ling provoked by the embrace showed plainly in his next words。 〃Why； that's the first time you have kissed me； Dick； since you were a little boy。 God bless my soul！〃 he repeated。 And now there was a note of jubilation。
The son； somewhat disturbed by this emotion he had aroused； nevertheless answered frankly with the expression of his own feeling； as he advanced and laid a hand on his father's shoulder。
〃The fact is； Dad；〃 he said quietly； with a smile that was good to see； 〃I am awfully glad to see you again。〃
〃Are you； son？〃 the father cried happily。 Then； abruptly his manner changed； for he felt himself perilously close to the maudlin in this new yielding to sentimentality。 Such kisses of tenderness； however agreeable in themselves； were hardly fitting to one of his dignity。 〃You clear out of here； boy；〃 he commanded； brusquely。 〃I'm a working man。 But here； wait a minute；〃 he added。 He brought forth from a pocket a neat sheaf of banknotes； which he held out。 〃There's carfare for you；〃 he said with a chuckle。 〃And now clear out。 I'll see you at dinner。〃
Dick bestowed the money in his pocket； and again turned toward the door。
〃You can always get rid of me on the same terms；〃 he remarked slyly。 And then the young man gave evidence that he； too； had some of his father's ability in things financial。 For； in the doorway he turned with a final speech； which was uttered in splendid disregard for the packet of money he had just receivedperhaps； rather； in a splendid regard for it。 〃Oh； Dad； please don't forget to give Sadie that five dollars I borrowed from her for the taxi'。〃 And with that impertinent reminder he was gone。
The owner of the store returned to his labors with a new zest； for the meeting with his son had put him in high spirits。 Perhaps it might have been better for Mary Turner had she come to him just then； while he was yet in this softened mood。 But fate had ordained that other events should restore him to his usual harder self before their interview。 The effect was； indeed； presently accomplished by the advent of Smithson into the office。 He entered with an expression of discomfiture on his rather vacuous countenance。 He walked almost nimbly to the desk and spoke with evident distress； as his employer looked up interrogatively。
〃McCracken has detainederalady； sir；〃 he said； feebly。 〃She has been searched； and we have found about a hundred dollars worth of laces on her。〃
〃Well？〃 Gilder demanded； impatiently。 Such affairs were too common in the store to make necessary this intrusion of the matter on him。 〃Why did you come to me about it？〃 His staff knew just what to do with shoplifters。
At once； Smithson became apologetic； while refusing to retreat。
〃I'm very sorry； sir；〃 he said haltingly； 〃but I thought it wiser； sir； toerto bring the matter to your personal attention。〃
〃Quite unnecessary； Smithson；〃 Gilder returned； with asperity。 〃You know my views on the subject of property。 Tell McCracken to have the thief arrested。〃
Smithson cleared his throat doubtfully； and in his stress of feeling he even relaxed a trifle that majestical erectness of carriage that had made him so valuable as a floor…walker。
〃She's not exactly aera thief；〃 he ventured。
〃You are trifling； Smithson；〃 the owner of the store exclaimed； in high exasperation。 〃Not a thief！ And you caught her with a hundred dollars worth of laces that she hadn't bought。 Not a thief！ What in heaven's name do you call her； then？〃
〃A kleptomaniac；〃 Smithson explained； retaining his manner of mild insistence。 〃You see； sir； it's this way。 The lady happens to be the wife of J。 W。 Gaskell； the banker； you know。〃
Yes； Gilder did know。 The mention of the name was like a spell in the effect it wrought on the attitude of the irritated owner of the store。 Instantly； his expression changed。 While before his features had been set grimly； while his eyes had flashed wrathfully； there was now only annoyance over an event markedly unfortunate。
〃How extremely awkward！〃 he cried； and there was a very real concern in his voice。 He regarded Smithson kindly； whereat that rather puling gentleman once again assumed his martial bearing。 〃You were quite right in coming to me。〃 For a moment he was silent； plunged in thought。 Finally he spoke with the decisiveness characteristic of him。 〃Of course； there's nothing we can do。 Just put the stuff back on the counter； and let her go。〃
But Smithson had not yet wholly unburdened himself。 Instead of immediately leaving the room in pursuance of the succinct instructions given him； he again cleared his throat nervously； and made known a further aggravating factor in the situation。
〃She's very angry； Mr。 Gilder；〃 he announced； timidly。 〃Sheershe demands aneran apology。〃
The owner of the store half…rose from his chair； then threw himself back with an exclamation of disgust。 He again ejaculated the words with which he had greeted his son's unexpected kisses； but now there was a vast difference in the intonation。
〃God bless my soul！〃 he cried。 From his expression； it was clear that a pious aspiration was farthest from his thought。 On the contrary！ Again； he fell silent； considering the situation which Smithson had presented； and； as he reflected； his frown betrayed the emotion natural enough under the circumstances。 At last； however； he mastered his irritation to some degree； and spoke his command briefly。 〃Well； Smithson； apologize to her。 It can't be helped。〃 Then his face lighted with a sardonic amusement。 〃And； Smithson；〃 he went on with a sort of elephantine playfulness； 〃I shall take it as a personal favor if you will tactfully advise the lady that the goods at Altman and Stern's are really even finer than ours。〃
When Smithson had left the office； Gilder turned to his secretary。
〃Take this；〃 he directed； and he forthwith dictated the following letter to the husband of the lady who was not a thief； as Smithson had so painstakingly pointed out：
〃J。 W。 GASKELL； ESQ。； 〃Central National Bank； New York。
〃MY DEAR Mr。 GASKELL： I feel that I should be doing less than my duty as a man if I did not let you know at once that Mrs。 Gaskell is in urgent need of medical attention。 She came into our store to…day； and〃
He paused for a moment。 〃No； put it this way；〃 he said finally：
〃We found her wandering about our store to…day in a very nervous condition。 In her excitement； she carried away about one hundred dollars' worth of rare laces。 Not recognizing her； our store detective detained her for a short time。 Fortunately for us all； Mrs。 Gaskell was able to explain who she was； and she has just gone to her home。 Hoping for Mrs。 Gaskell's speedy recovery； and with all good wishes； I am； 〃Yours very truly。〃
Yet； though he had completed the letter； Gilder did not at once take up another detail of his business。 Instead； he remained plunged in thought； and now his frown was one of simple bewilderment。 A number of minutes passed before he spoke； and then his words revealed distinctly what had been his train of meditation。
〃Sadie；〃 he said in a voice of entire sincerity； 〃I can't understand theft。 It's a thing absolutely beyond my comprehension。〃
On the heels of this ingenuous declaration； Smithson entered the office； and that excellent gentleman appeared even more perturbed than before。
〃What on earth is the matter now？〃 Gilder spluttered； suspiciously。
〃It's Mrs。 Gaskell still；〃 Smithson replied in great trepidation。 〃She wants you personally； Mr。 Gilder； to apologize to her。 She says that the action taken against her is an outrage； and she is not satisfied with the apologies of all the rest of us。 She says you must make one； too； and that the store detective must be discharged for intolerable insolence。〃
Gilder bounced up from his chair angrily。
〃I'll be damned if I'll discharge McCracken；〃 he vociferated； glaring on Smithson； who shrank visibly。
But that mild and meek man had a certain strength of pertinacity。 Besides； in this case； he had been having multitudinous troubles of his own； which could be ended only by his employer's placating of the offended kleptomaniac。
〃But about the apology； Mr。 Gilder；〃 he reminded； speaking very deferentially； yet with insistence。
Business instinct triumphed over the magnate's irritation； and his face cleared。
〃Oh； I'll apologize；〃 he said with a wry smile of discomfiture。 〃I'll make things even up a bit when I get an apology from Gaskell。 I shrewdly suspect that that estimable gentleman is going to eat humble pie； of my baking； from his wife's recipe。 And his will be an honest apologywhich mine won't； not by a damned sight！〃 With the words； he left the room； in his wake a hugely relieved Smithson。
Alone in the office； Sarah neglected her work for a few minutes to brood over the startling contrast of events that had just forced itself on her attention。 She was not a girl given to the analysis of either persons or things； but in this instance the movement of affairs had come close to her； and she was compelled to some depth of feeling by the two aspects of life on which to…day she looked。 In the one case； as she knew it； a girl under the