exactly as you stated. Why, of course there isn't."

"I wish I had your confidence, dear," Eleanor sighed, "but that would be
asking too much."

"Was Mr. Buckner concerned in it?"

"No; it was another man--the only other man I ever met except your
father whom I would include among God's noblemen."

"Some one you loved, Eleanor?" the girl asked, hesitatingly.

"No, dear, not that!" she cried, hastily. "I was in no condition at that
time to love any one. It was, as I told you, right after Carina's death.
He was the friend who protected me and who helped me at that time--I
told you about it--but who would believe that it was simply an act of
humanity?"

"Father would believe it, Eleanor," the girl cried, firmly. "You must
tell him, and you must tell him now--now--he is in the library."

"Oh, I cannot!" cried Eleanor, shrinking; "Robert is so much to me that
I cannot run the risk of having even a doubt disturb the perfect
understanding that has always existed between us."

"You must, Eleanor," insisted Alice, rising and urging Mrs. Gorham to
her feet. "You must--shall I go with you?"

"No, dear," Eleanor replied. "I will go"; and with slow footsteps she
left the room.

* * * * *

Gorham was well satisfied with the successful formation of the Manhattan
Traction Company, as he was also with the general progress of the
Consolidated Companies. Its expansion and success were phenomenal, and
it was, of a certainty, coming into its own. The volume of business had
quadrupled; its list of stockholders was nearly complete, and already
included a sufficient proportion of those who controlled the world's
pulse to make the acquisition of the others certain; its political
strength, exercised under his firm hand for peace always, even now
exceeded any similarly exerted power the world had known.

It was natural that Gorham should be filled with a certain sense of
satisfaction that his work was bearing such magnificent fruit. One by
one the necessities of life were being given to the public at a lower
cost; one by one the luxuries, which had previously been denied them,
were being brought within their reach. Wars had been prevented and
taxation reduced. Everywhere the Consolidated Companies was looked upon
as the people's friend, and those connected with it as public
benefactors. And yet--the profits were increasing so rapidly that before
long they bade fair to defy human computation!

For the