“Well, I’m sure he is a good boy and I’m proud of Walter that he wants to help Dan obtain an education. For my part I think it shows a decidedly generous nature.” “I thought he wanted me to help Dan.” “You know perfectly well what he meant.” “Yes, I fancy I do,” said her husband good-naturedly. “You are going to help him, aren’t you?” “It depends.” “Upon what?” “Upon what I find in the boy. I don’t know of any better way to invest my money than to put it into men. But there isn’t any use in trying to make a successful man out of an incompetent or lazy boy.” “Dan isn’t lazy――I’m sure of that,” said Mrs. Borden warmly. “Everybody around here knows how hard he and Tom work on the farm.” “Who is Tom?” “He is Dan’s brother.” “And does he too want to go to school and college?” “I haven’t heard that he did. What Walter said about Dan to-night is the first I’ve heard that Dan wanted an education.” “And he struck out fifteen in the game to-day,” said Mr. Borden mockingly. “I don’t understand what you mean, but you say it isn’t anything bad.” “On the contrary, it is quite remarkable.” “Then why do you laugh?” “Did I laugh?” asked Mr. Borden soberly. “You know you did. It doesn’t seem to me quite fair to Walter. I’m sure if he takes an interest in helping Dan get an education you ought not to discourage him.” “Perish the thought, mother.” “I never can tell whether you are serious or not.” “I’m serious about one thing――I wish supper was ready.” “I’m sure it must be, for I heard Martha say she would have it by the time Walter came.” “Well, Walter has come, but I don’t see any signs of supper.” “There! There’s the gong!” exclaimed Mrs. Borden as the musical sound of a Japanese gong was heard from the dining-room. “You won’t have to wait any longer. Here comes Walter.” All hastened at once to the room where supper was served and the food Martha had prepared speedily began to disappear from the table. “This is better than the city,” said Mr. Borden after a brief time had elapsed. “It was very warm there this morning. Here, the very view I have from the window rests me. I sometimes think I’d like to give up work and come up here and stay.” “You wouldn’t think of giving up work at your age,” exclaimed his wife. “Not with one boy in the Tait School and another that Walter is thinking of sending,” laughed Mr. Borden. “You helped one of the boys in your office to go to college,” suggested Walter. “He was worth it――worth all I put into him.” “So will Dan be.” “That remains to be seen. I suppose I’ll have a chance some time to see this prodigy――let me see, was it eighteen he struck out to-day?” “Fifteen,” replied Walter promptly. “Dan is coming over here after supper.” “Have you said anything to him?” asked Mr. Borden sharply. “No, sir; not a word.” “That is wise. Well, we’ll soon find out whether it’s another Daniel come to judgment or just another case of mistaken identity. You say he struck out twenty men to-day?”