It would be a payin' job, Mister Gray." It was in a voice graver than usual that the younger man spoke: "Briskow, you're sensible enough to understand plain talk.

I'm not a fit man to teach Buddy what he ought to know.

In fact, I'm about the worst person you could select." "How so ?" "Because I'm a good deal of a--rotter.

I couldn't permit Buddy to make a mess of his life, such as I've made of mine." The father sighed.

"I s'pose you know, but--Well, I'm disapp'inted.