glad you have come to see
me to-night, for your story has solved a problem which has been
perplexing me all day. Simon Stubbles is on the rocks and has appealed
to me for help."

"On the rocks!" Douglas vaguely repeated.

"Yes, on the rocks. He is financially embarrassed, and has signalled
to me for assistance."

"That's news to me. I thought he was very wealthy."

"And so did every one. But here is his letter," and the lawyer picked
it up from the stand. "I received it this morning, and in it he tells
me that unless he has ten thousand dollars immediately he will go
under. He wishes to mortgage the whole of his property, mill, house
and timber lands."

"This is certainly remarkable news to me," Douglas replied. "I am sure
that the people of Rixton have no knowledge of this. They consider him
very wealthy, and not without reason for he does a big business. Have
you any idea as to the cause of his embarrassment? He seems to live
very quietly, and attends strictly to business."

"The letter does not say what it is. But since hearing your story I
have formed my own conclusion."

"And what is that?"

"It is his son. From what you have told me, that young man has been
leading a very fast life. He does not work at all, and therefore his
father must have been providing the money for his headlong career. I
do not think I am far astray as cases similar to this have come to my
notice. There are too many such young men abroad to-day, doing nothing
for themselves, a menace to society, and wretched parasites upon their
fathers. I always get furious whenever I think of them. That must be
the trouble with Stubbles senior."

"Do you intend to help him?" Douglas asked as calmly as possible. He
would have been more than human had he not thrilled at the news he had
just heard. Here was a chance, perhaps, to get even for his harsh
treatment at Simon Stubbles' hands.

"That is the trouble which has been perplexing me all day," Garton
replied. "Before you came I had about made up my mind to do so. I did
not know anything about that reckless son of his then. Neither had I
any idea that he is such a tyrant at Rixton, nor how he has treated the
clergymen who have been there. I thought he was an active and an
earnest Church worker, and that was one of the reasons in his favour.
But now I see things in a different light."

"But his reign will soon be over, though, if you do not help him,"
Douglas replied. "