XXVIII

The first train which left Pittsburgh after the arrival of Mr. Gorham's

letter bore Stephen Sanford to New York. Gorham had found time, even

with the pressure of the conflicting details, to write his old friend at

length regarding the situation which made it necessary for Allen to

terminate his connection with the Consolidated Companies. There was no

word of censure against the boy--he even took pains to express in full

his admiration for certain sterling qualities which this, Allen's first

business experience, had brought out.

"_The time has come_," he wrote, "_when Allen needs the sympathy and

assistance of his father more than he ever has, or ever will need it

again. I believe I know you well enough, Stephen, to feel certain that

you won't refuse it to him simply because he has not asked for it. What

I have tried to do for him has been more for your sake than for his own,

though you have misunderstood my motive. The boy has developed rapidly,

and possesses an ability for business naturally inherited from you; but

when his mind is once made up it seems impossible to change him. I hope

you will set him a good example by showing him your own strength of

character in going to him now. As for our relations, Stephen, in spite

of the last stormy interview, and your attitude since, I know that I

have no firmer friend than you, and you know well that my affection for

you has not lessened because of anything so trivial as what has passed.

Old friends are like old wine in more than one respect--the explosion

made by the blowing out of the cork does not affect the quality. Come to

me first, and let me tell you the whole story_."

"I'll do nothing of the sort," Sanford fumed as he finished the letter;

yet the first train leaving Pittsburgh which he could catch carried him

to New York.

The months which had intervened had left their impress upon him, and his

friends had noticed it, though ignorant of the cause. Allen had been

away from home so much during the past few years, that his failure to

appear beneath the parental roof after his return from Europe was no

occasion for comment. Yet it was not the fact that he was separated from

the boy that wore on Stephen Sanford, but rather the knowledge that a

barrier had arisen between them. He had honestly expected that Allen

would refuse to take him seriously when he cast him adrift. They had

quarrelled before and nothing had come of it, so he had no reason to

think that this would be any exception. He knew the boy's tastes, and

while blaming him for his extravagances, he was proud to have him "live

like a gentleman." Even with the income assured from the position given

him by Mr. Gorham, Sanford knew how small it must be compared with the

allowance which Allen had previously received; and he suffered over

again the privations of his own youth while thinking of the self-denials

which his son must be obliged to practise. Picturing him living in a

hall bedroom of meagre proportions, taking his meals at cheap

restaurants and generally resorting to those economies common to

ambitious youth fighting its battle against the world, the father would

many times have sent him a substantial check if he could have made sure

that the source would remain unknown.

Yet he insisted to himself that Allen must come to him. He would respond

to Gorham's letter to the extent of going to New York and discussing the

matter, 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 one of these. He moved uncomfortably in his

chair, and laughed consciously.

"Why, no, guv'nor, since you put it that way, man to man, I don't."

"Then why did you say what you did? I can't blame you for harboring some

resentment against me because I interfered with your plans in that

railway deal, but this statement is so easily refuted that I wonder why

you made it. It was to discover this that I asked you to come here this

morning."

Brady looked over at Covington meaningly. "That was just why I did do

it," he said. "I knew it would bring out certain facts that I wanted to

have known. I ain't harborin' any resentment against you. You licked me,

an' I took my medicine. P'raps I've worried you a bit in Washington

since,--that's another matter. I'm a sport all right, an' I know when to

take my hat off to any man. But there is other slick Alecks, who think

they're so all-fired smart, that I like to get even with when they try

to be funny with me,--an' there's one of 'em sittin' in that chair over

there now."

"Well--go on." Gorham encouraged him as he paused, at the same time

studying the unexpressive face of Covington as the man progressed.

"Just before that railway deal was put through, an' Harris an' me was

feelin' nervous about you gettin' so close to the big stockholders, I

found out that this Covington here was saltin' away some good blocks of

stock of the New York Street Railways Company. He wasn't buyin' them

direct, you understand, an' the stool-pigeon he was usin' happened to be

one of my own men. Then I sent Harris to see Covington, to get his

influence with you to let our personal scheme go through, usin' the

little information we had gained to act as an argument to help him make

up his mind. He see the game was up, of course, an' then he tried to be

smart. He had it all figured out that if he could unload that stock on

your daughter, it would make things run easier for him when the facts

come out. I wouldn't have held this up against him, for it was nothin'

but a cheap trick, but then he come to us of his own accord, an' told

us that you an' him had gone all over the matter, an' you was goin' to

let the thing go through all right. Well, you remember what happened. He

evidently went right back to you an' told you what we had up our sleeve.

I swore then I'd get even with him, an' this is the way I chose to do

it."

"That's the whole story, is it?" Gorham asked.

"Yes; unless friend Covington here can add a few details."

"I don't think he can,--but you do him an injustice in thinking that he

spoke to me of your plans. His failure to do so is noteworthy, but it

affects others rather than yourself. I am exceedingly obliged to you for

your time and frankness. I will not detain you further unless Mr.

Covington would like to make any comments."

"I have nothing to say," Covington replied.

Gorham waited until Brady had made his departure before he turned to the

man sitting in silence before him.

"This is all that is needed to make the blow complete, is it not?" he

asked, in a voice which betrayed the feeling beneath by its quiet

restraint. "Even the awakening which came to me when the committee

showed their real selves was not enough. I still believed that I could

carry through my purpose, and I relied on you to help make this

possible. I, who felt myself strong enough to undertake the

revolutionizing of the business world because of my magnificent support,

find myself, like Samson, shorn of my strength, and face to face with a

realization that man is by nature the cringing slave of the almighty

dollar. He may, for a time, or for a purpose, disguise it even from

himself, but when the real test comes, he dare not disregard the

compelling voice of his master. This is enough of an awakening, but

think of the pain which accompanies it when one finds that the friend in

whom he trusted, that the one man whom he was most proud to honor, fails

even to measure up to the simple test of honesty! Oh, Covington, I find

it hard to bring myself to believe it!"

"What do you propose to do?" Covington asked.

"First of all, I shall place the facts before the Directors. They at

least shall know that I have not been false to them or to myself."

"When will you do this?"

"As soon as possible,--this afternoon if I can get them together."

"Would you mind postponing it until to-morrow?"

"What is to be gained by that?"

"May I have an interview with you at your house to-night? It is for this

that I ask the postponement."

"Certainly," Gorham replied, wonderingly. "I will see you at nine

o'clock."

"I thank you," said Covington, rising and leaving the office without

further comment.