“He took Alice’s money and made a whole lot more with it, and I’m going to tell you how to do it, too.”

Patricia danced before him on the hall rug, clapping her hands together with joy and excitement.  Suddenly she paused in her gyrations, and, placing her mouth close to his ear, she whispered: 

“Buy some storks from the New York Railroad.”

Allen jumped to his feet as if he had been struck.  “What did you say?” he demanded, seizing the child almost roughly by the wrist; but Patricia attributed his action to excitement and joy equal to her own, so accepted it cheerfully.

“That is it,” she repeated, firmly.  “I’m sure, for I wrote it down just as soon as I heard it.  I knew I should need it some time.  Storks must be very valuable birds, because Mr. Covington told Alice not to tell; and he made thirty—­thousand—­dollars for her.  Now, you’re smarter than Mr. Covington, and you can make a hundred thousand.  Will you?”

“I’ll start right out and see what I can do.”  Allen tried to keep the child from seeing his excitement.  “I haven’t time to stop to tell you how naughty it is to listen.  If I don’t go right now the storks may all be gone, and then of course we couldn’t make any money.  Good-bye, Lady Pat—­I’ll try hard, but don’t be disappointed if there aren’t any left—­good-bye.”

Allen rushed from the house and, hailing a passing taxi, ordered the chauffeur to drive to the office, although it was now nearly six o’clock.

XXI

With characteristic energy Gorham made good the promise given to Allen to investigate matters at the office, and not many days after his return to his desk he issued a call for a special meeting of the Executive Committee.  He looked upon it almost as a weakness to have permitted this boy’s unsupported statements to influence him even to this extent, but he justified himself by the knowledge that a confirmation of the loyalty of his associates would give him renewed strength.

The day of the meeting found every member of the committee present—­a fact which interested Gorham as an evidence of the devotion of these men to the responsibilities which rested upon them.  But the routine business had no sooner been completed than the president became aware that the harmony which had existed from the beginning was in danger of being disturbed.  Inquiries were made which were too significant to be overlooked, and veiled criticism came from quarters where previously he had believed existed absolute confidence in himself and full approval of his methods.

“It is well to have this come to a head,” Gorham remarked after several had expressed their views.  “This corporation is so gigantic that it must fall of its own weight unless every part of its structure be sound and effective in bearing its share of the load.  There is no stability where there is lack of harmony, and what you gentlemen have said to-day shows beyond question that radical and immediate action is imperative to preserve to our stockholders what we have already gained for them, and to secure the future benefits which are assured, provided the Companies itself can act as a unit.  Now, in order that we may clearly understand the situation, will not Mr. Litchfield state specifically the criticism implied in his remarks?”