e
answer. "I've just heard by telegraph that several large banks have
failed."

"Does it involve you?"

"To a certain extent, yes. Things look like a panic, such as we had a
few years ago. Still, it may blow over."

"I wonder if it will affect the milk company?"

"It might. But there, Dick, don't go to worrying. You'll have enough of
that to do when you get older. Things may turn out all right." But the
worried look did not leave Mr. Hamilton's face, in spite of his attempt
to cheer up his son.

The next morning when Dick came down to breakfast he saw his father at
the table. But, instead of eating, the millionaire was eagerly looking
at a newspaper. Dick glanced over his father's shoulder. There, staring
at him, in big black letters, was the heading of a long article:

GREAT MONEY PANIC!

"Are things--are things in bad shape, dad?" asked Dick.

"Pretty much so," replied Mr. Hamilton, not looking up. "It's not as bad
as I feared, though, and our bank will not suffer. However, lots of
small concerns, and some big ones, have failed."

Then Dick caught sight of another part of the paper. He could hardly
believe his eyes, for, in a prominent part of the page, was an article
telling of the failure of the big milk concern in which he had invested.

"Dad!" he exclaimed, taking hold of the paper, and pointing to the
account.

"Yes," replied Mr. Hamilton. "I saw it. Your investment is a failure,
Dick."

CHAPTER XXVIII

HENRY IN TROUBLE

For a few moments father and son looked at each other. Dick hardly knew
what to say, but the millionaire was evidently used to harder business
disappointments than the present one, for he laughed and remarked:

"Never mind, Dick. You made a good attempt, but you failed. You have
over a month yet in which to comply with the terms of the will. In that
time you ought to be able to find some good, paying investment. Look
over the paper. There's lots of bad financial news in it, but you may
find some good. I must hurry to the bank. This panic will affect a
number of our customers. I'm going to be very busy for some days to
come."

Mr. Hamilton continued with his breakfast as if nothing had happened,
but poor Dick's appetite vanished. He had counted so much on his shares
in the milk company paying well that he had never thought of failure.
Particularly as, of late, they had seemingly increased in value. But, as
he learned by looking over the paper after his father left