enerally see on a
dog-tired feller's face when you hand him a funny story. He don't care
a cuss anyway. He's figuring to hand Nat ten thousand dollars with no
more kick than a government spending public money. He don't kick
reasonably or unreasonably, and I'd gamble you a new hat he hasn't a
notion what he's getting for it. It makes me feel like a 'hold-up,'
and I say it's not fair to me--nor to himself--nor to--you."

Jeff was serious enough. In such affairs it would have been difficult
to find him otherwise. Nan understood. These two men had long been
her profound study. Her smiling regard remained unchanging while the
man was talking. When he ceased she bent over her father in a
caressing fashion.

"He'd lose his bet. He surely would, daddy dear, wouldn't he? But we
really need to answer, don't we? He'd think we were both fools, else.
He wouldn't like it either. Say, daddy, shall--shall I talk?"

Bud chuckled comfortably.

"I'd hate to stop you, Nan."

Nan smiled contentedly, and raised a pair of challenging eyes in the
direction of the table.

"My daddy thinks I talk too much," she said. "But I s'pose that's my
way--most girls talk when they get the chance--just the same as it's
his way talking too little. But neither ways suggest a fool, Jeff.
And anyway the only sort of fool you need to worry with is the fool who
don't see and act in a way of his own. My daddy's acting in his own
way, and I guess it isn't his way, working overtime with the band
playing. If you're dead fixed on having a gamble, it's a new hat to a
new and less smelly pipe than you're smoking now, that he knows the
inside of this deal to the last cent's worth. But what's more, Jeff,
he knows you, and knows you couldn't 'hold-up' a Sunday-school kiddie
without going and telling its teacher first. And now the mail."

She left her father's side and moved to the table, a very picture of
gentle decision and practice.

"Three for you, my daddy," she cried, dropping three letters on his
chest, where his shirt gaped just below his neck. Then she turned
about. "Only one for you, honest Jeff. Just one, and I've guessed at
the writing till I'm sick."

Jeff was smiling up with frank amusement.

"Say, that's great. It's got you beat. Well," he added, as he picked
up the letter, "I'll just keep you right on guessing. Where's yours?"

The girl laughed merrily.

"Had mine. I don't guess any right-acting girl would sit easy i