you to put your financial honor in my hands and the well-being of your wife and little ones at home in my keeping. I ask you to turn over to me your Universal securities, and all your shares, for me to handle for you and the preservation of their present values and ask no questions."

A worried expression crept slowly into Pollock's face as he hesitated in replying.

"I am sorry, Mr. Dunbar, but you see" he stopped to think.

"Ah," thought Dunbar, "I have crossed the limit of his trust."

"You see," Pollock went on, "them shares are not here. They are in the safety deposit vaults and I can't get 'em to-night. But I will get 'em the first thing in the morning and bring 'em to you. I am sorry I can't get 'em to-night.”

Percy nearly choked over the revulsion. It required a moment or two to regain control of himself, the while Mark sat the personification of perfect faith.

"That's all, then," he finally said, "except this. There will be a meeting of the executive committee on Thursday. You will get a notice to-morrow morning."

"I'll be there if you want me."

"I don't. I particularly want you to stay away."

"Very well, then. I've no fancy for 'tending them meetings."

"You will have those securities at my office to-morrow morning. The time is short and none should be lost."

"I'll be there as soon as I can get into them deposit vaults," he replied, as he opened the outer door for the president of the Universal.

Dunbar stepped down on the pavement and walked away rapidly. As he stood on the corner waiting for a car he said:

"A man who would disturb that faith in another would be a worse scoundrel than Edgar."

CHAPTER VI

JOE HACKETT, JOURNALIST

WHEN Frank Elbert went home to tell of his promotion, the increase of his salary and the goodness of J. Percival Dunbar, there were tears in the eyes of his mother and a glad light of pride and happiness in those of Nan, his sister.

Mrs. Elbert felt that the sunlight, obscured on the death of her husband, was again shining with the effulgence of her earlier years. Gently reared, knowing little of the harsh cares of life, she had faced a serious problem when death suddenly took from her her mainstay and left her with two children to rear and to educate. As so many noble American mothers before her had done, she faced her problem conscientiously, with no large philosophies of life, but carefully and with self-sacrifice, husbanding her slender resources with the constant prayer on her lips that they might last until she had properly prepared her son to be an earner and her daughter to

take her place as wife and mother. When Frank had found employment in the Universal Company she was nearly at the end of those resources, but she had fought her fight, and she felt victory was hers. Now it seemed to her that that victory had been turned into a complete triumph.

When she had comprehended the great news in all the meaning of the trust reposed in her son, who had earned it by faithful service, she slipped out of the room quietly. Then brother and sister exchanged glances. They knew their brave mother had gone to make her acknowledgments where, in her simple and earnest faith she had, in time of trouble, sought aid and strength and encouragement.

Mrs. Elbert had not returned when "Joe" Hackett made his appearance. A writer employed on one of the great daily newspapers, he was widely known as an active worker in journalism and called by everybody who knew him, "Joe." That he was a familiar figure in that little house in Brooklyn which was the home of the Elberts, was shown in the pleased blushes of the daughter and the hearty greeting of the son.

To him the great news was told. As he grasped Frank's hand in sincere congratulation, he said:

"It's a great day for the mater, children. Where is she?"

With a tender smile Nan pointed to the room held sacred to the mother.

Joe's face sobered as he nodded his head in understanding and said:

"God bless her. It is the profound faith of good mothers such as you and I have had, children, that makes me halt on the way to disbelief. Well, there will be a merry meal in the Elbert home to-night. I ran in to ask Nan if she would go with me to-night to a concert it is up to me to look after, but I shall stay to dinner, so we needn't talk about it now. We'll celebrate the great event. Tell the mater to put all the best things out. I'll be back in a moment.'

He dashed out of the house and was back again in a short time, bearing triumphantly a bottle of wine, which, depositing in the centre of the dinner table, about which the others were already seated, he declared was to be drunk to the health of the "embryotic financier and incipient capitalist.

"Mr. Dunbar must be a very good and kindly man," said the proud and happy mother, as she sat at the head of her humble table.

"Because he has doubled the salary of mater's darling boy, and advanced him to