"I remembered the rest of that combination. It was two turns to the right, to the left to forty and then to the right to thirty-two. I dreamed that I showed this combination to a man in whom I had confidence and he stole my money." "Father, we never had a safe except the bank safe, and you sold your bank stock." "I don't remember anything about having any bank stock, but if I did have it and sold it, where is the money?" "You owed Mr. Stover, and he took the bank stock to satisfy the debt as an accommodation to you. You told me the night before you were hurt that he was going to help you out. You know I have told you this many times before." "Yes, I know you have, and I have tried hard to remember, but I can't--I just can't." "Well, don't worry about it, Daddy. We have plenty to live on." "But, dear," he said, placing his arm affectionately about her, "it is you I am thinking about. I don't like to have you work so hard to support an old worthless fellow like me. If I could just get over having this pain in my head so much I would be able to work." "There, there, Daddy, I don't want you to worry. Some of these times we are going to send you to Dr. Lilly and get you fixed up so that you will be as good as new. I have ninety dollars in my special fund for this already." The father stooped and kissed his daughter on the forehead and then went to his room. Ruth stood looking after him until he had closed the door to his room behind him, then shook her head and sighed. As she passed her Aunt Clara's room her aunt called to her, "Is that you, Ruth?" "Yes." "You had another caller. He came just a few minutes after you left." "Who was it?" "Mr. King. He sure looked down his nose when I told him that you had gone riding." "You should have told him I was 'not in.' I fear that I will have to coach you," she said, laughing. "Really," she added, "I am sorry that I was not at home when Mr. King called." "Well, you needn't be," said her aunt, who had never had a love affair and who was inclined to be mercenary, "you were with the one who has some money of his own and who belongs to a wealthy family." Ruth went on to her own room, closed the door behind her, threw herself on the bed and gave way to tears. When Harold King had been informed that Ruth was out riding he felt keen disappointment and had a strong suspicion as to whom she was riding with. As he was riding home on the street car his suspicions were confirmed as a roadster passed the street car under an electric light. He at once sank into the valley of despondency where jealousy like a poisonous miasma sickens the heart. Chapter VII