like to admit the surrender.

"It depends on you." H. R. pulled out his watch, looked at the time,
snapped it shut, and said: "I haven't time to go over the business; but
I'll send one of my office men to tell you all you want to know. Listen
to him and then ask him any questions you wish. So far as you and I are
concerned we are beyond the sandwich stage. I'll send Barrett to you
this afternoon. And, believe me, you are going to be my father-in-law.
Good morning!" He left the office without offering to shake hands.

On his way out H. R. stopped to speak to Mr. Coster, to whom he owed so
much for having led him, as a clerk with the springtime in his blood, to
the president's office to be discharged.

"Well, old top, here I be!" said H. R., kindly humorous in order to
remove all restraint.

"How do you do, Mr. Rutgers?" said Coster, respectfully.

The clerks looked at their erstwhile fellow-slave furtively, afraid to
be caught looking. Was this Hendrik Rutgers? Was this what a man became
when he ceased to be a clerk?

Ah, but a salary! Something coming in regularly at the end of the week,
rain or shine! Gee! but some men are born lucky!

XXXI

H. R. returned to his office feeling that the big battle was about to
begin. The preliminary skirmishes he had won. He had captured fame and
must now begin his real attack on fortune. He spent an hour dictating
plans of campaign for his various companies. Shortly before noon he told
the stenographer to call up Miss Goodchild and inform her that Mr.
Rutgers would be there in half an hour.

He had promised not to call on Grace for a month after that day. He must
not make love to her. He was determined to keep his promise; but she
must not forget him. He had accustomed her to his impetuous wooing. In
thirty days of inaction much might be undone if he did nothing.

He was punctual. He found Grace waiting for him, curious to know what
had happened at H. R.'s conference with her father at the bank. Her
curiosity made her forget many other things.

She expected a characteristic greeting from H. R., but his face was so
full of adamantine resolution that her curiosity promptly turned into
vague alarm. She had told herself she did not love him, but
instinctively she now walked toward him quickly.

"What is it?" she asked.

He waved her back and said, hastily:

"Stop right where you are! Don't come any nearer. For the love of Mike,
don't!"

She had been thinking of