ther
with joy and excitement. Suddenly she paused in her gyrations, and,
placing her mouth close to his ear, she whispered:

"Buy some storks from the New York Railroad."

Allen jumped to his feet as if he had been struck. "What did you say?"
he demanded, seizing the child almost roughly by the wrist; but Patricia
attributed his action to excitement and joy equal to her own, so
accepted it cheerfully.

"That is it," she repeated, firmly. "I'm sure, for I wrote it down just
as soon as I heard it. I knew I should need it some time. Storks must be
very valuable birds, because Mr. Covington told Alice not to tell; and
he made thirty--thousand--dollars for her. Now, you're smarter than Mr.
Covington, and you can make a hundred thousand. Will you?"

"I'll start right out and see what I can do." Allen tried to keep the
child from seeing his excitement. "I haven't time to stop to tell you
how naughty it is to listen. If I don't go right now the storks may all
be gone, and then of course we couldn't make any money. Good-bye, Lady
Pat--I'll try hard, but don't be disappointed if there aren't any
left--good-bye."

Allen rushed from the house and, hailing a passing taxi, ordered the
chauffeur to drive to the office, although it was now nearly six
o'clock.

XXI

With characteristic energy Gorham made good the promise given to Allen
to investigate matters at the office, and not many days after his return
to his desk he issued a call for a special meeting of the Executive
Committee. He looked upon it almost as a weakness to have permitted this
boy's unsupported statements to influence him even to this extent, but
he justified himself by the knowledge that a confirmation of the loyalty
of his associates would give him renewed strength.

The day of the meeting found every member of the committee present--a
fact which interested Gorham as an evidence of the devotion of these men
to the responsibilities which rested upon them. But the routine business
had no sooner been completed than the president became aware that the
harmony which had existed from the beginning was in danger of being
disturbed. Inquiries were made which were too significant to be
overlooked, and veiled criticism came from quarters where previously he
had believed existed absolute confidence in himself and full approval of
his methods.

"It is well to have this come to a head," Gorham remarked after several
had expressed their views. "This corporatio