A beard, thick, black and neatly trimmed, gave Henry's face an unfamiliar mold.

But he felt a momentary fear, he realized that a possible danger thenceforth would lie in wait for him, and then came the easing assurance that his early life, his father and his mother, were remembered by no one of importance, and that even if he were recognized as Henry DeGolyer, he could still declare himself the stolen son of George Witherspoon.

Indeed, with safety he could thus announce himself to the managing editor who had sent him to Costa Rica, and he thought of doing this, but no, his--his father wanted the secret kept until the time was ripe for its divulgence.

He went into a restaurant, and for the first time in his life he felt himself free to order regardless of the prices on the bill of fare.

Often, when a hungry boy, he had sold newspapers in that house, and enviously he had watched the man who seemed to care not for expenses.