young shoulders. The Consolidated Companies is
too strong a force to be vanquished without a hard struggle, even when
attacked by so mighty an organization as the United States Senate."

"I was not worrying about that, Mr. Gorham," Allen replied, and he
regretted the words as soon as they had left his lips.

"What is it, then?" asked Alice.

The boy passed his hand across his forehead and rose to his feet. "I
don't know what it is," he answered, irresolutely. "I am all upset
to-night--do you mind if I go up to the library now, Mr. Gorham, and
wait for you there?"

Gorham held out his hand and Allen grasped it firmly, yet turned his
face away.

"Have you lost faith in me, too, my boy? Has it really come to that?"

"I beg of you, let me go now," Allen replied, controlling himself with
difficulty. "You know I shall never lose faith in you."

"You are in no condition for work to-night," Gorham remarked, quietly.
"Draw your chair up here beside me, and let us talk it all out right
now."

Allen looked hesitatingly at Eleanor and Alice and then at Gorham. "Not
now?" he said.

"Why not now, Allen?" Alice asked, curious to know what so affected him.
"You told me once that you were my business creation, and that I must
accept the responsibility whether I wished it or not. Surely I am
entitled to be present."

"Affairs have changed since then. If I don't hold my tongue now, I shall
say things for which you and your father will never forgive me."

"I want to hear them, Allen," she insisted; "I have a right to hear
them."

Gorham was impressed by the girl's attitude. "She is right," he added.
"Now, out with it, boy, and let us get to the bottom of things."

Then the pent-up thoughts which had been collecting during the past few
months burst forth.

"You have made me do it, Mr. Gorham," the boy cried, passionately. "You
would never have heard it from my lips except for that, but I can't
stand it any longer. I have tried hard since we talked that last time to
convince myself that I was wrong, but I can't do it. I know it's because
I can't see things the right way, but, whatever the cause, the trouble
is there. To me the Companies seems based on interests which are wholly
selfish, and to be accomplishing good only because doing business on
this basis brings extra dividends to its stockholders. It is growing
bigger and more powerful and more irresistible, but with this
increasing power there is also increasing danger;