The Voice in the Fog - Page 31/93

He sent a searching glance at her; he never was sure when that girl was

laughing. "Fiddle-sticks! For four months now I've been shopping

every day with you women, and you can't tell me prize-fights are

brutal."

Crawford applauded gently.

"By the way, Crawford, you know something about direct charity."

Killigrew threw back his rug and sat up. "I've got an idea. What's

the use of giving checks to hospitals and asylums and colleges, when

you don't know whether the cash goes right or wrong? I'm going to let

Molly here start a home-bureau to keep her from voting; a lump sum

every year to give away as she pleases. I'm strong for giving boys

college education. Smooths 'em out; gives them a start in life; that

is, if they are worth anything at the beginning. Like this: back the

boy and screw up his honor and interest by telling him that you expect

to be paid back when the time comes. There's no better charity in the

world than making a man of a boy, making him want to stand on his own

feet, independent. When you help inefficient people, you throw your

money away. What do you think of the idea?"

"A first-rate one. I'd like to come in."

"No; this is all my own and Molly's. But how'll I start her off?"

"Get an efficient young man to act as private secretary; a fairly good

accountant; no rich man's son, but some one who has had a chance to

observe life. Make him a buffer between Mrs. Killigrew and the whining

cheats. And above all, no young man who has social entrée to your

house. That kind of a private secretary is always a fizzle."

"Any one in mind?"

"No."

"I have," said Kitty, rising and going toward the companion-ladder to

the lower decks.

"What now?" demanded Killigrew.

"Let her be; Kitty has a sensible head on her shoulders, for all her

foolery." Mrs. Killigrew laid a restraining hand on her husband's arm.

But Mrs. Crawford smiled a replica of that smile which had aroused her

curiosity in regard to Kitty. And then her face grew serious.

Kitty had a mind like her father's. Her ideas were seldom nebulous or

slow in forming. They sprang forth, full grown, like those

mythological creatures: Minerva was an idea of Jove's, as doubtless

Venus was an idea of Neptune's. Men with this quality become

captains-general of armies or of money-bags. In a man it signifies

force; in a woman, charm.