“I’m going to tell you something that’ll surprise you, Luke,” he said confidently. “I’m no business man. I’ve run the Altonia Mill, man and boy, most of my life, but that’s just because it was sort of wished on me by my father. I never liked it; I never--in a way, I mean--understood it; during my father’s lifetime, I depended on him, and after he left us, why, I just counted on my partner.” “Yes, sir,” Luke listened respectfully. “My partner, Mr. Oliver Parker, of Pasadena, you know.” “Yes, sir.” Luke Manders said _sir_ now, very handily, but it carried no servility with it. “A fine man, Mr. Parker; mighty fine man! Great pity going as early as he did. _I_ miss him, I can tell you! Only came on here once or twice a year, but when he did, well, things _moved_! Never saw anybody to equal him. Often wonder,” he mused, “whether that son of his--young Peter--has his father’s brains and his energy. Hope so, the Lord knows, now that _he’s_ my partner!” He chuckled. “Reckon he’s not worrying much about the old Altonia! Typical millionaire’s son, from all I hear. _This_ was just a drop in the bucket for Parker, of course. He dipped into everything--cotton, oil, mines--and pulled out a plum every time. But I reckon there won’t be many plums for the boy, way poor Minnie let things go, and old Ben kind of slowing down.” “Well, we aim to pull things up, sir,” Luke Manders promised quietly. “I hope to the Lord we can,” Mr. ’Gene Carey said fervently. “I certainly do hope to the Lord we can! I’ve got a young lady daughter coming on, and I want to do handsomely by her. I certainly do hope to the Lord we can make the old mill speed up, Luke.” “That’s what we’re aiming to do, sir,” his new bookkeeper pledged again, gravely, and the senior partner went away heartened. The next day he listened cordially to the youth’s suggestion that they make a place for Dr. Darrow’s daughter in the mill. “She has finished business college, sir, and she will be a good worker. I can promise that.” “But--look here, Luke, didn’t Dr. Darrow leave her provided for? Why, good land, he was the busiest man in town--always saw that old buggy of his rattling ’round!” “I reckon he never crowded people to pay their bills,” young Manders offered. “She has that house, and a few hundred dollars in the bank, and that’s all.” Mr. ’Gene Carey rumpled his abundant gray hair. “Shame, that’s what it is--man who spent his life taking care of folks-- Well, that’s the way it goes, Luke! Certainly, we’ll make a place for her! Want her in here with you?” Luke Mander’s dark gaze did not waver. “I was figuring to have her in here at first, sir, till we saw just where we could use her best.” “Well, you go ahead and hire her, Luke,” the old gentleman was hearty. “You go right ahead and hire her, and if there isn’t anything she can do, why you make up something! Nice girl like that, pretty girl, too, seems to me I remember--red hair?” “Yes, sir,” said Luke steadily.