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f battle of a general； however able and self…controlled； in the one spot where he has not arranged a defense； you have thrown him and his armyinto a panic。 Some of the greatest tactitians in history have given way in those circumstances； so； Martin Hastings' utter loss of self…control and of control of the situation only proves that he had his share of human nature。 He had provided against the unexpected； he had not provided against the impossible。
Jane let her father rave on into the telephone until his voice grew hoarse and squeaky。 Then she turned and said： ‘‘Now； fatherwhat's the use of making yourself sick？ You can't do any goodcan you？'' She laid one hand on his arm； with the other hand caressed his head。 ‘‘Hang up the receiver and think of your health。''
‘‘I don't care to live； with such goings…on；'' declared he。 But he hung up the receiver and sank back in his chair； exhausted。
‘‘Come out on the porch；'' she went on； tugging gently at him。 ‘‘The air's stuffy in here。''
He rose obediently。 She led him to the veranda and seated him comfortably； with a cushion in his back at the exact spot at which it was most comfortable。 She patted his shrunken cheeks； stood off and looked at him。
‘‘Where's your sense of humor？'' she cried。 ‘‘You used to be able to laugh when things went against you。 You're getting to be as solemn and to take yourself as seriously as Davy Hull。''
The old man made a not unsuccessful attempt to smile。 ‘‘That there Victor Dorn！'' said he。 ‘‘He'll be the death of me； yet。''
‘‘What has he done now？'' said Jane； innocently。
Hastings rubbed his big bald forehead with his scrawny hand。 ‘‘He's tryin' to run this townto run it to the devil；'' replied he； by way of evasion。
‘‘Something's got to be done about himeh？'' observed she； in a fine imitation of a business…like voice。
‘‘Something WILL be done；'' retorted he。
Jane wincedhid her distressreturned to the course she had mapped out for herself。 ‘‘I hope it won't be something stupid；'' said she。 Then she seated herself and went on。 ‘‘Fatherdid you ever stop to wonder whether it is Victor Dorn or the changed times？''
The old man looked up abruptly and sharplythe expression of a shrewd man when he catches a hint of a new idea that sounds as if it might have something in it。
‘‘You blame Victor Dorn；'' she went on to explain。 ‘‘But if there were no Victor Dorn； wouldn't you be having just the same trouble？ Aren't men of affairs having them everywherein Europe as well as on this sidenowadays？''
The old man rubbed his browhis nosehis chin pulled at the tufts of hair in his earsfumbled with his cuffs。 All of these gestures indicated interest and attention。
‘‘Isn't the real truth not Victor Dorn or Victor Dorns but a changed and changing world？'' pursued the girl。 ‘‘And if that's so； haven't you either got to adopt new methods or fall back？ That's the way it looks to meand we women have got intuitions if we haven't got sense。''
‘‘_I_ never said women hadn't got sense；'' replied the old man。 ‘‘I've sometimes said MEN ain't got no sense； but not women。 Not to go no further； the women make the men work for 'emdon't they？ THAT'S a pretty good quality of sense； _I_ guess。''
But she knew he was busily thinking all the time about what she had said。 So she did not hesitate to go on： ‘‘Instead of helping Victor Dorn by giving him things to talk about； it seems to me I'd USE him； father。''
‘‘Can't do anything with him。 He's crazy；'' declared Hastings。
‘‘I don't believe it；'' replied Jane。 ‘‘I don't believe he's crazy。 And I don't believe you can't manage him。 A man like thata man as clever as he isdoesn't belong with a lot of ignorant tenement…house people。 He's out of place。 And when anything or anybody is out of place； they can be put in their right place。 Isn't that sense？''
The old man shook his headnot in negation； but in uncertainty。
‘‘These men are always edging you on against Victor Dornwhat's the matter with them？'' pursued Jane。 ‘‘_I_ saw； when Davy Hull talked about him。 They're envious and jealous of him； father。 They're afraid he'll distance them。 And they don't want you to realize what a useful man he could behow he could help you if you helped himmade friends with him roused the right kind of ambition in him。''
‘‘When a man's ambitious；'' observed Hastings； out of the fullness of his own personal experience； ‘‘it means he's got something inside him； teasing and nagging at himsomething that won't let him rest； but keeps pushing and pullingand he's got to keep fighting； trying to satisfy itand he can't wait to pick his ground or his weapons。''
‘‘And Victor Dorn；'' said Jane； to make it clearer to her father by putting his implied thought into words； ‘‘Victor Dorn is doing the best he canfighting on the only ground that offers and with the only weapons he can lay hands on。''
The old man nodded。 ‘‘I never have blamed him not really；'' declared he。 ‘‘A practical mana man that's been through thingshe understands how these things are；'' in the tone of a philosopher。 ‘‘Yes； I reckon Victor's doing the best he cangetting up by the only ladder he's got a chance at。''
‘‘The way to get him off that ladder is to give him another；'' said Jane。
A long silence； the girl letting her father thresh the matter out in his slow； thorough way。 Finally her young impatience conquered her restraint。 ‘‘Well what do you think； popsy？'' inquired she。
‘‘That I've got about as smart a gel as there is in Remsen City；'' replied he。
‘‘Don't lay it on too thick；'' laughed she。
He understood why she was laughing； though he did not show it。 He knew what his much…traveled daughter thought of Remsen City； but he held to his own provincial opinion； nevertheless。 Nor； perhaps； was he so far wrong as she believed。 A cross section of human society； taken almost anywhere； will reveal about the same quantity of brain； and the quality of the mill is the thing； not of the material it may happen to be grinding。
She understood that his remark was his way of letting her know that he had taken her suggestion under advisement。 This meant that she had said enough。 And Jane Hastings had made herself an adept in the art of handling her fatheran accomplishment she could by no means have achieved had she not loved him； it is only when a woman deeply and strongly loves a man that she can learn to influence him； for only love can put the necessary sensitiveness into the nerves with which moods and prejudices and whims and such subtle uncertainties can be felt out。
The next day but one； coming out on the front veranda a few minutes before lunch time she was startled rather than surprised to see Victor Dorn seated on a wicker sofa； hat off and gaze wandering delightedly over the extensive view of the beautiful farming country round Remsen City。 She paused in the doorway to take advantage of the chance to look at him when he was off his guard。 Certainly that profile view of the young man was impressive。 It is only in the profile that we get a chance to measure the will or propelling force behind a character。 In each of the two main curves of Dorn's headthat from the top of the brow dow