a loud voice. To
Gregory she added: "Miss Lang, my father's sister. She is very hard of
hearing."

Gregory bowed as he took the hand Miss Lang extended.

"I'm glad to know you," she said. "Real glad. Your father was one of my
few friends. We enjoyed many pleasant games of checkers together."

Her keen gray eyes appraised him while she spoke and under the frankness
of her stare, Gregory felt his coat collar slowly pulling away from his
neck. Passing a hand nervously to the lapel he jerked the garment into
place while he responded to her greeting.

"Richard all over again," announced Miss Lang when she had finished her
inspection. "The same eyes, the square chin. Even the same nervous
manner of hitching at your clothes."

"Aunt Mary!" Dickie expostulated. "You're too personal. You----"

But Miss Lang went on with a smile which put her guest wholly at his
ease: "You won't mind what an old lady like me says, I'm sure. I always
told your father just what I thought. And I'm going to do the same with
you."

Gregory listened attentively while she told him of her first meeting
with his father. While she spoke his eyes traveled curiously to the
high-backed organ and the what-not beyond. Richard Gregory had described
the Lang home as a model of neatness and old-fashioned charm. His son
went further. The room possessed a personality. It was not only livable
but lovable as well. The very atmosphere breathed a benediction.

"Do you play checkers?"

Miss Lang's voice recalled Gregory to himself. He shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he began.

"No you're not," put in Dickie quietly. "You're lucky. Don't ever
learn. Aunt Mary never gave your father a chance to say a word. She had
her board out when she heard him in the hall."

A knock on the front door interrupted Miss Lang's request for her
checker-board and Dickie hurried out.

"I can teach you in no time," Aunt Mary was saying. But Gregory was
listening to the sound of a man's voice in the hallway. Then came the
girl's laugh.

"I wasn't angry at all, Jack. Just cranky. But I'm glad you came up just
the same and thanks for the candy."

She reentered the room followed by McCoy. McCoy stopped with surprise as
he caught sight of Gregory. Nodding casually, he went over to greet Miss
Lang.

Aunt Mary welcomed McCoy warmly. Then she addressed her niece.

"Bring us the board, Josephine. Kenneth can watch and I'll explain the
game as we go along."

McCoy sank into a chair