erest flicker of a look, which Wayne, as far as he thought
of it at all, supposed to be a recognition on their part of his
carefulness in thinking of such a detail.

"You need not give that another thought," said Benson. "We are not
thinking of publishing that report at present. And when we do, I have
your manuscript. I'll go over the proof myself."

Relieved to be spared another task, Wayne shook hands with his employers
and withdrew. Outside he met David.

"Say," said David, "I am sorry you're leaving us; but, gee!" he added,
his face twisting with joy, "ain't the firm glad to have you go!"

It had long been Wayne's habit to pay strict attention to the
impressions of David.

"Why do you think they are glad?" he asked.

"Oh, they're glad all right," said David. "I heard the old man say
yesterday, 'And by next Saturday he will be at sea.' It was as if
he was going to get a Christmas present." And David went on about
other business.

Once put on the right track, it was not difficult to get the idea. He
went to the firm's printer, but found they had had no orders for printing
his report. The next morning, instead of spending his time with his own
last arrangements, he began hunting up other printing offices, and
finally found what he was looking for. His report was already in print,
with one paragraph left out--that one which related to the shortage of
cars. His name was signed to it, with a little preamble by the firm,
urging the investment on the favorable notice of their customers, and
spoke in high terms of the accuracy of his estimates.

To say that Pete did not once contemplate continuing his arrangements as
if nothing had happened would not be true. All he had to do was to go.
The thing was dishonest, clearly enough, but it was not his action. His
original report would always be proof of his own integrity, and on his
return he could sever his connection with the firm on some other pretext.
On the other hand, to break his connection with Honaton & Benson, to
force the suppression of the report unless given in full, to give up his
trip, to confess that immediate marriage was impossible, that he himself
was out of a job, that the whole basis of his good fortune was a fraud
that he had been too stupid to discover--all this seemed to him more than
man could be asked to do.

But that was what he decided must be done. From the printer's he
telephoned to the Farrons, but found that Miss Severance was out. He knew