Chicago.' Wait--wait until the Bansemer smash comes to reinforce
the story! Fine reading, eh!"

"Don't, Elias, for Heaven's sake, don't!" cried the young man. "Have
you no soft spot in your heart? God, I believe you enjoy all this.
Look! Look what it says about her! The whole shameful story of that
scene last night! There was a reporter there when it happened."

Together they read the papers. Their comments varied. The young
man writhed and groaned under the revelations that were going to
the public; the old clerk chuckled and philosophised.

Every one of these papers prophesied other and more sensational
developments before the day was over. It promised to be war
to the knife between David Cable, president of the Pacific, Lakes
& Atlantic, and the man Bansemer. In each interview with Cable he
was quoted as saying emphatically that the adoption of Jane had
been made with his knowledge and consent. The supposed daughter was
the only one to whom the startling revelations were a surprise. There
also was mention of the fact that the young woman had immediately
broken her engagement with James Bansemer's son. There were pictures
of the leading characters in the drama.

"I can't stay in Chicago after all this," exclaimed Graydon, springing
to his feet, his hands clenched in despair. "To be pointed out and
talked about! To be pitied and scorned! To see the degradation of
my own father! I'll go--anywhere, just so it is away from Chicago."

Droom forgot his desire to scoff. His sardonic smile dwindled into
a ludicrously, pathetic look of dismay. He begged the young man to