's glance. "Do you want to name the winner, Mr. Underwood?"

"I'll back you, my boy," said the elder man, quietly, his shrewd face
growing a trifle shrewder.

"What!" exclaimed Dr. Bradley, rising hastily;

"I guess it's about time I was going, if that's your estimate of my
athletic prowess," and, shaking hands with Darrell, he started down the
driveway.

"I'll put you up at about ten to one," Mr. Underwood called after the
retreating figure, but a deprecatory wave of his hand over his shoulder
was the doctor's only reply.

"Oh," exclaimed Darrell, looking about him, "this is glorious! This is
one of the days that make a fellow feel that life is worth living!"

Even as he spoke there came to his mind the thought of what life meant
to him, and the smile died from his lips and the light from his eyes.

For a moment nothing was said, then, with the approaching sound of
rhythmic hoof-beats, Mr. Underwood rose, deliberately emptying the ashes
from his pipe as a fine pair of black horses attached to a light
carriage appeared around the house from the direction of the stables.

"You will be back for lunch, David?" Mrs. Dean inquired.

"Yes, and I'll bring Jack with me," was his reply, as he seated himself
beside the driver, and the horses started at a brisk trot down the
driveway.

With a smile Mrs. Dean addressed Darrell, who was watching the horses
with a keen appreciation of their good points.

"This 'Jack' that you've heard my brother speak of is his partner."

"Yes?" said Darrell, courteously, feeling slight interest in the
expected guest, but glad of anything to divert his thoughts.

"Yes," Mrs. Dean continued; "they've been partners and friends for more
than ten years. His name is John Britton, but it's never anything but
'Dave' and 'Jack' between the two; they're almost like two boys
together."

Darrell wondered what manner of man this might be who could transform
his silent, stern-faced host into anything boy-like, but he said
nothing.

"To see them together you'd wonder at their friendship, too," continued
Mrs. Dean, "for they're noways alike. My brother is all business, and
Mr. Britton is not what you'd really call a practical business man. He
is very rich, for he is one of those men that everything they touch
seems to turn to gold, but he doesn't seem to care much about money. He
spends a great deal of his time in reading and studying, and though he
makes very few friends, he could have any number