ertain whether Willie's skill is superior," was her arch
retort.

"Why not make a test case and find out?"

Still she hesitated.

"You're afraid to trust your property to me," Bob said, piqued by her
indecision.

"No, I'm not," was the quick response. "See? Here is the belt."

She drew from her pocket a narrow strip of white leather to which a
handsome silver buckle was attached and placed it in his hand.

He took it, inspected its fastening and looked with beating pulse at
the girdle's slender span.

"Do you think it can be mended?" she inquired anxiously.

"Of course it can."

"Oh, I'm so glad!"

"Give me a few days and you shall have it back as good as new."

"That will be splendid!" Her eyes shone with starry brightness. "You
see," she went on, "it was given me on my birthday by my--my--by some
one I care a great deal for--by my--" she stopped, embarrassed.

Robert Morton was too well mannered to put into words the interrogation
that trembled on his lips, but he might as well have done so, so
transparent was the questioning glance that traveled to her left hand
in search of the telltale solitaire. Even though his search was not
rewarded, he felt certain that the hand concealed in the folds of her
dress wore the fatal ring. Of course, mused he, with a shrug, he might
have guessed it. No such beauty as this was wandering unclaimed about
the world. Well, her fiance, whoever he might be, was a lucky devil!
Without doubt, confound his impudence, his arm had traveled the pathway
of that band of leather scores of times.

One couldn't blame the dog! For want of a better vent for his
irritation, Bob took up the belt and again examined it. He had been
quite safe in boasting that the bauble should be returned to its owner
as good as new, for although he did not confess it, on its silver clasp
he had discovered the manufacturer's name. If the buckle could not be
repaired, another of similar pattern should replace it. Unquestionably
he was a fool to go to this trouble and expense for nothing. Yet was
it quite for nothing? Was it not worth while to win even a smile from
this creature whose approval gave one the sense of being knighted?
True, titles meant but little in these days of democracy but when
bestowed by such royalty-- She broke in on his reverie by extending
her hand. "Good-by," she said. "You have been very kind, Mr.--"

"My name is Morton--Bob Morton."

"Why! Then you must be the so