Later, years later, in high school, there had been the trouble when the principal had rebuked Miss Palmer, the instructor in Latin, before the whole class. The principal was a big, gruff man whose main attributes were to look stern at all times in an effort to instill discipline and to rejoice secretly when others showed signs of fear. He ruled by intimidation. Miss Palmer was meek and frail and when the lordly Mr. Davison assailed her she began to cry. That was too much for David. He calmly arose and informed the surprised Mr. Davison that he would never see any woman mistreated like that and if he did not stop at once and apologize he would knock his block off. Several of his classmates now came to his assistance. That precipitated a row. Result--David as ringleader of the mutiny was dismissed. Discipline had to be maintained. He worried through school and college somehow or other. Then was forced into business by his father and tried hard to make good and was progressing in a satisfactory, so he thought, if not brilliant manner until---- Wellman, the chief engineer, was passing through the draughting room. David, busy at his board, was not even aware of his presence until he heard a muffled cough in back of him. “Good morning, Mr. Wellman,” he said pleasantly, turning to greet his chief. “How are the plans coming along?” the latter said abruptly. “I want to have the blue-prints struck off this afternoon.” “They will be ready in an hour,” David returned. “I am just finishing the terrace.” “Let me see!” Wellman adjusted his tortoise shell spectacles. “What scale?” “Quarter inch.” “What? Quarter inch?” One would have thought Wellman had been shot, the way he roared. “Didn’t I tell you to make it half inch?” “I am sorry. I must have misunderstood. I will do them over.” “Impossible. The superintendent must have the blue-prints tonight.” “That is impossible too. I cannot do two days’ work in a few hours and do it right.” “You’ll never know anything.” Wellman bellowed, while all the others in the office turned to see and hear what was going on. “Now, look here,” David interrupted. “There is no excuse for your acting like that. You passed my table several times both yesterday and the day before and it seems to me as if you should have noticed the mistake then. Besides, I am sure you said quarter inch scale to begin with.” “That’s right! that’s right! Blame it on me. You think you can do as you please because your father is president of this concern.” The chief was talking louder than ever. “If it were not for your age I’d thrash you until you took that back.” “Never mind my gray hair. Never mind my glasses; I’ll take them off. Here I am. Go to it. You are a privileged person around here. Do anything you like.”