s foundations and resources, neither of the young
men could judge. They had no means of knowing how deeply Benson was in
debt, nor what were his assets beyond the visible stock. Yet his fellow
shopkeepers considered him on the verge of bankruptcy; they must know.

"I've enjoyed this trip, Mr. Kendrick," Carson said at parting, "in more
ways than I can tell you. If I can be of use to you in any way, call on
me, please. I'm honestly interested in your friend Mr. Benson. I'd like
to see him win out."

"So should I." Richard shook hands heartily. "I've enjoyed the trip,
too, Mr. Carson. I never had better company. Thank you for going--and
for teaching me a lot of things I wanted to know."

As he drove away he was thinking, "Carson's a success; I'm not. Odd
thing, that I should find myself envying a chap whose place I couldn't
be hired to take. I envy him--not exactly his knowledge and skill, but
his being a definite factor, his being a man who carries
responsibilities and makes good, so that--well, so that he's 'in line
for promotion.' That phrase takes hold of me somehow; I wonder why?
Well, the next thing is to see grandfather."

* * * * *

Old Matthew Kendrick was alone. His grandson had just left him. He was
marching up and down his private library. His hands were clasped tightly
behind his back; above his flushed brow his white hair stood erect from
frequent thrustings of his agitated fingers; even his cravat, slightly
awry, bore witness to his excitement.

"Gad!" he was saying to himself. "The boy's alive after all! The boy's
waked up! He's taking notice! And the thing that's waked him up is a
country store--by cricky! a country store! I believe I'm dreaming yet!"

If the citizens of the thriving town of Eastman, almost of a size to
call itself a young city and boast of a mayor, could have heard him they
might not have been flattered. Yet when they remembered that this was
the owner of a business so colossal that its immense buildings and
branches were to be found in three great cities, they might have
understood that to him the corner store of Hugh Benson looked like a toy
concern, indeed. But he liked the look of it, as it had been presented
to his mind's eye that night; no doubt but he liked the look of it!

"Give him Carson to go up there and manage the business for those two
infants-in-arms? Gad! yes, go myself and make change at the desk for the
new firm," he chuckled, "if