friendly clutch upon my elbow.

   "You'll do," he laughed. "I was positive of it."

   "I can't imagine how you reach that conclusion," I put in rather tartly, still reminiscent of the rubber stamp.

   "Oh," he said, his eye twinkling, "simplest thing in the world. The governor's rather brief with those he doesn't like."

   "Brief! I feel as though I'd just emerged from a glacial douche."

   "Oh, he's nippy. But he never misses a trick, and he got your number all O.K."

   As we reached the street I took his hand.

   "Thanks, Ballard," I said warmly. "It's been fine of you, but I'm sorry that I can't share your hopes."

   "Rot! The thing's as good as done. There's another executor or two to be consulted, but they'll be glad enough to take the governor's judgment. You'll hear from him tomorrow. In the meanwhile," and he thrust a paper into my hands, "read this. It's interesting. It's John Benham's brief for masculine purity with a few remarks (not taken from Hegel) upon the education and training of the child."

   We had reached the corner of the street when he stopped and took out his watch.

   "Unfortunately this is the Thursday that I work," he laughed, "and it's past two o'clock, so good-by. I'll stop in for you tomorrow," and with a flourish of the hand he left me.

   Still dubious as to the whole matter, which had left me rather bewildered, when I reached my shabby room I took out the envelope which Ballard had handed me and read the curious paper that it contained.

   As I began reading this remarkable document (neatly typed and evidently copied from the original in John Benham's own hand) I recognized some of the marks of the Platonic philosophy and read with immediate attention. Before I had gone very far it was quite clear to me that the pedagogue who took upon himself the rearing of the infant Benham, must himself be a creature of infinite wisdom and discretion. As far as these necessary qualifications were concerned, I saw no reason why I should refuse. The old man's obvious seriousness of purpose interested me.

   "It is my desire that my boy, Jeremiah, be taught simple religious truths and then 

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