let go your grip.” - -“I haven't,” said Bill; “but I'm going to bed.” - -“Thank Heaven to-morrow is Saturday,” said Tommy. “We'll have the whole -afternoon. We'll try--” - -“Don't talk about it or I won't sleep,” said Bill, so unpugnadously that -Tommy felt as if Bill were in a hospital. - -“Everything is all right, Bill,” he said, and shook hands with his -partner. Bill brightened up a bit. But it was Tommy who found it -impossible to sleep. Valuable patents evidently were like good -gold-mines--few and far between. He clearly saw the folly of his hopes; -and then he convinced himself that wisdom lay not in hopelessness, but -in patience. - -After all, he was now getting thirty dollars a week. He could send fifty -dollars a month to his father and still be much better off than he was -at the beginning. But seventeen thousand dollars was an appalling sum! - -And yet as he thought with his head and hoped with his heart, he -felt that he was on the point of becoming valuable to the Tecumseh -organization. He knew--how, he did not stop to demonstrate--that he had -left the “prep” school and was about to enter college, the wonderful -step by which a boy becomes a man in one day. There was nothing that -Tommy could not become--under Thompson! He was free under a very -wise chief. Upon the heels of this thought came contentment, and with -contentment came sleep. - -The experiments in the little shop in Mrs. Clayton's woodshed were more -encouraging for the next few days. Bill had not sent the generator and -the transformer to Mr. Kemble. He wished to make the kerosene ionize as -rapidly at high as at low speed. The mechanical means at their command, -however, seemed more than ever inadequate for the work. - -On Saturday morning, the last day of Tommy's vacation, Bill received a -letter from Mr. Kemble, the patent lawyer. He read it very carefully. -Then he folded it and put it back in the envelope. He looked at Tommy -and said, very quietly: - -“I knew it!” - -Tommy looked at the envelope, saw Kemble's name on the upper left-hand -corner, and felt himself grow pale. - -“No patent?” he asked. His dream, notwithstanding all his -self-admonitions against exaggerated hopes, crashed about his head and -left him stunned. - -“Read it!” said Bill, and turned away. - -Tommy drew in a deep breath, reached for the death-warrant, and said: -“Cheer up, Bill! We are not dead and buried by a long shot.” - -“I was thinking of you,” said Bill. - -“So was I,” laughed Tommy. Bill's eyes gleamed with admiration. - -Tommy read the letter without a tremor. - -Dear Mr. Byrnes,--Referring to the carburetor you submitted to me last -week, I am inclosing with this letter copy of a patent issued last -December to B. France, which is the only prior patent I have been able -to find at all pertinent to your subject. I am not prepared at the -present moment to say whether you infringe upon it or not, but there is -a serious doubt. I think I should consult with Professor Jenkins -again, as soon as you have been able to make some of the tests and -investigations he suggested. It will be necessary for you to ascertain -as definitely as possible exactly what are the effects and limitations -of your alternating-current apparatus. It would be well to build and try -out France's device, in an experimental way, of course, for the purpose -of analyzing it and the differences that exist. With the results of -this work before me, I could probably reach a definite conclusion on the -question of infringement. I have not failed to note that whereas your -resulting gas is of such a character as to permit your engine to be -started cold, France has not mentioned this very important subject, -and by his omission I conclude that he has not obtained that important -result. This suggests a substantial and possibly fundamental difference -between your invention and his; but I must confess his patent appears -to have been drawn to cover a device such as yours using the alternating -current. Consequently you will see the advisability of pursuing your -investigations along the lines mentioned, to the end of ascertaining -whether yours is an independent invention or merely another form of -France's. It will not be necessary, in view of your successful reduction -of your invention to actual practice, to file an application until the -subject has been further illumined. Your dates are protected, but you -should proceed with your experiments without delay, and I shall be -interested in hearing the results or to talk with you further in -connection with the inclosed patent. - -Very truly yours, - -Hudson G. Kemble. - -“What did you want to scare me for, you murderer?” reproached Tommy. - -“Well, doesn't that mean--” - -“It means that we've got to consider what we must do,” interrupted -Tommy. - -“I'll do nothing,” said Bill, doggedly. - -“Oh yes, you will,” contradicted Tommy, pleasantly. - -“You fool!” shouted Bill, furiously, “what can I do? How can I do it, -with only an hour or two after dinner? Do you think I can do anything -here when the cold weather comes?” - -“Talk to Thompson. He'll find a way. Oh, you needn't think he'll cheat -you. I'll vouch for him”--Tommy spoke savagely--“a blamed sight quicker -than I would for a suspicious lunkhead of an inventor.” - -“Yes, he's got you hypnotized,” said Bill, with grim decision. Then, -because he saw in Tommy's face the loyalty that he himself felt toward -Tommy, he went on: “Well, Tommy, I give up. It's all yours. You can talk -to Thompson and get what you can out of him.” - -“No, you will talk to him, and then you can come back and tell me I -don't know Thompson. And, anyhow, the time of our discovery is now a -matter of record. Nobody can get back of the priority of claim. I tell -you, Bill, if you must do business, you'd better pick out a man who is -as much of a gentleman in his office as he is in his own home.” - -“I'm not afraid,” said Bill, boldly. “But you arrange for the meeting.” - -Afraid to talk to Thompson? Tommy almost laughed. Then he remembered -that he himself was afraid to talk to Thompson about one thing! - -But perhaps if he did talk to Thompson about it Thompson might help. - -Perhaps! - -And Tommy, after half a month of peace, once more thought of the secret. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - - -TOMMY was at his old desk in the outer office when Thompson arrived on -Monday morning. - -“How do you do, Mr. Thompson?” said Tommy, boyishly trying not to look -as grateful as he felt. - -Thompson stopped and shook hands. “I want to get off some letters. Tell -Miss Hollins I need her, won't you? When she comes out you come in”; and -Thompson passed on. - -Tommy waited for the stenographer to come out of Mr. Thompson's office. -Then he walked in. - -“Who talks first?” asked Thompson. - -Tommy, thinking of Bill's needs, said, “I think I'd better.” - -“Go ahead!” smiled Thompson. - -Then Tommy told him about Bill's experiments and what he and Bill had -done and what Professor Jenkins said, and then showed him Mr. Kemble's -letter, which Thompson read carefully. Tommy waited. Thompson folded the -letter, returned it to Tommy, and said: - -“Tommy, you knew what you didn't have, so you went to the right place to -get it.” - -“Yes, sir. Bill wants to see you.” - -Thompson laughed, somewhat to Tommy's surprise, and said, “Go and bring -him in now.” Presently Tommy appeared with Bill. - -“Good morning, Mr. Thompson,” said Bill. Thompson nodded. Then he asked -Bill, quietly, “Well?” - -“Tommy told you, I believe.” - -“He didn't tell me what sort of man you are nor what sort of man you -think I am. So all I can ask you is: What do you really want me to do?” - -“I don't want you to do anything,” answered Bill, uncomfortably. - -“I understand you have been experimenting with a kerosene-carburetor. A -carburetor is one of a thousand problems to us. To you it is your only -problem. Please bear that in mind. You may develop something of great -value to all users of explosive engines. But I cannot tell you the exact -number of dollars I'll pay for the improvements and patents you -haven't got yet. I propose, instead, this: Give us the refusal of your -inventions and improvements. Let your own lawyer draw up the papers that -you and he think necessary to prevent us from buying your brains too -cheaply. I believe you are honest, and I always bet on my judgment. -That's my business.” - -“But suppose you thought my price was too high?” asked Bill, defiantly. - -“You are free to sell to the highest bidder. I think we can afford to -pay as much as the next man. To make it fair for us to have the first -call on your inventions, we will give you the use of the shop and -laboratories, machinery, materials, and such help as you need. Then -we'll lend you money for your living expenses, on your unsecured notes, -without interest, for as long a time as you need--say, five or ten -years. You will take out the patents in your own name at your own -expense. You don't have to assign them to us. If we pay you on a royalty -basis we pledge ourselves not to keep others from using your inventions -if we ourselves don't. You come and see me when you've settled the -conditions and terms to your satisfaction. Bring as many lawyers with -you as you wish. Now, Bill,” finished Mr. Thompson, “go ahead and ask -your two questions.” - -“What two questions?” asked Bill, who had followed Mr. Thompson's -speech with some difficulty by reason of a surprise not far removed from -incredulity. - -“First, why I offer to do so much for you without binding you to sell -to us at our own price; and, second, where the joker is in my offer, -anyhow.” - -“I wasn't going to ask anything of the kind.” Bill spoke with much -dignity. - -“They are perfectly natural questions to ask, unless you had made up -your mind to accept any offer blindly. I'd like to answer them, anyhow.” - -“Then I guess you'd better,” said Bill, a trifle defiantly. - -“I made that proposition to you because I've made it to others. I want -you to realize as quickly as you can that in working for the company you -are working for yourself. When a man is neither a hog nor an ass, I am -perfectly willing to do business with him on his own terms. Just take -it for granted that I know you as well as you know yourself. Am I taking -such an awful risk, Bill?” - -“But you don't know me,” said Bill, in duty bound. - -Thompson smiled. “Well, your first question is answered. Now for the -second.” - -“There is no need of it, Mr. Thompson,” said Bill, with decision. - -“Give me the pleasure of letting me tell you that there is no joker.” - -Bill looked steadily at Mr. Thompson and said, “I didn't think there was -any.” - -“But now you know it,” said Thompson. - -“And I want to say that Tommy here is my partner--” began Bill. - -“That's all nonsense,” interjected Tommy, quickly. - -“Yes,” agreed Mr. Thompson, very seriously, “that's all nonsense. But -both of you had better look a long time before you swap that kind of -nonsense for wisdom. Don't be brothers in business if you want to be -rich and lonely. Bill, Tommy is buncoing us out of thirty dollars a -week. Is that enough for you?” - -“It's more than enough,” said Bill, eagerly. - -“Then it is just enough to be contented with. Get to work as soon as you -can. You have no time to waste, because from now on Byrnes is working -for Byrnes. It will suit me down to the ground. Draw up your own -contract and bring it here.” - -Bill looked at Thompson. Then he said, resolutely, “I will!” - -“Both of you go somewhere now and talk it over. Tommy, I'll see you -to-morrow about your own work. I've got a man-sized job for you. Good -morning.” Thompson nodded and, turning to his desk, pushed one of the -row of call-buttons. His attitude showed he expected no further speech, -so they left the room without another word. - -Outside Tommy turned to Bill. “What did I tell you--hey?” - -“You poor pill, do you think I've worked here two years for nothing? You -bet I'll get a hustle on. Do you think we ought to get a lawyer?” - -“Yes; he meant what he said. You needn't worry about the price he'll pay -for your invention. Just get to work.” - -“What is your job going to be?” asked Bill, curiously. - -“I don't know. But I hope--” Tommy caught himself on the verge of -expressing the hope that it would be something which might enable him to -bury the secret once for all. - -“What do you hope, Tommy?” - -“That you will land with both feet, now that you have a decent place to -experiment in,” said Tommy. He couldn't say anything else to poor Bill, -could he? It wasn't his secret to share with anybody, and, anyhow, he -meant what he said. - -Mr. Thompson did not make his appearance at the works until late in the -afternoon. He told Tommy: - -“You'll have to dine with me to-night, Tommy, Will you?” - -“Yes, sir.” Then realizing that he merely had obeyed a superior, he -added, in his personal capacity, “Delighted!” - -“Has Bill done anything?” - -“He consulted Mr. Williams.” - -Thompson shook his head. “He is our lawyer.” - -“That's why Bill picked him out,” said Tommy. He felt like adding that -he thought Bill considered that the Thompsonian thing to do. Thompson -looked at him meditatively. - -“What a wonderful thing youth is,” he mused, “and how very wise in its -unwisdom.” He nodded to himself. Then: “You let Bill alone. He's saved. -To-night at six-thirty. Mrs. Thompson has not yet returned, but you are -going to meet her as soon as she does. You might take Bill to La Grange -and say I said Bill was to have everything he asks for. Don't bother -to dress, Tommy.” Mr. Thompson nodded, a trifle absently it seemed to -Tommy, and went into his office. And Tommy wasn't aware that the mixing -of his personal affairs with the shop's business made him belong to the -company utterly. - -After dinner, as they drank their coffee in the library, Thompson asked -him: - -“Don't you smoke?” - -“Not any more.” - -“Why not?” - -“I gave up smoking when I felt I couldn't afford it. I smoked rather -expensive cigarettes.” - -“You can afford them now.” - -“Well, I don't quite feel that I can; and, anyhow, the craving isn't -very strong.” - -“Tommy, my idea of happiness would be the conviction that the more I -smoked the better I'd feel. Do you mind talking shop here, Tommy?” - -“Not a bit; in fact, I--” He caught himself on the verge of saying that -Mr. Thompson could not pick out a more pleasing topic. Thompson smiled -slightly. Then he leaned back in his chair and relaxed physically. - -“Tommy”--he spoke very quietly--“I think I know you now so that I don't -have to ask you to tell me anything more about yourself. In fact, I know -you so well that I am going to talk to you about myself.” - -Tommy's expectancy was aroused to such a high pitch so suddenly that -he was distinctly conscious of a thrill. Mr. Thompson went on: “Can you -guess what made me go into automobile manufacturing?” - -“I suppose you saw very clearly the possibilities of the business,” - ventured Tommy, not over-confidently. - -It seemed too commonplace a reason, and yet it was common sense. - -“I won't be modest with you, Tommy. I'll say right out that few men who -develop a big business successfully are primarily concerned with the -cash profits. The work itself must grip them. Of course when the reward -is money, if they make a great deal this merely proves how efficient -their work is. As a matter of fact, I went into this business twelve -years ago because--” Thompson paused. His eyes were half closed and his -lips half smiling, as if he were looking at young Thompson and rather -enjoying the sight; the paternal mood that comes over a man of forty -when he gets a glimpse of the boy he used to be. He went on, “Because I -had a dream about a pair of roller-skates.” - -“Roller-skates? Were you in that business?” - -“I wasn't in any business. I had tried half a dozen things, only to give -them up. And each time people told me I was a fool not to stick to what -I was in, especially as I was making good. But I couldn't see myself -devoting my whole life to such work. I was on my way to talk to a man -who had lost all his teeth. He had a proposition that looked good to -me.” - -He glanced at Tommy, but Tommy shook his head and paid Thompson the -stupendous compliment of not smiling. - -“Don't you see, my boy, he had no teeth, but he had brains. Therefore -he capitalized his misfortune. He'd got dyspepsia because he could not -masticate and hated soup. So he invented a machine for chewing food not -only for the toothless, but for the thoughtless who bolt their food. -Not a food-chopper, but a food-grinder. No more dyspepsia; no need of -Fletcherizing; the machine did it for you. He had evolved a series of -easy maxillary motions to stimulate the salivary glands, and he had -gathered together hundreds of quotations from the poets and from -scientists and wise men of all time. I tell you it promised. - -“Well, as I was going along, cheered by the vision of an undyspeptic -country as well as of our selling campaign, a little boy bumped -into me--hard! But I didn't get angry with him, because he was on -roller-skates, and I then and there had one of my dreams. I saw a day -when all sidewalks would consist of two parallel tracks or roadways, -very smooth, of some vitrified material. And I saw every human being -with a pair of rubber-tired auto-skates run by radium batteries. And, of -course, that made me decide not to see the toothless man but to go into -automobiles.” - -Tommy was listening with his very soul. The more we know of our heroes -the less apt we are to worship them. But this hero's autobiography, -instead of destroying illusions, really intensified the sense of -difference on which most hero-worship is founded. - -“My mind,” observed Tommy, ruefully, “wouldn't work that way.” - -“Oh yes, it would if you'd let it, instead of thinking that dreaming is -folly. A man who keeps his eyes open can get valuable suggestions from -even his most futile wishes. Autos were considered luxuries then, but -I saw the second phase, even to the greater health of the community and -the increase in suburban land values. Better artificial lighting has -lengthened man's working-day, but the stupendous world-revolution of -the nineteenth century was effected by the locomotive and the steamship. -When man ceased to depend upon wind and oats for moving from place to -place, he changed politics, science, commerce--everything. Indeed, -all the that now afflict us have arisen from the changes which make it -impossible for the old-time famines to follow crop failures in certain -localities. They have raised the standard of living and should have put -an end to poverty as they have to political inequality. Well, there is -no need to philosophize about it.” - -“It is very interesting,” said Tommy. - -“Yes, it is. That is why I went into the manufacture of automobiles. -They are a necessity. That is precisely why I want this company to be -doing business long after you and I are dust and forgotten.” - -Thompson looked at Tommy, a heavy frown on his face--exactly as if he -were fighting on, even after death, thought Tommy. It made the youngster -whisper, “Yes!” - -“So I formed the company. I had to dwell on the money profit to raise -capital. Nobody knew I was a dreamer. I began without experience, but I -saw to it, Tommy, that I also began without prejudices. I have learned a -great deal in ten years. I have studied automobiles constantly, but even -when I was working merely to make money I saw the work going on after -me. So I have felt it necessary to study men even more closely than -machinery and manufacturing processes. No man can tell what the product -of this company will be twenty years hence; it may be flying-machines. -But we ought to know; the men who will be running it then--the product -of the company's policy! The kind of men I want to-day is the kind that -will be wanted to-morrow, that will be wanted always! Do you see?” - -“Yes, sir,” said Tommy. - -“It was no hard job to make money. It was infinitely harder to convince -my associates that there was more money in reducing our immediate -profits in order to make ours a permanent investment. I am now ready -to throw a million dollars' worth of machinery and patterns into the -scrap-heap. We shall manufacture a car very soon that will not need much -changing for ten years. Of course we'll improve and refine and simplify -it as we find advisable. I'll be able to carry out some of my dreams -now. This time the dream comes after the product!” - -Tommy did not know what the dream was and he couldn't see the product; -but he imagined a wonderful time to come. - -“It's great!” he gasped. - -“It is more difficult to eliminate the undesirable man than the -inefficient employee. My men are not yet all that I wish, but they will -be after they have worked in our new plant a few months. I have studied -all the methods that manufacturers and managers have used to foster and -reward the competitive spirit among workmen. I want team-work as well as -individual efficiency, but my men must all be Tecumseh men. Do you love -the company?” - -“You bet I do!” And Tommy's eyes glistened. - -“Are you sure it isn't merely gratitude for Thompson?” And Thompson -looked so serious that Tommy was compelled to be honest. He thought -before he answered. - -“Of course it is both.” - -“I don't want you to think of Thompson, but of the Tecumseh.” - -“But how can I think of the company and not think of you?” - -“By thinking not of the president and not of yourself, but of the -work--the work that will be here long after Thompson and Leigh are gone. -I will give you an opportunity to develop yourself along those lines -which will most gratify the desires of your grown manhood.” - -Tommy nodded his head twice quickly, and drew in a deep breath. - -“To be intelligently selfish you must be intelligently unselfish. You -must love the Tecumseh for what the Tecumseh will do for you. Do you see -that?” - -“Yes,” answered Tommy; “but I'd love it even if--” - -“That's because you are a boy with a wonderful unlived life. Keep it up, -because unreasoning love is a good foundation for the maturer habit of -affection from which I expect the Tecumseh stockholders and the Tecumseh -employees alike to benefit. I am after a family feeling. Some day I'll -tell you the story of Bob Holland, the treasurer of the company, the -only man I know who thinks of dollars as an annoying necessity, but -of the Tecumseh finances in terms of health insurance. He is one of my -Experiments.” And Thompson smiled. - -Knowing that he also was one and fearing because he was, Tommy, who did -not feel like smiling, smiled as he asked: - -“Are all your Experiments always successful?” - -“Always,” answered Thompson, emphatically. “Always,” he repeated, and -looked unsmilingly at Tommy. And Tommy made up his mind that the least -he could do was to see to it that Thompson's record was not broken. - -“Grosvenor is another, and Nevin,” went on Thompson. “You know them. -La Grange is still a Sophomore, but on the right road. Bill Byrnes is -a first-day Freshman. Watch him. I won't give the others away. You know -Leonard Herrick?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“But you don't know why I pay him a salary?” - -“No, sir.” - -“For his grouch. I made him cultivate it, until from being merely a -personal pleasure he elevated it to the dignity of an impersonal art. -What was only a grouch has become intelligent faultfinding. He is the -cantankerous customer on tap, the flaw-picking perfection-seeker, our -critic-in-chief. He is a walking encyclopedia of objections, and they -have to be good ones. He's a wonder!” - -Thompson paused and looked at Tommy doubtfully. Tommy wondered why. - -“It used to worry me whenever I thought of that man's family life, so I -looked about for a wife for him, and when I found the woman I wanted I -married him off to her before he could say Jack Robinson. She is very -happy. She is stone-deaf and has borne him two children--both girls. I -didn't arrange for their sex, Tommy; honest I didn't; but I prayed for -girls! Anyhow, he got them. He'll butt his head against them in vain; -they are women and they will be modern women. They will preserve his -grouch until he's through living. His usefulness to the company will -thus be unimpaired and he'll die in harness, grouchy and an asset to -the end. Do you still want to know whether all my Experiments are -successful?” - -Thompson looked so meaningly at Tommy that Tommy flushed as he answered: - -“I don't know whether I can ever do anything to repay you--” - -“The company, Tommy,” corrected Thompson, quickly. - -“But I know I'd rather work here for five dollars a week than anywhere -else for a hundred.” - -“That answers your question. Now for your job!” Thompson became so -serious that Tommy knew his would be a difficult task. Well, he would do -it or die trying! - -“Your job is to be the one man in the employ of the Tecumseh Motor -Company who can walk into the president's private office at any time -without knocking.” - -Thompson was frowning so earnestly that Tommy felt a sharp pang of -mortification at his own failure to grasp exactly what the job meant. -But Thompson went on: - -“You will find, Tommy, that even wise men can be unreasonable and square -men can be petty and brave men can whine--at times. But in the end their -errors correct themselves, just as political fallacies do in the affairs -of a nation. You must help the men to feel toward the Tecumseh as you -do. It is a big job. If you make good I can tell you that all of us will -be in your debt, no matter what your salary may be.” - -Thompson spoke so earnestly that Tommy said: “How can I ever be to them -what you are to me? How can I possibly be that?” - -“Always be ready to put yourself in the other man's place, but insist -upon a fair exchange and make him put himself in your place, which is -very difficult indeed, but not impossible. The new plant will make it -easier for you. It will be the model plant of the world, not only as to -machinery, but also as to comfort and looks! I will make the men boast -of it. I have elaborate plans for the democratization of this place, and -I am not neglecting self-interest or vanity. Bonuses, pensions, honor -rolls, and such things are easy. What is not so easy is to make the -men glad to work for and with the company. I haven't many precedents to -guide me, and so many plans that promised well and looked fine on paper -have failed, sometimes failed inexplicably. My men must be both free men -and Tecumseh men, and they have no life habit to help them in this--such -as the convention of patriotism, for example. I warn you, Tommy, that -you must be one of my principal assistants. You will represent in my -office all the men who are getting less than ten dollars a day. You -must do more than present their grievances--anticipate them! There is no -string to this. In fighting for them you will be fighting for me and for -yourself and for the whole Tecumseh family. And now do you want to let -me beat you at billiards before you go home?” - -“Mr. Thompson, I couldn't hold a cue just now if my life depended on -it. I want to think about what you have told me. I'm afraid I am not old -enough to--” - -“I've given you the biggest job in the shop because, being very young, -you have no experience to make a coward of you. And don't think too much -about the preambles to your own speeches hereafter. Good night, Tommy.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -TOMMY did more hard thinking in the next few days than he had done -in his four years at college. He blamed himself for his stupidity that -prevented him from seeing the first step. He could not visualize -his start. Notwithstanding Thompson's admonition, it was usually the -preamble to the speech that was the stumbling-block, for Tommy did not -know that there is work which not the head but the heart must do. - -Since he could not formulate a plan of campaign in detail, he simply -walked about the shop talking genial generalities to the men. He did not -know that while he was trying to be a friend to these men they also were -becoming friends to him, and he presently found himself telling them all -he knew about the new plant, of which they had heard vague rumors, of -the better times that were coming, and how one of the greatest problems -of all time was settled here, since all jobs were going to be life jobs. -And, of course, he could not help asking them one at a time what really -was needed to make their life in the shop better, more comfortable, and -more worth while working for. - -They took him at his word, because though he was young and utterly -inexperienced he was also wise enough to listen to wisdom. They answered -his questions and freely gave of their own infallibility. He heard -architects when he wanted sociologists and lawyers when he wanted -brothers, and political economists when he wanted college boys; but he -was wise enough to continue to listen attentively. He asked each man -confidentially whether it would be possible for him to evolve a plan -that would make them all one family. And each promised to think about -it. In fact, many even promised to give Tommy the one plan that would do -it. - -Thompson had little to say to Tommy. He made no suggestions and asked -for no reports. But one day, as Tommy was going into the laboratory -to see Bill Byrnes, he met the president. He saw that Thompson had -something important to say. - -“Tommy, have the men given you a nickname yet?” - -“They all call me Tommy.” - -“But a nickname?” - -“Well,”--and Tommy smiled forgivingly--“some of them call me D. O.” - -“What does that mean?” - -“Door Opener!” - -Thompson's face lighted up. He held out his hand and he shook Tommy's so -congratulatorily that Tommy realized in part what had happened. He felt -that he was progressing. - -“Keep on the job, D. O. Remember that miracles are worked with men by -men, and not by machinery nor by wages alone.” And Thompson walked off, -smiling. - -Tommy walked into Bill's new quarters. Bill was happy beyond words, -having no financial cares. His contract called for the sale of his -patents to the Tecumseh at a price and on a basis to be determined by -three men, one chosen by Byrnes, one by the company, and the third by -both the others. - -“How's Charlotte?” asked Tommy, for Bill's sister had not been well. - -“Better. That specialist that Mr. Thompson got from Cleveland to see her -has done her a lot of good.” - -“You never told me about that, Bill,” said Tommy, reproachfully. - -“Well, Thompson asked me about my family and I told him about her--or, -rather, he guessed it. How he did it I don't know. And I kind of thought -that you'd rub it in. But he won't lose anything, I can tell you.” Bill -saw impending speech in Tommy's face, so he went on hastily in order to -avert it: “I've got a cinch here, Tommy. We'll all be rich yet, you bet! -And say, La Grange knows more than I thought. Now watch this.” And Bill -began to put his new apparatus through its paces for Tommy's benefit. - -It had worked successfully fifty times that day; but on this, the -fifty-first, before a witness, it balked. - -“Yes, that's fine!” said Tommy, with great enthusiasm, and waited for -the profanity. - -But Bill merely frowned and fumbled with the wires. Then he exclaimed, -blithely: “Sure thing; the nut worked off! It never happened before, and -you can bet it never will again. Now watch it!” - -Tommy watched it. It worked smoothly. Then Bill took the apparatus to -pieces and showed Tommy that the vaporization of the kerosene had been -complete. - -“I've made a lot of improvements. La Grange is working now on the -generator. He is really a good electrician,” said Bill, with an air of -doing justice to a friend who had his faults as all men, even the best, -have. Tommy laughed outright. The change in Bill's nature, now that he -had no worries, struck him as being quite funny. - -“What's biting you?” asked Bill. - -“Oh,” said Tommy, “I just thought of something. Keep on the job, Bill. -Your friends and your country need you.” - -Bill was again at work before Tommy walked out of the room. A great -world this, thought Tommy, in which each man had his work, in which he -could think of himself and gratify his personal desires, and withal one -in which the work of each man would harmonize and merge with the work of -the others. He felt a greater admiration for Thompson than ever, but he -also began to feel that even without Thompson it was well to work for -the Tecumseh Motor Company. If Thompson lived he certainly would make -the Tecumseh greater than Thompson. - -During the following fortnight Tommy was able to fill himself with joy -by bringing some grievances to Thompson. They were minor affairs, but -Thompson treated them as seriously as though they were disasters. They -were adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned. - -Sometime afterward Thompson sent for Tommy. “Tommy,” said Thompson, his -eyes on Tommy's, “I think you ought to go to New York.” Tommy's face -showed consternation. “What's happened, Mr. Thompson? My father--” - -“Oh no, I have remembered what you told me about getting 'ads' for -your college paper. Well, we are going to double our capital stock. -Our stockholders are perfectly able and anxious to subscribe to the new -issue, but I want you to place some of it among your friends, since -you cannot take any yourself. A little later I hope to perfect a plan -whereby you and all the men who stay with us will be able to get some of -the stock on terms that all of you can meet. I want you, Tommy, to feel -a personal responsibility in the management of the company. You can do -it by inducing personal friends to buy a couple of thousand shares of -our stock. I have prepared a statement showing what we have done and -what we are doing, and an estimate of what we expect to do. Our books -and our plant are open for examination by any expert your friends may -want to send here. We shall have a big surplus, and the book value of -the shares will always be much more than par; but we are going to reduce -the price of our car every chance we get, and we are going to provide -for pensions and life insurance and bonuses for the men. We have no -Utopian schemes, and no more elaborate theory than the desire to make -this a permanent and continuously productive organization. I don't want -any man for a stockholder who expects the company to run its business as -he would not have the nerve or the conscience to run his own. I am going -not only to give, but to take a chance in giving. The statement I have -prepared for you here is for your guidance, that you may make my -intentions clear to your friends. You don't have to call attention to -the big fortunes that have been made in the automobile business, because -I wish you to interest only people who already are interested in Tom -Leigh.” - -Tommy's feeling of relief had grown as Mr. Thompson spoke. He ceased to -think of certain dark possibilities. But there still remained one. - -“I don't know whether I can sell the stock or not, Mr. Thompson.” - -“I don't expect you to succeed. I only expect you to try,” Thompson -reminded him. - -“Of course I'll try,” said Tommy, hastily. - -“My reasons are good business reasons, Tommy, because I have your future -in mind. Can you leave to-night?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Very well.” - -Tommy hesitated; then he held out his hand and said, “Good-by, Mr. -Thompson.” - -“Wait a minute. Tell the cashier to let you have a hundred dollars -expense account.” Then he shook hands. “Place that stock, Tommy!” he -said. - -A little later, when he said good-by to Bill Byrnes, Tommy realized for -the first time how deeply rooted in Dayton his life was. He didn't feel -that he was going home, but that he was leaving it! - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE train rushed eastward, but Tommy's thoughts reached New York first. -He did it by considering the task that Thompson had given him to do. He -read the typewritten statement very carefully, studied the statistics of -growth and profits and values, and fervently blessed Thompson, who had -taken pains clearly to indicate the significance of each item so that -nobody could fail to understand. - -From that Tommy passed on to an elaborate dramatization of his own -stock-selling campaign. He rehearsed his speeches to the fathers of the -friends who ought to become stockholders of the Tecumseh Motor Company. -He heard his own arguments very distinctly indeed, but when he came to -listen to theirs he was not so successful. To be on the safe side, -he assumed that he had to overcome indifference, distrust, and the -exasperating conservatism of old people. It did not occur to him that -greed must also be overcome, for he concerned himself with his own -inexperience. He felt certain that his own training under Thompson -would not be regarded with admiration by Eastern capitalists. And yet in -Dayton Thompson was believed to be shrewd and far-seeing, and had built -up a successful business, and was about to do much more. And Tommy was -one of Thompson's business Experiments. - -“I'll show them!” he said aloud. And in his determination there was -quite as much loyalty to Thompson as resolve to demonstrate the worth of -Thomas F. Leigh. - -Having definitely made up his mind to succeed, he began once more at the -beginning. He must get RIvington and his other friends to arrange for -Meetings with their fathers. The speeches would say themselves when the -time came. It all depended upon what manner of men the fathers were. And -then he began to think of his own father. - -The human mind works curiously. In order to think about his father Tommy -found himself compelled to think about himself. The secret had driven -him to Dayton. It had taken away his happiness, and in exchange had -given to him Thompson, Byrnes, Grosvenor, Nevin, La Grange, and the men -in the shop--more real friends than he had in New York. It had given to -him not only something to do, but something to do gladly. - -The friends and the work had increased his own power to fight. He must -always fight everybody, everything that antagonized his friends and his -work. After all, what was the secret but the wonderful story of an old -man's unreasoning love for his only son, of a loyalty to his wife so -steadfast that death had but made it stronger? - -Well, as soon as the money was paid back the first thing Tommy would do -would be to tell Thompson all about it. Then Tommy could be proud of his -father's deed before all men, who would understand. A man who would do -such a thing for a son was a big man. To make such a sacrifice for a son -who was not worthy of it--that would be the tragedy! - -“I'll show them!” again muttered Tommy, through his teeth. And that was -exactly how Tommy came back to his starting-point. He would place the -two thousand shares of stock! He would be all business. And yet he -regretted that all he had said in his telegram to his father was, “Will -arrive in New York to-morrow on business.” But he was glad he had signed -it as a loving son would sign it, “Tommy”! - -When he arrived he felt that he had been absent from New York so long -that he really was no longer a part of the life of the town. He had a -sense almost of provincialism. He did not quite belong. - -He did not thrill, as he had expected, at the familiar sights and the -typical noises and the characteristic odors. The New-Yorkers he saw were -unmistakably New-Yorkers, but they were utter strangers to him. - -It was an old Daytonian who rang the bell of his house. But Maggie, who -opened the door, also opened her mouth at the sight of him and kept it -open. And it was not a Daytonian who shouted, delightedly: - -“Hello, Margarita! How be you?” - -He was so glad to see her in the house where he was bom, so full of the -joy of home-coming, that Dayton utterly vanished from the map of his -soul. - -“Where is he?” he asked her. - -“Up-stairs in the lib'ry,” answered Maggie, quite proudly. Then, as by -an afterthought, she said, very calmly, “Ye're lookin' well.” - -“So are you!” he said, and gave her a hug. “How's your steady?” - -It was the old, old joke. But she whispered unsmilingly in reply, “He's -waitin' fer ye in th' lib'ry.” - -Tommy ran up the stairs three steps at a time. He was going to empty -himself of his love and the oceans of his youth upon his father. Mr. -Leigh was standing beside the table on which were the family Bible, the -ivory paper-cutter, and the silver-framed photograph of Tommy's mother. -The photograph was not in the center, as usual, but near the edge of -the table; and it was not facing the old man, but the door through which -Tommy must enter. - -“Hello, dad!” cried Tommy. - -Mr. Leigh held his left hand behind his back, where Tommy could not see -that it was clenched so tightly that the knuckles showed cream-white, -like bare bones. The right hand he extended toward Tommy. - -“How do you do, Thomas?” said Mr. Leigh, quietly. His face was -impassive, but his eyes were very bright. A little older, he seemed to -Tommy. Not grayer or more wrinkled or feebler, Simply older, as though -it came from something within, Tommy shook his father's hand vehemently. -He held it tightly while he answered: “If I felt any better I'd make my -will, knowing it couldn't last. And you are pretty well yourself?” - -“Yes,” said Mr. Leigh, simply. Then: “I am very glad to see you, my son. -Do you wish to spruce up before dinner? I'll wait.” - -“I sha'n't keep you a minute,” said Tommy, and left the room feeling not -so much disappointed as dazed by his own inability to empty himself of -all the love he had firmly intended to pour upon his father's head. -And then, possibly because of the instinctive craving for a reason, he -recalled that his father seemed more aged. - -“Worry!” thought Tommy. He felt a pang of pity that changed sharply into -fear. “Poor dad!” he thought, and then the fear spurred him into the -fighting mood. He would stand by his father. He would assure him of his -loyalty. They would fight together. - -He found Mr. Leigh leaning back in his armchair before the table on -which stood the silver-framed photograph of Tommy's mother. There was -a suggestion of weariness in the old man's attitude, but on Tommy's -entrance he rose quickly to his feet and, without looking at Tommy, -said: - -“Dinner is ready, Thomas.” - -They left the library together, but at the head of the stairs Mr. Leigh -stepped aside to let Tommy go first. Tommy obeyed instinctively. The old -man followed. - -“It feels good to be back, dad,” said Tommy. “It seems to me that I -really have not been away from this house more than a day or two.” He -turned his head to look at his father's face, and stumbled so that he -almost fell. - -Mr. Leigh, his face terror-stricken, reached out his hand to catch his -son. “Tom--” he gasped. - -Then as Tommy recovered himself his father remarked, quietly, “You -should not try to do two things at once, Thomas.” - -Tommy could see that Maggie had strongly impressed upon the cook the -fact that Master Thomas had favorite dishes; but neither she nor his -father made any allusions to them. It made Tommy almost smile. The -reason he didn't was that part of him did not at all feel like smiling. -They must have cost money that his father wished to save. So, instead, -he talked of Dayton and his friends, and his desire to have his father -know them, at which his father nodded gravely. But when Tommy said: - -“Now, Mr. Thompson wanted me to come to New York to--” - -Mr. Leigh interrupted. “After dinner, Thomas, you will tell me all about -it while you smoke.” - -“I don't smoke,” said Tommy, with the proud humility of a martyr. But -his father said nothing, and Tommy wondered whether the old man, not -being himself a smoker, understood. - -After dinner, in order that his father might understand the situation -as it was, Tommy spoke in detail about Thompson--an elaborate character -sketch to which his father listened gravely, nodding appreciatively from -time to time. Occasionally Mr. Leigh frowned, and Tommy, seeing this, -explained how those were the new business ideals of the great West, -where Americanism was more robust than in the East--as though Tommy -himself had been born and brought up west of the Rockies. - -“And so I am going to try to place the two thousand shares of Tecumseh -stock among personal friends. I'm going to see Rivington Willetts -to-morrow morning--” - -“Wait. Before you seek to interest investors you ought to be thoroughly -familiar with the finances of the company, and I scarcely think your -work or your training has given you the necessary knowledge.” - -“I shall try to interest friends only, or their fathers. And I know as -much as there is to know, since I have the figures in black and white--” - -“The vender's figures, Thomas,” interjected Mr. Leigh in a warning -voice. - -“Thompson's figures,” corrected Tommy, in the voice of a supreme-court -justice citing authorities. He took from his pocket the statement which -the president of the Tecumseh Motor Company had given to him.. - -“Here, father, read this.” - -While Mr. Leigh read the statement Tommy in turn tried to read his -father's face. But he could not see conviction setting itself on Mr. -Leigh's features. When Mr. Leigh finished reading he simply said: - -“Now the figures.” - -Tommy silently handed him the sheets with the vital statistics. - -Mr. Leigh looked them over, and Tommy was amazed at the change in the -old man's face. It took on an alertness, a look of shrewd comprehension -which Tommy never before had seen on it. Then he remembered that his -father was an accountant, doubtless an expert at figures. And then he -remembered also what his father had been able to do through being an -expert at figures. - -The reaction made Tommy feel faint and cold. - -Mr. Leigh leisurely folded the sheets together and silently returned -them to his son. - -“Well?” said Tommy, not knowing that he spoke sharply because the secret -had come to life again in this room. “What do you think of it now?” - -“Did Mr. Thompson himself prepare these figures?” - -“Yes--at least I think so. Why?” - -“It is a remarkable statement, prepared by an expert for the sole -benefit of laymen who don't know anything about accounts, which is -something that expert accountants are not usually able to do, since they -do not work for the ignorant. A highly intelligent exhibit, because it -is easily intelligible and withal free from technical subterfuges. I can -vouch for its honesty. But I do not think you can interest capital with -this literature, Thomas.” - -“But you haven't grasped the point, father. I am not looking for -capital, but for friends--” - -“With capital. It is the same, as far as concerns the owners of the -capital.” - -Tommy had feared the same thing, and also had feared to believe it. - -“I must do it somehow,” said Tommy, very earnestly. - -“I naturally wish you to succeed, Thomas,” said Mr. Leigh, very quietly. -After a pause he added, almost diffidently: “Possibly, I--I might be -able to help you, my son--” - -“I must do it myself,” interjected Tommy, quickly. “I--I must.” - -Mr. Leigh seemed on the point of saying something that Tommy might not -like to hear, but checked himself and finally said: “I hope you may -succeed. It will be difficult work and--But you must be tired from your -traveling?” - -He looked at Tommy doubtfully, and Tommy, who wished to be alone with -his thoughts and his new heartache, said: - -“I am, rather; but I thought I'd take a look at the evening papers. I'll -go out and get them.” - -“You will find them in the library--all of them.” - -“All of them?” - -“Yes, I--I had forgotten which was your favorite.” The old man would not -look at his son. Presently he finished: “I'll read the _Post_. Come, my -son.” - -They went up-stairs. Tommy tried to read. He looked at all the papers, -but not even the football gossip held his attention. From time to time -he looked up, to see his father absorbed in the editorial page of the -_Post_. This was evidently a part of his daily routine. Tommy saw him -sitting all alone in the gloomy little room called the library, because -it had been so christened by his mother long years before. Day in and -day out the old man had sat in this room, alone with his thoughts, with -the consciousness of loving vows kept at such a cost! - -“Father!” irrepressibly cried Tommy. - -“Yes?” said Mr. Leigh, emotionlessly. Even in the way in which he -laid down his paper on his lap there was that curious leisureliness of -senility that somehow savored less of age-feebleness than of years and -years of unchanging habit. - -“I am going to bed. I want to feel particularly fit to-morrow.” Tommy -stood there waiting for something, he knew not what exactly--something -that might give him the emotional relief he was not fully conscious he -needed. - -“Good night, Thomas,” said Mr. Leigh, and resumed his newspaper. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -TOMMY was up and dressed at working-man's hours the next morning. He -had fought until midnight, and finally pushed his fears into a corner -and kept them there. After the friends who always had been friends and, -therefore, would continue always to be friends, were stockholders, he -would allow himself to think of other things. - -He breakfasted with his father, but made no allusions to his work. It -was only when he was about to leave the house for the bank that Mr. -Leigh, after a moment's hesitation, said to Tommy: - -“You must not feel unduly disappointed, Thomas, if you do not succeed at -the first attempt. It is not easy to raise capital at any time, and just -now the business outlook is not so clear as I wish it might be for your -sake. And so, Thomas, if you do not accomplish as much as you wish as -quickly as you think you ought to, I think you should realize that I am -somewhat familiar with transactions of this character and--and you must -remember, Thomas, that I am as much concerned with your success as you -yourself.” - -Mr. Leigh looked at his watch, started nervously, and walked quickly -out of the room, as though he were late and feared a scolding. The -apprehensive manner chilled Tommy to the marrow of his bones. At the -door Mr. Leigh turned and said in a subdued voice, “I wish you luck, my -son.” A moment later Tommy heard the street door close. - -“Poor dad!” muttered Tommy, thinking of his father's unbearable burden, -and full of pity for the helplessness that insisted upon helping the -son for whom he had done so much. It was Tommy Leigh who must help Tommy -Leigh--in order that Tommy Leigh might help his father. - -He wondered if Rivington was up. He looked at his watch. It was -eight-forty-four. Rivington was not up yet. Tommy went to the corner -drug-store, and from there telephoned to the Willetts' house. He told -the servant who answered the call to tell Mr. Rivington that Mr. Thomas -Leigh would be there at ten sharp--very important! - -Rivington was very glad to see Tommy, and showed it in ways that Tommy -good-naturedly thought boyish but sincere, and, therefore, pardonable. -But Rivington's face showed a quite mature respect when Tommy bluntly -told him he wished to see Colonel Willetts on business. - -“Does it involve him parting from some of his wad?” asked Rivington. - -Tommy perceived that Rivington was still an undergraduate. Therefore he -answered in the same language. - -“It do, my boy. That is a necessary part of the operation by which I -hope to do you the greatest favor one true man can do another.” - -“The old gentleman is hell on real estate,” warned Rivington. - -“We own the most valuable portions of the Lord's green footstool in fee -simple,” said Tommy, reassuringly. - -“I tell you again, terra firma is his obsession. And even at that he is -from Missouri.” - -“That's the kind I like. For what else was my larynx made?” - -“I always understood,” said Rivington, gravely, “that there was money -in éditions de luxe, and that nice old widow ladies always fell for the -young Demosthenes.” - -“Lad, it isn't eloquence that I spurt, but a bald narrative of the -facts,” said Tommy, glad to convince Rivington that he was strictly -business. - -But Rivington rose to his feet and said, solemnly: - -“Thomas, I hereby invite you to dine with my family to-night at -seven-thirty. I do so officially; and kindly take notice that the -invitation has been received by you before you have talked sordid -business to my revered parent. Do you accept?” - -“I do,” said Tommy. - -“Very well; I shall spread it on the official minutes of this meeting. I -shall tell Marion when she comes in from her ride. That child is a--what -would you call her--a centauress or a lady equestrienne?” - -“I call her a Christian martyr every time I think of her brother,” said -Tommy. - -“Yes?” said Rivington, very politely. “Well, my father will avenge me. -I'll let him know that we'll be down at his office with an ambulance at -three-ten. The stock-market closes at three. He ought to be fit to talk -to ten minutes later. And now you come with me. I want to show you my -new Parker six.” - -“Riv, why don't you drive a car?” inquired Tommy, solicitously. - -“Haw! Haw! A Tecumseh, hey? Oh, my appendix! Don't make me laugh when -I'm driving, Tommily.” - -“Got a license, son?” - -“Better than that. The cops all know me. Come on, I'll learn you -something.” - -They rode out into Westchester County, had luncheon at their college -dub, and shortly after three were at Colonel Willetts's office. - -“How do you do, Tommy?” said Colonel Willetts, so pleasantly and -unbusinesslike that Tommy felt sorry. “How's the job?” He was a tall, -handsome man with a ruddy complexion that went very well with his -snow-white military mustache. A casual glance made one think of a -martinet; but on closer study one might gather that the colonel was not -a disciplinarian at home, but merely liked the pose. There is a vast -difference between a capitalist and a captain of industry. - -“I'm still on it, Colonel,” replied Tommy, thinking of an opening. - -“H'm! Can't you find something for a needy friend to do in Dayton? -Rivington”--he used the elaborate sarcasm of the fond father who can't -control his children because his own program changes daily--“is very -anxious to go into business.” - -“Tommy's business is automobiles and so is mine,” cut in Rivington, -pleasantly. “I am learning the fine points of the car before I go on the -road.” - -“As far as I can make out, your studies seem to be confined to road laws -and all the known varieties of fines.” - -“Talking about the law, Tommy is here to talk business with you. He -didn't wish to come, but I broke the law of hospitality and compelled -him to do as I said. If he gave me the chance he is going to give you -I'd take it on the jump.” He turned away and walked toward a -window, that his friend and his father might talk business -without embarrassment. On the way he whispered to Tommy: “Split -commissions--fifty-fifty.” Colonel Willetts looked inquiringly at Tommy. -Tommy decided it was no time for boy talk, so he said very earnestly: - -“Colonel, I am more concerned with interesting you in our work than with -the investment of money in our business. We can save time if you will be -good enough to read this statement.” And Tommy laid before the colonel -Mr. Thompson's program. He took it for granted that his best -friend's father not only would read the statement intelligently and -sympathetically, but would be glad of the opportunity to do so. Colonel -Willetts was looking at him almost with the intentness with which we -watch a juggler on the stage. Whereupon Tommy smiled pleasantly to show -that he shared the colonel's pleasure in the prospective perusal of the -document. - -The colonel got down to business. “Is this the prospectus?” he asked, -suspiciously. - -“No, sir, there is no prospectus. The company is not trying to raise -money in the open market. It doesn't have to. The paper shows what our -plans are. My visit here is merely to give an opportunity for a few of -my personal friends to buy stock that I can't buy myself.” - -“Why can't you?” - -Tommy smiled good-naturedly. Evidently the rich don't understand that -everybody isn't rich. He answered: - -“Because I unfortunately haven't any money.” - -“H'm!” grunted Colonel Willetts, looking like the chief of the general -staff. “H'm! Pure friendship! Fine business reason!” - -Tommy felt himself on the verge of becoming annoyed, but he subdued his -feelings and answered with what you might call a smile of earnestness. - -“Yes, sir--pure friendship. I can't think of a better reason in this -world for a man who is not a hog or a dog in the manger.” - -“H'm! Nothing personal in your remarks, I take it.” And the colonel -fixed his fiercely frowning eyes on Tommy. He had inherited the bulk of -his great fortune, but loved to play at doing business with a martial -air. - -“Sure, it's personal. Rivington, who is my best friend, happens to be -your son. That's my reason. I consider it a very good reason. Even if I -wanted to sell stock to a stranger, I wouldn't be allowed to do so.” - -“Sell stock, hey?” - -Tommy did not like the colonel's voice nor his look nor the suggestion -of a sneer. So he said: “Won't you please read that statement, Colonel? -Just a moment, please. I'd like to say something before you begin.” - -The colonel looked at him over his eye-glasses and Tommy, his voice -ringing with his own sense of the sacredness of his mission, said: - -“Whether you take some of the stock or not, I want you to understand -very clearly, sir, that every word of that paper is true. I vouch for it -personally from my own knowledge. And though it won't hurt the company -in the slightest if you should decide not to make Rivington one of our -stockholders, it will be a great disappointment to me not to have my -friends with me in the work that I propose to devote my life to. Now -won't you please read on?” - -The colonel without another word began to read the statement that -Thompson had prepared for Tommy's benefit. When he finished he pursed -up his lips and frowned. He tapped the papers meditatively with his -finger-tips for fully a minute before he spoke. - -“Tommy, I never mix altruism with business. When I give money I give it. -When I invest money I expect all the profit that I am legitimately -entitled to.” - -“All that any man is legitimately entitled to from the labor of others -is a fair profit. This is not a gamble--” - -“All business is a gamble,” interrupted the colonel, shortly. - -“Perhaps it wouldn't be if altruism were mixed with it oftener than it -is,” said Tommy, trying not to speak heatedly. He was Door Opener to the -men in the shop--his men. And they were entitled to more than the wages -that he thought Colonel Willetts would like to fix for them. - -“Are you a socialist?” frowned Colonel Willetts. - -“I'm not a regular socialist, but I can see that business in the future -must be conducted in a different way. Mr. Thompson is looking ahead -farther than most men.” - -“He thinks he is.” - -“He really is. You see, Colonel, I know him and you don't,” smiled -Tommy. Then he said, very impressively, “I consider him the greatest man -in this country to-day.” - -“I have no doubt that you do,” observed the colonel, dryly. “But -granting he is all that you are so sure he is, he proposes innovations -the success of which he cannot possibly guarantee. In special cases for -special reasons they might work.” - -“Well, sir, his record guarantees that. He began in a small way and he -has built up a large and very profitable business. The company would -have paid much bigger dividends if he hadn't insisted upon putting most -of the profits back into the business in order to build permanently. -That was good business, wasn't it? And now he is going to carry into -effect plans on which he has been working for years. Here is the -company's dollar-history, Colonel.” And Tommy gave the sheets of figures -to the colonel. - -The colonel looked at Tommy as if he never before had seen his son's -chum. Then he studied the figures. When he finished he turned to Tommy, -who instantly anticipated the skeptical questions he thought Colonel -Willetts would ask. - -“Our books are open for examination by any accountant you may send. I'll -agree to pay his expenses if he finds anything that does not confirm -what's in that paper.” Tommy instantly felt he had spoken hastily. The -expert's fee might be utterly beyond his ability to pay. But Thompson -had said the experts could be sent. Tommy was betting on Thompson. It -was a safe bet, he thought, and he felt easy once more, not knowing that -in trusting to his judgment of men he had done the most business-like -thing in his business career. - -“According to these--er--documents your company expects to make a great -deal more than the stockholders will get. You are asking me--I mean the -stockholders--to authorize the directors to divide the money which our -money makes in any way they see fit.” - -“Exactly--after a fair profit is paid to the stockholders, because we -believe that by sharing profits with the men who produce and the men who -buy the product we are dividing the profits among the people that make -the profits possible. If labor, capital, and the public are satisfied, -where's the fight going to come from?” Tommy had never before thought -of profit-sharing as concretely as this, but he was convinced that his -position was not only right, but unanswerable. - -“Where did you say your factory is--Utopia?” asked the colonel, with -elaborate politeness. - -“Dayton, Ohio. I'd like to have you visit us.” - -“Thanks, Tommy. To whom else have you talked about this?” - -“My father. He thought it was not a very good time to raise money. But -you see, sir, I am not here to raise money to carry on our business, but -to ask my friends to buy stock that I'd take in a minute if I had the -money.” - -The more Tommy thought about it, the more he wished Rivington might be -a large stockholder in the new company that was going to be the world's -model corporation. - -“Well, Tommy,” said Colonel Willetts, after a pause, “I'll tell you -frankly, your proposition does not appeal to me.” - -Tommy's disappointment showed itself in his face, which thereupon became -impassive, but unfortunately impassive with a quite obvious effort. - -Rivington, who had heard his father's decision, broke in cheerfully: -“Market must have gone against you to-day, father. Tommy will come again -when you have gathered in the unearned increment.” - -“Hang it,” said the colonel, irascibly, to his only son, “will you ever -be serious--” - -“No use getting angry, dad. I'll bring Tommy round to-morrow and the day -after, and so on. There is more labor involved in our daily trips than -in signing one check. In the mean time he is dining with us to-night at -home. We expect you to be there. And in case you change your mind--Ah, -be a sport, dad! Consider what you owe me!” - -“What?” - -“When I think of what I might have cost you I am astonished at my -moderation.” - -Rivington and his father, as a matter of fact, were as chummy as a fond -father and a lighthearted boy full of irresponsibility are bound to be. -Colonel Willetts more than once had blessed Rivington's moderation when -he thought of Rivington's temptations, but he had never thought very -seriously of teaching his son to resist temptation. He turned to Tommy -and said: - -“If you take him away and make a man of him, I'll take the stock at your -own price, Tommy. But look here, my boy, you must learn the first lesson -of a business man, and that is not to be disappointed when things -don't come your way. It's friends you want, isn't it, among your -stockholders?” - -“Yes, sir.” And Tommy smiled bravely. - -“Well, I'll take one hundred shares each for Rivington and Marion. I -guess you can count on their proxies forever. It isn't a bad start. If -your other friends will do as much you are fixed. I wish you luck.” - -“Come on, Thomas, we'll call again under more propitious circumstances. -Good day, sir.” And Rivington saluted his father militarily and escorted -Tommy from the office. - -Outside, Tommy insisted upon looking up some of his other friends, but -Rivington was against it. - -“I tell you you'll have to see the old gentleman again. He always says -no at first. I guess I ought to know.” - -“Yes, but even so, I can't expect him to take the whole two thousand -shares. That's two hundred thousand dollars, and I don't blame him--” - -“Isn't it a good business?” - -“Sure, fine.” - -“Then why shouldn't he take it all? He is always saying it's getting -harder every year to find good things to invest in. I tell you, you hold -your horses. Even if he didn't take it all he could place the lot among -our friends a blamed sight more easily than you. Old people have no use -for the beardless Napoleon of Finance. Your trouble, Thomas, is that you -are a boy. Listen to me.” - -“You seem to think I've got all the time in the world--” - -“Haste makes waste. Now I cherish a delusion that I can beat you--” - -“No billiards,” interrupted Tommy. - -“Coward! Well, escort me as far as the portals of the sacred edifice.” - -Tommy left Rivington early and went home to dress for dinner. He found -his father in the library reading the exasperating _Evening Post_. - -Mr. Leigh looked up quickly. “Well, Thomas, did you have any luck -to-day?” - -“Colonel Willetts promised to take two hundred shares for Rivington and -Marion. He was not what you'd call enthusiastic.” - -“I understand he never is,” said Mr. Leigh, so peevishly that Tommy -looked at him in surprise. “Did you tell him what the company had been -making?” - -“Oh yes! What he didn't like was that, no matter how well the company -may do, under Mr. Thompson's new plans the stockholders won't get all -the profits in dividends.” - -“Did you tell him that the present stockholders are willing to subscribe -for all the new stock?” - -“I told him the capital was provided for, but I had this chance to -interest personal friends.” Mr. Leigh frowned angrily. Tommy, who had -never before seen such a look on his father's face, said, soothingly: - -“He took me at my word. Rivington and Marion are my best friends.” - -“Did you tell him that your company would be a dividend-payer when other -concerns less far-seeing would be passing their dividends? Did you point -out to him the trend of political thought in this country? Did you tell -him that his own real-estate holdings in New York City, by reason -of municipal extravagance, political maladministration, general -inefficiency, and lack of co-operation among landlords, were not the -safest investments? Did you tell him that Thompson realizes clearly the -changed attitude of the entire world toward property rights and capital -and toward the rights of the producing classes? Did you tell him that a -man who is wise enough to be content with eight per cent, on his money -now when he might get twenty per cent, is more likely to be getting -the same eight per cent. when to-day's twenty-per cent. payers will be -writing off the loss of principal to-morrow? Did you?” - -Mr. Leigh's vehemence and the accusing ring of his voice astonished -Tommy. - -“No, I didn't,” he answered. - -Mr. Leigh calmed down as suddenly as he had flared up. - -“And you did not point out to him the absurdly low overhead charge and -the remarkable relation of your gross sales to your capital, and the -complete adequacy of the financial and mechanical machinery of the new -company to meet all emergencies, good and bad alike?” - -“Well, I thought the figures spoke for themselves.” - -“Thomas,” said Mr. Leigh, sternly, “figures don't speak to the -average man, and often not even to the expert. The man behind the -figures--that's what counts.” - -An icy hand squeezed Tommy's heart. An expert at figures had paid for -his education. The only figures that now came into his throbbing mind -were: seventeen thousand dollars! And the man behind those figures was -his own father! - -“You must see Willetts again,” said Mr. Leigh, quietly. “Perhaps I'd -better explain the figures to him myself, Thomas.” - -“No!” cried Tommy, so peremptorily that he instantly felt compelled to -soften the refusal. “I'd rather not, father. I'll see him again if he'll -let me.” - -“He'll have to let you,” said Mr. Leigh. He nodded to himself fully -a dozen times, in the same curious way that to Tommy always seemed so -unpleasantly senile. “Yes! Yes!” - -“Rivington thinks”--and Tommy was conscious of a desire to soothe his -father--“that the colonel will even help me to place the entire two -thousand shares among friends.” - -“It is I who should help you, Thomas. Your mother would have insisted -upon it.” Mr. Leigh's lips were pressed together grimly, an expression -that Tommy not only remembered, but associated poignantly with his own -life's great tragedy. But he said, bravely: - -“Father, I must work out my problems myself.” Mr. Leigh shook his head -decidedly. “You are not qualified to carry this to success unaided, -Thomas. I am not wiser than you, my son, but older.” - -“Mr. Thompson foresaw my failure. He has provided for it. He said--” - -“No, no!” interrupted Mr. Leigh, so excitedly that his voice rose -shrilly. “You must not fail! You must not fail!” - -“Mr. Thompson told me it would not hurt my prospects--” - -“You must not fail!” repeated Mr. Leigh, doggedly. “It is my duty to -help you. I am the best judge of your needs. I am your father.” - -Tommy was on the verge of denial. All that his father had come to mean -to him, all that had gone before, all that the future meant to him, his -doubts and his fears and his hopes--all had something to say to Tommy. -And the confusion made him temporize. - -“I appreciate how you feel, dad; but please don't do anything until I've -tried some of my other friends, will you?” - -“The sooner it is settled, the better,” said Mr. Leigh, obstinately. -“Thomas, bear in mind that you are not a business man. You don't -understand that money is never to be had merely for the asking. Your -problem is to get the money as quickly as possible.” - -Mr. Leigh was frowning, full of a feverish impatience that alarmed -Tommy. To him his father had always been a slave of routine and method, -almost an automaton. Evidently the old man's nerves were overwrought, -and there was no telling the reason. But his desire to help his son -was prompted by love and loyalty to the living and the dead. Tommy -approached his father and threw an arm about the old shoulders. - -“Dad,” he spoke coaxingly, “you don't know what it means to me to -do this thing alone. I want to try hard before I call for help. If I -succeed alone, don't you see how I'll feel?” - -The old man did not reply. Presently Tommy felt him draw in his breath; -then Mr. Leigh nodded slowly. - -“Very well, Thomas,” he said, in his old voice, steady, emotionless, the -voice a ledger would use if it could speak. - -“Thanks, dad. I'll go and dress now. I'm dining at the Willetts'.” And -Tommy left his father. - -Marion was as unfeignedly glad to see him as he was to see her, with -this difference--that he did not know how he made her feel, but he knew -she somehow made him feel like the Prodigal Son, only, of course, he -was not down and out--quite the contrary. Through the dinner it was made -plain to Tommy that he was one of the Willetts family. At the end, as he -did not smoke, he followed Marion into the library. - -She assured herself that he had a comfortable chair by insisting upon -his taking her own favorite, found another for herself, and then she -said to him, eagerly: - -“Tell me all about it!” - -Tommy, who had spoken of nothing else at the table but his Dayton -experiences, said, simply: “I am sorry I didn't send you the long letter -I wrote you when I thought I was fired.” - -“No; you didn't keep your promise. I expected to hear all about it. -I knew you'd much rather write to Rivington than to me; but I also -thought”--she paused, and then looked him frankly in the eyes--“I -thought you would be so lonely and homesick that you'd like to write to -all your friends, to remind yourself that you had them. I suppose you -were too busy?” She looked as if she expected him to agree with her. -There was but one excuse, and she herself had given it to him and he -accepted it. - -“Of course, I had to hustle,” he said; and then he blushed to think of -the easy time he had in Dayton. Everybody expected him to be a slave, -a sweat-shop worker, and pitied him accordingly. The reaction made him -say, “I'll tell you the whole story, if you don't think it will bore -you.” - -“You men are always fishing for excuses to do what you ought to be dying -to do anyhow. Go on, and don't skip anything.” - -And Tommy gladly began the epic narrative of his Dayton life, barring -only the secret. He told it not only honestly, but in detail. That she -was as interested as he was plain, until he began to fear that he was -making himself into a hero. But it was too late to alter the portrait, -so to preserve his self-respect he began to tell her all about Thompson -and Thompson's dreams and Thompson's plans. - -“Tommy,” she exclaimed, excitedly, “he is a wonderful man. I had no idea -business was like that. And you are the luckiest boy in the world to -work in such a place.” - -“Yes, and it was by a fluke that I landed the job.” - -“I don't care. It was the luckiest thing that ever happened, even if it -took you away from home.” - -“I suppose it was, but let me tell you it was mighty tough at first.” - And he told her how he had fought homesickness, so that he actually -believed it. And naturally she also believed him. - -“You might have written,” she reproached him. - -“If you had read the letters I wanted to write but didn't, you would -have had to put in eight hours a day. It was considerate of me not to, -don't you think?” - -“But you promised you would.” - -“But I wasn't going to take an unfair advantage of your youth,” he said, -and looked at her with a benevolent smile. And then he wondered why he -had not written every day. He could not understand it now. - -“Of course,” he assured her, “now that you are going to be one of our -stockholders I'll have to send you reports of the work quite often.” He -saw himself doing it. She would know everything. - -“What do you mean, Tommy?” she asked, excitedly. - -He told her how her father had promised to take one hundred shares for -her and one hundred for Rivington. And then he told her he still had -eighteen hundred shares to sell. Why shouldn't he tell her everything? - -“To whom are you going to sell the rest?” - -“I'm going to try to sell them to friends who will be interested in Mr. -Thompson's experiments with men as well as in the money-making end. It -will be very hard. You see, Marion, our company is going to do business -in a new way. Of course, here in the East, people don't realize what -corporations will have to do hereafter if they expect to stay in -business.” - -This sounded very wise and business-like to both of them. Marion paid -him the additional compliment of regarding him as a Westerner. He could -tell by the way she looked when she said: - -“And what will your work be?” - -So he told her what he so far had kept a secret from her--what Thompson -expected to make of the Tecumseh men through the aid of Thomas Francis -Leigh. He really told it very well, because he kept nothing from her, -and in so doing made his hopes realities. - -“Tommy, that is perfectly wonderful! I am so glad for your sake! And you -can do it, too! I can see how you feel about it, and you are bound to -win. And won't you feel glad--” - -Colonel Willetts and Rivington walked in. Rivington winked at Tommy--old -signal 18--to show he had been pleading his friend's cause at court. -Marion said to her father: - -“Tommy was just telling me about Dayton and his company. You must help -him to sell that stock, papa.” - -Colonel Willetts worshiped her. He turned to Tommy: “Unfair weapons -to use on a man in the man's own house, young man. Is that the Western -way?” - -“The Western way is the best,” said Marion, positively. She rose and -confronted her father. “Are you going to help Tommy? Yes or no.” Tommy -felt uncomfortable. - -“Look here, sir--” he began, apologetically. “Of course I'll help -Tommy,” said Colonel Willetts. “He's coming to the office.” And he -turned the subject. - -Marion looked proudly at Tommy. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -AT the breakfast table the next morning neither Tommy nor Mr. Leigh -made any allusion to the stock-selling campaign. But as his father was -leaving Tommy told him: - -“Colonel Willetts said last night he would help me place the stock. I'm -to call at his office again.” - -“Do so by all means, Thomas,” said Mr. Leigh, with an almost cold -formality. “Be sure you make the points I explained to you yesterday, -particularly the probable permanency of dividends under a far-sighted -policy, and the equally certain depreciation of both principal and -income from real-estate holdings in New York City. A political or even a -social revolution will hurt such a business as Mr. Thompson has planned -far less than it will real estate, which not only cannot be hidden or -moved, but has innumerable natural enemies, such as the shifting centers -of trade and fashion and inefficient or corrupt municipal government. -You might tell him that under certain circumstances all land partakes of -the quality of mud, and the wisest of men can get stuck in the mud.” - -Tommy gasped. The man he had known as his father had spoken like this. -Mr. Leigh went on judicially: - -“Ask him whether his gains from the unearned increment as well as from -increases in values in certain sections have fully offset his losses -from the decline of what he considered choice property ten or fifteen -years ago. Ask him whether he thinks the big financial institutions, -like the life-insurance companies, are comfortable over their ownership -of properties they have had to take over to protect their own gilt-edge -first mortgages. Real estate is a tradition of his family, and you must -make him think of the future. Good morning, Thomas.” - -His father was more of a business man than Tommy had ever dreamed. His -advice was sound. But-- - -A theory came to Tommy ready-made, from the birthplace of all -explanations. Obviously long years of brooding on his dead wife and on -what he had done to keep his promise to her had made Mr. Leigh morbid. -He had remained a bookkeeper because the only way in which he could -continue to avert discovery was by remaining where he could conceal his -deeds. It made the repayment of the seventeen thousand dollars more -than ever urgent. Where could Tommy borrow it, since it was out of the -question to think of earning so vast a sum in a short time? He must -consult Mr. Thompson. If he could not confide fully, he might at least -put a hypothetical question, give hints, sound Mr. Thompson somehow. But -before he could speak to Thompson he must sell the stock. - -He was to lunch at the college dub with Rivington. He doubtless would -meet friends there who might take a few hundred shares. The dollars that -Tommy had to raise suddenly became so heavy that Tommy despaired. - -At the dub he was lucky enough to meet Red Mead, whose father was a -capitalist and--so Red said--had been very successful in finding highly -profitable investments in all sorts of manufacturing enterprises. -Red told Tommy he was sure the old gentleman would fall for a hundred -thousand bucks, provided the talk was sufficiently convincing to justify -Mr. Mead in sending an expert to look over the property. Whereat Tommy -promised to call on Mr. Mead, though he was almost certain Red's father -was the kind that wanted big dividends. And Bull Wilson told him that -only the day before his father was regretting not having taken a block -of Bishop-Wolf automobile stock that was offered to him for thirty-five -thousand dollars three years before and was now worth a million. - -“He's your meat, Tommy. He's gone to Washington with his patent lawyer. -When he comes back I'll tell him that I've asked you to do me the -favor to call on him before you see any one else.” Tommy did not permit -himself to feel encouraged by these promises; nevertheless, he decided -not to see Colonel Willetts until after he had tried elsewhere. -But Rivington insisted upon going to his father's office that very -afternoon. - -“They are always after him. Every time he invests in a new thing or -puts up another building he talks poverty for a month. You just chase -yourself down-town right away.” - -Rivington's obvious eagerness to see Tommy succeed had the effect of -making Tommy feel that, after all, his friends were in New York. The -work lay in Dayton, but his happiness in New York. For a moment, as he -held Rivington's hand, Tommy felt that his stay in Dayton thereafter -must be tinged by the regret that he could not see his best friend every -day. But the work was too important. If only Rivington would move -to Dayton! Of course if Rivington was there Marion would visit him -frequently. What a place Dayton would be evenings! - -In the Subway on his way to Colonel Willetts's office Tommy's mood left -him. The New York he saw about him, with its alien faces--all kinds of -faces and all alien--was not the place for him to work in. And his own -particular New York was very small--a city with a score of inhabitants. -His real life could never merge with the life of the strange and -dislikable New York he saw in the streets and in the shops and in the -office buildings. He could not work here, where every man was concerned -with himself and no one else, and so plainly showed it in his face. New -York could never be a city of brothers, of men who wished both to be -helped and to help. He would go back to Dayton, of course. And he must -take back checks for a total of two hundred thousand dollars. He must! -And he would! - -He paused a moment in the hallway of the sixth floor of the Willetts -Building, one of Wall Street's earliest skyscrapers, and considered a -moment how he should proceed. He was about to grasp the knob of the door -of Colonel Willetts's office when the door opened and Mr. Leigh came -out. - -“Father!” cried Tommy. His plans, not very elaborate, were knocked into -a cocked hat. Misery, indefinite but poignant, filled him. - -“Thomas!” gasped Mr. Leigh. He was more startled than his son. To Tommy -his father's look was one of guilt. And a guilty look on that face was -like turning the calcium-light on the secret. - -“I--I had to see Colonel Willetts on bank business,” stammered Mr. -Leigh. He glanced at Tommy uncomfortably and quickly looked away. Then -he said, apologetically, almost pleadingly: “I thought it expedient, -while I was there, to speak about your errand to New York. I--I gave him -my opinion of the--investment.” - -“But I asked you--I hoped you would not speak about it,” said Tommy, -unhappy rather than annoyed. And then, with the illogicality of sorrow, -Tommy thought that his father knew so little about the company that any -advice he might give about the investment could not be strictly honest -advice. - -“Colonel Willetts is a director of the Marshall National, and our bank -has close relations with it. I have done no harm to you, Thomas.” Tommy -was frowning because of his own disinclination to recognize ungrudgingly -that his father had been prompted by loyalty and love. Old people -were like that. And now his father was actually and visibly afraid of -incurring the displeasure of the son for whom he had done so much--too -much! And that son actually was thinking of his own grievances! -Moreover, the damage, if any, was done. - -“You meant for the best, dad!” said Tommy, with a smile, and held out -his hand. “I expect you will have to wait till I grow up before I get -some sense.” - -His father's hand clutched his so tightly that Tommy's resentment turned -into remorse. - -“I'll make the points you told me last night, dad. They are mighty good -points!” And he meant it. - -“Good luck, Thomas,” said the old man, more composedly, and walked away. -Tommy looked after him, and for the first time in his life realized that -Mr. Leigh's shoulders were inclined to stoop. Years and years of bending -over his ledger had left on him the mark of the modern galley slave. -Tommy's dislike of bookkeeping rose on the spot to a positive hatred. -Also, the stoop showed the weight of a burden heavy beyond words! - -He decided that the moment the money was paid back he would ask his -father to move to Day-ton, far away from the bank, and live with his -only son, who by that time should be able to support both. - -“He will never leave the old house,” decided Tommy next. It meant so -much to him: the house where Tommy's mother had lived, where Tommy was -born, where she died. The sentiment and also the wing-clipping habit of -a lifetime made sudden changes dangerous to old age. - -“A hell of a world!” came next. - -Well, work that a man could take an interest in was invented so that a -man need not care whether or not it was a hell of a world. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -HE walked into Colonel Willetts's office with a pugnacious -consciousness of being twenty years older than on the day before. He -would talk business in a business-like way. He was prepared to fight, to -overcome opposition, to convince the colonel against the colonel's will. - -“Hello, Tommy!” called out Colonel Willetts, cheerily. He was standing -beside the stock ticker. “Have a seat, my boy.” - -Tommy was glad at the welcome, but also subtly disappointed. It is -easier to fight a fighter than to fight an amiable friend. - -“Good afternoon, Colonel. I came to--” - -“Just wait a minute until I see the closing price of my latest mistake, -won't you?” He ran the tape through his fingers. “Not so bad! A kind -Providence may yet save me. Now what can I do for you?” - -“Providence has heard your prayers, Colonel. I came to show you that -your plain duty is to become a stockholder of the Tecumseh Motor Company -with the rest of your family.” - -“They tell me the younger the shark the more voracious it is.” - -“Colonel,” said Tommy, earnestly, because the colonel was not taking -Tommy's mission very seriously, “ten years from to-day, when New York -real estate--” - -“Hold on. I know disaster is approaching this fair metropolis and -skipping Dayton.” The colonel held up his hands. “I succumb!” - -“The entire two thousand shares, Colonel, of course,” said Tommy, -prepared to compromise. “Sit down, young man.” - -Tommy sat down and looked expectant. Colonel Willetts pursued, -seriously: “I've looked over your papers again. You vouch for their -accuracy?” The colonel had put on his martial air and managed to look -not only stem but cold. “Yes, sir, I do!” answered Tommy, firmly. “You -are sure of your figures?” - -“Absolutely. But I'd like to call your attention to the fact that the -company's plans have for an object not only to solve certain problems -among our wage-earners, but also to insure the permanency of our -dividends on a basis of eight per cent, per annum. There may be extra -dividends, but we won't promise more than--” - -“It is an iron-clad rule of mine never to have business dealings with -personal friends. I prefer to make a gift of the amount than to regard -it as an investment.” The colonel was frowning quite fiercely. - -Tommy's heart leaped, for Colonel Willetts was a very rich man indeed. -But he said, “A gift is, of course, out of the question.” - -“That is why I have to break my rule two or three times a year. You wish -friends to be interested in your Mr. Thompson's experiments. I don't -blame you. No, I don't! But they might prove rather expensive. Yes, yes, -I know you think they will be successful. Rivington telephoned to -me that you were going to see Mead and Jim Wilson, and a few other -unfortunate fathers of chums, but I'll save you the trouble. I shall -make them think the experiment worth trying and we'll take a sporting -chance. You owe it to us to warn us in time if things don't go right.” - -Tommy hesitated. Loyalty was due to whom? Then his doubts cleared. -Thompson, the wizard, wanted him to work for both the men and the -stockholders! That would keep Tommy from doing injustice to either. That -was Thompson's reason undoubtedly. - -“I shall watch your interests as if they were mine--no, I'll watch more -carefully.” Tommy spoke with decision. - -“I have inquired about your company's standing. I find its rating high. -Your father--” The colonel caught himself abruptly. - -“Yes, sir?” Tommy's lips came together while Willetts walked to his desk -and went through the motions of looking for some papers. - -Then the colonel pursued: “Your father told me what you had been doing. -He evidently thinks as much of Thompson as you do. And he gave me some -confidential reports from the Metropolitan Bank's correspondents in -Dayton. I--I guess the money is safe enough.” He looked at Tommy a -trifle dubiously, but before Tommy could reassure him he went on, -lightly, “And Marion wants me to send Rivington out there to have a -miracle performed on him.” - -“I wish he'd come,” said Tommy, eagerly. - -“I don't!” said the colonel, shortly. “He is no black sheep in need of -reform and--I don't mean to insinuate that you are, Tommy; but Rivington -is all the son I've got, and I need him here, where his business -interests will be. I expect him to come into the office next year. -There's plenty of time.” - -The colonel nodded to show that he knew what he was doing. He loved his -son, and at times was really grateful that Rivington had no alarming -fondness for disreputable things. Rivington was a gentleman and would -behave accordingly. - -He was a Willetts and, therefore, must concern himself with conserving -his inheritance. It did not occur to the colonel that Rivington might -live decently all his life and withal be a non-producer. If any one had -said that to the colonel, doubtless the colonel would have said that -Rivington did not need to be a producer. Tommy was faintly conscious -that if Rivington worked trader Thompson for a few years he would -greatly increase his own usefulness, but he merely said: - -“I can't help wishing that Rivington and I might be together, Colonel.” - -“I understand, my boy,” agreed the colonel, rather too hastily, Tommy -thought. “Well, I'll take the two thousand shares. Have the stock put in -the name of John B. Kendrick, my confidential clerk, who will give you -a check for the two hundred thousand dollars. I'll apportion the stock -later. I am too busy just now, and I know you are anxious to return to -Dayton.” - -Tommy's joy over his success was a complex affair. He had a boy's -immaturity, but he could think straight enough. His father had done the -obvious thing in having the bank's correspondents telegraph confidential -reports about the Tecumseh's standing and reputation to New -York business men, who would attach greater importance to such -information than to Tommy's reports about Thompson, who really was the -Tecumseh. Moreover, it was friendship and not eloquence or hard work -that had persuaded Colonel Willetts to buy the stock. Thus there could -be no sense of personal triumph. At all events, the deal was closed, his -work was done, and Thompson's wish would be gratified, and Tommy would -do his best to make it a safe investment for Colonel Willetts and his -friends. - -“I am much obliged, Colonel,” he said, trying to speak with the proper -composure. - -“Not to me, Tommy; to--er--Marion. Gad! how that girl boomed Dayton.” - The colonel looked quickly at Tommy. - -Everything else vanished from Tommy's mind, even the great work! He -would tell her--But first he must say something to her father. - -“I hope she--and you--will never be sorry you've done this. It means a -lot to me and--” - -“What commission do you get, Tommy?” asked the colonel, quizzically. - -“None,” answered Tommy, quickly. - -“Nonsense! You are entitled to at least two and a half per cent, and -more--” - -“It was a personal favor to me,” said Tommy, “because Mr. Thompson -thought I could work better knowing I had interested friends in the -company.” - -The colonel rose to his feet. “Mr. Leigh, I have a favor to ask of you. -If you think I am entitled to your protection and good wishes--” He -paused and looked questioningly at Tommy. - -“You are,” said the puzzled Tommy, quite earnestly. - -“Then keep that damned man Thompson out of New York. Gad! he'd have us -paying him for breathing. Now if you don't mind I'll write some letters -and sign your check. You can have it certified if you wish.” - -The colonel rang a bell. Mr. Kendrick appeared. He was a tall, -well-built man, neatly dressed in black. - -“Kendrick, this is Mr. Thomas Leigh. Make out a check for two hundred -thousand dollars, payable to the Tecumseh Motor Company, and write a -letter to--Got a middle name, Tommy?” - -“Yes, sir--Francis.” - -“To Mr. Thomas Francis Leigh, instructing him to have the two thousand -shares of Tecumseh Motor Company which he has sold to me put in your -name. I shall give instructions as to their disposition later. Good-by, -Tommy. Confine your future visits to my residence. You are an expensive -luxury down-town, son.” And Colonel Willetts shook hands warmly. - -“Is he always like that?” Tommy asked Kendrick in the outer office. - -“Always--when he buys something of which he is doubtful, to make himself -think it will come out all right,” answered Kendrick, unsmilingly, and -proceeded to make out a check for the two hundred thousand dollars as -though it were for two hundred. A wonderful thing, this game of being -rich, thought Tommy, to whom riches suddenly meant the slaying of a -secret and the ability to make others happy. - -Kendrick took the check in to the colonel for his signature, returned -with it, sat down at a typewriter, and himself wrote the letter to -Tommy, read it carefully, put the carbon copy of it away in a file -marked “T,” signed the original with the colonel's name, “per J. B. -K.,” and gave Tommy the letter with the check attached to it with a wire -clip. - -“Thank you,” said Tommy, very calmly. Two hundred thousand dollars! - -“One moment, please. Will you kindly sign this receipt?” - -Tommy kindly did so. Kendrick took it from him silently. - -“Er--good afternoon?” said Tommy, who really wished to say a great deal -more. - -“Good afternoon!” said Kendrick, who did not. - -“No man for the Tecumseh,” thought Tommy, as he walked out of the -office--a successful man. - -The colonel had spoken about getting the check certified. Tommy did not -quite know how to go about it, but his father could tell him. - -From the Willetts Building Tommy walked to his father's bank. - -At the imposing entrance Tommy halted. He had never been inside. He -looked at the huge gray building with an interest that was almost -uncomfortable. People were straggling out. Nobody was going in. He saw -by the clock on Trinity's steeple that it was after banking hours. -He assumed that if he saw his father there would be no trouble in -transacting his business, notwithstanding the hour. - -He started toward the main entrance and suddenly halted in his tracks. -He could not go in. Within that building worked his father, an old and -trusted employee of the bank, who had educated his son too expensively -for an old and trusted bank employee. - -It was the birthplace of the secret! - -Suddenly the huge gray building took on an accusing aspect, cold, -menacing. The massive granite columns became sentinels on guard. He owed -that building seventeen thousand dollars, and the granite columns knew -it! - -“I'll see him at home to-night!” decided Tommy. - -His heart was beating at such a furious rate that he forgot about his -success. The check for two hundred thousand dollars was merely a bit of -waste paper. The vision of his work vanished utterly into a future that -ceased to exist. The present was before him. What would Colonel Willetts -say when he learned what his father had done, year after year! And what -would the bank say? And what would everybody say to the beneficiary of -that deed, innocent but none the less the sole beneficiary? - -He thought of Dayton, his only refuge, his goal. He hurried away, his -mind bent on reaching Day-ton as quickly as possible. There he would be -among friends, among people who knew that he was penniless and willing -to work and expiate another's error, among friends who knew only the -Tommy Leigh he must be to the end of his life. - -He walked on quickly, impelled by an irresistible desire to keep on -walking until he arrived at Thompson's private office. Once more that -overwhelming sense of solitude came upon him that he had felt when he -alighted from the train in Dayton. Again he was alone in a strange and -unfriendly place, alone in the world. - -There was nobody in New York to whom he could talk. In Dayton there was -no reason why he should not tell everything to Mr. Thompson or to Bill -Byrnes or even to Mr. Grosvenor. They would stand by him after they -knew. They were men who would be loyal to him. Therefore, he must be -loyal to them, to the men who would ask him to do his work, knowing he -was not to blame. The best men in the world these, his good friends, who -alone of all men would understand how a man might do for love what his -father had done. And here in New York where his father lived nobody -would understand! There were no friends. - -Out of bitterness came the recollection of Colonel Willetts's friendly -words and generous help. But he could not be altogether grateful, for, -if the secret were known, would Colonel Willetts be the same? - -He did not know. But he did know it would not make any difference to -Rivington. Certainly not, God bless him! And yet he could not tell -Rivington, whom he loved as a brother. He dared not. And he could not -tell Marion. She would not blame him. She would feel very sorry for him. -She would say, softly, “Poor Tommy!” He saw her lips move as she -said this. He saw her eyes, moist and luminous. He was sure of -her--absolutely! - -He drew in a deep breath. With the oxygen came courage. His fists -clenched as the fighting mood returned. He would win out. Had he -forgotten for a moment that he must fight until he had killed this thing -that made his life a torture? He must not stop fighting a single second -until he won out. And when that happened-- - -He saw Marion again. He heard her. She said, “Good boy, Tommy!” - -Some one else said, “Hey, there, why don't you look where yer goin', you -big slob?” - -It was a newsboy into whom he had bumped. “Excuse me,” said Tommy, -contritely. - -“Aw, fergit it!” retorted the boy. - -“I will!” said Tommy, thinking of something else. He would forget it! - -He walked into the nearest telephone pay station and called up Marion. -He was just in time. She was just about to leave the house to do some -shopping, she told him. - -“I was coming up to say good-by,” he said. “Can't we have tea somewhere? -I'll get Rivington. I think he's at the club.” - -“When are you going?” - -“To-night at eight-thirty.” - -“Must you? I thought you'd stay--” - -“Must!” he said, miserably but proudly. - -“I'm so sorry. Well, I'll meet you at Sherry's at five.” - -“Don't forget,” he said. - -“I won't keep you waiting,” she assured him. - -He left the telephone-booth smiling, master of himself. His youth made -his sense of relative values imperfect. That made him harrow his own -feelings with the utmost ease, and also made him cease the self-torture -with equal facility. - -He rode up-town, thinking quite comfortably of his departure from New -York and of his arrival in Dayton, and succeeded in strengthening his -own resolve to put an end to the secret somehow. - -He arrived at his college dub. Luck was with him. Rivington, having been -a steady loser, was still playing billiards. - -“Hello, Tommy, how did you make out?” - -“Complete success!” - -“Great-oh!” And Rivington made a mis-cue. - -“Great-oh!” echoed Rivington's opponent. “Thank you, Tommily.” - -Rivington approached Tommy and shook hands warmly. “Did he take the -whole cheese?” - -“Yes. He's a brick! And, say, we are to meet Marion at five at -Sherry's.” - -“What for?” - -“I'm going back to Dayton to-night.” - -“Are you crazy?” exclaimed Rivington, stepping back in alarm. - -“I work for a living, lad,” said Tommy, paternally. - -“Well, you'd better give it up before it is too late. Why, Tommy, I had -planned a series of professional visits--Ha, that ends the succession of -scratches, James.” And he left Tommy for the billiard-table. - -Tommy looked at him, at Jim Rogers, at the other fellow-alumni about -the other tables. A pleasant enough life, mild, wholesome amusements -for decent chaps, who enjoyed one another's company--and didn't work. No -life for him! - -He recalled the oily odors of the shop. They made him almost homesick! -No life for him, this! - -“Remember,” he called to Rivington, “I'll come back for you in -thirty-two minutes.” - -“It would be a kindness to take him out now, Tommily,” remarked Jim -Rogers. - -Nice children, these, thought old Mr. Thomas P. Leigh as he left the -billiard-room. - -Rivington's luck had turned when Tommy called for him; but he only -grumbled a little as they left the dub. He was very fond of his sister; -and then there was his loyalty toward an unfortunate friend whose -fortunes he had shared at college. - -They found a table in a corner--selected by Tommy as far from the -madding crowd as he could get it--and while they waited few Marion, who -had promised not to keep them waiting, Tommy told Rivington all about -his deal with Colonel Willetts. Rivington did not appear interested -enough in the investment to suit Tommy, so young Mr. Leigh explained -sternly what Thompson meant to do, and told him what manner of man -Thompson was and all about the experiments, and why all the stockholders -must be interested in the work and the experiments, until Rivington -became quite excited. - -“Say, that's some man, Tommy!” - -Tommy smiled tolerantly and nodded. - -“Don't be so confoundedly superior,” cried Rivington. “You needn't think -you can make me believe that your experimental boss has put a new brain -in your coco.” - -“No, the old brain was all right.” - -“What?” almost shrieked Rivington. - -“I'll tell you what he has done, though,” said Tommy, seriously. “He has -given me new eyes to see with.” - -“When they begin to think they see things,” said Rivington, solemnly, -“it's a sign a mighty intellect is tottering.” Then Rivington, seeing -that Tommy was still serious, became serious in turn. “Tom, that's what -I've always said. If they'd only make the work interesting they'd make -you think business was your pet elective and unappreciated geniuses -would gladly put in ten horns a day. But what do they give you instead? -A last year's advertisement of a special sale of cod-liver oil, and -you trying to work off four inches of waist-line. I am going to tell my -honored father to take a tip from Thompson. There's Marion!” And he rose -to his feet that she might see him. - -She came toward them, smiling. “How do you do, Tommy?” She shook hands -man fashion, grasping Tommy's hand firmly and looking straight into his -eyes. - -The sight of her filled Tommy with pleasure. Her presence made itself -felt to him also in exquisitely subtle ways. It brought to him a -wonderful sense of companionship, that provided him with a receptacle -wherein to he might pour out torrentially whatever it was that his soul -craved to give forth. And he was leaving all these things to undertake -the work in Dayton which had seemed so important to him! He wondered -whether he would be satisfied to live in New York if things were -different--a life like Rivington's, for instance? And he was instantly -conscious that he was older and wiser than Rivington. - -But even if he could--and he wasn't sure he could--he really couldn't. -And the reason he could not was a reason that Marion must never know. -But he had to tell her something. - -“I didn't think it would come so hard to return to Dayton,” he said. -But it was the thought of what he could not tell her that made his voice -serious. - -“It's too bad!” said Marion. She looked so sympathetic that Tommy's -self-pity was at once aroused. - -“Yes, it is,” he said, and looked at her. - -She looked away. Rivington was trying to catch the headwaiter's eye. -Tommy was silent. Marion was forced to speak. - -“Are you going to write this time?” Her eyebrows were raised, calmly -questioning. The calmness brought to her a sense of both age and safety. - -“How often can you stand it?” asked Tommy, anxiously. He wished to write -every day. - -“How often will you feel like it?” she asked, it was plain to see, for -information only, that she might tell him exactly. - -“If I wrote as often as I felt like it I'd write--” He stopped. - -“That's what you say now.” Then she smiled, to forgive his silence in -advance. - -“Marion, I can't tell you how grateful I am to you--er--your father. -He's made me go back a winner. It means everything to me.” - -“I'm so glad, Tommy. Isn't it fine?” - -“Yes. Only I wish I didn't have to go back at all.” - -She forgot that she had told him the night before that he was the -luckiest boy in the world to have a chance to do such splendid work as -Mr. Thompson had mapped out for him. She asked, anxiously: - -“Do you have to, Tommy?” - -“Yes,” he answered, gloomily. - -“I mean to-day?” - -She looked at him. It thrilled him so that he instantly reacted to a -sense of duty. - -“Yes,” he said, grimly; “I must. I--” He caught himself. - -“You what?” - -“I'll tell you some day.” He spoke almost threateningly. - -“Why can't you--” she began, irrepressibly. - -He shook his head so firmly and withal miserably that she looked away -and said: - -“Don't forget to write.” She turned to him and smiled. She knew this boy -would remain a boy for years. He divined her suspicion. In fact, he did -so quite easily. It made him say: - -“I don't think you really know me, Marion.” He forgot himself and looked -at her challengingly. - -She took up his challenge. How could she help it? She retorted, “As well -as you know me!” - -“I wonder if that can be so?” he mused. He looked into her eyes intently -to see if peradventure the truth was there. - -“Do you think people can read each other's thoughts?” she asked, a -trifle anxiously. - -“Sometimes I do--almost,” said Tommy, in a low voice. - -“Tea and English muffins toasted,” said Riverington to the waiter. To -Tommy he remarked: “Since I began to associate with wage-earners I find -tea helpful. Also sinkers. The days of beer and pretzels--” - -“There isn't a souse in the shop,” interrupted Tommy, with great -dignity. “It was one of the things that Thompson did, and the men -never knew it until it was done.” And since he sadly realized that his -tête-à-tête with Marion was over, he began to tell them about his job -at the shop, to which he was Door Opener. Marion listened for the second -time with the same degree and quality of interest with which she would -have listened to an African hunting story or a narrative of incredible -hardship in the Arctic. And so did Rivington. And then Tommy told them -about Bill's invention and hinted at his own hopes. Not being fully -satisfied with the hints, he proceeded elaborately to make plain to -them what the first successful kerosene carburetor would do for the -automobile industry and what it ought to mean to the owners of -the patent. And Marion's eyes thereat grew gloriously bright with -excitement. - -“Won't it be fine when your friend finishes it?” she said. - -“Yes, it will,” said Tommy, looking steadily into her eyes. - -“No, it would make a philanthropist of Tommy,” said Rivington, shaking -his head, “and then his friends would lose him. Leave him as he is--a -poor thing, but our own.” - -Youthful vaudeville, thought Tommy, but not altogether displeasing. -And later, when he said good-by to Marion, he was overwhelmed by the -infinitude of the things he had wished to tell her and had not. - -“Be sure to write,” she said. - -“Yes,” interjected Rivington, “we expect daily reports of profits. No -more loafing on the job. Your stockholders have rights which even you -are bound to respect, my piratical friend. But I think you are a ninny -just the same.” - -“I've got to go back to-night,” said Tommy, craving sympathy. - -“Yes, the plant might burn down or the horny-handed might get to cutting -up. Ah, I see! You are docked the full twenty cents a day during your -absence.” - -But Tommy was busy manoeuvering so that he might say to Marion -desperately the least of the million things he wished to say. He told -her in a low voice: - -“You are the most wonderful girl in the world.” - -She shook her head and smiled. - -“Yes!” he insisted, with a frown. - -“I'm glad you think so,” she said, seriously. - -“Are you?” - -“Yes,” she said. Then she nodded twice. - -“Good-by!” He shook hands, unaware that he was pressing hers too tightly -for comfort. - -“Good-by and--good luck!” she said, earnestly. - -“That means getting back to New York,” said Rivington. “Why don't you -try for the selling agency here, you idiot?” - -“No,” said Tommy, frowning as he thought of the new reason, “it means my -making good in Dayton.” - -And from Sherry's he went straight to the station and bought his -railroad ticket for Dayton. He would leave that same night. - -From the ticket-office he went home to pack. His father was in the -library reading his newspaper. The little parlor on the first floor -was a much more comfortable room, but Mr. Leigh religiously did all his -reading in the library by the table whereon were the family Bible, the -ivory paper-cutter, and the fading photograph of his wife in its silver -frame. - -The old man nodded gravely as Tommy entered. “Were you more successful -to-day, Thomas?” he asked, calmly. - -“Yes, dad. Colonel Willetts took the entire block. He was very nice -about it. I--suppose I have to thank you for it.” - -“You don't have to thank me; thank your friend, Mr. Thompson. It is a -good business proposition.” Mr. Leigh nodded, as if his own statement -needed his confirmation. At least that is the way it impressed Tommy. - -“I'm going back to-night, father, and--” - -“So soon?” interrupted Mr. Leigh, quickly. The look of alarm that came -into his eyes vanished before Tommy could see it. - -“Yes, sir. By the way, I have Colonel Willetts's check. He told me I -might get it certified at the bank, but I--I didn't.” Tommy distinctly -remembered why he had not entered the bank. But all he said was, “It was -after banking hours.” - -“If you wish I can have it done and mail it to you.” - -“I'd like to take it back with me,” said Tommy; “but I suppose I can't.” - -“It isn't necessary to have it certified. The bank will surely pay it. -You would like to take it with you and give it to Thompson yourself?” - The old man's hands, unseen by Tommy, clenched tightly. - -“Of course I would,” laughed Tommy, who naturally had dramatized his own -triumphant return to Dayton. - -“There is no reason why you shouldn't, Thomas,” said Mr. Leigh. Then -after a pause, “Particularly if you must return at once.” - -“Yes, I must,” said Tommy. By rights he ought to stay in New York and -live with his father, whose only son he was, the father with whom he -had lived so little since his school days. Then he assured himself that -Marion had nothing to do with his sense of filial duty. - -For a moment Mr. Leigh looked as if he were about to speak, but he -merely shook his head and resumed his newspaper. Tommy went to his room -to pack his suit-case. They had very little to say at dinner. When the -time came for parting, Mr. Leigh's face took on the same look of grim -determination that Tommy remembered so distressingly. - -“My son,” said Mr. Leigh, in the dispirited monotone that also recalled -to Tommy the first time he had heard it, “I do not think you--you -are called upon to suffer unnecessary discomforts. Your--your weekly -remittances to me are doubtless depriving you of--” - -“They are my chief pleasure, dad,” Tommy interrupted, very kindly. “I -send only what I can afford. I am very comfortable. I never felt more -fit. And I--Well, father, you might as well understand that I've simply -got to pay back the money you--you spent for my education.” - -“There is no call upon you to do that. It was my duty. Your education -was to me the most important--” - -“Yes, yes, I understand, dad. But don't you understand how I feel about -it?” Tommy spoke feverishly. He hated to talk about it, for it sharpened -the secret's prod unbearably. And he hated himself for his cowardice in -not talking about it in plain words. - -“I have credited you with what you've sent,” said Mr. Leigh, so eagerly, -so apologetically, and withal so proudly, that Tommy's heart was -softened. “See?” And the old man took from the table drawer the little -book bound in black morocco and showed Tommy the items on the credit -side. - -“Not as much as I'd like,” said Tommy, bravely trying to speak -pleasantly. - -“But I don't want you to stint yourself. It isn't necessary.” Seeing -Tommy's look of protest, he went on, hurriedly: “I can bear my burden -alone. You are in no way to blame.” - -“Father, all I want to do is to pay back what I owe--” - -“You owe nothing!” - -“I think I do. It has made me work--” - -“I don't want that. You must find pleasure in the work itself, not in -paying my--er--debts, Thomas.” - -“Your debts are my debts,” said Tommy, firmly. “And I do love the work. -I want to do it. If I--even if I didn't feel I owed a penny, I'd still -want to work in Dayton under Thompson, who will surely make me into a -man.” - -“I think you are that already, Thomas.” Mr. Leigh's voice quavered -so that Tommy took a step toward him. “If you continue as you have -begun”--Mr. Leigh's voice was now steady, almost cold--“I shall be quite -satisfied, Thomas.” - -“I'll do my best, father,” said Tommy, fully as firmly. “I'll write you -regularly and keep you informed of my progress. My work is of a peculiar -character, and I can't always be sure I'm making good. As a matter of -fact,” he added, in a burst of frankness, “I'm merely getting paid for -being one of Thompson's Experiments, as they call us at the works.” - -“He is an unusual man. If his experiments should prove successful--” The -old man paused to look sternly at his only son. - -“He says they always do,” smiled Tommy, reassuringly. - -“I pray so, my son,” said Mr. Leigh, quietly. - -“Th' aut'mobile is out there,” announced Maggie. - -“Good-by, dad!” said Tommy, rising hastily. - -Mr. Leigh also rose. He was frowning. His lips were pressed together -tightly. He held out his hand. It was very cold. Tommy shook it warmly. - -“Good-by, my son,” said Mr. Leigh, sternly. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -LONG before his train arrived in Dayton Tommy firmly fixed his resolve. -All that he had so far done at the Tecumseh was piffling; the real work -was before him. His first definite, concrete task--his mission to New -York--had been accomplished, but he saw very clearly that his success -did not entitle him to much credit. It was not business ability or good -salesmanship that had placed the stock, but sheer luck--the luck of -having for his best friend Rivington Willetts, whose father happened to -be an extremely rich man. But even with that luck he would have failed -but for his father's forethought in supplying the information that -intelligent investors required. He was conscious of a regret that he had -not tried to interest Mr. Mead or Mr. Wilson, or some of the others in -his list, to establish definitely whether or not he was a financier. - -He could not help the intrusion into his meditations of one disturbing -thought. His father worried him. The poor old man certainly had acted -queerly. It was quite obvious that long brooding over the secret had -affected his father's mind. This made the situation more serious. Every -day it grew more complicated, more menacing, more desirable to end it -once for all. And yet Tommy could not make up his mind to confide in -Thompson. Somehow the problem was not up squarely for solution. The need -to ask Mr. Thompson's aid seemed less and less urgent as the train drew -nearer and nearer to Dayton, exactly as a toothache, after raging all -night, vanishes in the dentist's office at the first glimpse of the -forceps. This thought made Tommy reproach himself for rank cowardice. -But the excuse-seeking instinct of inexperienced youth made him -instantly see his father as a loving father, who had done for his only -son what his only son was so sorry he had done. And that love made it -impossible not to shield him. It was not alone Tommy's secret, but his -father's--theirs jointly. - -It was not cowardice that decided Tommy. Nevertheless, he must be a man. -Therefore, Tommy's problem changed itself into the simple proposition of -working hard and doing his best. Then, whatever came, he would take -it like a man. He forgot that he had already decided to do so several -times. And so, toward the end, he became very impatient to reach the -Tecumseh shop, where the work was that must be his salvation. - -He went straight to the office and, learning that Mr. Thompson was -there, walked into the private office--without knocking, of course. - -“Hello, Tommy! I thought you were in New York,” said Thompson. He did -not offer to shake hands, but that merely made Tommy feel that he really -had not been away from Dayton at all. It, therefore, pushed New York at -least five thousand miles eastward. - -“Well, I got the check,” began Tommy, very calmly, as though it were -nothing unusual. - -But Thompson did not smile at the boyish pose. He asked, quickly, “Not -checks?” and emphasized the plural. - -“The stock will be apportioned later,” explained Tommy, hastily, -realizing that Thompson had intended him to interest several people. -“They are all friends, sir.” - -“Tell me all about it,” said Thompson. And Tommy did. In order not to -have to explain at all what he could not explain in full, he did not -mention his father's participation. - -“Well, Tommy,” Mr. Thompson spoke musingly, “you are a lucky boy. Guard -against it. Try to feel that you must earn your successes, even if -you don't have to work as hard as other men. Otherwise, they will mean -nothing to you. And now what do you propose to do?' - -“Get a receipt for the money. The stock is to be made out to John B. -Kendrick.” - -“Go to Holland and tell him what you want done. If you have no other -plans--” He looked inquiringly at Tommy. - -“No, sir,” hastily said Tommy. - -“Your job is still Door Opener.” - -“Very well, sir.” Tommy tinned to go, but Thompson called to him. - -“Tommy!” - -“Yes, sir?” - -“I'm glad to see you back.” And Thompson held out his hand. Tommy shook -it. He had received neither praise nor congratulations, but he knew now -that this was the place for him. - -“If you can, after you're done with Holland, come back here and I'll -show you some architectural drawings that have just come in, of the new -shop.” - -“I'll hurry back,” said Tommy, happily. - -He hastened down-town to the Tecumseh Building, saw Bob Holland, the -treasurer of the company, gave him the check, got his receipt, told him -to make out the stock certificates to John B. Kendrick, and received the -promise that the certificates would go to New York within an hour. - -Thompson was busy with some visitors when Tommy returned to the office, -and Tommy gladly took advantage of the opportunity to walk round the -shop, delighted to see the friends of whom he had forgotten to think in -New York, but who, nevertheless, were so glad to see him. This was the -place in life, where he could be the new Tommy Leigh to his heart's -content. - -Then he went into the experimental laboratory to see Bill Byrnes. All -that Bill said was, “Well?” - -Tommy nodded nonchalantly. - -“Go on!” said Bill, impatiently. - -“Got it!” said Tommy. - -“All?” - -“Yep!” - -“Fine!” said Bill, and Tommy knew he meant it. - -“How about you, Bill?” - -“Not yet, but soon,” replied Bill, with calm assurance. “She vaporizes -at higher speed. She's doing over twelve hundred now.” - -“Great-oh!” cried Tommy, looking at the engine. It was running smoothly. - -How could he ever think that any other place was fit for a man, a -real man, to live in? How? But he didn't even try to answer his own -unanswerable question. He called on La Grange and Nevin and other -comrades and conversed joyously with them. Then he went back to Mr. -Thompson's office. - -Thompson led him into the adjoining room. There on the table were a lot -of blue prints. Mr. Thompson showed him the plans and the elevations of -the new buildings. - -They were wonderful, thought Tommy. He was so glad to see them, so proud -of them, that he said: - -“Say, Mr. Thompson, what's the reason I can't show these drawings to the -men? They'll be quite excited about them--” - -“What's your real notion, Tommy?” asked Mr. Thompson, a trifle -rebukingly. - -Tommy, in point of fact, had assumed only that the men would be as -interested as he himself was. How could they help it? But Thompson's -question made him instantly perceive Thompsonian possibilities--as -perhaps Thompson had meant him to. - -“Well, if our men are going to feel like a family we ought to make a -family affair out of everything that concerns us all. Let me show them -where we are all going to work. In fact, I think I ought to have some -information to take to them every day. Then I'll get them used to my -job.” - -Tommy began to see more and more possibilities the more he thought about -them. - -“You see, they will know I'm on the inside, and I'll tell them all I -know. That will make them feel they are on the inside, too. And they -know I am for them first and last, and will feel--” - -“Hold on. Don't get excited. You are taking it for granted that they are -all as interested in this as you are.” - -“Why shouldn't I take it for granted?” challenged Tommy, out of the -fullness of his inexperience. - -“There is no answer to that, Tommy,” said Thompson, gravely. “Why -shouldn't you, indeed?” - -Tommy looked at Thompson to see if there were a hidden meaning to -his words. He saw only a pair of bright, steady, brown eyes full of -comprehension. - -“Go on,” said Thompson. - -“I'm going to make them feel that it will be something to work in the -new Tecumseh plant long before that plant is ready.” - -“You'll have to hustle,” smiled Thompson. “Work begins Monday.” - -“Do the men know it?” - -“No; I decided only to-day.” - -“Then let me tell them now, please.” - -“Go ahead, Tommy.” Thompson spoke so seriously that Tommy knew he was on -the right track. - -“What about the drawings?” - -“I'll have some printed for you at once,” Thompson promised, and Tommy's -soul filled with self-confidence. - -And it was along those lines that Tommy worked during the days that -followed. He made of himself a sort of animated bulletin-board of good -news and inside information about the new machinery and the provisions -for the comfort and safety of the men in the shops. He told them about -the plans under consideration for bonuses and pensions--all in strict -confidence--and made it plain to them that it would be a great thing for -a man to be able to say that he worked for the Tecumseh Motor Company. - -No money-maker past thirty would have dreamed of assuming that the -workmen already felt a direct, personal, family interest in the new shop -and the new era. He talked to these, his friends, as though they were -all Tommy Leighs. It was a nice boy's deed; and the men who very clearly -saw his boyishness saw also his sincerity. If they thought that he was -mistaken they blamed Thompson for making Tommy believe in dreams. -Then they thought it would be a shame if the boy ever discovered the -deception. And next they thought perhaps there was no deception on -Thompson's part. And, anyhow, they liked Tommy, and that made them -believe Tommy might not be wrong, after all; so that in the end it was -not so difficult for them to share his enthusiasm. Of course there -were the constitutional skeptics and the peevish sages who asked for -impossible details, and the blithe American unbelievers in miracles. -But these only made Tommy feel more friendly by making him feel more -concerned over their own salvation, which he continued to offer them -daily. For this boy had known suffering and fear and the vital need of -money with which to purchase peace; and in his craving to do right he -took the risk of assuming that people were good. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - - -“TOMMY was talking to La Grange, or rather listening to the engineer, -who was telling him how Bill Byrnes had become a highbrow scientist. -La Grange, whose technical studies had been pursued in this country and -abroad, had become a college lecturer for Bill's benefit. - -“You wouldn't recognize Bill. Not a peep from him when he is -interrupted. He thinks time is no object. I told him yesterday he worked -like a man who is paid by the day, with the boss away on a vacation, and -he just nodded. He isn't annoyed because he has not yet revolutionized -the industry.” - -“Will he land it, do you think?” - -“I don't know. It's promising. I think he is on the right track, but the -job seems more difficult to me than to him. Still he seems to have the -instinct. Revolutions come and go without revoluting for shucks. There's -where Thompson is a wonder. We've been after Thompson to make certain -improvements these past two years, and he put us off with pleasant -words. He was right--we weren't ready for him. And when we thought that -some time in 1925 we'd have a beautiful model, he suddenly informs us -that he is now ready. I tell you, Tommy, Thompson--” - -An office-boy came in and said to Tommy, “Mr. Thompson wants you.” - -Tommy, his arm about Freddy's neck--he had hired Freddy--walked to Mr. -Thompson's office. His heart was free from care. Bill was happy and at -work. La Grange had confirmed his own suspicions of Thompson's genius; -work on the foundation of the new plant had begun, and the future was -bright. - -Thompson was seated at his desk, talking to Grosvenor and Holland, who -were standing. As Tommy entered the men looked at him, and started a -trifle hastily to leave the room. - -Tommy said, “Good afternoon,” brightly, and both Holland, the treasurer, -and Mr. Grosvenor nodded in reply. Their eyes lingered on Tommy a -moment, a look of curiosity and something else besides, something -else that Tommy could scarcely call unfriendly, and yet that was not -friendly, as if they didn't quite see the Tommy Leigh they used to know. - -Mr. Thompson did not look up at Tommy. He was staring at the pen-tray on -his desk. - -“You sent for me, Mr. Thompson?” asked Tommy. - -“Yes.” Still Thompson did not look up. - -The atmosphere of the office suddenly changed for Tommy. It was now full -of distinct unfriendliness. It filled him with that depressing curiosity -which is half apprehension and grows fearward with every second of -silence. - -Presently Thompson raised his head and looked at Tommy. In his steady -brown eyes there was neither friendliness nor hostility, neither warmth -nor coldness. Their expression was what it might have been if he had -looked casually at a chair in the corner of the room. - -“Leigh,” he began, and his use of the surname made Tommy's heart skip -a beat, “you have succeeded in making me doubt my ability to read -character.” - -Tommy was certain there was a mistake somewhere. He evolved a dozen -theories in a flash, even one that somebody had deliberately planned a -trick to ruin him, some devilishly ingenious frame-up. - -“H-how is th-that, sir?” asked Tommy, and he could have killed himself -for the stammering and the huskiness that made his own voice sound -guilty. And Thompson--was Thompson no longer a friend? - -Thompson looked at Tommy with a meditative expression that had in -it enough accusation to make Tommy square his shoulders and look Mr. -Thompson full in the eyes. - -“I have followed your orders to the best of my ability. You knew how -little I knew.” Tommy's voice was firm. - -“You can't even guess what makes me say what I have said to you?” - Thompson's voice did not express incredulity, but it was not pleasant. - -“No, sir. I know it's a mistake of some sort, and I am afraid it must -be something serious to make you speak the way you do. But I also know -I have done nothing since I came here--or before I came here--that I -wouldn't tell you.” - -“Nothing?” persisted Thompson. - -“Nothing,” said Tommy, firmly, “for which you can hold me personally -responsible.” There was only one thing that he had not told Thompson, -and he was not to blame for it, though he expected to suffer for it and -always had expected it. - -For the first--and the last--time in his life Tommy actually saw Mr. -Thompson shake his head as if puzzled. - -“Holland received by express from New York this morning the twenty stock -certificates of a hundred shares each made out to John B. Kendrick. A -letter came with them from Colonel van Schaick Willetts requesting us -to transfer on our books eighteen hundred shares, as per indorsement, -to one man, and the new certificates turned over to that one man and a -receipt therefor obtained from him and sent to New York. Do you know the -name of that one man?” - -“No, sir, unless it was Colonel Willetts himself.” - -“The name,” Thompson said, slowly, his eyes fixed on Tommy's, “was -Thomas Francis Leigh.” Tommy looked at Thompson in such utter amazement -that Thompson looked serious. He hated mysteries, and this mystery -doubly irritated him because it concerned his company, and because it -concerned one of his pet experiments. - -“I see you really don't, know what it means. But can't you guess?” - -“No, sir,” answered Tommy. “Perhaps Colonel Willetts has written to me -about it, but I haven't received the letter. Shall I telegraph him? I -can't understand it, Mr. Thompson.” Tommy was no longer alarmed, only -mystified. And he was conscious, notwithstanding the confusion in his -mind, of an all-pervading feeling of relief. - -Thompson rose from his chair and stood up beside Tommy. “Now, Tommy,” he -said, “go over the whole thing in your mind from the beginning, step by -step.” - -Feeling himself reinstated by the use of his first name, Tommy became -calm. “I can't see why he should do it unless he wants to make me -personally responsible in some way--” - -Thompson shook his head. “It isn't that, Tommy. Would he make you a -present of the stock? You know your personal relations with him and -his family. He is a very rich man, I understand. The other two hundred -shares are to be made out to Rivington Willetts and Marion Willetts.” - -Tommy thought of how Marion had interested herself in the matter; but -not more so than Rivington. The colonel might have given to Tommy a -hundred shares; but even so, ten thousand dollars was too big a gift, -let alone a hundred and eighty thousand. - -“I don't think it possible. I am sure it isn't a gift. He, moreover, -promised to interest other friends of mine. I can't understand it.” - -“Tommy, discard obvious impossibilities, but remember that the -improbable is always possible. Think calmly. Take your time and don't -look so infernally troubled. Because somebody has transferred a block of -stock to you is no sign you have committed a crime.” - -Tommy started electrically. He recalled his father's vehement desire -that his son should not fail to place the stock, his visit to Colonel -Willetts's office, notwithstanding Tommy's urgent requests for -non-intervention, his insane determination to have Tommy succeed. He -remembered also Colonel Willetts's early confession that the deal did -not interest him in a business way, and his inexplicable good nature -at the second interview; his promise that he would himself see that the -stock was apportioned later among Tommy's friends' fathers; the utter -unbusinesslike quality of the entire affair. It was all plain to Tommy -now. There was only one explanation. His quick imagination proceeded to -dramatize it. Then, boy-like, he melodramatized it. - -His father had done it. His success in averting discovery for years, -by making him feel safe against the danger that Tommy so poignantly -dreaded, had made the trusted bank employee play for a last huge stake. -To help his son at any cost had become not a habit, but an obsession. A -madman had done this. But would the world so consider it? - -“Mr. Thompson?” he exclaimed, miserably. - -“Yes, my boy.” - -“I--I--” - -“Do you think you know now?” - -“N--no. But I--I must return to New York--at once--to-night!” - -“Can you tell me--” - -“I can't because I don't--know for sure.” He bit his lip. - -Thompson pulled out his pocket-book, took some yellowbacks from it, gave -them to Tommy, and said: “A train leaves in forty minutes. Take my car, -outside. Get your things. Come back from New York with the explanation. -It is time you had it. If there isn't any explanation, come back anyhow. -Tell me as much as you please--or nothing at all. It will make no -difference to us here. We know you, Tommy, even if I did you an -injustice for a moment, though I really couldn't see how I had made a -mistake.” - -“I hope you haven't,” said Tommy. The time must come when Thompson would -know all. - -“And, by the way, I'll take the stock off your hands at a slight--” - -“It isn't mine--” - -“No matter whose it is, I'll take it at a hundred and five. That will -give you or your friends--” - -“No, sir. I must find out--” - -“You do what I tell you. At a hundred and five--two hundred and ten -thousand dollars,” said Thompson, sternly. “But you come back here, do -you hear? You are becoming really valuable to us. Run along now.” - -Tommy wrung Thompson's hand, pocketed the hundred dollars his chief had -given him and, unable to speak, rushed from the office. - -He caught his train, but Dayton was far behind him before he was able -to think coherently of the affair. The more calmly he thought, the more -certain he became that his father was responsible. It gave him not a new -problem to solve, but the conviction that the old problem plus this new -phase must be settled once for all. He could not live through another -six months like the last. - -So he thought of the last six months. He remembered how, after his -father's confession, the secret had appeared before him, a flaming sword -in its hand. It had driven him out of New York. He had sought respite -in Dayton, and there he had become a man, in this new world that was all -the world there could now be for him. - -The secret, therefore, had given to him not only the will, but the power -to fight now. He had Thompson for an ally--Thompson, who had said, “Come -back with or without an explanation”; Thompson, who would understand, -as no other man could understand, how his father had been prompted to do -this evil deed by nothing more evil than a great and unreasoning love. -And the great and unreasoning love had changed the mind that could think -of nothing but to fulfil at any cost his promises to a dead wife. Oh, -Thompson would surely understand! - -Yet he could not say that his father was legally insane. He was, in -fact, a keen and shrewd man, who had surprised Tommy with his advice as -to what he should tell Willetts. But on one subject his father was as -irresponsible as a child. That was it--a child. And Tommy found himself -reversing their positions, until Mr. Leigh was the son and Tommy the -father, whose duty it was to protect the poor boy. - -Well, Tommy would tell his father that the stock must be given up and -the money refunded, and nobody would be blamed, at least not by Tommy. -It was his duty to undo the mischief. Not knowing how it was done, -he could not tell how it might be undone. Tommy wished he might ask -Thompson for advice. He regretted not having taken Thompson into his -confidence; and then ceased to regret it when he considered that he -could have given no data of value to Thompson. He would learn the facts -and then he could talk to Thompson intelligently. He must do it as -quickly as possible, because he was no longer impelled by the fear of -what the world might think, but by the conviction that he must do his -duty at any cost, in undoing the wrong done to the bank. - -This new attitude of Tommy's toward the tragedy of his life robbed -the secret of most of its terrors. His hands were now clean--and his -father's were smeared with love! Motive was everything--Tommy's and Mr. -Leigh's. And in excusing his father Tommy did not condone the offense, -but did better--forgave it! And the difference between forgiveness this -time and the forgiveness he had granted whenever he had thought of his -father's love was that this time Tommy forgave after he had determined -deliberately to do what might make the secret public property. He was no -longer thinking of self. - -He arrived shortly after midday on Thursday. His father had not come -from the bank. Tommy decided not to call on Colonel Willetts until after -he had talked to his father. And he would not seek his father in the -bank, although he was so impatient to settle the affair that he found -waiting an appalling strain on his overwrought nerves. - -All manner of discomforting thoughts assailed him as he waited--thoughts -that almost made his resolution waver. Suppose discovery, by some -devilish chance, already had come on this very day? Supposing Tommy was -too late, and the virtue gone out of his own desire to be himself the -one to end the suspense? It would be the final blow if Tommy, in being -himself the assassin of his own career, could not thereby save his own -soul! Tommy wandered restlessly about the house, going from room -to room. He saw his mother's photograph on the library table, and -visualized the long and lonely days of the poor old man in this home -without a wife, in this house without a son, with no companion save the -consciousness of his loneliness and of his deeds--a great love paid for -in the fear and the horror of discovery. - -“Poor dad!” said Tommy, aloud, and went into his father's bedroom. On -the bureau was another photograph of Tommy's mother. And then the long, -gray history of the old man unrolled itself even more vividly before the -boy's soul, until his throat lumped achingly and the tears came into his -eyes. He could not speak; he dared not think. So he passed his hand over -his father's pillow instinctively, caressingly, smoothed it and patted -it mechanically. - -“Poor dad! Poor dad!” he muttered to the ghost of his father that was in -the room with him. - -He must not speak brutally to his father. He would wait until after -supper. Then in the library, very quietly, with his arm about the old -bent shoulders, he would say: “Dad, why did you do it a second time? Let -us go about it calmly and undo it, so that we may both feel better.” - -It would be easier than he had feared. It was not so difficult to be -square, once you have made up your mind. Tommy felt a great sense of -relief. He heard the front door open and close, and he hastened from the -library. From the top of the stairs he shouted: - -“Hello, dad! Here I am!” - -He saw his father start violently and look up, and then he remembered -he had not telegraphed. He ran down the stairs with right hand -outstretched. - -He saw the look of alarm in Mr. Leigh's eyes change to fear, and then to -something worse. - -“What--what--” gasped the old man. - -“Oh, I wanted to see you,” said Tommy, and shook his father's icy-cold -hand violently. - -“Has the company--Have you--lost your position?” - -“No.” - -“Then why are you here?” The old man's voice still betrayed -apprehension, but on his face was a stem frown. - -“I'll tell you--after supper.” - -“No, no; I must know at once! What is it, Thomas?” - -He walked into the old-fashioned front parlor and confronted his son. -Tommy saw the old man who was his father, took in the pale face and the -tightly compressed lips. - -It was a signed confession. His heart sank, but it came back, buoyed on -the ocean of love and pity and tenderness that filled his soul. - -“Dad,” said Tommy, huskily, “I am not blaming you. Nothing that you have -done and nothing that you can do can make me forget that I am your son -and that you have done it for me--and for my mother.” - -“What do you mean?” asked Mr. Leigh, and did not look at his son. - -“It's this. Yesterday Mr. Thompson called me in and told me that -eighteen hundred shares of Tecumseh stock had been transferred from -Kendrick's, Colonel Willetts's confidential clerk, to my name.” Tommy -looked at his father to see what effect his words might have. Even at -the last moment he hoped to see astonishment. - -But Mr. Leigh nodded feverishly and said: “Yes, yes! And then what?” - -“Mr. Thompson asked me what it meant, so I said I didn't know. I -couldn't explain.” - -“So you couldn't! So you couldn't!” as though he blamed the others for -expecting it. - -“I was afraid to explain,” said Tommy, slowly, “because I assumed it--it -was you who did it. Was it, father?” - -Tommy tried to speak calmly, in the vain hope that by so doing he would -think calmly. But his heart was beating furiously and his very soul -within him was in a quiver. And still so strong was hope that Tommy, who -had lost hope, hoped his father would deny. - -Mr. Leigh said nothing, but stared at Tommy almost blankly. - -“Was it, father?” - -The old man nodded slowly. - -“Why did you do it, dad? Why did you?” asked Tommy, bitterly. Then he -remembered what he had decided to do, and his bitterness turned into -grief. He approached his father and put an arm about him and repeated, -brokenly: “Oh, dad, why did you do it? Why did you?” - -He felt a great shudder run through the old shoulders, and that made him -clasp them the tighter. - -“I--I felt you deserved it, Thomas. And I thought you--you would like -it.” - -“How could you think such a thing when you knew how I felt about the -money you had--you had spent for me, that I was trying to pay back?” - -“I thought only,” said the old man, in the dispirited monotone that -Tommy now associated with a confession of guilt and an attempt to excuse -the inexcusable, “that your mother would have been so proud of you, a -stockholder in the company, an owner as well as an employee, earning -your wages like an honest man.” Mr. Leigh nodded to himself again and -again. - -“But, father, how could I allow it? How could you think--” - -“I am your father. Willetts would take only the two hundred shares he -had promised to take for his children. I knew your heart was set upon -raising the money, and that you would have been disappointed with -your certain failure with your other friends, so I--I told Willetts to -subscribe for the whole two thousand shares and to tell you he would -distribute them later. I would take the rest. I knew you wanted it, -Thomas. And being himself a father, he understood. I spoke to some -friends and they were willing, but they were not your friends; and then -I thought, 'Why shouldn't my only son own that stock himself?' And so -it's your stock. It's paid for and nobody can take it away from you.” He -paused. Then he repeated. “Nobody can take it away from you!” and looked -defiantly at his only son. - -Tommy's heart sank; but he shook his head kindly and, as one speaks to a -child, said: “Well, I'll have to give it up. Mr. Thompson said he would -buy the stock back himself--” - -“Certainly not!” interrupted Mr. Leigh, decidedly. - -“At an advance of five per cent., father.” - -“Certainly not. It's your stock, bought and paid for--” - -The stubborn look on Mr. Leigh's face made Tommy interrupt sternly: - -“Yes, but paid for with what money?” - -The old man started. He seemed suddenly to remember something now for -the first time. He waved his hand as though he were brushing away an -annoying insect. Then he said, firmly: - -“Willetts got his money. It was arranged that the stock would be -transferred to whatever name I gave him. He didn't give the money to -you. I gave it to him--a hundred and eighty thousand dollars, as I had -agreed.” - -Tommy was so sure now that he was right in all he had surmised that his -own resolutions came back to him.. He looked at his father steadily and -forgivingly. What he had planned to do must be done. The secret must -become public property. Then the agony would be ended. - -“I understand perfectly, dad; but it makes a difference where the money -came from.” - -“It came from your father,” retorted Mr. Leigh, sternly. - -“Yes, I know all that. But where did my father get it?” said Tommy, -patiently. - -The old man took a step toward his son and checked himself abruptly. - -“I took it,” he spoke in a low voice, “from the bank.” - -Tommy's heart stopped beating. He had known there could be no other -explanation, and yet this was really the first as it was the final -confirmation. That his father was not in his right mind Tommy knew now. -Long years of brooding--and the habit of taking! Unfortunate success in -averting discovery had made him feel safe. Tommy craved to ask Thompson -for advice. If Thompson were only here he would know what questions to -ask and what remedies to suggest. If Thompson were only in New York! - -But he wasn't and Tommy was, and Tommy must fight alone. He must fight -the president of the bank--but not his own father! - -“Then we'll have to put the money back in the bank, dad--don't you see?” - -“Put it back?” repeated Mr. Leigh. - -“Certainly. There is nothing else for us to do. And the question now -is how must we go about it so that--so that we can put it back?” Tommy -carefully included himself in the operation, because he wished his -father to know that he considered himself just as guilty. They stood -together in this. - -“Why must we put it back?” persisted Mr. Leigh. - -Tommy checked his impatience and answered, “Because you took it from the -bank--” - -The look of grim resolution that Tommy had often seen came into his -father's face. The fight must be against senile stubbornness! - -“I took it from the bank”--and the old man's voice, belying his grimly -resolute look, sank to a whisper--“because I had it on deposit there. It -was idle.” - -“Huh?” grunted Tommy. - -“It was drawing no interest, and I could think of no better investment -than to devote it to my only son's happiness,” finished Mr. Leigh, -quietly. - -“What are you saying, father?” cried Tommy, And then his sudden hope -burst into pieces and vanished. His father was insane; his words -furnished irrefutable proof. Tommy realized he must do nothing in a -hurry. He must telephone to Thompson. - -“I am saying that I had no better use for the money, and so I bought -the Tecumseh stock for you. A great deal of money has been made in -automobile manufacturing, and all my advices were that your friend -Thompson was a man of high character and undoubted business ability.” - -Tommy's mind was in a daze. This came from trying to think of too -many things too quickly, and at the same time trying not to let an -unwarranted sense of relief fill his soul, as it was violently seeking -to do. He shook his head; and then he blinked his eyes again and again -and stared at his father, gradually realizing that his father's eyes -were not gleaming insanely. Indeed, he now perceived that they were -looking at him, curiously proud and most curiously diffident. - -“I don't understand--” began Tommy, with an impatient shake of the head. - -“And you never will, my son,” interrupted Mr. Leigh, gently. “I pray God -you never will!” - -The words were so incomprehensible that Tommy asked, excitedly: - -“Father, won't you please tell me about the money? Was it yours or the -bank's; and what--” - -“Mine--_in_ the bank. Did you think it was not mine, Thomas?” The -old man looked at his son, and Tommy could see neither reproach nor -accusation in his father's eyes. - -“What else could I think?” said Tommy. “What else have I thought--” - -Mr. Leigh held up a hand to check his son's speech. - -“Wait! Remember my exact words. When I told you what my salary from the -bank was and how you had cost me seventeen thousand dollars, you asked -me how I did it.” - -“Yes. And you said--” - -“Wait! I asked you in return what an old and trusted bank employee -usually did when he spent more than he received from the bank.” - -“Yes; but you knew I naturally understood--” - -“Wait! You assumed, as you say, naturally, that I had taken the money -from the bank.” - -“What else--” - -“That I had stolen the money?” - -“What else could I think when you--” - -“Wait! And so, my son, all these months in Dayton your thought was that -you were the son of a thief?” - -“There was no other--” began Tommy, with an impersonal indignation that -rang in his voice. - -“Wait! I have another question to ask you, Thomas. All these months, -have you loved that thief?” Mr. Leigh looked at Tommy with eyes so -fiercely hungry that Tommy answered very quickly: - -“Of course I did.” Then he added, huskily: “Sure thing, daddy. But it -was--” - -“Wait!” interrupted Mr. Leigh, very sternly now. “Since we are talking -on this subject you might as well hear me out. God bless you, my son, -for that love. I can tell you now what I feared I might never be able to -tell you. I can tell you, because you loved me when I was not worthy -of your love.” There was a pause. Then Mr. Leigh looked at Tommy -unflinchingly and said, “Thomas, you _are_ the son of a thief!” - -The world once more crashed down about Tommy's head. His breath failed -him. Darkness came. But as a stricken man might say it, with his last -breath, Tommy said: - -“I don't care! You are my father--” - -“I am your father, yes,” said Mr. Leigh, gravely. “And for that reason, -in order that you may live your own life wisely, I should like to tell -you all. Will you listen patiently, my son, while I make my confession?” - -In his father's voice Tommy detected a pleading note that went to his -heart and increased the boy's agony. - -“Yes, father,” said Tommy Leigh, wearily, “I'll listen.” - -“My son, I loved your mother as I pray you may love your wife. But -I loved you also--as she did--even before you came to us, her love -compelling mine. And when she went from us, my son, I did not follow -her, because my love for her, which had not died, made me live in order -that I might do as she had planned for me to do--devote my life to my -son, who also was hers. In you she lived and I lived, feeling her -near me. You will not understand this, my son; you cannot, having no -sons--not having one son who meant so much more to me than merely _my_ -son--_her_ son! No, you cannot understand.” - -Mr. Leigh looked meditatively at his son and shook his head, slowly. But -Tommy said: - -“Yes, I can, dad!” - -“No, my son, for in you I saw the accomplishment of her desires, the -fulfilment of her wishes. It meant life--the opportunity for my love to -continue to be what it always was; not a withered flower on her grave, -Thomas, but a blossom perennially fresh! Through you I could talk to her -in the one language that I knew she would hear and would understand. And -so all my thoughts were of her because they were all of you--as hers -had been, my son, long before her eyes had seen your baby face; as they -doubtless are this minute!” The old man rose abruptly, walked to the -window and stared out of it a long time, his arms folded tightly across -his breast. And Tommy, feeling within his inmost soul the reverberation -of the words he had heard, sat there, his soul awestruck by the -intensity of his own feelings; the words that regrouped themselves -into phrases that sounded unreal--not stilted, but unreal, as though no -living man could utter them with living lips. - -And then Tommy realized that the father to whom he had felt it his -duty to be loyal was not the man who had spoken in the voice and in the -language of a man from another world. Therefore, it was plain to Tommy -now that he had not loved his father with a true instinct, but rather -from the force of convention and habit. And this growing conviction -gave to Tommy an uncomfortable sense of aloofness from real love, not -entirely of his own making, but for which he was responsible. Real love -would have divined such a love as this. - -“Father!” cried Tommy, and approached the old man, who was staring out -of the window, unseeingly. - -Mr. Leigh turned, and Tommy saw that his face was composed. The pallor -was still there, but it did not have quite the same unhealthy aspect. -And when Mr. Leigh motioned him to a chair Tommy perceived that he -wished to say more and say it calmly. So Tommy sat down and tried to -look calm. But the smile on the boy's lips was not so encouraging as he -meant it to be by reason of the tremulousness of the lips. The old man -sat beside him and spoke gently. - -“At the bank my thoughts were only of the close of day when I could talk -to your mother--through you, my son. I made mistakes in my work and was -reproved--and forgiven by the president, who had known her and knew what -she had been to me. And as you grew older and the time drew nearer for -carrying out the plans she had formed for your upbringing, I realized -suddenly the danger that confronted both you and me, a danger so -insidious and withal so great that it unnerved me. And that danger, my -son, was my love for you.” - -He paused and frowned. He nodded to himself grimly, at the recollection -of the danger. But when he looked at his son's face, he ceased to frown -and went on, earnestly, as if he would not only explain, but defend -himself. - -“That love, I saw clearly, could make me false to her as well as to you, -and, therefore, to myself. I saw that I was bound to be the greatest -sufferer, for my punishment would be a regret more bitter than death. -But when I realized it I asked her to understand why I would do what I -must do to save you from me. That was, my boy, to keep my love for you -under control--a thing impossible to all but a man who loved, as I did, -two in one. You were four years old at the time and cannot remember, -but I spoke to you. I asked you to become the telephone through which I -might speak to your mother, who was in heaven, waiting for both of us. -You were very glad, I remember, and I held your hand to my ear and I -whispered to you to tell her that I would keep my promise to her. You -repeated the words after me. And--and--I kept my promise, my son!” - -The old man nodded to himself, oblivious of his big son's presence, as -Tommy could see. The boy's hand reached for his father's and the old man -clutched it tightly. - -“Have--have you understood so far, my boy?” he asked, softly. - -“Yes, dad. And I can't tell you how I feel--as if I had never loved you -before. But now--” - -“Wait until you have heard all,” commanded Mr. Leigh. - -“No matter what you did--” began Tommy, firmly. - -“Wait! So that very day I changed my outward attitude toward you. You -will never know what I suffered when I moved your crib and made you -sleep in your own room, you who had never been away from my side a -moment in this house. You asked me why, and I told you that you were -a big man now and must be brave and sleep in your own bed in your own -room, like a man. And you agreed--so bravely, my boy! And I told you -that thereafter we must shake hands when we said good night, knowing -that if I kissed you I could not let you go! I never kissed you good -night after that--always shook hands. But before I wait to bed, when you -were asleep, I would go to your little bed and I'd bend down and put my -lips as close to your cheek as I could without touching it--to learn to -be undemonstrative in my affection.” The old man ceased to talk, looked -up suddenly, and said, grimly, “I am telling this so that you may -understand what follows.” - -“I don't care what follows,” cried Tommy. “No matter what you did--” - -“Wait! So I began to acquire self-control by teaching myself to be -undemonstrative, and I succeeded. But as the time came for me to begin -to think of your boarding-school I saw an insurmountable obstacle in the -way of keeping my promise to your mother. She had picked out expensive -schools that had grown even more expensive. I had no money, but I -resolved that you should go, no matter how or where I got the money. My -salary would not enable me to do it, so the problem was how to get the -money. I couldn't see how I could get it by working harder, and I could -not obtain a better position. I knew there was much money in the world, -and while brooding on how little I had I decided that if I couldn't get -it in any other way I would take it from the bank. I needed very -little, and, moreover, it was not for myself. Oh yes,” said the old man, -wearily, “I fought against it--fought not so much against my conscience -as against my love for your mother and my love for you; and both urged -me to disregard my inhibitions. It was love, not envy or greed, -that made me decide to take the money from the bank. I did not seek -self-extenuation. I rejected cowardly compromises. I did not tell -myself that I would borrow the money. I would take it and pay for your -education. Beyond that there was no need to think. I feared your mother -would not approve, but I did not talk to her about that--only that you -would have what she had always wished you to have. But my concern was to -insure the payment of your bills for ten years. I did not wish to steal -a large sum and run away, because then I could not live in this house -where she had lived with me. So I must successfully cover my operations -over several years. By not thinking of it as a crime I was able to think -exclusively of how to do it without danger of detection.” - -The old man paused. When he went on it was more calmly. “It was a -difficult and complicated problem, one of the hardest that I have ever -faced, but in time I found how I could solve it. I went over my solution -methodically and painstakingly, checking up every possible contingency, -until I knew it was perfect. The accumulated wisdom and experience of -generations of experts had gone to providing safeguards, but I saw -how human ingenuity, directed by love, could foil human ingenuity when -directed merely by the desire to retain possession. And at last, knowing -that your education would be fully provided for by my action, I made up -my mind to take the money from the bank when the time came.” - -Mr. Leigh paused. Then, speaking very slowly and deliberately, his eyes -fixed unblinkingly on Tommy's, he went on: “And so, my son, that I might -keep my promise to her, that you might have what she had wished you to -have and what I wished you to have because she had wished it, I lost -all sense of right and wrong as men understand it, I sloughed off my -inhibitions and forgot the teachings of God--and I stole the money I -needed! I was a thief!” - -“But did you--” began Tommy, tremblingly. - -“I became a thief,” interrupted Mr. Leigh, sternly, “when I decided to -steal, with my eyes wide open to the consequences and my heart full of -joy over being able to give you what I wished. Therefore, you are -the son of a thief, even though the thief didn't physically steal the -money.” - -“You didn't?” cried Tommy, chokingly. - -“My son, if my mind was the mind of a thief and my heart was the heart -of a thief, am I not guilty of having been a thief?” - -“No!” shouted Tommy, very loudly. - -“Oh yes! My pocket did not hold the stolen money. But my heart held the -sin--” - -“Nonsense!” cried Tommy. “Your heart held only love.” - -“And theft!” And Mr. Leigh nodded to himself, affirmatively. - -“Very well. If you are a thief I am one, too.” - -“No, Thomas. Being a boy, with a boy's mind and a boy's fears, you are -assuring yourself that technically you are not the son of a thief. You -are beyond the reach of the law of the land, but I am none the less a -thief. I tell you I took two thousand dollars a year from the bank for -ten years, undetected. I stole it and was glad of it to the extent that -I had made detection humanly impossible. I never”--and Mr. Leigh smiled, -grimly--“went so far as to feel an artist's pride over my exploit. -Indeed, at times I rather regretted the necessity of violating the -trust reposed in me, for without that trust all my cleverness would have -availed nothing. But I tell you that money was in my pocket. I felt it -there for many, many years. Your father was a thief as surely as if a -jury had found him guilty.” - -“And if a jury did his son wouldn't,” said Tommy, eagerly. “And if -anybody calls me the son of a thief I'll admit it--with pride!” - -“Boy, boy, you do not understand,” said Mr. - -Leigh, in a low voice. “You cannot know what it cost me. But I do not -begrudge the cost!” - -“That's what you said, that made me so certain that you had--” Tommy -checked himself abruptly. - -“That I had stolen the money? Well, I did, Thomas,” said Mr. Leigh, -firmly. - -Tommy smiled forgivingly and said, “Tell me now how you did not steal -the money that you spent on me, won't you?” - -“Well, when I saw how, without being discovered, I could take the money, -as soon as I was ready I studied in turn the bank's problem--how to -make it impossible for anybody to steal money; and I found a way of -preventing not only my theft, but other thefts by other people in other -positions. And then, because I wondered why people studied so hard how -to make money and so little how to keep it, I began to study how to -make it. I analyzed some of the bank's most profitable deals and the -operations of our most successful financiers. I saw what capital with -brains could do alone; and then what capital without brains, and then -what brains without capital could do. I found it was not difficult for -brains to make money the moment capital was made aware of the existence -of brains. - -“Then I studied opportunities--and found them. So I went to the -president, who was a personal friend, but too busy to remember personal -friends except in his private office, and had a long talk with him. -A special position was made for me. I changed our system of accounts, -introduced methods and checks that are now in use in nearly all the big -banks, and I became an adviser in certain deals. It seems I had some -gifts in that direction, my son, peculiar to myself and therefore, I -feared, not transmissible to my son. And--well, I made much more than -I had intended to steal; and made it much more easily. But I kept my -nominal salary from the bank exactly what it had been, twenty-five -hundred dollars a year, that I might continue to be an old and trusted -employee--to remind me of what I might have been! It was not hard to -make money. I studied money-making in order not to want to kiss you--you -were about eight then--and I devoted myself to evolving financial plans -for a certain group of capitalists associated with our bank. It was the -only way in which I could love you with safety to myself and to you. -But I prospered so much that I brought upon your head and mine a second -danger, far greater than the love of a father; who, though too weak -to refuse you anything, was too poor to give you the easiest way to -perdition.” The old man looked sternly at his son. “It was the danger of -being the son of a rich man--the same man, but rich!” - -“And is that why at college you always sent what I asked for?” - -“I couldn't help sending you what you asked me for. The moment you -asked I had to send it, my son. But my salvation lay in realizing my -helplessness. I kept close tabs on you at college through friends you -could not suspect, and because the reports were not alarming I did not -disturb you. I merely fought against my desire to give you more than -you asked for, to give you what I could easily afford to give you, what -would have given me pleasure to do by giving pleasure to you. I fought -that desire--and wrote to you about your studies and never mentioned -money, for I did not wish to lie to you. Do you know why, after you were -twelve, you didn't spend your vacation with me? Because I knew that if -you did I could never let you go away from me, and I knew you must go -back to the school your mother had picked out for you. I wanted to give -you tutors, to keep you at home; and that would not have been good for -you and I should have broken my promise. I knew if I let myself go I'd -be lost forever.” - -Mr. Leigh's lips, which he tried to compress, were quivering. Then he -tried to smile, reassuringly, to convince his son that he had not let -himself go after all. - -The old man drew in a deep breath and said, with a pitiful attempt at -playfulness: “That is why I called you Thomas, always Thomas. Now that -you are a man you are Thomas. But you never will know how Thomas sounded -to me when you were ten! When I heard other people call you Tommy I -envied them, for I didn't dare! I didn't dare!” - -Tommy irrepressibly rose from his chair and stood beside his father, who -thereupon rose. And Tommy threw his arms about his father, as a boy does -when he seeks the comfort of his mother's love. - -“Dad! Dad! Poor dad!” - -“Tommy! Tommy! Tommy!” muttered Mr. Leigh, brokenly. “You are a man now -and I can't spoil you by calling you Tommy! I can't can I? My son! Oh, -my son, Tommy!” - -“You can call me anything you please,” said Tommy, brokenly, “so long as -you call me your son.” Tommy was patting the old man's heaving shoulders -protectingly. “It's all right, dad.” Then Tommy, he knew not why, said: -“Call me anything, father! You don't know how much I love you!” - -“Let us be men, my son,” said Mr. Leigh, disengaging Tommy's arms from -about his neck. “Sit down and let us finish our business.” - -Mr. Leigh sat down. His hands were trembling, and his face was wet with -tears. - -“Daddy, you must not lose your grip like that. It's all right,” said -Tommy, brokenly, unaware that his own face was wet. - -“After all these years,” muttered Mr. Leigh, “I--I couldn't help it, -Thomas--Tommy boy.” His eyes were moist with tears and very bright with -a feverish excitement. “Well, let us finish. While I had taken pains -never to let you know I was a rich man--I am not really very rich--I -had never spoken to you about a profession. You did not show a special -liking for any, and after your graduation the decision as to what you -should do with your life confronted me. I wasn't interested in your -business success, but it seemed to me that you ought to do more than -merely take care of what I should leave you. I knew that, barring -accidents, I should live until you were old enough to become the sort of -man you would be after I died. - -“I didn't want you an idler, not even a nice, decent idler with -gentlemanly manners and harmless hobbies. And there was also the danger -that a rich man's son might become what so many nice boys have become, -not entirely through any fault of their own or even of their parents, -but from not having something useful to do. I wanted to see you become -a man. I wanted you to have all the advantages of a boy who has his own -way to make, and I didn't know how. I could not make any argument of -mine convincing enough to myself to induce you to act as though you were -penniless. I didn't wish to make poverty your spur, but I wanted you to -be a poor boy, without my having to refuse you money when I had so much -that I craved to give you if only I could give it safely! So I studied -my problem as I do any business problem. I must do what should bring out -what was best and manliest in you; something to prove whether you were -pure gold or merely yellow. - -“So--I--I tested you, my son--an awful test almost beyond my strength. -You will forgive me if I have embittered some months of your life. But -I suffered more than you--much more, Tommy! Suffered from your absence, -for I saw that you were a man the moment I saw how you took my--my -confession that dreadful morning. But you were a rich man's son and I -had to save you from your own father! The love that had made me a thief -might easily make me a fool!” Tommy shook his head, but his father -continued: “Every time you sent me those remittances from Dayton--Tommy, -Tommy, they nearly killed me! But I allowed you to think that you were -the son of a thief and that you had to make good my crime, knowing that -if you behaved like a man then, you would be a man after you discovered -that you did not have to pay back that money. And you are a man, aren't -you, Tommy?” - -Tommy was conscious of a feeling of relief so great, of a new love so -strong, of a gratitude so deep and a happiness so all-pervading, that -there was no room for regret over what he had gone through when the -secret held a flaming sword over his bare head. Then came poignant -remorse that he had never even dimly realized how great was this love of -which his father had spoken. A man's soul had been bared utterly before -Tommy's gaze--a thing no man can do except under the compulsion of a -love unutterably great. Something was due to that man and the naked soul -of him. - -“Father,” said Tommy, bravely confessing his own misdeed, “I want to -tell you one thing. It may hurt you, but I want you to know it. I never -loved you before. I don't think I was really your son until to-day.” - -“Oh yes, you were,” said Mr. Leigh, hastily. “Yes, you were--my son and -your mother's! And now I can talk to you about her as much as I wish. -I had not dared before. But tell me--what about Dayton? Are you going -back?” - -Tommy for the first time realized that he was a rich man's son. There -was no need to pay back the seventeen thousand dollars. There was no -need to work for wages. But--well, his father would decide and he would -do whatever his father wished. He owed it to his father. - -“I don't know. What do you want me to do, dad?” - -Mr. Leigh could not help seeing Tommy's loving loyalty. - -“What do you wish to do, my son?” he asked, eagerly. - -“Whatever you say,” answered Tommy, firmly. - -“No! No!” Mr. Leigh shook his head violently. “It is for you to decide, -Thomas.” Then he began to snap his fingers, nervously. - -“Well, dad,” said Tommy, slowly, “now that I have found you I don't want -to leave you, somehow.” - -“Don't you, Tommy?” cried the old man, eagerly. He rose and approached -his son with outstretched hands. “Don't you really?” - -Tommy saw his father's quivering hands and the light of a great love in -his eyes. - -“I certainly do not! But--” He shook his head. - -“But what?” asked Mr. Leigh, halting suddenly. “Well, I think I ought to -go back to Dayton.” Tommy thought of the shop, thought of how he -might accomplish what Thompson had wanted him to do, what he now could -accomplish far more easily. “There's work there that I want to do, dad, -and--” - -“And what?” - -“Well, I want to do it. It's a man's job, and I need not think of the -money now, but give myself up to it. But why can't you come with me?” He -brightened happily. “How about it?” - -But Mr. Leigh said, slowly: “Do you want to go back to Dayton?” - -“I do and I don't. I want to be with you and I want to be in Dayton.” - -“But you will go to Dayton?” - -“After awhile, if--if you'll let me.” - -Mr. Leigh's lips came together firmly as if he would force himself to be -silent. - -“I do not begrudge the cost, my son!” said Mr. Leigh, in a voice that -rang with gratitude. “I am very happy, for if you had not been what you -are--” - -“Dinner is ready, sorr,” announced Maggie. “Come on, dad,” said Tommy, -taking his father's arm in his and finding great comfort in feeling it -so near him. - -But Mr. Leigh disengaged his arm gently. - -“My son, will you invite me to dine with you at your club? You are a man -now, and safe, and--and--I should like to be your guest before you go -back to Dayton!” - - -THE END - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Last Penny, by Edwin Lefevre - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAST PENNY *** - -***** This file should be named 51966-0.txt or 51966-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/9/6/51966/ - -Produced by David Widger from page images generously -provided by Google Books - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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