"Of course if old Mr. Caspar knew he'd disinherit him. And Ned could never earn." "And you'd be done?" queried Mr. Trupp with quiet glee. "Never!" cried the woman, up in arms at once. "I could keep us both at a pinch, I'll lay then." "I'll lay you could," answered the other. "But Mr. Caspar won't know, so you'll be all right." The two lingered for a moment in the door, as do those who find themselves in sympathy. "He's a hard un's Old Man Caspar," said Anne. "And he's not the only one," grinned the young doctor. "And a good job too." CHAPTER IV OLD MAN CASPAR That was how it came about that Mr. Trupp helped young Ernie Caspar into the world. There was no doubt who the lad took after. "He's his father's child," said the young surgeon. Whether Mrs. Caspar was angry with her son for his resemblance to her husband, it was hard to say, but she was fierce even in her mothering. Now she nodded at the photograph of the woman in court-dress upon the mantelpiece. "It's her he favours," she said shortly, one stern eye on the sucking infant. "He's the spit of her--same as Ned. None of Old Man Caspar about him." "Have you seen him?" asked Mr. Trupp, washing his hands. "The Old Man?--Yes. Once. He came to lunch. Met Ned on Beau-nez. I was landlady that day." She nodded grimly at the window where hung the card. "That's why I keep that up--lest he should come down on us sudden. We're done if he finds us out." Mr. Trupp grunted as he dried his hands. "I'm not so sure," he said. "Well, that's what Ned says," the woman retorted. "He would," replied the surgeon. She looked at him sharply. "You mean Ned's afraid of the old man?" The other didn't answer. "You're right there," said the young mother. "He is. And I don't wonder. I'm afraid of him--and I've never feared a man before." "Most people are," replied Mr. Trupp. "He's a bit of a terror; but he's got his points. You needn't worry," he added as he said good-bye. "You're not likely to see much of him. He's too busy with his Grand Northern Railway." The woman was unconvinced. "He's that sudden," she said. "There he was in the door--me in me wrapper and all. Of course Ned never give me no warning. Too flabbergasted by half. Learnt me a lesson, though, never to sit in the back-room with my sewing about." "Did you know him?" asked Mr. Trupp, amused. "Know him?" cried the other. "Seen his picture in the papers time and again. Astrakhan coat and all!" Happily for the peace of mind of the young couple Mr. Trupp proved right. All the energies of the great contractor were set on driving the new commercial railway from London to the North, tapping the Black Country, and linking the Yorkshire ports with the Metropolis by the most direct route. It was in fact two years and more before Mr. Caspar made another of his sudden appearances at the door of 60.