He was thinking of Franklin Mills--his father and Shepherd’s. There was something grotesque in the idea that he was acting as a conciliator between Franklin Mills and this son who had so little of the Mills iron in his blood. The long story had given him still another impression of Mills. It was despicable, his trampling of Shepherd’s toys, his calm destruction of the boy’s dreams. But even so, Bruce felt that his advice had been sound. A complete break with his father would leave Shepherd helpless; and public opinion would be on the father’s side. Shepherd struck a match and looked at his watch. “It’s nearly seven!” he exclaimed. “Connie won’t know what’s become of me! I think she’s having a Dramatic Club rehearsal at the house tonight.” “That’s good. We’ll stop at the first garage and you can telephone her. Tell her you’re having dinner with me at the club. And--may I say it?--never tell her of your bad hour today. That’s better kept to ourselves.” “Of course!” With head erect Shepherd walked to the car. His self-confidence was returning. Before they reached the club his spirits were soaring. He was even eager to begin his work with the trust company. After a leisurely dinner he drove Bruce home. When he said good-night at the entrance to the apartment house he grasped both Bruce’s hands and clung to them. “Nothing like this ever really happened to me before,” he said chokingly. “I’ve found a friend!” They remained silent for a moment. Then Bruce looked smilingly into Shepherd’s gentle, grateful eyes and turned slowly into the house. The roar of Shepherd’s car as it started rose jubilantly in the quiet street. CHAPTER FIFTEEN I Duty was a large word in Franklin Mills’s lexicon. It pleased him to think that he met all his obligations as a parent and a citizen. In his own cogitations he was well satisfied with his handling of his son Shepherd. Shepherd had needed just the lesson he had given him in the matter of the sale of the Rogers Trust Company stock. Mills, not knowing that Bruce Storrs was responsible for Shepherd’s change of mind, was highly pleased that his son had expressed his entire satisfaction with his transfer from the battery plant to the new trust company.