topped. "He's never done a day's work in his life
that earned what he got for it. When he refused to go back to
college mother bought him a place in Hoge and Howell's office. They
kept him until he'd used up the capital put in the business, then got
rid of him. I offered to put more in, but they wouldn't agree.
Later, I got John Moore to take him in, but John now refuses to renew
their contract. He's absolutely no good. That's a pretty hard thing
to say about one's brother, but it's true. He's the only thing on
earth belonging to me that I've got to love, and now--"

Selwyn's voice was husky, and again he went to the window, looked
long upon the Square, and for a moment I said nothing. I could think
of nothing to say. From various friends of other days who came
occasionally to see me in my new home, I had heard of Harrie's wild
behavior of late, of Selwyn's patient shielding of him, of the
latter's love and loyalty and care of the boy to whom he had been far
more than a brother, and I wanted much to help him, to say something
that would hearten him, and there was nothing I could say. Harrie
was selfish to the core; he was unprincipled and unscrupulous, and
for long I had feared that some day he would give Selwyn sore and
serious trouble. That day had seemingly come.

"He is so young. At twenty-three life isn't taken very seriously by
boys of Harrie's nature. He'll come to himself after a while." I
was fumbling for words. "When his money is entirely gone he'll tire
of his--his way of living and behave himself."

"The lack of money doesn't disturb him. I bought his interest in the
house for fear he'd sell it to some one else. He's pretty nearly
gotten through with that, as with other things he inherited. How in
the name of Heaven my father's son--" Selwyn came over to the sofa
and sat down. "I didn't mean to speak of this, however; of his past
behavior. It's concerning his latest adventure that I want your
help, want you to tell me what to do."

"Why don't you smoke? Haven't you a cigar?" I reached for a box of
matches behind me. "Begin at the beginning and tell me everything."

Selwyn lighted his cigar and for a while smoked in silence. In his
face were deep lines that aged it strangely and for the first time I
noticed graying hair about his temples. Suddenly something clutched
my heart queerly, something that cleared unnaming darkness, and
understanding was upon me. Unsteadily my hand we