d" was a favorite aphorism of the experienced quack.
But in this tangle it failed him. It was he who first touched on the
poisoned theme.

"Look here, Boy-ee," said he, a week after the burial. "We're both
scared to death of what each of us is thinking. Let's agree to forget
this until you are ready to talk it out with me."

"What good will talk do?" said Hal drearily.

"None at present." His father sighed. He had hoped for a clean breast of
it, a confession of the intrigue that should leave the way open to a
readjustment of relations. "So let's put the whole thing aside."

"All right," agreed Hal listlessly. "I suppose you know," he added,
"before we close the subject, that I've ordered the Relief Pills
advertising out of the 'Clarion.'"

"You needn't have bothered. It won't be offered again."

Silence fell between them. "I've about decided to quit that line," the
charlatan resumed with an obvious effort. "Not that it isn't strictly
legal," he added, falling back upon his reserve defense. "But it's too
troublesome. The copy is ticklish; I've had to write all those ads.
myself. And, at that, there's some newspapers won't accept 'em and
others that want to edit 'em. Belford Couch and I have been going over
the whole matter. He's the diplomat of the concern. And we've about
decided to sell out. Anyway," he added, brightening, "there ain't hardly
money enough in a side-line like the Pills to pay for the trouble of
running it separate."

If Dr. Surtaine had looked for explicit approval of his virtuous
resolution, he was disappointed. Yet Hal experienced, or tried to
believe that he experienced, a certain factitious glow of satisfaction
at this proof that his father was ready to give up an evil thing even
without being fully convinced of its wrongfulness. This helped the son
to feel that, at least, his sacrifice had been made for a worthy
affection. Still, he had no word to say except that he must get to the
office. The Doctor left with gloom upon his handsome face.

With McGuire Ellis, Hal's association had become even more difficult
than with the Doctor. Since his abrupt and unceremonious departure from
the room of death, in the belief in Hal's guilt, Ellis had maintained a
purely professional attitude toward his employer. For a time, in his
wretchedness and turmoil of spirit, Hal had scarcely noticed Ellis's
withdrawal of fellowship, vaguely attributing his silence to unexpressed
sympathy. But later, when he broa