the great
towering buildings, the wonderful harbor with its kaleidoscopic
shipping, the surging masses of the striving people in the streets, the
blinding glare of Broadway at night, and the tense, eager business
competition keeping each man, irrespective of position, constantly on
his taps to hold his own or to forge ahead against the incoming tide of
growing prosperity. Everything he craved seemed centred here, yet he had
been a part of it all, and had failed to keep his grip. His opportunity
had been given him, and he had not taken advantage of it. The city
contained no room for failures--only those who could force success from
its grinding turmoil belonged within its ever-grasping arms. He must
turn his back upon it all, and go to some place less critical, less
overpowering, taking with him as memories, in place of triumphs, the
thoughts of what might have been.

Amid the gloom which surrounded him, a childish face forced its sweet
features upon him, and it relieved the tension of the moment. Dear
little Patricia, at least, had faith in him. Alice's attitude was that
of sympathy and pity, but little Pat saw in him, the failure, those
attributes which belong to the Knight Courageous, undaunted by the
hostile flings of Fortune. As she grew older, she too would discover
that the gold was paint and the silver, tinsel; but until then, he knew
her faith was in him. He pressed his hands against his aching
temples--"God bless her for that," he said, softly, "God bless her for
that."

XXVIII

The first train which left Pittsburgh after the arrival of Mr. Gorham's
letter bore Stephen Sanford to New York. Gorham had found time, even
with the pressure of the conflicting details, to write his old friend at
length regarding the situation which made it necessary for Allen to
terminate his connection with the Consolidated Companies. There was no
word of censure against the boy--he even took pains to express in full
his admiration for certain sterling qualities which this, Allen's first
business experience, had brought out.

"_The time has come_," he wrote, "_when Allen needs the sympathy and
assistance of his father more than he ever has, or ever will need it
again. I believe I know you well enough, Stephen, to feel certain that
you won't refuse it to him simply because he has not asked for it. What
I have tried to do for him has been more for your sake than for his own,
though you have misunderstood my motive. The bo