"I have been a good deal remiss in that," was the reply.

"Suppose we go. It will be a novelty, and you will see more friends there
than in any other place."

"A good thought, old boy," said Browning, "and we shall have time only to
dress."

A few minutes later they emerged from the hotel, and proceeded to the old
church that Browning had attended during all his childhood.

Queerly enough, the sermon was on the return of the Prodigal Son. The
good clergyman dilated on his theme. He told what a tough citizen the
Prodigal Son was in his youth, how he was given to boating and
steeple-chasing, and staying out nights and worrying the old father,
until finally he ran away. "Photographing you, Jack," whispered Sedgwick.
When he came to the part where the Prodigal ate the husks, Sedgwick
whispered again: "He means the hash in that restaurant on the Divide,
Jack."

Then the picture of the joy of the father on the return of this son, and
the moral which the parable teaches, were graphically given. At last the
service was over, and as the congregation filed out there was a general
rush for Browning, for the whole congregation recognized him, though the
almost beardless boy that went away had returned in the full flush of
manhood. He was overwhelmed with greetings and congratulations over his
safe return, and as Sedgwick was introduced as Browning's friend the
welcomes to him were most cordial, though there was many a glance at the
fashionably-cut clothing of the young men.