"I wonder who'll take this car home?" asked one of the men in front of the "Blade" office. "Where is my son?" inquired Mr. Dodge, pushing his way through the crowd without any suspicion of what had lately happened. "Isn't my son here to take this car home?" "I doubt if he'll come back," replied one man, with a twinkle in his eyes. "'Blade'? Extree 'Blade'?" demanded a newsboy, holding out a paper. "Better take one, Mr. Dodge," advised a man in the crowd. "Mighty interesting reading in this extra!" Almost mechanically the banker paid for a paper, folded it, then stepped into the automobile. On his arrival home, and after having turned the car over to his chauffeur, Mr. Dodge went to his library, despite the fact that he knew his dinner was waiting. There he spread out the extra "Blade" on a table and began to read the featured news story. As he read the elder Dodge flushed deeply. Though the names of Bert and Bayliss were not mentioned, he had no difficulty in connecting them with the ludicrous story. Turning, Mr. Dodge rang. A man servant answered. "Mrs. Dodge wishes to know, sir, when you are coming to dinner," said the man. "Ask Mrs. Dodge, from me kindly to let the dinner go on, and say that I am busy, now, but will come to the table as soon as I am at leisure. Then ask Mr. Bert to come here to me at once." Bert entered. He had removed his wet garments, and put on fresh clothing. He had been at dinner when interrupted by his father's message. "This extraordinary story in the 'Blade' refers to you, does it not?" inquired the banker, shoving the paper before the young man. "Yes, sir," Bert admitted sulkily. "You and your friend, Bayliss, have been making fools of yourselves, have you?" "No, sir," cried Bert. "We were made fools of by others." "When it comes to making a fool of yourself, Bert, no one else is swift enough to get ahead of you," replied his father witheringly. "So, you have succeeded in making the entire family objects of ridicule once more? I had hoped that that sort of thing had ceased when I sent you away to a private school." "We were imposed on," flushed Bert angrily. "Nor has the outrage stopped there. Bayliss and I were seized in front of the 'Blade' office, and taken over to the horse trough and ducked!" "Was it done thoroughly?" inquired the banker ironically. "A thorough ducking?" gasped his son and heir. "I should say it was thorough, sir!" "Then I wish that the incident would make sufficient impression on you to last you a few days," went on Mr. Dodge bitterly. "I doubt it, however." "Father, I want you to back me in having some of my assailants arrested for that ducking!"