But he hesitated, and with another essay at confidence said insinuatingly, "I always thought, sir, that Wide West would recover." Stacy, perhaps not displeased to find what had evidently passed in his subordinate's mind, looked at him and said dryly, "Then I would advise you also to keep that opinion to yourself." But, clever as he was, he had not anticipated the result.

Mr.North, though a trusted employee, was human.

On arriving in the outer office he beckoned to one of the lounging brokers, and in a low voice said, "I'll take two shares of Wide West, if you can get it cheap." The broker's face became alert and eager.

"Yes, but I say, is anything up ?" "I'm not here to give the business of the bank away," retorted North severely; "take the order or leave it." The man hurried away.

Having thus vindicated his humanity by also passing the snub he had received from Stacy to an inferior, he turned away to carry out his master's instructions, yet secure in the belief that he had profited by his superior discernment of the real reason of that master's singular conduct.