e surface of the desk, and the great
philanthropist regained his composure by degrees. When he had
collected the postage offertory, carefully indorsed them all, and
assembled the funds sent in for his great work, he slipped them into a
generously roomy wallet, and placed the latter in the pocket of his
frock coat.

He opened a drawer in his desk, and drew forth a tan leather bank book.
Taking his silk hat from the bronze hook by the door, he closed the
desk, after slamming the Bible shut with a sacrilegious impatience,
quite out of keeping with his manner of a half hour earlier.

"I am going to the bank, Miss Emerson. I will return in half an hour
to lead in the prayer at the opening of the directors' meeting. Kindly
inform the gentlemen when they arrive."

He slammed the door as he left the offices.

The telephone operator abstractedly chewed her gum as she watched his
departure.

"I wonder now. I ain't seen his nibs so flustered since I been on this
job," she mused. "That cop must 'ave got his goat. I wonder!"

CHAPTER IX

THE BUSY MART OF TRADE

The hypocrisy of William Trubus and the silly fatuity of his reform
work rankled in Burke's bosom as he betook himself uptown to enjoy his
brief vacation for an afternoon with his old friend, the inventor.
Later he was to share supper when the girls came home from their work.

John Barton was busy with his new machine, and had much to talk about.
At last, when his own enthusiasm had partially spent itself, he noticed
Burke's depression.

"What is the trouble, my boy? You are very nervous. Has anything gone
wrong?"

Bobbie hesitated. He wished to avoid any mention of the case in which
Lorna had so unfortunately figured. But, at last, he unfolded the
story of his interview with the alleged philanthropist, describing the
situation of the gangsters and their work in general terms.

Barton shook his head.

"They're nearly all alike, these reformers in mahogany chairs, Burke.
I've been too busy with machinery and workmen, whom I always tried to
help along, to take much stock in the reform game. But there's no
denying that we do need all the reforming that every good man in the
world can give us. Only, there are many ways to go about it. Even I,
without much education, and buried for years in my own particular kind
of rut, can see that."

"The best kind of reform will be with the night stick and the bars of
Sing Sing, Mr. Barton," answered Burke