he old
man who seemed to him to-day, somehow, almost a stranger in his
unwontedly aroused speech.

"The most important thing a business can do," said Matthew Kendrick
slowly, "is to make men of those who make the business."

He let the words sink in. He saw, after an instant, the response in each
face, and he nodded, satisfied. He held out his hand to each in turn,
including his grandson, and received three hearty grips of gratitude and
understanding.

As he drove away with Richard his eyes were bright under their heavy
brows. It had done him good, this visit to the place where his thoughts
had often been of late, and he was pleased with the way Richard had
borne himself throughout the interview. He could not have asked better
of the heir to the Kendrick millions than the unassuming and yet quietly
assured manner Richard had shown. It had a certain quality, the old man
proudly considered, which was lacking in that of both Benson and Carson,
fine fellows though they were, and well-mannered in every way. It
reminded Matthew Kendrick of the boy's own father, who had been a man
among men, and a gentleman besides.

"Grandfather, we shall pass Mr. Rufus Gray's farm in a minute. Don't you
want to stop and see them?"

"Rufus Gray?" questioned Mr. Kendrick. "The people we entertained at
Christmas? I should like to stop, if it will not delay us too long. It
seems a colder air than it did this morning."

"There's a bit of wind, and it's usually colder, facing this way. If you
prefer, after the call, I'll take you back to the station and run down
alone."

"We'll see. Is this the place we're coming to? A pleasant old place
enough, and it looks like the right home for such a pair," commented Mr.
Kendrick, gazing interestedly ahead as the car swung in at a stone
gateway, and followed a winding roadway toward a low-lying, hospitable
looking white house, with long porches beyond masses of bare shrubbery.

It seemed that the welcoming look of the house was justified in the
attitude of its inmates, for the car had but stopped when the door flew
open, and Rufus Gray, his face beaming, bade them enter. Inside, his
wife came forward with her well-remembered sunny smile, and in a trice
Matthew Kendrick and his grandson found themselves sitting in front of a
blazing fire upon a wide hearth, receiving every evidence that their
presence brought delight.

Richard looked on with inward amusement and satisfaction at the unwonted
sight o