"Mister Villard!" corrected Updyke. "You have forfeited, many times over, his respect for you. He is no longer an intimate friend of yours--now proceed." "Mr. Villard got me a place in an office downtown--an investment company, now merged with another concern. There is where I learned to figure in a financial way. I----" "Yes--and you stole a ten-dollar bill, and was caught at it!" bellowed Updyke, breaking in on the testimony. "Don't miss anything--I know your record, and it won't hurt you to refresh your memory of your rascality." Parkins winced, but he had no courage with which to combat his interrogator. "That one overt act made an honest man of me for several years. When Drury--I mean Mr. Villard--came out of college as a graduate, he returned to New York, bent on going into a business that was entirely new. We met on Broadway one day, and he was very cordial. He asked all about myself and I told him I was still at the old place." "Didn't tell him about the ten spot, though--did you?" leered Updyke, intentionally. He would leave no loophole for sentimental nonsense by which Parkins might try to crawl back into his good graces. "No," said the witness, dully. "I had learned a lesson that I thought unforgettable. I had become an honest man, and I would be yet--only for drink," he added, sadly. "Yes--and for drugs, and bad companions, and the natural-born tendencies of a crook," snarled Updyke. "Perhaps so," responded Parkins wearily. "As I was going to say, I met Mr. Villard, and after a most friendly conversation he seemed to think I was the right man to help steer the new organization he had in contemplation. His mind was that of a dreamer of great projects, while my own was full of the figures with which to carry out big financial undertakings. I had practical experience against his theoretical college training. We were well met, at the time. He had personality and tremendous energy, to say nothing of wealthy acquaintances--fathers of his college chums. So he----" "Yes--I follow," said Updyke. "He took you in as an expert in financial figures, and made you treasurer, also gave you his whole hearted support in every way, and finally gave up active work in the business, thus practically turning it over to you to run," sneered Updyke. "But that is all off now. You are done for--where you will land is not yet decided upon. But you may be well assured that you will miss the golden opportunity that was yours only a short while back. You are a failure--a dishonest, worthless drunkard!" concluded the big fellow who now advanced to a position where he could look into Parkins' eyes and fill them with fear.