e thoroughly?" inquired the banker ironically.

"A thorough ducking?" gasped his son and heir. "I should say
it was thorough, sir!"

"Then I wish that the incident would make sufficient impression
on you to last you a few days," went on Mr. Dodge bitterly. "I
doubt it, however."

"Father, I want you to back me in having some of my assailants
arrested for that ducking!"

"I shall do nothing of the sort," rejoined the banker. "The ridicule
that this affair has brought upon my family has gone far enough
already. You are my son, but a most foolish one, if not worse,
and I feel that I am under obligations to the men or boys who
carried you to the horse trough and endeavored to cure you of
some of your folly."

"I had hoped, sir, that you would stand back of your own son better
than that. I am positive that Mr. Bayliss will not allow the
outrage to pass unnoticed. I believe that Mr. Bayliss will take
stern measures to avenge the great insult to his son."

"What Mr. Bayliss may do is Mr. Bayliss' affair, not mine," replied
the banker coolly. "Is young Bayliss in this house at present?"

"Yes, sir; he's at the dinner table."

"Then I won't urge you to be inhospitable, Bert, let him finish
his dinner in peace. After dinner, however, the sooner young
Bayliss returns to his home, or at least, goes away from here,
the better I shall be pleased. As for you, young man, I have
had enough of your actions. I have a nice, and very quiet, summer
place in mind where I am going to send you to-morrow. You will
stay there, too, unless you wish to incur my severe displeasure.
I will tell you about your new plans for the summer after breakfast
to-morrow, young man."

"You're always hard on me," grumbled Bert sullenly. "But what
do you think about Dick Prescott and his friends?"

"As for young Prescott," replied the banker, "he is altogether
above your class, Bert. You should leave him severely alone.
Don't allow yourself to attempt anything against Prescott, Reade,
Darrin, or any of that crowd. You will find that any one of them
has too much brains for you to hope to cope with. I repeat that
you are not at all in their class as to brains, and it is quite
time that you recognize the fact. Now, you may return to your
dinner. Be good enough to tell your mother that I will be at
table within fifteen minutes. Present my apologies to your mother
for not having been more prompt. Now---go!"

Bert Dodge left his father