Istoppedshort。IcouldnottellhimwhyIdidnotanchor。Helaughedaloud。
\"That’sallright，\"hesaid。\"IguessMabel’sstoryisnearenoughtothetruthforallpracticalpurposes。Mrs。Paine，\"withasuddenchangetoseriousness，\"youcanunderstandwhyIhavecomeherethismorning。Ifithadnotbeenforyourson’spluck，andcoolhead，andgoodjudgmentI——Mrs。ColtonandImighthavebeen——
Godknowsinwhatstatewemighthavebeento—day！Godknows！I
can’tthinkofit。\"
Hisvoicetrembled。Motherputoutahandandtookmine。
\"Roscoe，\"shesaid，\"Roscoe。\"
\"SoIcametothankhim，\"wentonourvisitor。\"Thisisn’tthefirsttimehehasdonesomethingofthesort。Itseemsalmostasifhe——Butnevermindthat。I’mnotgoingtobefoolish。YoursonandI，Mrs。Paine，havebeenfightingeachothermostofthesummer。That’sallright。Itwasasquarefightand，untilthisnewestfreakofhis——andhehasgotmeguessingastowhatitmeans——IadmitIthoughthewasquiteaslikelytolickmeasIwastolickhim。I’vewatchedhimprettycloselyandIamaprettyfairjudgeofaman，Iflattermyself。Didhetellyouthat，awhileago，Iofferedhimaplaceinmyoffice？\"
\"Inyouroffice？Youofferedhimthat？No，hedidnottellme。
Roscoe！\"reproachfully。
\"Ididnottellyou，Mother，becauseitwasnotworthwhile。OfcourseIcouldnotaccepttheoffer。\"
Shehesitatedand，beforeshespoke，Coltonbrokein。
\"Whynot？Thatwaswhatyouweregoingtosay，Mrs。Paine，Itakeit。Thatiswhat_I_said——whynot？AndIsayitagain。Paine，thatofferisstillopen。\"
Ishookmyhead。\"ItoldyouthenthatIcouldnotaccept，\"I
said。\"Itisimpossible。\"
\"Whyisitimpossible？SofarasIamconcernedIbelieveyouwouldbeamightygoodinvestment。\"
\"Impossible，\"Isaidagain。
\"Nothingisimpossible。Wewon’twastewords。IamgoingtobeplainandIthinkMrs。Painewillexcuseme。Youthinkyoushouldnotleaveyourmother，perhaps。Iunderstandthatreason。Itwouldbeagoodone，exceptthat——well，thatitisn’tgoodanylonger。Yourmotherismuchbetterthanshewas。Quimby——herdoctorandmine——saysso。Ishallseethatsheiswelllookedafter。Ifsheneedsanursesheshallhaveone，thebestwecanget。Oh，bestillandletmefinish！Youcantalkafterward。
You’renotgoingsofaraway。NewYorkisn’ttheendoftheearth；
itisonlythecenter，oritthinksitis。You’llbeinclosetouchwithDenboroallthetimeandyoucancomeherewheneveryouwantto。Nowwillyoutakemyoffer？\"
\"No。\"
\"Youngman，ifIdidn’tknowtherewerebrainsinsidethatheadofyoursIshouldthinkitwas，astheboyssay，solidivory。
Confoundyou！Here，Mrs。Paine，\"turningtoMother，\"youtakehiminhand。Tellhimhemustcomewithme。\"
\"Mother——\"Iprotested。Hecutmyprotestshort。
\"Tellhim，\"heordered。
Motherlookedatme。\"Ithink，perhaps，youshouldaccept，Roscoe，\"shesaid，slowly。
\"Accept！Mother！\"
\"Yes。I——Ithinkyoushould。Iamsureeveryoneelsewouldthinkso。IshouldnotwishyoutodosoifMr。Coltonwasmerelytryingtobekind，tohelpyoufrommotivesofgratitude，orcharity——\"
\"Don’tusethatword，please，\"snapped\"BigJim。\"\"WhenIlosemymindImaytaketocharity，butnotbefore。Charity！GoodLord！\"
\"Butitisnotcharity。Iambetter，Roscoe；Irealizeiteveryday；andwithDorindaIshallgetonperfectlywell。Ihavebeenthinkingofsomethinglikethisforalongtime。Youoweittoyourself，Roscoe。Thechanceisonethatmanymenwouldbevery，verygladtohavecometheirway。Ishallnoturgeyou，Boy。Youmustdecideforyourself，andIknowyouwill；but，Roscoe，Ishallbequitecontented——yes，gladandproud，ifyousayyestoMr。
Colton。\"
Thegentlemannamednoddedemphaticapproval。\"That’sthetalk！\"
heexclaimed。\"Mrs。Paine，Icongratulateyouonyourcommon—
sense。\"
\"Ithink，likeyou，thatyouwillhavemadeagoodinvestment，Mr。
Colton，\"wasMother’sanswer。
Irosetomyfeet。Thismustbeendednow，foralltime。
\"Ithankyou，Mr。Colton，\"Isaid，thoughnotassteadilyasI
couldhavewished。\"IamgreatlyobligedtoyouandIrealizethatyouoffermeanexceptionalopportunity，orwhatwouldbeoneforanotherman。ButIcannotaccept。\"
\"Lookhere，Paine！I’llspeakplainerstill。IunderstandthatthatShoreLanetradeofourshasbecomecommonproperty，or，atanyrate，itwillbecommonpropertysoon。IfIseethesituationclearly，Denboroislikelytobearatherunpleasantplaceforyou。
ThatfellowDeanhasalotofinfluencehere——heavenknowswhy！——
andhehatesmeworsethanOldNickhatesholywater。Oh，Iknowyou’renotafraidofhim！Butwhatistheuseoftakingtheroughroadwhenthesmoothoneisrightbeforeyourfeet？Sayyes，andlet’sendit。\"
\"No，\"saidI，stubbornly。\"No，Mr。Colton。\"
\"Youmeanit？Verywell，IleaveyouinyourMother’shands。Shewillprobablybringyoutoyoursensesbeforelong。Mrs。Paine，youcanhandlehim，Ihavenodoubt。Iamgladtohavemetyou，and，withyourpermission，Ishallcallonyouagain。SowillMabel。Asforyou，youngman，Ithankyouforlastnight’swork。
Youwill，perhaps，acceptthanksifyourefuseeverythingelse。
Goodmorning。\"
Herose，bowed，andwalkedtothedoor。Asheopenedithestaggered，perceptibly。Ithought，foraninstant，thathewasgoingtofall，andIsprangtohisassistance。
\"It’sallright，\"hesaid，gruffly。\"Thisdigestionofminesetsmyheadspinningsometimes。ThatdoctorsaysIshallupsetcompletelyunlessIrest。ItoldhimhewasafoolandIintendtoproveit。Letmebe。Icanwalk，Ishouldhope。WhenIcan’tI’llcalltheambulance——orthehearse。I’llfindthewayout，myself。Good—by。\"
Thedoorclosedbehindhim。
\"Roscoe，\"saidMother，quickly，\"comehere。\"
Iturnedtowardher。Shewaslookingatmewithastrangeexpression。
\"Whatisit，Mother？\"Iasked，anxiously。
\"Roscoe，\"shewhispered，\"Iknowhim。Ihavemethimbefore。\"
\"Knowhim！YouhavemetMr。Colton——before？Where？\"
\"Atourhomeintheolddays。Hecamethereoncewith——withyourfather。Hewasourguestatdinner。\"
Icouldscarcelybelieveit。Then，asthethoughtofwhatthismightmeanflashedtomymind，Iaskedanxiously：
\"Didheknowyou，doyouthink？\"
\"No，Iamsurehedidnot。WemetbutonceandIhave，\"withalittlesigh，\"changedsincethen。ButIrecognizedhim。ThenameofColtonwasfamiliartomewhenyoufirstmentionedit，sometimeago，butIdidnotrememberwhereIhadheardit。Ofcourse，IdidnotconnectthisMr。Coltonwith——thatone。\"
Ifrowned。Thiscomplicatedmattersstillmore，andfurthercomplicationsweresuperfluous。
\"And，knowingthis，knowingthathemightrecognizeyouatanytime，youurgedmetoaccepthisoffer，\"Isaid，reproachfully。
\"Mother！\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Mother，howcanyou？WouldyouhavemegotoNewYorkandenterabankinghousewhere，anyhourofanyday，ImightberecognizedbysomeofthemenIonceknew？WhereImightexpectatanymomenttobecalledbymyrealname？Howcanyou？\"
Shegazedatmeearnestly。\"Whynottellhim，Roscoe？\"sheasked。
Istaredather，aghast。\"Tellhim！\"Irepeated。\"TellhimwhoI
am？Tellhimourstory，thestorythat——Mother，areyoucrazy？\"
\"No。IbelieveIamsane，atleast。Ihavebeenthinkingagreatdealoflate。AsIhavebeengrowingstrongerIhavebeenthinkingmoreandmoreandIamnotsurethatyouandIhavebeenrightinhidinghereaswehavedone。Itwasallmyfault，Iknow，butI
wasweakand——andIdreadedallthegossipandscandal。But，Boy，itwasamistake。Afterall，wehavedonenowrong，youandI——we，personally，havenothingtobeashamedof。Whynotendallthis？
GotoMr。Colton，tellhimwhoyouare，tellhimourstory；then，ifhestillwantsyou——\"
Iinterrupted。\"No，Mother，\"Isaid，\"no，no！Itisimpossible。
Evenifheknew，anditmadenodifference，Icouldnotdoit。I
maygoaway！ImayfeelthatImustgo，ifyouarewellenoughformetoleaveyou，butIcannotgowithhim。Ioughtnottoseehimagain。ImustnotseeHER……Oh，don’tyouunderstand？
Mother，I——I——\"
Sheunderstood。Ihadseizedherhandandnowshestrokeditgentlywithherown。
\"Soitistrue，\"shesaid，quietly。\"Youloveher，Roscoe。\"
\"Yes！yes！yes！\"Ianswered，desperately。\"Oh，don’tspeakofit，Mother！Iaminsane，Ithink。\"
\"Doesshecareforyou，Boy？Haveyouspokentoher？\"
\"MOTHER！Isitlikely？\"
\"ButIthinkshedoescare，Roscoe。Ithinkshedoes。Shemust。\"
Thiswassocharacteristicthat，althoughIwasinanythingbutalaughingmood，Icouldnothelpsmiling。
\"Howcouldshehelpit？Ipresumeyoumean，\"Iobserved，sarcastically。\"There，Mother，don’tworry。IdidnotintendthatyouoranyoneelseshouldknowwhatanidiotIam，butdon’tworry——
Ishan’tdoanythingridiculousordesperate。Imaygosomewhere，togetawayfromDenboro，andtoearnalivingforyouandme，butthatisall。Wewon’tspeakofheragain。\"
\"Butifshedoescare，Boy？\"
\"Ifshedoes——Ofcourse，shedoesn’t——but，ifshedoes，can’tyouseethatonlymakesitworse？ThinkwhosheisandwhoandwhatI
am！Herfamily——Humph！youhavenotmethermother；Ihave。\"
\"Butifshelovesyou——\"
\"DoyouthinkIshouldpermithertoruinherlife——forme？\"
\"Poorboy！IamSOsorry！\"
\"Itisallright，Mother。There！wewon’tbefoolishanylonger。
IamgoingforawalkandIwantyoutorest。Iamglad，wehavehadthistalk；ithasdonemegoodtospeakwhatIhavebeenthinking。Good—by。Iwillbebacksoon。\"
Shewouldhavedetainedme，butIbrokeawayandwentout。Mywalkwasalongone。Itrampedthebeachforeightlongmilesand，thoughonemightthinkthatmyadventuresofthenightbeforehadprovidedexerciseenough，thisadditionaleffortseemedtodonoharm。IforgotdinnerentirelyandsupperwasonthetablewhenI
returnedtothehouse。
IfoundDorindainaconditiondividedbetweenanxietyandimpatience。
\"Haveyouseenanythingofthatmanofmine？\"shedemanded。\"I
ain’tseenhidenorhairofhimsinceIpitchedhimoutofthisroomthismornin’！\"
Iwassurprisedandalittledisturbed。IrememberedLute’sthreatabout\"neverseein’menomore。\"
\"Youdon’tsupposehehasrunaway，oranythinglikethat，doyou？\"
Iasked。
\"Hewouldn’trunfar；runnin’stoomuchlikework。Butwhyhewan’thomefordinnerIdon’tunderstand。Ineverknewhimtomissameal’svittlesafore。Ihopenothin’ain’thappenedtohim，that’sall。Well，we’llhaveoursupper，anyhow。Afterthatwe’llsee。\"
Butwedidnothavetosee。Wewereatthetablewhenweheardthesoundofhurryingfootstepsonthewalk。Thegateclosedwithabang。Dorindarosefromherchair。
\"Iswan！Ibelievethat’shimnow！\"sheexclaimed。
\"Ifitis，heiscertainlyrunningthistime，\"Iobserved。\"What——\"
Thedoorwasthrownopenandthemissingmemberofthehouseholdappeared。Hewasred—facedandpanting，buttherewasacuriousairofdignifiedimportanceinhisbearing。Dorinda’slipsshuttightly。
\"Well，Lute，\"saidI，\"wherehaveyoubeen？\"
Lutestruggledforbreath。
\"Don’taskmewhereI’vebeen！\"hegasped。\"Don’twastenotimeaskin’MEquestions。Getyourhaton，Ros！Getyourhatonthisminute！WheredidIputthat？WhereintimedidIputit？\"
Hewasfumblinginhispockets。DorindaandIlookedateachother。Sheshookherhead。
\"He’sgonestarkfoolishatlast！\"shesaid，withdecision。\"Well，I’vebeenexpectin’it！LuteRogers，stoppawin’yourselfoverandactsensible，ifyoucan。Whatisthematterwithyou？\"
\"Matterwithme！Nothin’sthematterwithME；butthere’ssomethin’thematterwithotherfolks，Itellyouthat！DoctorQuimby’sbeentheretwicealready，andthetelephone’sbeengoin’，and——and——Mytime！yououghttoseenherface！’Twasjustaswhiteas——as——WHEREdidIputthatletter？\"
His\"pawing\"becamemorefranticthanever。Hiswifesteppedforwardandseizedhimbythearm。
\"Stopit，Itellyou！\"shecommanded。\"Stopit！Who’ssick？
Whosetelephone’sringin’？Whatletterareyoutalkin’about？
Answerme！StopthatSaintVitusdancin’andanswermethisminute！\"
Shegavehimashakeandhiscapfelltothefloor。Fromitfellanenvelope。Lutepulledhimselffreeandpounceduponit。
\"There’tis！\"heexclaimed。\"Bytime！IwasscartI’dlostit！
Readit，Ros！readit！\"
Hehandedmetheenvelope。Itboremyname。Itoreitopen——tookoutthesheetofnotepaperwhichitinclosed，andreadasfollows：
\"DearMr。Paine：
\"Fatherisveryill，andIamingreattrouble。Ithinkyou，perhaps，canhelpusboth。Willyoucomeoveratonce？PLEASEdo。
\"Hastilyyours，\"MABELCOLTON。\"
\"And——and——\"pantedLute，\"shetoldmetotellyoutopleasehurry。
Andyou’doughttoseenherface！She——\"
Iheardnomore。Ididnotwaittogetmyhat，astheexcitedbearerofthenotehadurgedmetodo。Bareheaded，Ihurriedoutofthedining—roomandalongthepathtowardtheColtonmansion。
CHAPTERXXI
Itwasearlyintheevening，butthebighousewaslightedasifforareception；lightsintheroomsabove，lightsinthelibraryandhallanddrawing—room。DoctorQuimby’shorseandbuggystoodbyoneofthehitchingpostsandtheColtonmotorcarwasdrawnupbythemainentrance。Fromtheopenwindowsoftheservants’
quarterscamethesoundsofexcitedvoices。Ihastenedtothefrontdoor。BeforeIcouldpushthebuttonoftheelectricbellthedoorwasopened。Johnson，thebutler，peeredoutatme。Mostofhisdignitywasgone。
\"Isityou，Mr。Paine？\"heasked，anxiously。\"Comein，sir，please。MissMabelhasbeenaskingforyounotaminuteago，sir。\"
Ienteredthehall。\"Whatisit，Johnson？\"Iasked，quickly。\"HowisMr。Colton？\"
Thebutlerlookedbehindhimbeforereplying。Heshookhisheaddubiously。
\"He’sawfulill，sir，\"hewhispered。\"Thedoctor’sbeenwithhimforanhour；’e’sunconsciousandMrs。Coltonistakin’onsomethingterrible。It’sawful，sir，ain’tit！\"
Hisnervousnesswassufficientindicationofthegeneraldemoralizationofthehousehold。Andfromoneoftheroomsabovecamethesobsofahystericalwoman。
\"Braceup，man，\"Iwhisperedinreply。\"Thisisnotimeforyoutogotopieces。WhereisMissColton？\"
\"She’swithherfather，sir。StepintothelibraryandI’llcallher。\"
Hewasnotobligedtocallher，for，atthatmoment，Iheardhervoicespeakingfromtheheadofthestairs。
\"Whoisit，Johnson？\"sheasked，inalowtone。
\"It’sMr。Paine，MissMabel。\"
Iheardalittleexclamation，ofreliefitseemedtome。Thensheappeared，descendingthestaircase。Herfacewas，asLutehadsaid，pale，buthermannerwascalm，muchcalmerthanthebutler’s。
Shecametomeandextendedherhand。\"Thankyouforcoming，\"shesaid。\"Iwassureyouwould。\"
\"Howisyourfather，MissColton？\"Iasked。
\"Heisnoworse。Comeintothelibrary，please。Johnson，ifMotherorthedoctorneedme，Ishallbeinthelibrary。Come，Mr。
Paine。\"
Weenteredthelibrarytogether。TheroominwhichIhadhadmytwomemorableencounterswith\"BigJim\"Coltonwaswithoutitsdominantfigurenow。HisbigarmchairwasdrawnupbesidethetableandthepapersandwritingmaterialswereintheplacewhereIhadseenthem。Ahalf—burnedcigarlayintheashtray。Butthestrongfingerswhichhadplacedittherewereweakenoughnowandthemasterfulgeneraloffinancewasinhisroomupstairsfightingthehardestbattleofhislife，fightingforthatlifeitself。A
doorattheendofthelibrary，adoorwhichIhadnotnoticedbefore，waspartiallyopenandfromwithinsoundedatintervalsaseriesofsharpclicks，theclickofatelegraphinstrument。I
rememberedthatColtonhadtoldme，inoneofhisconversations，thathehadbothaprivatetelephoneandtelegraphinhishouse。
MissColtonclosedthedoorbehindus，andturnedtome。
\"Thankyouforcoming，\"shesaid，again。\"IneedhelpandIcouldthinkofnoonebutyou。Youhavehurrieddreadfully，haven’tyou！\"
Shewaslookingatmyforehead。Icaughtaglimpseofmyfaceinthemirrorabovethemantelandreachedformyhandkerchief。
\"Imusthaveruneverystepoftheway，\"Ianswered。\"Ididn’trealizeit。Butnevermindthat。Tellmeaboutyourfather。\"
\"Hewastakenillsoonafterhereturnedfromyourhouse。HewasinthelibraryhereandIheardhimcall。WhenIreachedhimhewaslyinguponthecouch，scarcelyabletospeak。Helostconsciousnessbeforewecouldgethimtohisroom。Thedoctorsaysitiswhathehasfeared，anattackofacuteindigestion，broughtonbyanxietyandlackofrest。Itwasmyfault，Iamafraid。
Lastnight’sworry——PoorFather！\"
ForjustamomentIfearedshewasgoingtobreakdown。Shecoveredhereyeswithherhand。Butsheremoveditalmostimmediately。
\"Thedoctorisconfidentthereisnogreatdanger，\"shewenton。
\"Danger，ofcourse，butnotthegreatest。Heisstillunconsciousandwillbeforsometime，but，ifheiskeptperfectlyquietandnotpermittedtoworryintheleast，hewillsoonbehimselfagain。\"
\"ThankGodforthat！\"Iexclaimed，fervently。\"Andyourmother——
Mrs。Colton——how，isshe？\"
Hertonechangedslightly。IinferredthatMrs。Colton’sconditionwasmoretryingthanserious。
\"Motheris——well，inhernervousstateanyshockisdisturbing。
Sheisbearingtheanxietyaswellasweshouldexpect。\"
Ijudgedthatnotmuchwasexpected。
\"ItwasnotonaccountofFather’sillnessthatIsentforyou，Mr。
Paine，\"shewenton。\"IfhehadnotbeenillIshouldnothaveneededyou，ofcourse。Butthereissomethingelse。ItcouldnothavehappenedatamoreunfortunatetimeandIamafraidyoumaynotbeabletogivemethehelpIneed。Oh，Ihopeyoucan！I
don’tknowwhattodo。Iknowitmustbedreadfullyimportant。
Fatherhasbeentroubledaboutitfordays。HehasbeensayingthathemustgotoNewYork。Butthedoctorhadwarnedusagainsthisgoingandsowepersuadedhimtowait。Andnow……Sitdown，please。Iwanttoaskyouradvice。\"
Itookthechairsheindicated。Shedrewanotherbesidemeandseatedherself。
\"Mr。Paine——\"shebegan。Then，noticingmyexpression，sheasked，\"Whatisit？\"
\"Nothing，\"Ianswered，\"nothingexcept——Isn’tthatthetelegraphinstrumentIhear？Isn’tsomeonecallingyou？\"
\"Yes，yes，itisMr。Davis，Father’sconfidentialman，hisbroker，inNewYork。Heistryingtogetus，Iamsure。Hetelephonedanhourago。Igotapartofhismessageandthentheconnectionwasbrokenoff。Centralsaysthereissomethingthematterwiththewire，abigstorminConnecticutsomewhere。Itmaytakeawholedaytorepairit。AnditisSOimportant！Itmaymean——Idon’tknowWHATitmaymean！Oh，Mr。Paine，DOyouknowanythingaboutstocks？\"
Ilookedatherblankly。
\"Stocks？\"Irepeated。
\"Yes，yes，\"atrifleimpatiently。\"Stocks——thestockmarket——
railroadshares——howtheyareboughtandsold——doyouknowanythingaboutthem？\"
Iwasmorepuzzledthanever，butIansweredasbestIcould。
\"Averylittle，\"Ireplied。\"Iusedtoknowagooddealaboutthemonce，and，oflate，sinceIhavebeenintheDenborobank，myknowledgehasbeenbrushedupabit。ButIamafraiditisprettyfragmentary。\"
\"DoyouknowanythingaboutLouisvilleandTranscontinental？\"
Istarted。LouisvilleandTranscontinentalwastheonestockaboutwhichIdidknowsomething。OflateIhadreadeverythingthepapersprintedconcerningit。ItwasthestockinwhichGeorgeTaylorhadriskedsomuchandwhichhadcomesoneartoruininghim。NowonderIwasstartled。Whydidshementionthatparticularstock？
\"What？\"Istammered。
\"LouisvilleandTranscontinental，\"sherepeated，eagerly。\"DOyouknowanythingaboutit？Whydoyoulookatmelikethat？\"
Imustbecareful。ItwasnotpossiblethatshecouldhavelearnedGeorge’ssecret。NooneknewthatexceptGeorgehimself，andhisbrokers，andI。Yet——yetwhydidsheaskthatquestion？Imustbeonmyguard。
\"IdidnotrealizethatIwaslookingatyouinanyextraordinaryway，MissColton，\"Ianswered。
\"Butyouwere。Why？Doyouknowanythingaboutit？Ifyoudo——
oh，ifyoudoyoumaybeabletohelpme，toadviseme！And，forFather’ssake，Iwantadvicesomuch。\"
Forherfather’ssake！ThatdidnotsoundasifherquestionconcernedGeorgeorme。Atriflereassured，ItriedtoremembersomethingofwhatIhadread。
\"Iknow，ofcourse，\"Ianswered，slowly，\"whateveryoneknows，thattheCaliforniaandEasternhasbeen，orisreportedtohavebeen，tryingtogetcontroloftheL。andT。ItspossessionwouldgivetheCaliforniapeoplethebalanceofpowerandmeantheendofthepresentratewarwiththeConsolidatedPacific。Thecommonstockhasfluctuatedbetween30and50formonthsandtherehavebeenallsortsofrumors。Somuchthenewspapershavemadecommonproperty。ThatisallIknow。\"
\"YoudidnotknowthenthatFatherandhisassociatescontroltheCaliforniaandEastern？\"
Ileanedbackinmychair。
\"No，\"Isaid，\"Ididnotknowthat。Thenyourfather——\"
\"Fathertellsmeagreatdealconcerninghisbusinessaffairs。I
havebeenverymuchinterestedinthis。ItseemsalmostlikeagreatwarandasifFatherwereageneral。HeandhisassociateshavegraduallyboughtuptheC。andE。untiltheypracticallyownit。AndtheyhavebeenworkingtogettheLouisvilleroad。Lastwinter，youremember，therewasagreatexcitementandthestockwentupandthendownagain。Thatwaswhenitlookedasiftheotherside——theConsolidatedPacific——hadbeatenFather，buttheyhadnot。Yourememberthat？\"
Irememberedit。Thatistosay，Georgehadtoldmeoftheriseandfallofthestock。Itwasthenthathehadbought。
\"Yes，\"Isaid，\"Iremembersomethingofit。\"
\"IfFatherhadstayedinNewYorkhewouldhavewonbeforethis。
Oh，\"withaburstofpride，\"theycanNEVERbeathimwhenheisleadingthefighthimself！Hehas，throughhisbrokers，beenselling——whatdotheycallit？Oh，yes，sellingtheLouisvillestock’short’eversince。Iamnotsurejustwhatthatmeans，butperhapsyouknow。\"
\"IthinkIdo，\"Ianswered，thoughtfully。\"Hehasbeenselling，quietly，soastoforcethestockdown，preparatorytobuyingin。
IrememberthepapershavesaidthattheC。andE。werereportedashavinglostinterestintheLouisville。Thatwasonlyablind，I
presume。\"