One of Doctor Armstrong's patients, a bond
broker in New Haven, took a fancy to him, or we thought he did, and
offered him a position. He accepted, gave up his place at the bank
in Wisconsin, and took charge of this man's Middleford office,
making his home with Babbie and me. He was young, too young I
think now, to have such a responsible position, but every one said
he had a remarkably keen business mind and that his future was
certain to be brilliant. And then--"

She paused. It was evident that the hard part of her story was
coming. After a moment she went on.

"Charlie was popular with the young people there in Middleford. He
was always a favorite, at home, at school, everywhere. Mother
idolized him while she lived, so did I, so did Babbie. He was fond
of society and the set he was friendly with was made up, for the
most part, of older men with much more money than he. He was
proud, he would not accept favors without repaying them, he liked a
good time, perhaps he was a little fast; not dissipated--I should
have known if he were that--but--careless--and what you men call a
'good fellow.' At any rate, he--"

Again she paused. Jed, sitting on the box, clasping his knee
between his hands, waited anxiously for her to continue.

"Of course you can guess what happened," she said, sadly, after a
moment. "It was the old story, that is all. Charlie was living
beyond his means, got into debt and speculated in stocks, hoping to
make money enough to pay those debts. The stocks went down and--
and--well, he took money belonging to his employer to protect his
purchases."

She waited, perhaps expecting her companion to make some comment.
He did not and again she spoke.

"I know he meant only to borrow it," she declared. "I KNOW it. He
isn't bad, Mr. Winslow; I know him better than any one and he ISN'T
bad. If he had only come to me when he got into the trouble!
If he had only confided in me! But he was proud and--and he
didn't. . . . Well, I won't tell you how his--his fault was
discovered; it would take a long time and it isn't worth while.
They arrested him, he was tried and--and sent to prison for two
years."

For the first time since she began her story Jed uttered a word.

"Sho!" he exclaimed. "Sho, sho! Dear me! The poor young feller!"

She looked up at him quickly. "Thank you," she said, gratefully.
"Yes, he was sent to prison. He was calm and resigned and very
brave about it, but to m