ery rich home on Fifth Avenue to go and live
in a dirty hotel in a country village--all because you were honest; you
risked your life to save your employer; and now you want to go into debt
to save a friend. Ah--you see, I know all about you, my dear Mr. John
Breen. Mr. Grayson has told me, and if he had not, I could read your
face. No--no--no--we will not talk about such things as cent per cent
and security. No--no--I am very glad I had the bonds where I could get
at them quick. There now--do you run home as fast as you can and tell
your friend. He is more unhappy than anybody."

Jack had his breath now and he had also made up his mind. Every drop of
blood in his body was in revolt. Take money from a Jew tailor whom he
had not seen half a dozen times; with whom he had no business relations
or dealings, or even social acquaintance?

He laid the bonds back on the desk.

"I cannot take them, Mr. Cohen. I thank you most sincerely, but--no--you
must not give them to me. I--"

Isaac wheeled suddenly and drew himself up. His little mouse eyes were
snapping, and his face fiery red.

"You will not take them! Why?"

"I don't know--I can't!"

"I know!" he cried angrily, but with a certain dignity. "It is because
I am a Jew. Not because I am a tailor--you have too much sense for
that--but because I am a Jew!"

"Oh, Mr. Cohen!"

"Yes--I know--I see inside of you. I read you just as if you were a page
in a book. Who taught you to think that? Not your Uncle Peter; he loves
me--I love him. Who taught you such nonsense?" His voice had risen with
every sentence. In his indignation he looked twice his size. "Is not
my money as good as that man Breen's--who insults you when you go to
him?--and who laughed at you? Have I laughed at you? Does Mr. Grayson
laugh?"

Jack tried to interrupt, but the tailor's words poured on.

"And now let me tell you one thing more, Mr. John Breen. I do not give
you the bonds. I give them to Mr. Grayson. Never once has he insulted me
as you do now. All these years--fifteen years this winter--he has been
my friend. And now when the boy whom he loves wants some money for
a friend, and Mr. Grayson has none to give him, and I, who am
Mr. Grayson's friend, come to help that boy out of his trouble,
you--you--remember, you who have nothing to do with it--you turn up your
nose and stop it all. Are you not ashamed of yourself?"

Jack's eyes blazed. He was not accustomed to be spoken to in that way by
any