ports that the
cashier had said this or the other.

Vaniman took occasion to reassure Mr. Britt on that point, and the
latter had displayed much gratitude. "If you don't hurt _me_, Frank, I
won't hurt _you_!" Then the usurer's eyes hardened. "Of course I can't
expect you to forget that I threatened to blacken your name in banking
circles. But in our new understanding I guess we can afford to call it a
stand-off."

"If I were staying here simply to wheedle you into passing me on with
a high testimonial, I'd be playing a selfish game, and that isn't my
attitude, sir. I was anxious to get this job. I felt that I had a right
to stand for myself, on my own honesty. But I shall tell the whole story
the next time I apply for a position. I'm getting to understand big
financiers better," he added, with bitterness.

"Yes, finance is very touchy on certain points," admitted the president.
"But I'm glad you're not going to do any more talking here in town.
You're somewhat of a new man here, and you don't know the folks as I
do. I suppose some talk will have to be made as to why you and I are
sticking along together, after you slapped my face in public. You'd
better let me manage the story."

"You may say what you think is best, Mr. Britt."

"They're a suspicious lot, the men in this town." The banker surveyed
Vaniman, making slits of his eyes. "However, I've grown used to all this
recent talk about me being a fool. If it's also said that I'm a fool for
keeping you here, I won't mind it. And you mustn't mind if it's hinted
around that you're hanging on in the bank because you've got private
reasons that you're not talking about."

The cashier greeted that sentiment with an inquiring frown.

"Oh, don't be nervous, Frank!" Mr. Britt flapped his hand, making light
of the matter. He grinned. "I won't set you out as being the leader of
a robber gang. I'm not like the peaked-billed old buzzards of this
place--bound to say the worst of every stranger. You'd better turn to
and hate the critters here, just as I do."

Britt's tones rasped when he said that; his feelings were getting
away from him. The young man's expression hinted that he was trying to
reconcile this rancorous mood with Britt's recent declarations of a new
view of life.

"What I really meant to say, Frank, was that such has been my feeling in
the past. I'm trying to change my nature. If I forget and slip once in a
while, don't lay it up against me."

After that t