life into
their homes. Tell them to go away!"

Stuart emptied his pockets of all the money he had in a desperate
effort to break their disappointment.

"The doctor's too ill to see you, now," he explained. "He sent this
money for you and hopes it will help you over the worst until he can
come."

He divided the money among them and they looked at it with dull
disappointment. They were glad to get it, but what they needed more
than the money was the hope and strength of their friend's presence.
They left with dragging feet and Stuart returned to the doctor's room
determined not to leave until he knew the secret of his collapse.

From the haggard face and feverish eyes he knew he hadn't slept yet. He
had gotten up at one o'clock and dressed. The lunch which the maid had
brought to his room was on the table by his bed, untouched.

The young lawyer softly closed the door and sat down. The older man
gazed at him in a dull stupor.

"Doctor," Stuart began gently. "I've known you for about fifteen years.
You're the only father I've had in this big town, and you've been a
good one. You've been acting strangely for the past two weeks. You're
in trouble."

"The greatest trouble that can come to any human soul," was the bitter
answer.

"Haven't I won the right to your confidence and friendship in such an
hour?"

"My trouble, boy, is beyond the help of friends."

"Nonsense," Stuart answered cheerfully. "Shake off the blues. What's
wrong? Do you need money?"

The doctor broke into a discordant laugh.

"No. I've just sent Harriet abroad. I've some money laid away that will
last a year or two until she is earning a good salary. What gave you
the idea?"

The last question he asked with sudden sharp energy.

"Actions that indicate a strain greater than you can bear."

"No, you're mistaken," he answered roughly. "I can bear it all right."
He paused and his eyes stared at the ceiling as he groaned: "I've got
to bear it; what's the use to whine?"

Stuart stepped close and slipped his arm about the stalwart figure. His
voice was tender with a man's deep feeling.

"Come, Doctor, you're not fooling me. I've known you too long. There's
only one man on earth for whom I'd do as much as I would for you--my
own gray-haired father down South. You've been everything to me one man
could be to another during the past fifteen years. You have given me a
home, the love of a big tender heart, and the wise counsel of tried
friendship