Tommy left Rivington early and went home to dress for dinner. He found his father in the library reading the exasperating _Evening Post_. Mr. Leigh looked up quickly. “Well, Thomas, did you have any luck to-day?” “Colonel Willetts promised to take two hundred shares for Rivington and Marion. He was not what you'd call enthusiastic.” “I understand he never is,” said Mr. Leigh, so peevishly that Tommy looked at him in surprise. “Did you tell him what the company had been making?” “Oh yes! What he didn't like was that, no matter how well the company may do, under Mr. Thompson's new plans the stockholders won't get all the profits in dividends.” “Did you tell him that the present stockholders are willing to subscribe for all the new stock?” “I told him the capital was provided for, but I had this chance to interest personal friends.” Mr. Leigh frowned angrily. Tommy, who had never before seen such a look on his father's face, said, soothingly: “He took me at my word. Rivington and Marion are my best friends.” “Did you tell him that your company would be a dividend-payer when other concerns less far-seeing would be passing their dividends? Did you point out to him the trend of political thought in this country? Did you tell him that his own real-estate holdings in New York City, by reason of municipal extravagance, political maladministration, general inefficiency, and lack of co-operation among landlords, were not the safest investments? Did you tell him that Thompson realizes clearly the changed attitude of the entire world toward property rights and capital and toward the rights of the producing classes? Did you tell him that a man who is wise enough to be content with eight per cent, on his money now when he might get twenty per cent, is more likely to be getting the same eight per cent. when to-day's twenty-per cent. payers will be writing off the loss of principal to-morrow? Did you?” Mr. Leigh's vehemence and the accusing ring of his voice astonished Tommy. “No, I didn't,” he answered. Mr. Leigh calmed down as suddenly as he had flared up. “And you did not point out to him the absurdly low overhead charge and the remarkable relation of your gross sales to your capital, and the complete adequacy of the financial and mechanical machinery of the new company to meet all emergencies, good and bad alike?” “Well, I thought the figures spoke for themselves.” “Thomas,” said Mr. Leigh, sternly, “figures don't speak to the average man, and often not even to the expert. The man behind the figures--that's what counts.” An icy hand squeezed Tommy's heart. An expert at figures had paid for his education. The only figures that now came into his throbbing mind were: seventeen thousand dollars! And the man behind those figures was his own father! “You must see Willetts again,” said Mr. Leigh, quietly. “Perhaps I'd better explain the figures to him myself, Thomas.”