oming into the hall precisely as Richard Kendrick, again
enveloped in his muddy motoring coat, was releasing Judge Gray's hand
and disappearing into the night, looked curiously after the departing
figure. His sister Roberta, following him into the hall a moment after,
rose-coloured scarf still drifting across white-clad shoulder, was in
time to receive his comment:

"Seems rather odd to see that chap departing humbly by any door but the
front one."

"You knew him, then. Who was he?" inquired his sister.

"Didn't you? He's a familiar figure enough about town. Why, he's Rich
Kendrick. Grandson of Matthew Kendrick, of Kendrick & Company, you know.
Only Rich doesn't take much interest in the business. You'll find his
doings carefully noticed in certain columns in certain society
journals."

"I don't read them, thank you. Do you?"

"Don't need to. Kendrick's a familiar figure wherever the gay and
youthful rich disport themselves--when he's in the country at all. He's
doing his best to get away with the money his father left him.
Fortunately the bulk of the family fortune is still in the hands of his
grandfather, who seems an uncommonly healthy and vigorous old man."
Louis laughed. "Can't think what Rich Kendrick can be doing here with
Uncle Cal. I believe, though, he and old Matthew Kendrick are good
friends. Probably grandson Richard came on an errand. It certainly
behooves him to do grandfather's errands with as good a grace as he can
muster."

"He was sitting in the hall quite a while before Uncle Cal saw him,"
volunteered Ted, who had tagged at Roberta's heels, and was listening
with interest.

"Sitting in the hall, eh--like any district messenger?" Louis was
clearly delighted with this news. "How did it happen, Cub? Mary take him
for an everyday, common person?"

"I let him in. I thought he was a chauffeur," admitted Ted. "He was
awfully wet and muddy. Steve took him in to Uncle Cal."

An explosion of laughter from his interested elder brother interrupted
him. "I wish I'd come along and seen him. So he had the bad manners to
sit in our hall in a wet and muddy motoring coat, and go in to see Uncle
Cal--"

"The young man had on no muddy coat when Stephen brought him in to see
me," declared Judge Calvin Gray, coming out and catching the last
sentence. "He put it on in the hall before going out. What are you
saying? That was the grandson of my good friend, Matthew Kendrick, and
so had claim upon my good will f