o, is immoral--whether it be a quarter to a beggar or a
library to a city. It feeds the desire to get money without earning it,
which is the most immoral of all our desires. I have not yet decided
what I shall do with it. I have hired an expert, in you, to show me how
to make money. I shall probably find it necessary to hire another to
show me how to dispose of it. But not a dollar will be given away."

"And so you would let the beggar starve? That's a new kind of altruism."

"No. I would correct the conditions that made him a beggar. That's
the only kind of altruism that will make him something better than a
beggar."

"Some people would beg in any case, Grant. They are incapable of
anything better."

"Then they are defectives, and should be cared for by the State."

"Then the State may practise charity--"

"It is not charity; it is the discharge of an obligation. A father may
support his children, but he must not let anyone else do it."

"Well, I give up," said Jones. "You're beyond me."

Grant laughed and extended a cigar box. "Don't hesitate," he said, "this
doesn't come out of the two hundred. This is entertainment expense. And
you must come and see me when I get settled."

"When you get settled--yes. You won't be settled until you're married,
and you might as well do some thinking about that. A man in your
position gets a pretty good range of choice; you'd be surprised if you
knew the wire-pulling I have already encountered; ambitious old dames
fishing for introductions for their daughters. You may be an expert with
rope or branding-iron, but you're outclassed in this matrimonial game,
and some one of them will land you one of these times before you know
it. You should be very proud," and Mr. Jones struck something of an
attitude. "The youth and beauty of the city are raving about you."

"About my money," Grant retorted. "If my father had had time to change
his will they would every one of them have passed me by with their noses
in the air. As for marrying--that's all off."

The lawyer was about to aim a humorous sally, but something in Grant's
appearance closed his lips. "Very well, I'll come and see you if you say
when," he agreed.

Grant found what he wanted in a little apartment house on a side street,
overlooking the lake. Here was a place where the vision could leap out
without being beaten back by barricades of stone and brick. He rested
his eyes on the distance, and assured the inveigling landl