satisfaction which told of carefully laid plans known only to himself,
whose consummation he deemed not far distant.

Acting on the suggestion of his sister, he had been closely observant of
both Kate and Darrell, but any conclusions which he formed he kept to
himself and went his way apparently well satisfied.

At the close of an unusually busy day late in the summer Darrell was
seated alone in his office, reviewing his life in the West and vaguely
wondering what would yet be the outcome of it all, when Mr. Underwood
entered from the adjoining room. Exultation and elation were patent in
his very step, but Darrell, lost in thought, was hardly conscious even
of his presence.

"Well, my boy, what are you mooning over?" Mr. Underwood asked,
good-naturedly, noting Darrell's abstraction.

"Only trying to find a solution for problems as yet insoluble," Darrell
answered, with a smile that ended in a sigh.

"Stick to the practical side of life, boy, and let the problems solve
themselves."

"A very good rule to follow, provided the problems would solve
themselves," commented Darrell.

"Those things generally work themselves out after a while," said Mr.
Underwood, walking up and down the room. "I say, don't meddle with what
you can't understand; take what you can understand and make a practical
application of it. That's always been my motto, and if people would
stick to that principle in commercial life, in religion, and everything
else, there'd be fewer failures in business, less wrangling in the
churches, and more good accomplished generally."

"I guess you are about right there," Darrell admitted.

"Been pretty busy to-day, haven't you?" Mr. Underwood asked, abruptly,
after a short pause.

"Yes, uncommonly so; work is increasing of late."

"That's good. Well, it has been a busy day with us; rather an eventful
one, in fact; one which Walcott and I will remember with pleasure, I
trust, for a good many years to come."

"How is that?" Darrell inquired, wondering at the pleasurable excitement
in the elder man's tones.

"We made a little change in the partnership to-day: Walcott is now an
equal partner with myself."

Darrell remained silent from sheer astonishment. Mr. Underwood evidently
considered his silence an indication of disapproval, for he continued:

"I know you don't like the man, Darrell, so there's no use of arguing
that side of the question, but I tell you he has proved himself
invaluable to me. You m