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a gentle light in the room； from a reading…lamp on his desk。 The huge chandelier was unlighted。。。。 It was even as Gilder； in an increasing irritation over the delay； had thrown himself down on a couch which stood just a little way within an alcove； that he heard the outer door open and shut。 He sprang up with an ejaculation of satisfaction。
〃Dick； at last！〃 he muttered。
It was； in truth； the son。 A moment later； he entered the room； and went at once to his father； who was standing waiting； facing the door。
〃I'm awfully sorry I'm so late； Dad；〃 he said simply。
〃Where have you been？〃 the father demanded gravely。 But there was great affection in the flash of his gray eyes as he scanned the young man's face； and the touch of the hand that he put on Dick's shoulder was very tender。 〃With that woman again？〃
The boy's voice was disconsolate as he replied：
〃No； father； not with her。 She won't see me。〃
The older man snorted a wrathful appreciation。
〃Naturally！〃 he exclaimed with exceeding bitterness in the heavy voice。 〃She's got all she wanted from you my name！〃 He repeated the words with a grimace of exasperation： 〃My name！〃
There was a novel dignity in the son's tone as he spoke。
〃It's mine； too； you know； sir；〃 he said quietly。
The father was impressed of a sudden with the fact that； while this affair was of supreme import to himself； it was； after all； of still greater significance to his son。 To himself； the chief concerns were of the worldly kind。 To this boy； the vital thing was something deeper； something of the heart： for； however absurd his feeling； the truth remained that he loved the woman。 Yes； it was the son's name that Mary Turner had taken； as well as that of his father。 In the case of the son； she had taken not only his name； but his very life。 Yes； it was； indeed； Dick's tragedy。 Whatever he； the father； might feel； the son was； after all； more affected。 He must suffer more； must lose more； must pay more with happiness for his folly。
Gilder looked at his son with a strange； new respect； but he could not let the situation go without protest； protest of the most vehement。
〃Dick；〃 he cried； and his big voice was shaken a little by the force of his emotion； 〃boy； you are all I have in the world。 You will have to free yourself from this woman somehow。〃 He stood very erect； staring steadfastly out of his clear gray eyes into those of his son。 His heavy face was rigid with feeling； the coarse mouth bent slightly in a smile of troubled fondness； as he added more softly： 〃You owe me that much。〃
The son's eyes met his father's freely。 There was respect in them； and affection； but there was something else； too； something the older man recognized as beyond his control。 He spoke gravely； with a deliberate conviction。
〃I owe something to her； too； Dad。〃
But Gilder would not let the statement go unchallenged。 His heavy voice rang out rebukingly； overtoned with protest。
〃What can you owe her？〃 he demanded indignantly。 〃She tricked you into the marriage。 Why； legally； it's not even that。 There's been nothing more than a wedding ceremony。 The courts hold that that is only a part of the marriage actually。 The fact that she doesn't receive you makes it simpler； too。 It can be arranged。 We must get you out of the scrape。〃
He turned and went to the desk； as if to sit； but he was halted by his son's answer； given very gently； yet with a note of finality that to the father's ear rang like the crack of doom。
〃I'm not sure that I want to get out of it； father。〃
That was all； but those plain words summed the situation； made the issue a matter not of advice； but of the heart。
Gilder persisted； however； in trying to evade the integral fact of his son's feeling。 Still he tried to fix the issue on the known unsavory reputation of the woman。
〃You want to stay married to this jail…bird！〃 he stormed。
A gust of fury swept the boy。 He loved the woman； in spite of all； he respected her； even reverenced her。 To hear her thus named moved him to a rage almost beyond his control。 But he mastered himself。 He remembered that the man who spoke loved him； he remembered； too； that the word of opprobrium was no more than the truth； however offensive it might be to his sensitiveness。 He waited a moment until he could hold his voice even。 Then his words were the sternest protest that could have been uttered； though they came from no exercise of thought； only out of the deeps of his heart。
〃I'm very fond of her。〃
That was all。 But the simple sincerity of the saying griped the father's mood； as no argument could have done。 There was a little silence。 After all； what could meet such loving loyalty？
When at last he spoke； Gilder's voice was subdued； a little husky。
〃Now； that you know？〃 he questioned。
There was no faltering in the answer。
〃Now； that I know；〃 Dick said distinctly。 Then abruptly； the young man spoke with the energy of perfect faith in the woman。 〃Don't you see； father？ Why； she is justified in a way； in her own mind anyhow； I mean。 She was innocent when she was sent to prison。 She feels that the world owes her〃
But the older man would not permit the assertion to go uncontradicted。 That reference to the woman's innocence was an arraignment of himself； for it had been he who sent her to the term of imprisonment。
〃Don't talk to me about her innocence！〃 he said； and his voice was ominous。 〃I suppose next you will argue that； because she's been clever enough to keep within the law； since she's got out of State Prison； she's not a criminal。 But let me tell youcrime is crime； whether the law touches it in the particular case； or whether it doesn't。〃
Gilder faced his son sternly for a moment； and then presently spoke again with deeper earnestness。
〃There's only one course open to you； my boy。 You must give this girl up。〃
The son met his father's gaze with a level look in which there was no weakness。
〃I've told you； Dad〃 he began。
〃You must； I tell you；〃 the father insisted。 Then he went on quickly； with a tone of utmost positiveness。 〃If you don't； what are you going to do the day your wife is thrown into a patrol wagon and carried to Police Headquartersfor it's sure to happen？ The cleverest of people make mistakes； and some day she'll make one。〃
Dick threw out his hands in a gesture of supreme denial。 He was furious at this supposition that she would continue in her irregular practices。
But the father went on remorselessly。
〃They will stand her up where the detectives will walk past her with masks on their faces。 Her picture； of course； is already in the Rogues' Gallery； but they will take another。 Yes； and the imprints of her fingers； and the measurements of her body。〃
The son was writhing under the words。 The woman of whom these things were said was the woman whom he loved。 It was blasphemy to think of her in such case； subjected to the degradation of these processes。 Yet； every word had in it the piercing； horrible sting of truth。 His face whitened。 He raised a supplicating hand。
〃Father！〃
〃That's what they will do to your wife；〃 Gilder went on harshly； 〃to the woman who bears your name and mine。〃 There was a little pause； and the father stood rigid； menacing。 The final question came rasping。 〃What are you going to do about it？〃
Dick went forward until he was close to his father。 Then he spoke with profound conviction。
〃It will never happen。 She will go straight； Dad。 That I know。 You would know it if you only knew her as I do。〃
Gilder once again put his hand tenderly on his son's shoulder。 His voice was modulated to an unaccustomed mildness as he spoke。
〃Be sensible； boy；〃 he pleaded softly。 〃Be sensible！〃
Dick dropped down on the couch； and made his answer very gently； his eyes unseeing as he dwelt on the things he knew of the woman he loved。
〃Why； Dad；〃 he said； 〃she is young。 She's just like a child in a hundred ways。 She loves the trees and the grass and the flowersand everything that's simple and real！ And as for her heart〃 His voice was low and very tender： 〃Why； her heart is the biggest I've ever known。 It's just overflowing with sweetness and kindness。 I've seen her pick up a baby that had fallen in the street； and mother it in a way thatwell； no one could do it as she did it； unless her soul was clean。〃
The father was silent； a little awed。 He made an effort to shake off the feeling； and spoke with a sneer。
〃You heard what she said yesterday； and you still are such a fool as to think that。〃
The answer of the son came with an immutable finality； the sublime faith of love。
〃I don't thinkI know！〃
Gilder was in despair。 What argument could avail him？ He cried out sharply in desperation。
〃Do you realize what you're doing？ Don't go to smash； Dick； just at the beginning of your life。 Oh； I beg you； boy； stop！ Put this girl out of your thoughts and start fresh。〃
The reply was of the simplest； and it was the end of argument。
〃Father；〃 Dick said； very gently； 〃I can't。〃
There followed a little period of quiet between the two。 The father； from his desk； stood facing his son； who thus denied him in all honesty because the heart so