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 cannot make up my mind on the amount of time it would probably have endured. Certainly we should have learned the news and come flying to you apace. But your trouble was becoming serious, with a vengeance! You were threatened with arrest on false suspicion, or at least with finding yourselves homeless and wronged! We can't try to determine what length or end affairs might have attained."

"It's not pleasant," Philip said.

"In any case, it showed the stuff in you, Touchtone," added Mr. Marcy, quietly. "I guess we understand what that is now. We might—well—we might have had to guess at it, otherwise." He laughed. His "guessing" would have been perceptive. He was proud of such an experience for the boy.

"Now as to that villain Jennison, or Belmont, or whatever his name is," began Mr. Saxton, "I don't know what is best to do. I remember him perfectly. I did some business for him on the Street. He lost largely before he was through with the stock. It went all to pieces. I was as much sold by it as were the other brokers. Jennison acted like a madman in my office."