d
that one had been sent.

Now he was an orphan. In letters from friends he learned that his
elder brother, Carson, was in charge of the family bank at Bransford,
a suburb of Chicago, and that he was connected with active interests
in that city. He learned, too, that Carson now lived in the ancient
but beautiful home formerly occupied by his parents. What about the
boys and girls with whom he was associated in school days? Was Loretta
Young married? Was the strong little bank, the pride of two
generations, still rendering the service that had made it famous? And
what of the other family assets? This returning soldier was deeply
involved in the complications that come to all veterans who are
hastily transferred back to civilian duties and are to encounter the
radical changes that have been made to maintain a vast fighting force
in distant lands.

However, Shirley Wells noted little difference in conditions in the
cities of Washington and Chicago as he hastened homeward. Buildings
and streets appeared about as usual but the general populace appeared
indifferent and unconcerned. Unemployment prevailed, but he seemed to
contact more women in business places than he did in former days.

At Chicago he transferred to the morning local for Bransford. He was
disappointed that he found no old-time acquaintances among those who
were bound for the suburbs. The first person to recognize him was the
station agent at Bransford and his greeting was casual as he trundled
the truck of empty milk cans to the far end of the platform. "Maybe
these London tweeds are taboo in this central zone," he grumbled as he
made his way up the shaded street to the business district.

At the bank, he planned to walk right up to the receiver's window and
ask old Powell if this was Tellson's bank and was Mr. Tellson in? As a
schoolboy he had often kidded the aged cashier as to the close
resemblance of these quarters to the little, gloomy, narrow affair
described by author Dickens as being located at Temple Bar in the city
of London. But the aged cashier's place was occupied by an alert young
man who asked to be of service and Shirley could only inquire if
Carson was in.

The aged woman working at a filing cabinet turned quickly when she
heard the voice of the inquirer. She walked to the counter to get a
better view. "Why, it's Shirley!" she cried as she ran out in the
corridor. "It's Shirley!--twice as big!" She made ineffective attempts
to hug and