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“We have had forty killed on one street railway I know; what of it? Do you want to give up electricity because it kills children?”

“No, but look here! the conductors lessen the risk. A lady I know, only yesterday, had a little boy going from the kindergarten home, nice little fellow only five years old—-“

“She ought to have sent a nurse with a child five years old, a baby!” cried Armorer, warmly.

“That lady,” answered Harry, quietly, “goes without any servant at all in order to keep her two children at the kindergarten; and the boy’s elder sister was ill at home. The boy got on the car, and when he got off at the crossing above his house, he started to run across; the other train-car was coming, the little fellow didn’t notice, and ran to cross; he stumbled and fell right in the path of the coming car!”

“Where was the conductor? He didn’t seem much good!”

“They had left off the conductor on that line.”

“Well, did they run over the boy? Why haven’t I been informed of the accident?”

“There was no accident. A man on the front platform saw the boy fall, made a flying leap off the moving car, fell, but scrambled up and pulled the boy off the track. It was sickening; I thought we were both gone!”

“Oh, you were the man?”

“I was the man; and don’t you see, Mr. Armorer, why I feel strongly on the subject? If the conductor had been on, there wouldn’t have been any occasion for any accident.”

“Well, sir, you may be assured that we will take precautions against any such accidents. It is more for our interest than anyone’s to guard against them. And I have explained to you the necessity of cutting down our expense list.”

“That is just it, you think you have to risk our lives to cut down expenses; but we get all the risk and none of the benefits. I can’t see my way clear to helping you, sir; I wish I could.”

“Then there is nothing more to say, Mr. Lossing,” said Armorer, coldly. “I’m sorry a mere sentiment that has no real foundation should stand in the way of our arranging a deal that would be for the advantage of both the city and our road.” He rose.

Harry rose also, but lifted his hand to arrest the financier. “Pardon me, there is something else; I wouldn’t mention it, but I hear you are going to leave to-morrow and go abroad with–Miss Armorer. I am conscious I haven’t introduced myself very favorably, by refusing you a favor when I want to ask the greatest one possible; but I hope, sir, you will not think the less of a man because he is not willing to sacrifice the interests of the people who trust him, to please ANYONE. I–I hope you will not object to my asking Miss Armorer to marry me,” concluded Harry, very hot and shaky, and forgetting the beginning of his sentences before he came to the end.

“Does my daughter love you, do I understand, Mr. Lossing?”

“I don’t know, sir. I wish I did.”

“Well, Mr. Lossing,” said Armorer, wishing that something in the young man’s confusion would not remind him of the awful moment when he asked old Forrester for his Jenny, “I am afraid I can do nothing for you. If you have too nice a conscience to oblige me, I am afraid it will be too nice to let you get on in the world. Good-morning.”

“Stop a minute,” said Harry; “if it is only my ability to get on in the world that is the trouble, I think——“

“It is your love for my daughter,” said Armorer; “if you don’t love her enough to give up a sentimental notion for her, to win her, I don’t see but you must lose her, I bid you good-morning, sir.”

“Not quite yet, sir”–Harry jumped before the door; “you give me the alternative of being what I call dishonorable or losing the woman I love!” He pronounced the last word with a little effort and his lips closed sharply as his teeth shut under them. “Well, I decline the alternative. I shall try to do my duty and get the wife I want, BOTH.”