Hal looked from one to the other of the men and was silent. Across his mind flashed the oft-repeated declaration of Donatello that under the present social system not only business and trade, but the welfare, the happiness, the very lives of the vast majority of men were absolutely under the control of the money power centered in the few. Here was Mr. Barriscale, the heaviest stockholder of the bank, the most influential director, at the head of a corporation the daily balance of which at the bank was five times that of any other depositor, able, by reason of his money interest alone, to dictate the policy of the institution, even to the matter of the employment and discharge of its clerks; the very president himself being obliged to follow humbly in his wake. Hal’s indignation rose with his resentment. He knew that Mr. Barriscale had decided to force him out, and that it would be useless now for him to argue or protest. He even doubted whether an unconditional surrender on his part would result in more than a temporary truce. He felt that he might as well meet the issue squarely. “Very well, Mr. Winton,” he said quietly, “since Mr. Barriscale’s voice here is the controlling one, and since it is his wish that I shall go, there is nothing for me to do but comply with it. I am not ashamed of my beliefs or associations and I must decline to give up any of them.” Mr. Barriscale rose to his feet. “That settles it!” he exclaimed. “I presume the young man will go at once, Mr. Winton.” “I will go to-day, Mr. Barriscale,” responded Hal. [Illustration: “I WILL GO TO-DAY, MR. BARRISCALE,” RESPONDED HAL] But the president began to protest. “Oh, not to-day, McCormack. I don’t think there is any such haste as that. I don’t think Mr. Barriscale means that you shall go to-day.” The manufacturer brought the palm of his hand down heavily on the table. “That is exactly what I mean, Mr. Winton,” he replied; “to-day. We can’t afford to harbor him for a moment longer than we have to. It would be an injustice to our stockholders and depositors.” To this outburst Hal made no reply. He turned to the president and held out his hand. “I am grateful to you, Mr. Winton,” he said, “for all the help and encouragement you have given me, and all the patience and kindness you have shown to me since I have been here. Good-bye!” Amazed, chagrined, and shocked by the suddenness of it all, the president was unable to speak, but he held fast to the boy’s hand with such a grip that Hal was obliged forcibly to withdraw it. When he had done this he bowed formally in the direction of the manufacturer, and turned and left the room. He stopped at the locker to get his hat and one or two of his personal belongings, and then went down the aisle and across the lobby to the big street door. As he passed the cashier’s room that official saw him through the plate-glass window and called to him: