ergrounders of America and Europe. For every great
fire unearths the fact that there are always companies who will gladly
accept premiums,--often at surprisingly low rates,--although they are
only mildly addicted to the payment of losses. And every conflagration
also uncovers the fact that there are many penny-wise citizens who
purchase this class of indemnity. A great fire cleans, as nothing else
does, the fire insurance stage of all but the fittest.

From this calamity, the greatest which had ever visited the city,
Boston had, after a timeless period of uncomprehending and demoralized
helplessness, leaped anew into activity and life. From all over the
country, almost from all over the world, the need of the stricken city
was met by a magnificent and human response. A vast catastrophe
becomes nearly worth while by virtue of the humanity it discovers.
Food, clothing, money--all were donated with lavish hands, and aid was
rushed to Boston by a hundred trains. In comparison with the area
burned over, the number of people made homeless was not great; and in
three weeks the city had somehow managed to drink up and absorb this
surplus without leaving a sign.

Life had now begun to move more normally again; and already the city's
gaze went forward toward what was to be, rather than backward at what
had been. But in a certain Kilby Street office two men were talking,
one of whom still looked somewhat gloomily back, while the other, with
a smile of transcendent optimism, was engaged in the cosmic process of
turning Boston's holocaust into a fiery but triumphant feather for his
own cap.

"Has that draft come in yet, Benny?" he was demanding.

"Came this morning," answered Cole, a trifle sourly. "Here it is."

"Would you mind letting me have it? Thanks. This is the last one,
isn't it? They're all here now?"

"Yes," said Cole, curtly; "this is the last."

"If you'll give me a large envelope, I'll take them with me, then,"
returned the first speaker. "With a golden touch like Midas of old
will I go forth into the presence of my distinguished relation. Benny,
you are a base soul with no instincts above the commercial. You do not
appreciate the situation. We are rapidly approaching what is vulgarly
termed the psychological moment. If you had any more feeling than a
dying invertebrate, you would want to come along and witness the
ceremony, which is entirely private and visitors admitted by card only."

"Thanks