accompany him. "A tenderfoot like me would
stampede that bunch in no time," he warned himself.

When he finally did appear at the office he was received with a
deference amounting almost to obeisance. Murdoch, the chief clerk, and
manager of the business in all but title, who had known him in the old
days when he had been "Mr. Denny," bore him into the private office
which had for so many years been the sacred recess of the senior Grant.
Only big men or trusted employees were in the habit of passing those
silent green doors.

"Well Murdy, old boy, how goes it?" Grant had said when they met, taking
his hand in a husky grip.

"Not so bad, sir; not so bad, considering the shock of the accident,
sir. And we are all so glad to see you--we who knew you before, sir."

"Listen, Murdy," said Grant. "What's the idea of all the sirs?"

"Why," said the somewhat abashed official, "you know you are now the
head of the firm, sir."

"Quite so. Because a chauffeur neglected to look over his shoulder I am
converted from a cow puncher to a sir. Well, go easy on it. If a man has
native dignity in him he doesn't need it piled on from outside."

"Very true, sir. I hope you will be comfortable here. Some memorable
matters have been transacted within these walls, sir. Let me take your
hat and cane."

"Cane? What cane?"

"Your stick, sir; didn't you have a stick?"

"What for? Have you rattlers here? Oh, I see--more dignity. No, I don't
carry a stick. Perhaps when I'm old--"

"You'll have to try and accommodate yourself to our manners," said
Jones, when Murdoch had left the room. "They may seem unnecessary,
or even absurd, but they are sanctioned by custom, and, you know,
civilization is built on custom. The poet speaks of a freedom which
'slowly broadens down from precedent to precedent.' Precedent is custom.
Never defy custom, or you will find her your master. Humor her, and she
will be your slave. Now I think I shall leave, while you try and tune
yourself to the atmosphere of these surroundings. I need hardly warn you
that the furniture is--quite valuable."

Grant saw him out with a friendly grip on his arm. "You will need
another course of wrestling lessons presently," he warned him.

So this was the room which had been the inner shrine of the firm of
Grant & Son. The quarters were new since he had left the East; the
furnishings revealed that large simplicity which is elegance and wealth.
A painting of the elder Grant hung fr