"Mr.Forbes，of Elmhurst？"he asked，glancing at thecard Kenneth had sent in."Yes，sir.""I've been bothered already over your election campaign，"resumed the manager，arranging his papers in a bored manner."Some girl has been here twice to interview my men and I have refused to admit her.You may as well understand，sir，that I stand for the Democratic candidate，and have no sympathy with your side.""That doesn't interest me，especially，sir，"answeredKenneth，smiling."I'm not electioneering just now.I've come to talk with you about young Gates.""Oh.Well，sir，what about him？""I'm interested in the boy，and want to save him from prosecution.""He's a forger，Mr.Forbes；a deliberate criminal.""I admit that.But he's very young，and his youth is largely responsible for his folly.""He stole my money.""It is true，Mr.Marshall.""And he deserves a term in state's prison."
"I agree to all that.Nevertheless，I should like to save him，"said Kenneth."His trial has not yet taken place，and instead of your devoting considerable of your valuable timeappearing against him it would be much simpler to settle the matter right here and now.""In what way，Mr.Forbes？""I'll make your money loss good.""It has cost me twice sixty dollars in annoyance.""I can well believe it，sir.I'll pay twice sixty dollars for the delivery to me of the forged check，and the withdrawal of the prosecution.""And the costs？""I'll pay all the costs besides.""You're foolish.Why should you do all this？""I have my own reasons，Mr.Marshall.Please look at the matter from a business standpoint.If you send the boy to prison you will still suffer the loss of the money.By compromising with me you can recover your loss and are paid for your annoyance.""You're right.Give me a check for a hundred and ？fty，and I'll turn over toa you the forged check and quashb further proceedings."Kenneth hesitated a moment.He detested the graspingc disposition that would endeavor to take advantage of his evident desire to help young Gates.He had hoped to ？nd Mr.Marshall a man of sympathy；but the manager was as cold as an icicle.
Beth，uneasy at his silence，nudgeda him."Pay it，Ken，"she whispered.
"Very well，Mr.Marshall，"said he，"I accept your terms."The check was written and handed over，and Marshalltook the forged check from his safe and delivered it，with the other papers in the case，to Mr.Forbes.He also wrote a note to his lawyer directing him to withdraw the prosecution.
Kenneth and Beth went away quite happy with their success，and the manager stood in his little window and watched them depart.There was a grimb smile of amusement on his shrewd face.
"Of all the easy marksc I ever encountered，"muttered Mr.
Marshall，"this young Forbes is the easiest.Why，he's a fool；that's what he is.He might have had that forged check for the face of it，if he'd been sharp.You wouldn't catch 'Rast Hopkins doing such a fool stuntd.Not in a thousand years！"Meantime Beth was pressing Kenneth's arm as she sat beside him and saying happily：
"I'm so glad，Ken—so glad！And to think we can save all that misery and despair by the payment of a hundred and ？fty dollars！And now we must ？nd the girl.""Yes，"replied the boy，cheerfully，"we must ？nd Lucy."