"The contemptible brute! Do you suppose if your father had made money by his failure he would now be trying to find a position in order to earn money with which to support us. Fred, your father is an honest man--which is more than Bart Montgomery's mother can say about his father, with all his wealth!" "Hooray for you, mother! I wish I'd thought of that to say to Bart this morning," exclaimed Fred. "But I'll say it the next time I see him." Mrs. Markham's anger at the imputation her husband was dishonest had carried her beyond the bounds of her customary caution, and, regretting her indiscretion, she shook her head. "You mustn't do anything of the sort, Fred. Promise me you won't." "Why?" he demanded, surprised at this sudden change in his mother, without replying to her request. "Because it will only make it harder for your father." "How?" For several minutes Mrs. Markham was silent, evidently considering whether or not the time had come when Fred should be told all the ramifications of the failure. Finally deciding such a course would be the wisest, she parried: "If I tell you, will you promise not to make that remark to Bart?" "I won't do so if it will hurt father." This answer seeming satisfactory, Mrs. Markham said: "Being business, there are some points I don't understand myself. But I know enough to give you a general idea. "When your father started his automobile supply business, he was obliged to borrow some money for which he gave notes. "People all said your father would not succeed. But when he did, several of them grew jealous, and strove to make trouble for him by buying up his notes. "Mr. Montgomery heard about it, and, coming to your father, offered him enough funds to pay off the notes, agreeing to accept interest and let your father pay off the principle as he could. "Believing the offer made in good faith, your father gratefully accepted it. But it was not long before he discovered he was mistaken. "Mrs. Montgomery has a sister who married Charles Gibbs. Being eager to have her sister with her in Baxter, she asked her husband to start Mr. Gibbs in business. "Seeing your father's success, Mr. Montgomery decided to ruin your father and set up his brother-in-law in the automobile supply business. "Accordingly, he came to your father and told him he was sorry but he must have his money. Your father protested, but Mr. Montgomery was firm. "In despair your father tried to obtain money from the banks in nearby towns, but, when inquiry was made, Mr. Montgomery said your father had obtained the loan from him by misrepresentation and the banks refused to lend." "The sneak!" flashed Fred, his hands clenching as he thought of such treachery to his father. "As a last resort, your father tried to mortgage our house, but when his title to the property was examined, it was found there was some flaw in the deed. "Your father insisted some one had tampered with the records, but to no avail.