ed to
tell me. And he tried to convince me that he had not taken the money for
my sake. He was willing to appear in my eyes a thief without excuse. But
I knew. I had selfishly accepted it all without thought--and only half
grateful. Young men are thoughtless, sir."

"Your father seems to have been quixotic after his own fashion,
Thornton. I think I remember some of his traits when he was in school.
But as old Hard-Times Brewster used to say, 'We are all poor, queer
critters and some be queerer than the others!' So you were a little
queerer than your father, eh, and tried to square matters by a worse
piece of folly?"

"It may have been folly. Perhaps it was. But I did not stop to argue or
reason. That money had been spent on me. I accepted the blame. I said
nothing to my father. I wrote letters to the persons who had lost. I
told them that I had taken the money as my father's agent--without his
knowledge. I said I had deceived him as well as them. And then, so
that I might not perjure myself on the witness-stand or have the truth
gimleted out of me by lawyers, I put on rags and hid myself among the
thousands who trudge the highways and ride the trusses of freight-cars.
And no one has come to me and put heavy hand on my shoulder and said, 'I
want you!' But some one will come if I remain here. I am going to hide
myself again."

"I say it has all been a piece of folly," insisted Converse. "Dear
folly! Yes, almost noble folly! But it must end, my boy. I suppose
your father is back there toiling to repay those men from whom he took
money."

"I suppose so, Mr. Converse. But he has not been disgraced in the eyes
of the public."

"There's where your noble folly has made its mistake. You have doubled
his grief, Thornton. Just sit there a moment and ponder. You will
understand what I mean."

"I have understood--I have pondered--but I have not had the courage to
go back. At least, they could not say to him that his son was in prison.
He has escaped that grief."

"And has endured a heavier one, my boy. I'm afraid you're a poor
counselor in your own affairs." He came across the room to Bristol and
slapped the bowed shoulder. "Now you have found a better one. I have
taken your case."

The young man looked up into the kindly features of his adviser and was
only half convinced.

"Don't you realize how easy it will be for you to make money from
this time on? You don't? Well, let me tell you. As soon as you can be
admitted t