t blankly, as one not taking in its full portent.

"Not bad news, I hope?" said his employer, cloaking his curiosity in
commiseration.

"Rather," Grant admitted, and handed him the letter. Landson read:

"It is our duty to place before you information which must be of a very
distressing nature, and which at the same time will have the effect of
greatly increasing your responsibilities and opportunities. Unless you
have happened to see the brief despatches which have appeared in the
Press this letter will doubtless be the first intimation to you
that your father and younger brother Roy were the victims of a most
regrettable accident while motoring on a brief holiday in the South. The
automobile in which they were travelling was struck by a fast train,
and both of them received injuries from which they succumbed almost
immediately.

"Your father, by his will, left all his property, aside from certain
behests to charity, to his son Roy, but Roy had no will, and as he was
unmarried, and as there are no other surviving members of the family
except yourself, the entire estate, less the behests already referred
to, descends to you. We have not yet attempted an appraisal, but you
will know that the amount is very considerable indeed. In recent years
your father's business undertakings were remarkably successful, and we
think we may conservatively suggest that the amount of the estate will
be very much greater than even you may anticipate.

"The brokerage firm which your father founded is, temporarily, without
a head. You have had some experience in your father's office, and as his
solicitors for many years, we take the liberty of suggesting that you
should immediately assume control of the business. A faithful staff
are at present continuing it to the best of their ability, but you will
understand that a permanent organization must be effected at as early a
date as may be possible.

"Inability to locate you until after somewhat exhaustive inquiries had
been made explains the failure to notify you by wire in time to permit
of your attending the funeral of your father and brother, which took
place in this city on the eighth instant, and was marked by many
evidences of respect.

"We beg to tender our very sincere sympathy, and to urge upon you
that you so arrange your affairs as to enable you to assume the
responsibilities which have, in a sense, been forced upon you, at a very
early date. In the meantime we assure you o