"Only as Fane, Harmon & Co.

have thought it worth while--" "I don't care what Fane, Harmon think," growled Austin, touching a button over his desk.

His stenographer entered; he nodded a curt dismissal to Gerald, adding, as the boy reached the door: "Your sister expects you to be on hand to-night--and so do we." Gerald halted.
"I'd clean forgotten," he began; "I made another--a rather important engagement--" But Austin was not listening; in fact, he had already begun to dictate to his demure stenographer, and Gerald stood a moment, hesitating, then turned on his heel and went away down the resounding marble corridor.
"They never let me alone," he muttered; "they're always at me--following me up as though I were a schoolboy.

.

.