in prison with just one big
idea in his life, the idea being the one thing he felt he was really
doing or ever could do, his very life built on that one idea:
that outside, somewhere, was his kid growing up into a fine young
person--never guessing it had such a father--and Joe never intending to
see it again and not being able to know it if he ever should see it.
I tell you, after learning Joe's story, it made me feel that I'd had
enough of the old life."

Again the Duchess spoke. "Did Joe ever mention its name?"

"No, he just spoke of it as 'his kid.'"

Larry was quiet a moment. "You see," he added, "I want to get settled
before Joe comes out--his time's up in a few months--so that I can give
him some sort of place near me. He's all right, Joe is; but he's too
old to have any show at a fresh start if he tries to make it all on his
own."

"Larry, you haven't got such a tough piece of old brass for a heart
yourself," commented Hunt. "What are your own plans?"

"I know I've got the makings of a real business man--I've already told
you that," said Larry confidently. He had thought this out carefully
during his days as a coal-passer and his long nights upon the
eighteen-inch bunk in his cell. "I've got a lot of the finishing
touches; I know the high spots. What I need are the rudiments--the
fundamentals--connecting links. You see, I had part of a business
college training a long time before I went to work in a broker's office,
stenography and typewriting; I've been a secretary in the warden's
office the last few months and I've brushed up on the old stuff and
I'm pretty good. That ought to land me a job. Then I'm going to study
nights. Of course, I'd get on faster if I could have private lessons
with one of the head men of one of these real business schools. I'd mop
up this stuff about organization and management mighty quick, for that
business stuff comes natural to me. A bit of that sort of going to
school would connect up and give a working unity to what I already know.
But then I'll find a job and work the thing out some way. I'm in this to
win out, and win out big!"

Once more the rarely heard voice of the Duchess sounded, and though thin
it had a positive quality:

"You're not going to take any job at first. First thing, you're going to
give all your time to those private lessons."

Larry gazed at the Duchess, surprised by the tone in which she spoke.
"But, grandmother, these lessons cost money. And I didn'