eted uneasily under Ketchim's searching glance; but Harris
frankly met the question. "Nope," he asserted, "we're both rank
heathen. And I'm a dyed-in-the-wool atheist."

"Gracious!" cried Ketchim, "how can you say that, when you see the
goodness of the Lord on every hand?"

"Reed, I believe," continued the imperturbable Harris, waving a hand
toward his friend, "has philosophical leanings--New Thought,
Subliminal Consciousness, Power in Silence, and all that. But I've got
to be shown."

"But surely you believe in the divinity of the Christ?"

"Well, as a matter of fact, I never gave it much thought," said
Harris. "Been pretty busy, you know. Lots of time for that later."

"Ah, that's what so many say," replied Ketchim sadly; "and then comes
the awful voice of the Lord, 'This night thy soul shall be required of
thee!' Fellows, I want to pray for you; and I want you both to promise
me that you will take up seriously the consideration of your souls'
welfare. It's too grave a subject for jest," addressing himself
solemnly to the grinning Harris.

"All right, old man," laughed Harris. "But don't dig up any
Presbyterian tracts for me. I've got a living witness to--well, to
something out of the ordinary, in that girl, Carmen, and I'm inclined
to believe she's dug nearer to bottom facts than any of you. So when
I'm ready to discuss my soul's welfare I'll just consult her, see?"

"That reminds me," said Ketchim, turning abruptly to Reed, "what do
you intend to do with the girl?"

"_Quien sabe?_" Reed answered abstractedly. "Send her to a boarding
school, I guess. At least, that's what I told the old man I'd do."

"So you said before," Ketchim returned. "But where?"

"Don't know yet."

"Well, let me make a suggestion. My daughter Marjorie leaves Tuesday
for Conway-on-the-Hudson, where she has been attending Madam Elwin's
Select School for Girls. Suppose you go with her--I'm too busy,
myself--and take Carmen. It's only a few hours' ride by boat down the
river. And the school is without equal. This is Marjorie's third year
there, and she's simply in love with it."

Reed began to show signs of interest; and Ketchim, noting the effect
of his words, went on briskly:

"Now look here, Molino owes its salvation, and the new company its
existence, to that girl. Why shouldn't they do something to show their
gratitude? I say, it is no more than right that the new company should
support her while she is in school."

"By Jove