eh? Why, we took your word for
that."

"Unfortunately, that didn't help me very greatly. Other people aren't
so easily convinced as you and Swope and Gage and Murphy. Damnation! I
thought my troubles were over."

"Well, your money troubles is over--"

"They're the smallest part. I'd go back and start all over again if I
could clean up that--that army record. It's a pretty flat triumph."

"Humph! Most triumphs is. A feller has a dream--a longin', an' he bows
his back an' works his life away tryin' to realize it. If he does, the
chances is he's disappointed. He finds he's kep' his back bent so long
he can't straighten it. Look at me--pore as dirt an' scarcely enough to
eat! I used to pray for a miracle; pray for money enough to do
something for Ma an' the children--for a thousan' dollars. Here I am,
president of a whole bank, but Ma's sick, Allie's miserable, an' I
can't sleep nights for fear I'll lose what I got!"

"Poverty wouldn't have helped Ma's health--"

"Oh, I ain't sayin' I'd trade!" Gus wagged his sandy head. "I get my
shoes shined every two hours because that bootblackin' stand is a nice
place to look at the bank from. I set there an' tell myself I'm
president of it! But that's the biggest dividend I've got, so far--five
shines a day an' all the bananas I can eat. 'Flat' is the word."

Gray smiled affectionately at the speaker. "At least Buddy is happy.
He's reaping his dividends, if I'm any judge."

"I figger he's in love again."

"Good heavens!" Gray paused in his restless pacing and turned an
expression of almost comic dread upon the father. "With that woman, eh?
Well, I refuse to interfere again. I haven't fully recovered from his
first infatuation for her."

"I can tell the boy's symptoms. I felt the same way when I was courtin'
Ma. I acted just like him."

"He has been trying to tell me something for a week, but I've been too
busy and too worried to listen."

Briskow's kindly face had settled into graver lines when next he spoke.
"You prob'ly wonder why I take it so easy. Well, I remember what you
told me once about judgin' people I don't know. Mebbe Allie was right,
too, when she said a little genuine happiness is worth all it costs.
Anyhow, if Buddy wants that woman, I won't say a word. She's turned out
pretty good, an' people speak well of her. Buddy's a man, an' some men
just _have_ to get married--the sooner it's over, the better for 'em.
He's like that. But what's more 'n all that, lo