ion lies. Until it is found, the Government must
protect itself and the people it represents."

"Please fix it so as to make one exception," the boy pleaded. As Gorham
looked at him for explanation, he drew Alice closely to him. "Please let
this monopoly be exempt from governmental interference."

A stifled sob, entirely out of place in the presence of such general
rejoicing, came from a little human ball rolled up on the steps below
them. Eleanor and Allen quickly sprang toward her, but the boy better
understood Patricia's tears. He sat beside her, and wrapped his great
arms around her.

"Don't cry, Lady Pat," he entreated.

"I can't help it," she moaned. "I haven't any Sir Launcelot, and you
haven't stormed the castle, and I've lost my silken ladder, and I want
to die so that I can go up to heaven and be mean to the angels."

"Oh, no, no!" he begged. "I've tried to think it all out, and the only
thing I can do is to cut myself in two pieces the way King Solomon
decided to do with the baby. Do you remember?"

"But he didn't do it," replied Patricia, showing surprising knowledge of
the Scriptures.

"Well, I haven't done it yet--but I will if you say so."

"Will you really?" The child's mind was already diverted from its
tragedy. "But then you couldn't wear armor or ride a horse, or storm a
castle, or do any of those things."

"Not without messing everything all up," Allen admitted, sorrowfully;
"but that's the best thing I can think of."

Patricia was seized with an inspiration. "Will you swear to be my Knight
every time Alice is mean and horrid to you?"

"I swear," Allen responded in a sepulchral voice, his eyes laughing at
the older girl above him.

"Then I'll get you most of the time," Patricia announced, joyfully; and
she suffered herself to join the group in the hallway.

"So you have decided to abandon your business career?" Gorham asked,
turning to Alice.

"No, daddy," she replied, slyly. "I'm just changing my company from a
private corporation into a partnership."

Gorham drew her to him and kissed her tenderly. Then he held out his
disengaged hand to Allen.

"The world is before you. From the time it was created, man has striven
to force from it the secret of unlimited power. Events have sometimes
seemed to give encouragement, but ever at the end of each seeming
success has come the unmistakable warning of a wisely jealous God.
Omnipotence is not for mortals. The only lever which really move