the order. Over by the window the young people were
talking together earnestly; they made a picture against the light,
standing close, the girl's vivid dark face raised, the lad's tall head
bent, attentive.

"But, Bobs, you must get some time to play about," I heard Worth say.

"Awfully little," Her look up at him was like that of a wistful child.

"You said you were in the accounting department," he urged impatiently.
"A lightning calculator like you could put that stuff through in about
one tenth of the usual time."

"I use an adding machine," she half whispered, and it made me chuckle.

"An adding machine!" Worth exploded in a peal of laughter. "For Barbara
Wallace! What's their idea?"

"It isn't their idea; it's mine," with dignity. "They don't know that I
used to be a freak mathematician. I don't want them to. Father used to
say that all children could be trained to do all that I did--if you took
them young enough. But till they are, I'd rather not be. It's horrid to
be different; and I'm keeping it to myself--in the office anyhow--and
living my past down the best I can."

As though her words had suggested it, Worth spoke again,

"Where did you meet Cummings? Seems you find time to go out with him."

"I've known Mr. Cummings for years," Barbara spoke quietly, but she
looked self-conscious. "I knew he was with those friends of mine at the
Orpheum last night, but I didn't expect him to call for me at Tait's--or
rather I thought they'd all come in after me. There wasn't anything
special about it--no special appointment with him, I mean."

I had forgotten them for a minute or two, closing my desk, finding my
coat, when I heard some one come into the outer office, a visitor, for
little Pete's voice went up to a shrill yap with the information that I
was busy. Then the knob turned, the door opened, and there stood
Cummings. At first he saw only me at the desk.

"Your friend calling for you again, Bobs--by appointment?" Worth's
question drew the lawyer's glance, and he stared at them apparently a
good deal taken aback, while Worth added, "Seems to keep pretty close
tab on your movements." The low tone might have been considered joking,
but there was war in the boy's eye.

It was as though Cummings answered the challenge, rather than opened
with what he had intended.

"My business is with you, Gilbert." He came in and shut the door behind
him, leaving his hand on the knob. "And I've been some time finding
y