C. & W. begins its road out to us, I can raise whatever more funds I
want, and raise them easily.
"You have succeeded, Mr. Conniston, and thereby you have saved me from
being absolutely, unqualifiedly ruined. Within six months I shall have
doubled my fortune. And I shall have lived to see the most cherished
dream of my older manhood materialize. I owe very much to you, I am
very grateful to you, and I am very proud to have been associated in
business with a man of your caliber. And there is my hand on it!"
"I am glad to have been of service," Conniston replied, as the two
men gripped hands. "And I appreciate your confidence. Besides," with a
quick, half-serious smile, "I think that I have profited as greatly as
any one else could possibly do."
"I know what you mean. And I agree with you. Now, you said that there
was another matter--"
"Yes. I have had a cable from my father in Paris. Because I could not
agree to do a certain thing which he requested he has seen fit to
disinherit me."
"I know. Tommy Garton told me about it. And I know what the thing was
which he required of you. I did not thank you for your answer to him,
Conniston, for we both know that you did only your duty. But I know
what it meant, I know what your stand cost you, and I am prouder to
have known you, to feel that outside of our business relations I can
say that William Conniston, Junior, is my friend, than I have ever
been in my life to have known any other man!"
His voice was deep with sincerity, alive with an intensity of feeling
which drove a warm flush into Conniston's tanned face.
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