t's hard to have to intrude business--"

"Oh!" interrupted the young man, and suddenly ran his fingers through
his hair with a distraught gesture. "I'm in the deuce of a jam--!
Aunt Ocky, when is the funeral?"

"We were waiting to hear from you. Now that you're here--shall we say
to-morrow noon?"

"Very well. After that I must catch the one-thirty to New York." He
shrugged his shoulders at Bolt's disappointed grunt. "It can't be
helped, sir! And I'll be busy every minute until I leave. Are you
sure that you need me after all?" He looked at the old lawyer who was
eyeing him thoughtfully. "Judge Taylor, you had charge of my father's
will, didn't you? Would it be improper for you to tell me whether or
not I've inherited his interest in the tannery?"

"I'll risk the impropriety under the circumstances," said Taylor
slowly, breaking a little silence that followed the question. "Yes,
you have inherited a controlling interest without any restriction." He
hesitated cautiously. "I'm assuming that no other will exists--I
cannot believe there is any."

"In that case--you and I are partners, Mr. Bolt." Copley held out his
hand rather bashfully. "You'll have a fearful lot to teach me, but
you'll find me willing to learn." He continued more incisively. "I
believe the first thing to do is to get that strike settled and the men
to work. They'll listen to you, Mr. Bolt, if you ask them to return
pending our decision to raise wages and improve conditions. Another
thing--can you persuade Graham to stay with us?"

"I believe so--now," said Bolt slowly.

"The tannery must remain closed to-morrow, the day of the funeral. I'd
like to see it open up the morning after at the usual hour."

"It will," said Jason flatly. "Leave it to me."

"That's what I want to do, for a fortnight anyway. After that you will
find me ready to pull my weight in the boat." The young man turned to
the others. "Aunt Ocky, you'll let me know, won't you, as soon as my
mother wakes up? Come on, Mr. Creighton; I'm anxious to hear all you
can tell me." He walked off to the study without waiting to see if the
detective followed.

Creighton did not, for the moment. Bolt and Krech were leaving, and so
was Judge Taylor. The detective had a few words with his friend as
they followed the other two along the hall to the piazza, while Miss
Ocky went up to her sister's room.

"What did you think of him?" asked Krech.

"Haven't thought much