mother at One Hundred and Forty…sixth Street； Sadie； his sister；
attended the public school； he helped support them both； and he
now was about to enjoy a well…earned vacation camping out on
Hunter's Island； where he would cook his own meals； and； if the
mosquitoes permitted； sleep in a tent。
〃And you like that？〃 demanded the young man。 〃You call that fun？〃
〃Sure！〃 protested Jimmie。 〃Don't you go camping out？〃
〃I go camping out；〃 said the good Samaritan； 〃whenever I leave
New York。〃
Jimmie had not for three years lived in Wall Street not to
understand that the young man spoke in metaphor。
〃You don't look；〃 objected the young man critically； 〃as though
you were built for the strenuous life。〃
Jimmie glanced guiltily at his white knees。
〃You ought ter see me two weeks from now；〃 he protested。 〃I get all
sunburnt and hard…
…hard as anything！〃
The young man was incredulous。
〃You were near getting sunstruck when I picked you up；〃 he
laughed。 〃If you're going to Hunter's Island； why didn't you go
to Pelham Manor？〃
〃That's right！〃 assented Jimmie eagerly。 〃But I wanted to save
the ten cents so's to send Sadie to the movies。 So I walked。〃
The young man looked his embarrassment。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he murmured。
But Jimmie did not hear him。 From the back of the car he was
dragging excitedly at the hated suit…case。
〃Stop！〃 he commanded。 〃I got ter get out。 I got ter walk。〃
The young man showed his surprise。
〃Walk！〃 he exclaimed。 〃What is ita bet？〃
Jimmie dropped the valise and followed it into the roadway。 It
took some time to explain to the young man。 First； he had to be
told about the scout law and the one good turn a day； and that it
must involve some personal sacrifice。 And； as Jimmie pointed out；
changing from a slow suburban train to a racing…car could not be
listed as a sacrifice。 He had not earned the money； Jimmie argued；
he had only avoided paying it to the railroad。 If he did not walk
he would be obtaining the gratitude of Sadie by a falsehood。
Therefore； he must walk。
〃Not at all；〃 protested the young man。 〃You've got it wrong。 What
good will it do your sister to have you sunstruck？ I think you are
sunstruck。 You're crazy with the heat。 You get in here； and we'll
talk it over as we go along。〃
Hastily Jimmie backed away。 〃I'd rather walk；〃 he said。
The young man shifted his legs irritably。
〃Then how'll this suit you？〃 he called。 〃We'll declare that first 'one
good turn' a failure and start afresh。 Do me a good turn。〃
Jimmie halted in his tracks and looked back suspiciously。
〃I'm going to Hunter's Island Inn；〃 called the young man； 〃and I've
lost my way。 You get in here and guide me。 That'll be doing me
a good turn。〃
On either side of the road； blotting out the landscape； giant
hands picked out in electric…light bulbs pointed the way to
Hunter's Island Inn。 Jimmie grinned and nodded toward them。
〃Much obliged；〃 he called。 〃I got ter walk。〃 Turning his back
upon temptation； he waddled forward into the flickering heat
waves。
The young man did not attempt to pursue。 At the side of the road；
under the shade of a giant elm； he had brought the car to a halt and
with his arms crossed upon the wheel sat motionless； following with
frowning eyes the retreating figure of Jimmie。 But the narrow…chested
and knock…kneed boy staggering over the sun…baked asphalt no longer
concerned him。 It was not Jimmie； but the code preached by Jimmie；
and not only preached but before his eyes put into practice； that
interested him。 The young man with white hair had been running
away from temptation。 At forty miles an hour he had been running
away from the temptation to do a fellow mortal 〃a good turn。〃 That
morning； to the appeal of a drowning Caesar to 〃Help me； Cassius；
or I sink；〃 he had answered： 〃Sink！〃 That answer he had no wish to
reconsider。 That he might not reconsider he had sought to escape。
It was his experience that a sixty…horse…power racing…machine is a
jealous mistress。 For retrospective； sentimental； or philanthropic
thoughts she grants no leave of absence。 But he had not escaped。
Jimmie had halted him； tripped him by the heels； and set him again
to thinking。 Within the half…hour that followed those who rolled
past saw at the side of the road a car with her engine running； and
leaning upon the wheel； as unconscious of his surroundings as
though he sat at his own fireplace； a young man who frowned and
stared at nothing。 The half…hour passed and the young man swung
his car back toward the city。 But at the first road…house that showed
a blue…and…white telephone sign he left it； and into the iron box at
the end of the bar dropped a nickel。 He wished to communicate with
Mr。 Carroll； of Carroll and Hastings； and when he learned Mr。 Carroll
had just issued orders that he must not be disturbed； the young man
gave his name。
The effect upon the barkeeper was instantaneous。 With the aggrieved
air of one who feels he is the victim of a jest he laughed scornfully。
〃What are you putting over？〃 he demanded。
The young man smiled reassuringly。 He had begun to speak and；
though apparently engaged with the beer…glass he was polishing；
the barkeeper listened。
Down in Wall Street the senior member of Carroll and Hastings
also listened。 He was alone in the most private of all his private
offices； and when interrupted had been engaged in what； of all
undertakings； is the most momentous。 On the desk before him
lay letters to his lawyer； to the coroner； to his wife； and hidden
by a mass of papers； but within reach of his hand； was an
automatic pistol。 The promise it offered of swift release had
made the writing of the letters simple； had given him a feeling
of complete detachment； had released him； at least in thought；
from all responsibilities。 And when at his elbow the telephone
coughed discreetly； it was as though some one had called him
from a world from which already he had made his exit。
Mechanically； through mere habit； he lifted the receiver。
The voice over the telephone came in brisk； staccato sentences。
〃That letter I sent this morning？ Forget it。 Tear it up。 I've been
thinking and I'm going to take a chance。 I've decided to back you
boys； and I know you'll make good。 I'm speaking from a road…house
in the Bronx； going straight from here to the bank。 So you can begin
to draw against us within an hour。 Andhello！will three millions
see you through？〃
From Wall Street there came no answer； but from the hands of the
barkeeper a glass crashed to the floor。
The young man regarded the barkeeper with puzzled eyes。
〃He doesn't answer；〃 he exclaimed。 〃He must have hung up。〃
〃He must have fainted！〃 said the barkeeper。
The white…haired one pushed a bill across the counter。 〃To pay
for breakage；〃 he said； and disappeared down Pelham Parkway。
Throughout the day； with the bill； for evidence； pasted against
the mirror； the barkeeper told and retold the wondrous tale。
〃He stood just where you're standing now；〃 he related； 〃blowing
in million…dollar bills like you'd blow suds off a beer。 If I'd
knowed it was him； I'd have hit him once and hid him in the
cellar for the reward。 Who'd I think he was？ I thought he was
a wire…tapper； working a con game！〃
Mr。 Carroll had not 〃hung up；〃 but when in the Bronx the
beer…glass crashed； in Wall Street the receiver had slipped from
the hand of the man who held it； and the man himself had fallen
forward。 His desk hit him in the face and woke himwoke him
to the wonderful fact that he still lived； that at forty he had been
born again； that before him stretched many more years in which；
as the young man with the white hair had pointed out； he still
could make good。
The afternoon was far advanced when the staff of Carroll and
Hastings were allowed to depart； and； even late as was the hour；
two of them were asked to remain。 Into the most private of the
private offices Carroll invited Gaskell； the head clerk； in the
main office Hastings had asked young Thorne； the bond clerk；
to be seated。
Until the senior partner has finished with Gaskell young Thorne
must remain seated。
〃Gaskell；〃 said Mr。 Carroll； 〃if we had listened to you； if we'd run
this place as it was when father was alive； this never would have
happened。 It hasn't happened； but we've had our lesson。 And
after this we're going slow and going straight。 And we don't need
you to tell us how to do that。 We want you to go awayon a month's
vacation。 When I thought we were going under I planned to send the
children on a sea voyage with the governessso they wouldn't see the
newspapers。 But now that I can look them in the eye again； I need
them； I can't let them go。 So； if you'd like to take your wife on an
ocean trip to Nova Scotia and Quebec； here are the cabins I reserved
for the kids。 They call it the royal suitewhatever that isand the trip
lasts a month。 The boat sails to…morrow morning。 Don't sleep too late
or you may miss her。〃
The head clerk was secreting the tickets in the inside pocket of
his waistcoat。 His fingers trembled； and when he laughed his
voice trembled。
〃Miss the boat！〃