hen it's
over. And the kind of work I want to do doesn't need university
training. I'm just wasting time; that's what I'm doing."

"Humph! I ain't so sure about that. But what sort of work do you want to
do?"

"I want to be down on the Street, as the governor was. If this Rubber
Company business hadn't knocked us out, I intended, as soon as I was of
age, to take that seat of his and start in for myself. Well, that chance
has gone, but I mean to get in some way, though I have to start at the
foot of the ladder. Now why can't I leave college and start now? It will
be two years gained, won't it?"

Captain Elisha seemed pleased, but he shook his head.

"How do you know you'd like it?" he asked. "You've never tried."

"No, I never have; but I'll like it all right. I know I shall. It's what
I've wanted to do ever since I was old enough to think of such things.
Just let me start in now, right away, and I'll show you. I'll make good;
you see if I don't."

He was very earnest. The captain deliberated before answering.

"Stevie," he said, doubtfully, "I rather like to hear you talk that
way; I own up it pleases me. But, as to your givin' up college--that's
different. Let me think it over for a day or two; that is, if you can
put off the Maine trip so long as that."

"Hang the Maine trip! You let me get into business, the business I want
to get into, and I won't ask for a vacation; you can bet on that!"

"All right then. I'll think, and do some questionin' around, and report
soon's I've decided what's best."

He laid the stump of his cigar in the ash receiver and rose from his
chair. But his nephew had not finished.

"There was something else I intended to say," he announced, but with
less eagerness.

"That so? What?"

"Why--why, just this." He fidgeted with his watch chain, colored and
was evidently uneasy. "I guess--" he hesitated--"I guess that I haven't
treated you as I ought."

"I want to know! You guess that, hey? Why?"

"Oh, you know why. I've been thinking since I went back to New Haven.
I've had a chance to think. Some of the fellows in the set I used to be
thick with up there have learned that I'm broke, and they--they aren't
as friendly as they were. Not all of them, of course, but some. And
I wouldn't chase after them; not much! If they wanted to drop me they
could. You bet I didn't try to hang on! I was pretty sore for a while
and kept to myself and--well, I did a lot of thinking. I guess Caro is
r