Istoppedshort。IcouldnottellhimwhyIdidnotanchor。Helaughedaloud。
　　"That’sallright，"hesaid。"IguessMabel’sstoryisnearenoughtothetruthforallpracticalpurposes。Mrs。Paine，"withasuddenchangetoseriousness，"youcanunderstandwhyIhavecomeherethismorning。Ifithadnotbeenforyourson’spluck，andcoolhead，andgoodjudgmentI——Mrs。ColtonandImighthavebeen——
　　Godknowsinwhatstatewemighthavebeento—day！Godknows！I
　　can’tthinkofit。"
　　Hisvoicetrembled。Motherputoutahandandtookmine。
　　"Roscoe，"shesaid，"Roscoe。"
　　"SoIcametothankhim，"wentonourvisitor。"Thisisn’tthefirsttimehehasdonesomethingofthesort。Itseemsalmostasifhe——Butnevermindthat。I’mnotgoingtobefoolish。YoursonandI，Mrs。Paine，havebeenfightingeachothermostofthesummer。That’sallright。Itwasasquarefightand，untilthisnewestfreakofhis——andhehasgotmeguessingastowhatitmeans——IadmitIthoughthewasquiteaslikelytolickmeasIwastolickhim。I’vewatchedhimprettycloselyandIamaprettyfairjudgeofaman，Iflattermyself。Didhetellyouthat，awhileago，Iofferedhimaplaceinmyoffice？"
　　"Inyouroffice？Youofferedhimthat？No，hedidnottellme。
　　Roscoe！"reproachfully。
　　"Ididnottellyou，Mother，becauseitwasnotworthwhile。OfcourseIcouldnotaccepttheoffer。"
　　Shehesitatedand，beforeshespoke，Coltonbrokein。
　　"Whynot？Thatwaswhatyouweregoingtosay，Mrs。Paine，Itakeit。Thatiswhat_I_said——whynot？AndIsayitagain。Paine，thatofferisstillopen。"
　　Ishookmyhead。"ItoldyouthenthatIcouldnotaccept，"I
　　said。"Itisimpossible。"
　　"Whyisitimpossible？SofarasIamconcernedIbelieveyouwouldbeamightygoodinvestment。"
　　"Impossible，"Isaidagain。
　　"Nothingisimpossible。Wewon’twastewords。IamgoingtobeplainandIthinkMrs。Painewillexcuseme。Youthinkyoushouldnotleaveyourmother，perhaps。Iunderstandthatreason。Itwouldbeagoodone，exceptthat——well，thatitisn’tgoodanylonger。Yourmotherismuchbetterthanshewas。Quimby——herdoctorandmine——saysso。Ishallseethatsheiswelllookedafter。Ifsheneedsanursesheshallhaveone，thebestwecanget。Oh，bestillandletmefinish！Youcantalkafterward。
　　You’renotgoingsofaraway。NewYorkisn’ttheendoftheearth；
　　itisonlythecenter，oritthinksitis。You’llbeinclosetouchwithDenboroallthetimeandyoucancomeherewheneveryouwantto。Nowwillyoutakemyoffer？"
　　"No。"
　　"Youngman，ifIdidn’tknowtherewerebrainsinsidethatheadofyoursIshouldthinkitwas，astheboyssay，solidivory。
　　Confoundyou！Here，Mrs。Paine，"turningtoMother，"youtakehiminhand。Tellhimhemustcomewithme。"
　　"Mother——"Iprotested。Hecutmyprotestshort。
　　"Tellhim，"heordered。
　　Motherlookedatme。"Ithink，perhaps，youshouldaccept，Roscoe，"shesaid，slowly。
　　"Accept！Mother！"
　　"Yes。I——Ithinkyoushould。Iamsureeveryoneelsewouldthinkso。IshouldnotwishyoutodosoifMr。Coltonwasmerelytryingtobekind，tohelpyoufrommotivesofgratitude，orcharity——"
　　"Don’tusethatword，please，"snapped"BigJim。""WhenIlosemymindImaytaketocharity，butnotbefore。Charity！GoodLord！"
　　"Butitisnotcharity。Iambetter，Roscoe；Irealizeiteveryday；andwithDorindaIshallgetonperfectlywell。Ihavebeenthinkingofsomethinglikethisforalongtime。Youoweittoyourself，Roscoe。Thechanceisonethatmanymenwouldbevery，verygladtohavecometheirway。Ishallnoturgeyou，Boy。Youmustdecideforyourself，andIknowyouwill；but，Roscoe，Ishallbequitecontented——yes，gladandproud，ifyousayyestoMr。
　　Colton。"
　　Thegentlemannamednoddedemphaticapproval。"That’sthetalk！"
　　heexclaimed。"Mrs。Paine，Icongratulateyouonyourcommon—
　　sense。"
　　"Ithink，likeyou，thatyouwillhavemadeagoodinvestment，Mr。
　　Colton，"wasMother’sanswer。
　　Irosetomyfeet。Thismustbeendednow，foralltime。
　　"Ithankyou，Mr。Colton，"Isaid，thoughnotassteadilyasI
　　couldhavewished。"IamgreatlyobligedtoyouandIrealizethatyouoffermeanexceptionalopportunity，orwhatwouldbeoneforanotherman。ButIcannotaccept。"
　　"Lookhere，Paine！I’llspeakplainerstill。IunderstandthatthatShoreLanetradeofourshasbecomecommonproperty，or，atanyrate，itwillbecommonpropertysoon。IfIseethesituationclearly，Denboroislikelytobearatherunpleasantplaceforyou。
　　ThatfellowDeanhasalotofinfluencehere——heavenknowswhy！——
　　andhehatesmeworsethanOldNickhatesholywater。Oh，Iknowyou’renotafraidofhim！Butwhatistheuseoftakingtheroughroadwhenthesmoothoneisrightbeforeyourfeet？Sayyes，andlet’sendit。"
　　"No，"saidI，stubbornly。"No，Mr。Colton。"
　　"Youmeanit？Verywell，IleaveyouinyourMother’shands。Shewillprobablybringyoutoyoursensesbeforelong。Mrs。Paine，youcanhandlehim，Ihavenodoubt。Iamgladtohavemetyou，and，withyourpermission，Ishallcallonyouagain。SowillMabel。Asforyou，youngman，Ithankyouforlastnight’swork。
　　Youwill，perhaps，acceptthanksifyourefuseeverythingelse。
　　Goodmorning。"
　　Herose，bowed，andwalkedtothedoor。Asheopenedithestaggered，perceptibly。Ithought，foraninstant，thathewasgoingtofall，andIsprangtohisassistance。
　　"It’sallright，"hesaid，gruffly。"Thisdigestionofminesetsmyheadspinningsometimes。ThatdoctorsaysIshallupsetcompletelyunlessIrest。ItoldhimhewasafoolandIintendtoproveit。Letmebe。Icanwalk，Ishouldhope。WhenIcan’tI’llcalltheambulance——orthehearse。I’llfindthewayout，myself。Good—by。"
　　Thedoorclosedbehindhim。
　　"Roscoe，"saidMother，quickly，"comehere。"
　　Iturnedtowardher。Shewaslookingatmewithastrangeexpression。
　　"Whatisit，Mother？"Iasked，anxiously。
　　"Roscoe，"shewhispered，"Iknowhim。Ihavemethimbefore。"
　　"Knowhim！YouhavemetMr。Colton——before？Where？"
　　"Atourhomeintheolddays。Hecamethereoncewith——withyourfather。Hewasourguestatdinner。"
　　Icouldscarcelybelieveit。Then，asthethoughtofwhatthismightmeanflashedtomymind，Iaskedanxiously：
　　"Didheknowyou，doyouthink？"
　　"No，Iamsurehedidnot。WemetbutonceandIhave，"withalittlesigh，"changedsincethen。ButIrecognizedhim。ThenameofColtonwasfamiliartomewhenyoufirstmentionedit，sometimeago，butIdidnotrememberwhereIhadheardit。Ofcourse，IdidnotconnectthisMr。Coltonwith——thatone。"
　　Ifrowned。Thiscomplicatedmattersstillmore，andfurthercomplicationsweresuperfluous。
　　"And，knowingthis，knowingthathemightrecognizeyouatanytime，youurgedmetoaccepthisoffer，"Isaid，reproachfully。
　　"Mother！"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Mother，howcanyou？WouldyouhavemegotoNewYorkandenterabankinghousewhere，anyhourofanyday，ImightberecognizedbysomeofthemenIonceknew？WhereImightexpectatanymomenttobecalledbymyrealname？Howcanyou？"
　　Shegazedatmeearnestly。"Whynottellhim，Roscoe？"sheasked。
　　Istaredather，aghast。"Tellhim！"Irepeated。"TellhimwhoI
　　am？Tellhimourstory，thestorythat——Mother，areyoucrazy？"
　　"No。IbelieveIamsane，atleast。Ihavebeenthinkingagreatdealoflate。AsIhavebeengrowingstrongerIhavebeenthinkingmoreandmoreandIamnotsurethatyouandIhavebeenrightinhidinghereaswehavedone。Itwasallmyfault，Iknow，butI
　　wasweakand——andIdreadedallthegossipandscandal。But，Boy，itwasamistake。Afterall，wehavedonenowrong，youandI——we，personally，havenothingtobeashamedof。Whynotendallthis？
　　GotoMr。Colton，tellhimwhoyouare，tellhimourstory；then，ifhestillwantsyou——"
　　Iinterrupted。"No，Mother，"Isaid，"no，no！Itisimpossible。
　　Evenifheknew，anditmadenodifference，Icouldnotdoit。I
　　maygoaway！ImayfeelthatImustgo，ifyouarewellenoughformetoleaveyou，butIcannotgowithhim。Ioughtnottoseehimagain。ImustnotseeHER……Oh，don’tyouunderstand？
　　Mother，I——I——"
　　Sheunderstood。Ihadseizedherhandandnowshestrokeditgentlywithherown。
　　"Soitistrue，"shesaid，quietly。"Youloveher，Roscoe。"
　　"Yes！yes！yes！"Ianswered，desperately。"Oh，don’tspeakofit，Mother！Iaminsane，Ithink。"
　　"Doesshecareforyou，Boy？Haveyouspokentoher？"
　　"MOTHER！Isitlikely？"
　　"ButIthinkshedoescare，Roscoe。Ithinkshedoes。Shemust。"
　　Thiswassocharacteristicthat，althoughIwasinanythingbutalaughingmood，Icouldnothelpsmiling。
　　"Howcouldshehelpit？Ipresumeyoumean，"Iobserved，sarcastically。"There，Mother，don’tworry。IdidnotintendthatyouoranyoneelseshouldknowwhatanidiotIam，butdon’tworry——
　　Ishan’tdoanythingridiculousordesperate。Imaygosomewhere，togetawayfromDenboro，andtoearnalivingforyouandme，butthatisall。Wewon’tspeakofheragain。"
　　"Butifshedoescare，Boy？"
　　"Ifshedoes——Ofcourse，shedoesn’t——but，ifshedoes，can’tyouseethatonlymakesitworse？ThinkwhosheisandwhoandwhatI
　　am！Herfamily——Humph！youhavenotmethermother；Ihave。"
　　"Butifshelovesyou——"
　　"DoyouthinkIshouldpermithertoruinherlife——forme？"
　　"Poorboy！IamSOsorry！"
　　"Itisallright，Mother。There！wewon’tbefoolishanylonger。
　　IamgoingforawalkandIwantyoutorest。Iamglad，wehavehadthistalk；ithasdonemegoodtospeakwhatIhavebeenthinking。Good—by。Iwillbebacksoon。"
　　Shewouldhavedetainedme，butIbrokeawayandwentout。Mywalkwasalongone。Itrampedthebeachforeightlongmilesand，thoughonemightthinkthatmyadventuresofthenightbeforehadprovidedexerciseenough，thisadditionaleffortseemedtodonoharm。IforgotdinnerentirelyandsupperwasonthetablewhenI
　　returnedtothehouse。
　　IfoundDorindainaconditiondividedbetweenanxietyandimpatience。
　　"Haveyouseenanythingofthatmanofmine？"shedemanded。"I
　　ain’tseenhidenorhairofhimsinceIpitchedhimoutofthisroomthismornin’！"
　　Iwassurprisedandalittledisturbed。IrememberedLute’sthreatabout"neverseein’menomore。"
　　"Youdon’tsupposehehasrunaway，oranythinglikethat，doyou？"
　　Iasked。
　　"Hewouldn’trunfar；runnin’stoomuchlikework。Butwhyhewan’thomefordinnerIdon’tunderstand。Ineverknewhimtomissameal’svittlesafore。Ihopenothin’ain’thappenedtohim，that’sall。Well，we’llhaveoursupper，anyhow。Afterthatwe’llsee。"
　　Butwedidnothavetosee。Wewereatthetablewhenweheardthesoundofhurryingfootstepsonthewalk。Thegateclosedwithabang。Dorindarosefromherchair。
　　"Iswan！Ibelievethat’shimnow！"sheexclaimed。
　　"Ifitis，heiscertainlyrunningthistime，"Iobserved。"What——"
　　Thedoorwasthrownopenandthemissingmemberofthehouseholdappeared。Hewasred—facedandpanting，buttherewasacuriousairofdignifiedimportanceinhisbearing。Dorinda’slipsshuttightly。
　　"Well，Lute，"saidI，"wherehaveyoubeen？"
　　Lutestruggledforbreath。
　　"Don’taskmewhereI’vebeen！"hegasped。"Don’twastenotimeaskin’MEquestions。Getyourhaton，Ros！Getyourhatonthisminute！WheredidIputthat？WhereintimedidIputit？"
　　Hewasfumblinginhispockets。DorindaandIlookedateachother。Sheshookherhead。
　　"He’sgonestarkfoolishatlast！"shesaid，withdecision。"Well，I’vebeenexpectin’it！LuteRogers，stoppawin’yourselfoverandactsensible，ifyoucan。Whatisthematterwithyou？"
　　"Matterwithme！Nothin’sthematterwithME；butthere’ssomethin’thematterwithotherfolks，Itellyouthat！DoctorQuimby’sbeentheretwicealready，andthetelephone’sbeengoin’，and——and——Mytime！yououghttoseenherface！’Twasjustaswhiteas——as——WHEREdidIputthatletter？"
　　His"pawing"becamemorefranticthanever。Hiswifesteppedforwardandseizedhimbythearm。
　　"Stopit，Itellyou！"shecommanded。"Stopit！Who’ssick？
　　Whosetelephone’sringin’？Whatletterareyoutalkin’about？
　　Answerme！StopthatSaintVitusdancin’andanswermethisminute！"
　　Shegavehimashakeandhiscapfelltothefloor。Fromitfellanenvelope。Lutepulledhimselffreeandpounceduponit。
　　"There’tis！"heexclaimed。"Bytime！IwasscartI’dlostit！
　　Readit，Ros！readit！"
　　Hehandedmetheenvelope。Itboremyname。Itoreitopen——tookoutthesheetofnotepaperwhichitinclosed，andreadasfollows：
　　"DearMr。Paine：
　　"Fatherisveryill，andIamingreattrouble。Ithinkyou，perhaps，canhelpusboth。Willyoucomeoveratonce？PLEASEdo。
　　"Hastilyyours，"MABELCOLTON。"
　　"And——and——"pantedLute，"shetoldmetotellyoutopleasehurry。
　　Andyou’doughttoseenherface！She——"
　　Iheardnomore。Ididnotwaittogetmyhat，astheexcitedbearerofthenotehadurgedmetodo。Bareheaded，Ihurriedoutofthedining—roomandalongthepathtowardtheColtonmansion。
　　CHAPTERXXI
　　Itwasearlyintheevening，butthebighousewaslightedasifforareception；lightsintheroomsabove，lightsinthelibraryandhallanddrawing—room。DoctorQuimby’shorseandbuggystoodbyoneofthehitchingpostsandtheColtonmotorcarwasdrawnupbythemainentrance。Fromtheopenwindowsoftheservants’
　　quarterscamethesoundsofexcitedvoices。Ihastenedtothefrontdoor。BeforeIcouldpushthebuttonoftheelectricbellthedoorwasopened。Johnson，thebutler，peeredoutatme。Mostofhisdignitywasgone。
　　"Isityou，Mr。Paine？"heasked，anxiously。"Comein，sir，please。MissMabelhasbeenaskingforyounotaminuteago，sir。"
　　Ienteredthehall。"Whatisit，Johnson？"Iasked，quickly。"HowisMr。Colton？"
　　Thebutlerlookedbehindhimbeforereplying。Heshookhisheaddubiously。
　　"He’sawfulill，sir，"hewhispered。"Thedoctor’sbeenwithhimforanhour；’e’sunconsciousandMrs。Coltonistakin’onsomethingterrible。It’sawful，sir，ain’tit！"
　　Hisnervousnesswassufficientindicationofthegeneraldemoralizationofthehousehold。Andfromoneoftheroomsabovecamethesobsofahystericalwoman。
　　"Braceup，man，"Iwhisperedinreply。"Thisisnotimeforyoutogotopieces。WhereisMissColton？"
　　"She’swithherfather，sir。StepintothelibraryandI’llcallher。"
　　Hewasnotobligedtocallher，for，atthatmoment，Iheardhervoicespeakingfromtheheadofthestairs。
　　"Whoisit，Johnson？"sheasked，inalowtone。
　　"It’sMr。Paine，MissMabel。"
　　Iheardalittleexclamation，ofreliefitseemedtome。Thensheappeared，descendingthestaircase。Herfacewas，asLutehadsaid，pale，buthermannerwascalm，muchcalmerthanthebutler’s。
　　Shecametomeandextendedherhand。"Thankyouforcoming，"shesaid。"Iwassureyouwould。"
　　"Howisyourfather，MissColton？"Iasked。
　　"Heisnoworse。Comeintothelibrary，please。Johnson，ifMotherorthedoctorneedme，Ishallbeinthelibrary。Come，Mr。
　　Paine。"
　　Weenteredthelibrarytogether。TheroominwhichIhadhadmytwomemorableencounterswith"BigJim"Coltonwaswithoutitsdominantfigurenow。HisbigarmchairwasdrawnupbesidethetableandthepapersandwritingmaterialswereintheplacewhereIhadseenthem。Ahalf—burnedcigarlayintheashtray。Butthestrongfingerswhichhadplacedittherewereweakenoughnowandthemasterfulgeneraloffinancewasinhisroomupstairsfightingthehardestbattleofhislife，fightingforthatlifeitself。A
　　doorattheendofthelibrary，adoorwhichIhadnotnoticedbefore，waspartiallyopenandfromwithinsoundedatintervalsaseriesofsharpclicks，theclickofatelegraphinstrument。I
　　rememberedthatColtonhadtoldme，inoneofhisconversations，thathehadbothaprivatetelephoneandtelegraphinhishouse。
　　MissColtonclosedthedoorbehindus，andturnedtome。
　　"Thankyouforcoming，"shesaid，again。"IneedhelpandIcouldthinkofnoonebutyou。Youhavehurrieddreadfully，haven’tyou！"
　　Shewaslookingatmyforehead。Icaughtaglimpseofmyfaceinthemirrorabovethemantelandreachedformyhandkerchief。
　　"Imusthaveruneverystepoftheway，"Ianswered。"Ididn’trealizeit。Butnevermindthat。Tellmeaboutyourfather。"
　　"Hewastakenillsoonafterhereturnedfromyourhouse。HewasinthelibraryhereandIheardhimcall。WhenIreachedhimhewaslyinguponthecouch，scarcelyabletospeak。Helostconsciousnessbeforewecouldgethimtohisroom。Thedoctorsaysitiswhathehasfeared，anattackofacuteindigestion，broughtonbyanxietyandlackofrest。Itwasmyfault，Iamafraid。
　　Lastnight’sworry——PoorFather！"
　　ForjustamomentIfearedshewasgoingtobreakdown。Shecoveredhereyeswithherhand。Butsheremoveditalmostimmediately。
　　"Thedoctorisconfidentthereisnogreatdanger，"shewenton。
　　"Danger，ofcourse，butnotthegreatest。Heisstillunconsciousandwillbeforsometime，but，ifheiskeptperfectlyquietandnotpermittedtoworryintheleast，hewillsoonbehimselfagain。"
　　"ThankGodforthat！"Iexclaimed，fervently。"Andyourmother——
　　Mrs。Colton——how，isshe？"
　　Hertonechangedslightly。IinferredthatMrs。Colton’sconditionwasmoretryingthanserious。
　　"Motheris——well，inhernervousstateanyshockisdisturbing。
　　Sheisbearingtheanxietyaswellasweshouldexpect。"
　　Ijudgedthatnotmuchwasexpected。
　　"ItwasnotonaccountofFather’sillnessthatIsentforyou，Mr。
　　Paine，"shewenton。"IfhehadnotbeenillIshouldnothaveneededyou，ofcourse。Butthereissomethingelse。ItcouldnothavehappenedatamoreunfortunatetimeandIamafraidyoumaynotbeabletogivemethehelpIneed。Oh，Ihopeyoucan！I
　　don’tknowwhattodo。Iknowitmustbedreadfullyimportant。
　　Fatherhasbeentroubledaboutitfordays。HehasbeensayingthathemustgotoNewYork。Butthedoctorhadwarnedusagainsthisgoingandsowepersuadedhimtowait。Andnow……Sitdown，please。Iwanttoaskyouradvice。"
　　Itookthechairsheindicated。Shedrewanotherbesidemeandseatedherself。
　　"Mr。Paine——"shebegan。Then，noticingmyexpression，sheasked，"Whatisit？"
　　"Nothing，"Ianswered，"nothingexcept——Isn’tthatthetelegraphinstrumentIhear？Isn’tsomeonecallingyou？"
　　"Yes，yes，itisMr。Davis，Father’sconfidentialman，hisbroker，inNewYork。Heistryingtogetus，Iamsure。Hetelephonedanhourago。Igotapartofhismessageandthentheconnectionwasbrokenoff。Centralsaysthereissomethingthematterwiththewire，abigstorminConnecticutsomewhere。Itmaytakeawholedaytorepairit。AnditisSOimportant！Itmaymean——Idon’tknowWHATitmaymean！Oh，Mr。Paine，DOyouknowanythingaboutstocks？"
　　Ilookedatherblankly。
　　"Stocks？"Irepeated。
　　"Yes，yes，"atrifleimpatiently。"Stocks——thestockmarket——
　　railroadshares——howtheyareboughtandsold——doyouknowanythingaboutthem？"
　　Iwasmorepuzzledthanever，butIansweredasbestIcould。
　　"Averylittle，"Ireplied。"Iusedtoknowagooddealaboutthemonce，and，oflate，sinceIhavebeenintheDenborobank，myknowledgehasbeenbrushedupabit。ButIamafraiditisprettyfragmentary。"
　　"DoyouknowanythingaboutLouisvilleandTranscontinental？"
　　Istarted。LouisvilleandTranscontinentalwastheonestockaboutwhichIdidknowsomething。OflateIhadreadeverythingthepapersprintedconcerningit。ItwasthestockinwhichGeorgeTaylorhadriskedsomuchandwhichhadcomesoneartoruininghim。NowonderIwasstartled。Whydidshementionthatparticularstock？
　　"What？"Istammered。
　　"LouisvilleandTranscontinental，"sherepeated，eagerly。"DOyouknowanythingaboutit？Whydoyoulookatmelikethat？"
　　Imustbecareful。ItwasnotpossiblethatshecouldhavelearnedGeorge’ssecret。NooneknewthatexceptGeorgehimself，andhisbrokers，andI。Yet——yetwhydidsheaskthatquestion？Imustbeonmyguard。
　　"IdidnotrealizethatIwaslookingatyouinanyextraordinaryway，MissColton，"Ianswered。
　　"Butyouwere。Why？Doyouknowanythingaboutit？Ifyoudo——
　　oh，ifyoudoyoumaybeabletohelpme，toadviseme！And，forFather’ssake，Iwantadvicesomuch。"
　　Forherfather’ssake！ThatdidnotsoundasifherquestionconcernedGeorgeorme。Atriflereassured，ItriedtoremembersomethingofwhatIhadread。
　　"Iknow，ofcourse，"Ianswered，slowly，"whateveryoneknows，thattheCaliforniaandEasternhasbeen，orisreportedtohavebeen，tryingtogetcontroloftheL。andT。ItspossessionwouldgivetheCaliforniapeoplethebalanceofpowerandmeantheendofthepresentratewarwiththeConsolidatedPacific。Thecommonstockhasfluctuatedbetween30and50formonthsandtherehavebeenallsortsofrumors。Somuchthenewspapershavemadecommonproperty。ThatisallIknow。"
　　"YoudidnotknowthenthatFatherandhisassociatescontroltheCaliforniaandEastern？"
　　Ileanedbackinmychair。
　　"No，"Isaid，"Ididnotknowthat。Thenyourfather——"
　　"Fathertellsmeagreatdealconcerninghisbusinessaffairs。I
　　havebeenverymuchinterestedinthis。ItseemsalmostlikeagreatwarandasifFatherwereageneral。HeandhisassociateshavegraduallyboughtuptheC。andE。untiltheypracticallyownit。AndtheyhavebeenworkingtogettheLouisvilleroad。Lastwinter，youremember，therewasagreatexcitementandthestockwentupandthendownagain。Thatwaswhenitlookedasiftheotherside——theConsolidatedPacific——hadbeatenFather，buttheyhadnot。Yourememberthat？"
　　Irememberedit。Thatistosay，Georgehadtoldmeoftheriseandfallofthestock。Itwasthenthathehadbought。
　　"Yes，"Isaid，"Iremembersomethingofit。"
　　"IfFatherhadstayedinNewYorkhewouldhavewonbeforethis。
　　Oh，"withaburstofpride，"theycanNEVERbeathimwhenheisleadingthefighthimself！Hehas，throughhisbrokers，beenselling——whatdotheycallit？Oh，yes，sellingtheLouisvillestock’short’eversince。Iamnotsurejustwhatthatmeans，butperhapsyouknow。"
　　"IthinkIdo，"Ianswered，thoughtfully。"Hehasbeenselling，quietly，soastoforcethestockdown，preparatorytobuyingin。
　　IrememberthepapershavesaidthattheC。andE。werereportedashavinglostinterestintheLouisville。Thatwasonlyablind，I
　　presume。"