r got to count on you in this thing, Dennison," he said
concisely. "My father is an older man, and the past two years have been
hard on him; he's not so aggressive as he was, not half so optimistic.
Doctor Keltridge will be watching me to see that I'm not overdoing. He
means well; but now and then it's healthy to overdo matters a little.
Brenton has all he can handle, with his wife. Therefore, in view of
Ramsdell's scholarly attainments, and until I'm justified in setting up
a professional assistant, I rather fancy that it's up to you."

"Thanks. I'm there, every time," Dolph told him crisply. "Besides,
after yesterday, I'd walk on my ears for you."

"You might give a sample exhibition now. Have you said anything, yet?"

"No chance. Besides, I rather hated--Hang it all, Reed, I don't want to
be in a hurry about shuffling off in your best shoes!"

Reed's eyes lost a little of their eagerness; but his smile was
unfaltering.

"They never were my shoes, Dolph. Even if they had been, I couldn't
wear them now; that has all gone by. And, if they had been mine, and I
had had to pass them on to some one else, there is no one in the world
I'd see walking off in them so contentedly as I would see you. Fact,
man, so take it as it comes, and enter into your own kingdom."

"If it is mine," Dolph said gravely.

"I think it is. It is for you to find out, though. But remember this:
you are not to feel for one instant that you're dispossessing any
rightful heir. The chance is yours, Dolph. Most likely it never would
have been mine, in any case. Now it is totally impossible."

Dolph attempted one last remonstrance.

"But why?" he asked vehemently.

The smile faded from Reed's lips, and the lines around the lips grew
grim.

"Because," he answered tersely; "my common sense is in working order,
even if my legs are not."

And, with this downright assurance ringing in his ears and with the
tragedy of its brave renunciation crowding out somewhat of his own
hopefulness, Dolph Dennison went away in search of Olive Keltridge.

Olive, however, was gone to a luncheon out of town, so Dolph was told
by the maid who answered to his ringing. Therefore he went his way once
more; and, feeling idle, unsettled, alternately depressed at the
prospect of what he deemed his coming selfishness in seeking Olive
again later on, and elated with a general zeal for altruistic effort by
the success of his attempt to arouse Opdyke's dormant ambition: bec