by its ear--just as
another one, long ago, had used to. "Daddy!" it faltered. "Why did I ask
you to give him the place, if it wasn't because--because----"

The spell was broken by Kaufmann's voice. "Whatefer you do, I am
sooted," he was saying. It might have been his father. "But if w'at
Pepper says about Brainard----"

The senior partner straightened up and pushed a button. "Yes. But We
haven't heard what Brainard says about Pepper."

Several moments later Tom Brainard entered. Medium-sized and muscular,
he was dressed in a loose-fitting suit that by its very cut told his
training. He stood between them as Mr. Pepper had done, but there was
nothing of the other's ingratiating deference in his level look.

"Sit down, Brainard," said Houghton. The newcomer did so, and the senior
partner marked an attitude of laziness and indifference.

Houghton became stern. "Brainard," he began, "I gave you a chance with
us because----" He paused.

The other colored. "I had hoped to make good without that."

"But this morning Mr. Pepper----"

"Said we couldn't get along together. That's true."

"Ah! You admit!" It was Kaufmann.

"Yes."

There was a pause. Then Houghton spoke. "I can't tell you how much this
disappoints me, Brainard. The fact is, for years I have tried to shut my
eyes to the development of college training. In my time there was not
the call for practicality that there is today. Yet it seems to me that
the training in our colleges has grown less and less practical. Why do
the colleges turn out men who spend their time in personal gossip over
sport or trivialities?"

"You remember that the King of Spain--or was it Cambodia--puzzled his
wise men for a year as to why a fish, when dropped into a full pail of
water, didn't make it overflow."

"What's that got to do with it?"

"Because I must answer as the king did: It's not so--the pail _does_
overflow. They hadn't thought to try it."

"You mean that I am wrong."

"Yes. Are you sure your gossips were 'college men'?"

"Ah!" Houghton made a gesture to his partner, who was about to speak.
"Then let us commence at the root of the matter. Mr. Kaufmann and I have
often discussed the subject. In this case you are the one who has 'tried
it.' Suppose you explain our mistake."

"I'd be glad to do that," said Brainard, "because I've heard a lot of
that talk."

"Well?"

"Well--of course when I say 'college man' I mean college graduate."

"Why?"

"If a kitten