Within the Law | Page 8

must determine. There showed
now only this one significant fact: that, in the first moment of his return
from journeyings abroad, he sought his father with all eagerness, and
was sorely grieved because the meeting must still be delayed. It was a
little thing, perhaps. Yet, it was capable of meaning much concerning
the nature of the lad. It revealed surely a tender heart, one responsive to
a pure love. And to one of his class, there are many forces ever present
to atrophy such simple, wholesome power of loving. The ability to love
cleanly and absolutely is the supreme virtue.
Sarah explained that Mr. Gilder had been called to the Court of General
Sessions by the judge.
Dick interrupted her with a gust of laughter.
"What's Dad been doing now?" he demanded, his eyes twinkling. Then,
a reminiscent grin shaped itself on his lips. "Remember the time that
fresh cop arrested him for speeding? Wasn't he wild? I thought he
would have the whole police force discharged." He smiled again. "The
trouble is," he declared sedately, "that sort of thing requires practice.
Now, when I'm arrested for speeding, I'm not in the least flustered--oh,
not a little bit! But poor Dad! That one experience of his almost soured
his whole life. It was near the death of him--also, of the city's finest."
By this time, the secretary had regained her usual poise, which had
been somewhat disturbed by the irruption of the young man. Her round
face shone delightedly as she regarded him. There was a maternal note
of rebuke in her voice as she spoke:
"Why, we didn't expect you back for two or three months yet."
Once again, Dick laughed, with an infectious gaiety that brought a
smile of response to the secretary's lips.

"Sadie," he explained confidentially, "don't you dare ever to let the old
man know. He would be all swollen up. It's bad to let a parent swell up.
But the truth is, Sadie, I got kind of homesick for Dad--yes, just that!"
He spoke the words with a sort of shamefaced wonder. It is not easy for
an Anglo-Saxon to confess the realities of affection in vital intimacies.
He repeated the phrase in a curiously appreciative hesitation, as one
astounded by his own emotion. "Yes, homesick for Dad!"
Then, to cover an excess of sincere feeling, he continued, with a burst
of laughter:
"Besides, Sadie, I was broke."
The secretary sniffed.
"The cable would have handled that end of it, I guess," she said,
succinctly.
There was no word of contradiction from Dick, who, from ample
experience, knew that any demand for funds would have received
answer from the father.
"But what is Dad doing in court?" he demanded.
Sarah explained the matter with her usual conciseness:
"One of the girls was arrested for stealing."
The nature of the son was shown then clearly in one of its best aspects.
At once, he exhibited his instinct toward the quality of mercy, and, too,
his trust in the father whom he loved, by his eager comment.
"And Dad went to court to get her out of the scrape. That's just like the
old man!"
Sarah, however, showed no hint of enthusiasm. Her mind was ever of
the prosaic sort, little prone to flights. In that prosaic quality, was to be
found the explanation of her dependability as a private secretary. So,
now, she merely made a terse statement.

"She was tried to-day, and convicted. The judge sent for Mr. Gilder to
come down this morning and have a talk with him about the sentence."
There was no lessening of the expression of certainty on the young
man's face. He loved his father, and he trusted where he loved.
"It will be all right," he declared, in a tone of entire conviction. "Dad's
heart is as big as a barrel. He'll get her off."
Then, of a sudden, Dick gave a violent start. He added a convincing
groan.
"Oh, Lord!" he exclaimed, dismally. There was shame in his voice. "I
forgot all about it!"
The secretary regarded him with an expression of amazement.
"All about what?" she questioned.
Dick assumed an air vastly more confidential than at any time hitherto.
He leaned toward the secretary's desk, and spoke with a new
seriousness of manner:
"Sadie, have you any money? I'm broker My taxi' has been waiting
outside all this time."
"Why, yes," the secretary said, cheerfully. "If you will----"
Dick was discreet enough to turn his attention to a picture on the wall
opposite while Sarah went through those acrobatic performances
obligatory on women who take no chances of losing money by carrying
it in purses.
"There!" she called after a few panting seconds, and exhibited a flushed
face.
Dick turned eagerly and seized the banknote offered