d
befriend him.

"They ain't one of 'em 'll stand by a fellow when he's down, not a one,"
the little man declared.

"No, they never do; remember that," John Baronet replied.

"Well, what is it you want?" he whined.

"What are you going to do? Settle this in court or out of it?"

"Out of it, out of it," Judson fairly shrieked. "I'd be put out of the
Presbyterian Church if this gets into the courts. I've got a bank
account I'm not ashamed of. How much is it going to take to settle it?
What's the least will satisfy you?"

"Settle it? Satisfy me? Great heavens! Can a career like this be atoned
for with a bank check and interest at eight per cent?" My father's
disgust knew no bounds.

"You are going to turn over to the account of Marjory Whately an amount
equal to one-half the value of Whately's estate at the time of his
death, with a legal rate of interest, which according to his will she
was to receive at the age of twenty. The will," my father went on, as he
read a certain look in Judson's face, "is safe in the vault of the
courthouse, and there are no keys available to the box that holds it.
Also, you are going to pay in money the value of all the articles
charged to Marjory Whately's account and given to other people, mostly
young ladies, and especially to Lettie Conlow. Your irregular business
methods in the management of that store since O'mie began to keep your
records you are going to make straight and honest by giving all that is
overdue to your senior partner, Mrs. Irving Whately. Furthermore, you
are going to give an account for the bank stock fraudulently secured in
the days of Mrs. Whately's deep sorrow. This much for your property
transactions. You can give it at once or stand suit for embezzlement. I
have the amounts all listed here. I know your bank account and property
possession. Will you sign the papers now?"

"But--but," Judson began. "I can't. It'll take more than half, yes, all
but two-thirds, I've got to my name. I can't do it. I'll have to hire to
somebody if I do."

"You miserable cur, the pity is you can't make up all that you owe but
that cannot be proved by any available record. Only one thing keeps me
back from demanding a full return for all your years of thieving
stewardship."

"Isn't that all?" Judson asked.

"Not yet. You cannot make returns for some things. If it were all a
money proposition it would be simple. The other thing you are going to
do, now mark me, I've left you t