to him that hath-第33章

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been　very　decent　to　him。　　This　position　involved　the　handling　of
fundsno　great　amount。　　Then　it　was　the　old　storygambling　and
drinkingthe　loss　of　all　controldesperate　straitshoping　to
recoup　his　lossesand　you　know　the　rest。〃

〃Embezzlement？〃　asked　Maitland。

〃Yes；　embezzlement；〃　said　Jack。　　〃Tony　is　not　a　thief。　　He　didn't
deliberately　steal；　you　understand。〃

〃Jack；〃　said　his　father；　sharply；　〃get　that　out　of　your　head。
There　is　no　such　distinction　in　law　or　in　fact。　　Stealing　is
stealing；　whatever　the　motive　behind　it；　whatever　the　plan
governing　it；　by　whatever　name　called。〃

〃I　didn't　really　mean　anything　else；　Dad。　　Tony　did　the　thing；　at
any　rate；　and　the　cops　were　on　his　trail。　　He　got　into　hiding；　sent
an　S。　O。　S。　to　his　sister。　　Annette；　driven　to　desperation；　came　to
me　with　her　story　the　night　of　the　Match。　　She　was　awfully　cut　up；
poor　girl。　　I　had　to　leave　the　dance　and　go　right　off　to　Toronto。
Too　late　for　the　train；　I　drove　straight　through；ghastly　roads；
found　Tony；　fetched　him　back；　and　up　till　yesterday　he　has　been
hiding　in　his　own　home。　　Meantime；　I　managed　to　get　things　fixed
uppaid　his　debts；　the　prosecution　is　withdrawn　and　now　he　wants；
or；　rather；　he　doesn't　want　but　needs；　a　job。〃

Maitland　listened　with　a　grave　face。　　〃Then　the　little　girl　was
right；　after　all；〃　he　said。

〃Meaning？〃

〃Patricia；〃　said　his　father。　　〃She　told　me　a　long　story　of　a
terrible　accident　to　Tony　that　had　called　you　away　to　Toronto。　　I
must　say　it　was　rather　incoherent。〃

〃But　who　told　her？　　I　swear　not　a　soul　knew　but　his　people　and
myself；〃　said　Jack。

〃Strange　how　things　get　out；〃　said　his　father。　　〃Well；　where　is
Tony　now？〃

〃Here；　in　the　outer　office。〃

〃But；〃　said　Maitland；　desperately；　〃where　can　we　place　him？　　He　is
impossible　in　any　positiondangerous　in　the　office；　useless　as　a
foreman；　doubtful　and　uncertain　as　a　workman。〃

〃One　thing　is　quite　certain；〃　said　Jack　decidedly；　〃he　must　be
under　discipline。　　He　is　useless　on　his　own。　　I　thought　that
perhaps　he　might　work　beside　me。　　I　could　keep　an　eye　on　him。
Tony　has　nothing　in　him　to　work　with。　　I　should　like　to　hear　old
Matheson　on　himthe　Reverend　Murdo；　I　mean。　　That　is　a　great　theme
of　his'To　the　man　who　has　nothing　you　can　give　nothing。'〃

〃Matheson？〃　said　Maitland。　　〃A　chum　of　yours；　I　understand。
Radical；　eh？〃

〃A　very　decent　sort；　father；〃　replied　Jack。　　〃I　have　been　doing　a
little　economics　with　him　during　the　winter。　　His　radicalism　is　of
a　sound　type；　I　think。　　He　is　a　regular　bear　at　economics　and　he　is
even　better　at　the　humanity　business；　the　brother…man　stuff。　　He　is
really　sound　there。〃

〃I　can　guess　what　you　mean；〃　said　his　father；　〃though　I　don't　quite
catch　on　to　all　your　jargon。　　But　I　confess　that　I　suspect　there　is
a　whole　lot　of　nonsense　associated　with　these　theories。〃

〃You　will　pardon　me；　Dad；〃　said　Jack；　〃if　I　suggest　that　your
education　is　really　not　yet　complete。〃

〃Whose　is？〃　inquired　his　father；　curtly。

〃But　about　Tony；〃　continued　Jack；　〃I　wish　I　had　him　in　a　gang　under
me。　　I　would　work　him；　or　break　his　neck。〃

His　father　sat　silently　pondering　for　some　minutes。　　Then；　as　if
making　a　sudden　resolve；　he　said：　　〃Jack；　I　have　been　wanting　to
speak　with　you　about　something　for　some　weeks。　　I　have　come　to　a
place　where　it　is　imperative　that　I　get　some　relief　from　my　load。
You　see；　I　am　carrying　the　whole　burden　of　management　practically
alone。　　I　look　after　the　financing；　the　markets；　I　keep　an　eye　on
production　and　even　upon　the　factory　management。　　In　normal
conditions　I　could　manage　to　get　along；　but　in　these　critical　days；
when　every　department　calls　for　close；　constant　and　sane　supervision；
I　feel　that　I　must　have　relief。　　If　I　could　be　relieved　of　the　job
of　shop　management；　I　could　give　myself　to　the　other　departments
where　the　situation　at　present　is　extremely　critical。　　I　want　a
manager；　Jack。　　Why　not　take　the　job？　　Now；〃　he　continued；　holding
up　his　hand；　as　his　son　was　about　to　speak；　〃listen　for　a　moment　or
two。　　I　have　said　the　situation　is　serious。　　Let　me　explain　that。
The　financing　of　this　business　in　the　present　crisis　requires　a
man's　full　time　and　energy。　　Markets；　credits；　collections；　all
demand　the　very　closest　attention。〃

Jack　glanced　at　his　father's　face。　　For　the　first　time　he　noticed
how　deep…cut　were　the　lines　that　indicated　care；　anxiety　and　worry。
A　sudden　remorse　seized　him。

〃I　am　awfully　sorry；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　not　been　of　much　help
to　you。〃

Maitland　waved　his　hand　as　if　dismissing　the　suggestion。　　〃Now　you
know　nothing　of　the　financial　side；　but　you　do　know　men　and　you　can
handle　them。　　You　proved　that　in　the　war；　and；　in　another　way；　you
proved　that　during　this　recent　athletic　contest。　　I　followed　that
very　closely　and　I　say　without　hesitation　that　it　was　a　remarkably
fine　bit　of　work　and　the　reactions　were　of　the　best。　　Jack；　I
believe　that　you　would　make　a　great　manager　if　you　gave　yourself　to
it；　and　thought　it　worth　while。　　Now；　listen　to　me。〃　　Thereupon　the
father　proceeded　to　lay　before　his　son　the　immediately　pressing
problems　in　the　businessthe　financial　obligations　already
assumed；　the　heavy　accumulation　of　stock　for　which　there　were　no
markets；　the　increasing　costs　in　production　with　no　hope　of　relief；
but　rather　every　expectation　of　added　burdens　in　this　direction。

As　he　listened　to　his　father；　Jack　was　appalled　with　what　he
considered　the　overwhelmingly　disastrous　situation　in　which　the
business　was　placed。　　At　the　same　time　he　saw　his　father　in　a　new
light。　　This　silent；　stern；　reserved　man　assumed　a　role　of　hero　in
his　eyes；　facing　desperate　odds　and　silently　fighting　a　lonely　and
doubtful　battle。　　The　son　was　smitten　with　a　sense　of　his　own
futility。　　In　him　was　born　a　desire　and　a　resolve　to　stand　beside
his　father　in　this　conflict　and　if　the　battle　went　against　them；　to
share　in　the　defeat。

〃Dad；〃　cried　his　son　impulsively；　〃I　am　a　rotter。　　I　have　been　of
no　help　to　you；　but　only　a　burden。　　I　had　no　idea　the　situation　was
so　serious。〃　　Remorse　and　alarm　showed　in　his　tone。

〃Don't　misunderstand　me；〃　said　his　father。　　〃This　is　new　to　you　and
appears　more　serious　than　it　is。　　There　is　really　no　ground；　or
little　ground；　for　anxiety　or　alarm。　　Let　me　give　you　the　other
side。〃　　Then　he　proceeded　to　set　forth　the　resources　of　the
business；　the　extent　of　his　credit；　his　plans　to　meet　the　present
situation　and　to　prepare　for　possible　emergencies。　　〃We　are　not　at
the　wall　yet；　by　any　means；　Jack；〃　he　said；　his　voice　ringing　out
with　a　resolute　courage。　　〃But　I　am　bound　to　say　that　if　any　sudden
or　untoward　combination　of　circumstances；　a　strike；　for　instance；
should　arise；　disaster　might　follow。〃

Jack's　heart　sank　still　lower。　　He　was　practically　certain　that　a
strike　was　imminent。　　Although　without　any　official　confirmation　of
his　suspicions；　he　had　kept　his　eyes　and　ears　opened　and　he　was
convinced　that　trouble　was　unavoidable。　　As　his　father　continued　to
set　forth　his　plans；　his　admiration　for　him　grew。　　He　brought　to
bear　upon　the　problems　with　which　he　was　grappling　a　clear　head；
wide　knowledge　and　steady　courage。　　He　was　a　general；　planning　a
campaign　in　the　face　of　serious　odds。　　He　recalled　a　saying　of　his
old　Commander…in…Chief　in　France：　　〃War　is　a　business　and　will　be
won　by　the　application　of　business　principles　and　business　methods。
Given　a　body　of　fighting　men　such　as　I　command；　the　thing　becomes　a
problem　of　transportation；　organization；　reserve；　insurance。　　War
is　a　business　and　will　be　won　by　fighting　men　directed　or　governed
by　business　principles。〃　　He　was　filled　with　regret　that　he　had　not
given　himself　more　during　these　last　months　to　the　study　of　these
principles。　　The　prospect　of　a　fight　against　impending　disaster
touched　his　imagination　and　stimulated　him　like　a　bugle　call。

〃I　see　what　you　want；　father；〃　he　said。　　〃You　want　to　have　some
good　N。　C。　O。's。　　The　N。　C。　O。　is　the　backbone　of　the　army；〃　he
quoted　with　a　grin。

〃N。　C。　O？〃　echoed　his　father。　　He　was　not　sufficiently　versed　in
military　affairs　to　catch　the　full　meaning　of　the　army　rag。

〃What　I　mean　is；〃　said　Jack；　〃that　no　matter　how　able　a　military