ef I know, but--but he's full of
determination too. William will go a long way. I will not live to see
it; my days are few now, but I'll die the happier," he added softly,
"for having known William Adolphus Turnpike."

CHAPTER XII

It was a big feeling William that reported for duty on the succeeding
Monday morning. "Importance" was written large on his face, and again
expressed in his every action. Lucien Torrance timidly ventured
several questions in the hope of elucidating the why and wherefore of
William's attitude without receiving any reply. "Say," drawled William
after another attempt on Lucien's part, "what's the difference between
you and a clam?"

"I don't know."

"Of course you don't; a fellow like you'd never know."

"Well, what is the difference?" demanded Lucien desperately.

"Well, a clam ain't no good unless it's baked, and that's what's the
matter with you, Lucien Torrance." Whereupon Lucien imitated a clam to
the extent of shutting his mouth and keeping it shut.

In the afternoon, Whimple having departed to the law courts, where the
growth of his business was beginning to take him quite often, William
ordered Lucien to keep an eye on the office while he went across the
road to study the baseball scores. "The way them Torontos is playin'
on the road," he added by way of explanation, "has me goin'! They won
five outer the last six games, and they're up against the Buffaloes
to-day, and that's a hard team to beat. But Torontos can do it,
b'lieve me--two outer three from Buffaloes my guess--have you got any?"

"No--I don't care who wins. Baseball doesn't interest me."

"What's that! Say, you're the limit; the last--the very last limit.
Is there any game whatever that stirs your thick blood?"

"Lawn tennis."

"Lawn--Oh, cheese it, Lucien, cheese it. First thing I know you'll be
tellin' me you play chess too."

"Indeed I do. Father is teaching me the game; we play nearly every
night."

"Halt! who goes there?" William rolled out the words as though the
fate of armies depended on them. "The ch-e-eld wonder of the
cen-tury," he went on, waving his arms dramatically. "Pass the
ch-e-eld wonder and be careful with him." He walked around the
bewildered Lucien, pretending to examine his head very closely. "Ah,"
he said, after the first scrutiny, "now I begin to tumble." His voice
was now low-pitched and full of pathos. "Now I'm getting on to the
reason for those grey hairs