, but he refused to admit any possibility of a reconciliation
unless the overtures came from the boy himself. As he hastened to
arrange matters for his departure, he muttered imprecations against him
with the same breath that drew an unquestioned joy from the thought that
a sight of him was near at hand; and no idea entered his mind other than
to reach New York at the earliest possible moment.

Covington was surprised that the blow did not fall upon him immediately
after the meeting of the committee adjourned. He was ignorant of the
exact contents of the papers handed to Gorham by Litchfield, but they
could scarcely fail to give his chief all the information necessary to
show his connection with the transaction, and he knew well how great
would be Gorham's resentment. Yet no mention was made of the matter
during the few minutes which remained of the business day after the
others had taken their departure. There were two or three routine
matters which Gorham turned over to him, with a few words of comment,
then he said good-night and left the office. Could it be that something
still intervened to keep the real facts covered up?

All doubts were removed the following morning. Gorham sent for him to
come to his office, and when he appeared he found that Brady was also
present. Covington seemed not to recognize him, but Brady's face assumed
a significant and satisfied expression.

"Mr. Brady has been good enough to respond to my request," Gorham began,
"and is here to supply me with fuller details concerning the matter
which was brought up at the meeting of the committee yesterday. As it
interests you even more than it does me, I have asked you to be present
during our interview."

Covington seated himself in silence.

"Now, Mr. Brady," Gorham continued, "I understand that you made a
statement to Mr. Litchfield to the effect that I had personally secured
some of the stock in the New York Street Railways Company, with a view
to profiting by the advance in price made inevitable by its proposed
merger into the Manhattan Traction Company, of which I was cognizant at
the time."

"No, I didn't say all that," Brady protested; "I simply said that a big
block of the stock was bought for you. It wasn't necessary to say why."

"But you don't really believe that this stock was purchased for me, or
with my knowledge, do you?"

Few men could resist the frank appeal of Gorham's eyes when he chose to
exert it, and Brady was not