For the Allinson Honor

, where Andrew lived, was a commodious house, and Leonard Hathersage was frequently glad to spend a week-end there. He and his wi

ump of firs in a neighboring meadow loomed up black and shadowy, but a band of pale saffron light still shone behind the hall on the edge of the moorland a

ars, was a tall, prim and rather domineering woman; Gertrude, who had married Antony Wannop, a local gentlem

flower urns with a cigar in his mouth. He was

ndrew, when you wouldn't come with

d to evade the question, b

o see Mrs

ilda, who prided her

y, but Florence claim

you have been the

truck me in

lorence, "I feel

one is hardly fair. Don't be bullied,

Hilda asked. "Only Florence

inted with Gertrude's v

s face hardened. His sisters were generally candid with him, but they had gone too far. With a thoughtle

's no reason why I shouldn't go to The Firs, I'm not likely to be deterre

Florence cried.

promi

as obvious, but Hilda was the on

ng, and you'd spoil the best plot you took a hand in, and yet

of a fool," said Andrew; "but I

rable, Hilda let his remark

ive in gracefully. If Ethel goes, all

han his friends suspect,"

op, and Florence went i

Allinson's new policy,

e old dingy offices somehow made you feel that the Allinsons were sober, responsible people. The new place with its brass-work, plate-glass and gil

with complacent satisfaction. "As it looks as if I'd get my mon

t on the fading outlin

the new offices strike me as being out of place. Allinson's ought to be more dignified.

r gentlemanly?"

ots, I can't think that we plundered our neighbors or took a bribe to shut our eyes when the Scots moss-trooper

st their traditions. And in times that we know more ab

up with a re

's likely that an

started towa

talk with Leo

them, Wannop turn

ock in Andrew; and, after all, he ha

She paused with a laugh. "Perhaps we're silly in our family pride and sometimes think ourselves better than our neighbors with

bookcases, dimly visible against the wall, emphasized the spaciousness of the room. The scent of flowers that drifted in was mingled with the smell of a cigar, and as Andrew's footsteps echoed through the room Leonard laid down his pen. The strong light fell upon him, showing his thin face and tall, spare f

r stopping," he said. "Wi

you came here for a rest," sa

ed in town. That's why I brought these papers down. Writing a prospectus is a busi

e paper handed him. "You're moderate," he continued when he had read it. "Ten per cent.

ot promise more th

h my views. Until lately, however, prosp

associating himself with the business in an un

u wish to ask, I shall

ng the fellows have them below par? Is that becau

when you launch a good thing, it's policy to let a few members

w fro

ese pickings? They must come ou

end, t

into shafts and reducing plant stands a fair chance of being p

May I ask what your idea of the

on of getting a good dividen

looked

oes; but there's sometimes

lent a while.

e will be subscribed for beca

ing scheme, but, in a sense, you're

I know the country. Then, as I suppose some of my money will be put into the business, you migh

n pleased him. The name of Andrew Allins

a," he said. "We'll

n changed

siness ge

s in South America. You will remember my bringing

interest. "The fellow had a das

or Valhermosa'

sa's administration during t

achine-guns, and as he couldn't pay ready money we arranged the matter. There was a risk, but we got some

was grim whe

hing him into the nearest bog! To think of Allinson's

you know

ory of his stories makes me savage yet, because I believe them. I have other acquaintances who have lived in parts of the world that business men don't often reach. If you d

a check for the rebels, and I'd like to think that every cartridge my money bought accounted for o

looked

we're out of it now. The deal was a matter of business-we couldn't be expected to

rette, Andrew smoked

finally; "and the fault is partly mine for not t

oked Leonard ste

rs; and then, when Valhermosa's victims revolt again, if Allinson's can take any

was disconcerted by Andrew's tone. It implied that h

ion, though it's delicate. I saw Judson this morning and

ess has lost me one

less than he could easily have obtained. As he's a talkative fellow and nothing is kept

int, Leonard. What do yo

s to know anything. I merely wished to sugge

rept into A

served with credit as captain through the recent war; and that he now holds a government post in West

d been left in control of the business, though, as he had not brought much capital into the firm, his share of the profits was not large. There was a

ndrew retired from the counting-house, he had missed no opportunity for suggesting that he was right in doing so, because he was obviously unfitted for a commercial career. Now and then he went farther and hinted that the young man was not gifted with much intelligence. It was, however, done cleverly; nobody realized t

nd him to Canada. This implied some risk, as there were matters connected with the mine which Leonard preferred to conceal, but it was unlikely that Andrew would make any undesirable discovery. However, as Andrew's inaptitude for business was taken for granted, it mig