g."

"I'm afraid you've got me now," he owned, looking puzzled. "Perhaps I'd
know them if I saw them. If Benson has any--I mean, if we have any," he
amended quickly, "I'd like to have you see them. Let me go and ask
Carson."

He was off to consult the man in the office and was back in a minute.
When Roberta had purchased the yard of lavender linen he led her into
another aisle and requested the clerk to show her his finest goods.
Roberta looked on, much amused, while the display was made, and praised
liberally. But suddenly she pounced upon a piece of white material with
a tiny white flower embroidered upon its delicate surface.

"That's one of the prettiest pieces of Swiss muslin I ever saw," said
she. "And at such a reasonable price. It looks like one of the finest
imported Swisses. I'm going to have that pattern this minute."

She gave the order without hesitation.

"I didn't know women ever shopped like that," said Richard in her ear.

"Like what?"

"Why, bought the thing right off without asking to see everything in the
store. That's what--I've been told they did."

"Not if they're wise--when they see a thing like that. There was only
the one pattern. Why, another woman might have walked up and said right
over my shoulder that she would take it."

"If she had I'd have seen that you got it," declared Richard.

He accompanied the party to the door when they went; he saw them to the
sleigh and tucked them in.

"Bareheaded again," observed Uncle Rufus, regarding him with interest.

"Again?" queried Richard.

"All the young men we meet this morning insist on standing round
outdoors with their hats off," explained the elder man. "It looks
reckless to me."

"It would be more reckless not to, I imagine," returned Richard,
laughing with Ruth and Roberta.

"We'll see you to-night," Uncle Rufus reminded him as he drove off.
"Bring Hugh with you. I asked him in the store, but he seemed to
hesitate. It will do him good to get out."

When the sleigh was a quarter of a mile up the road Ruth turned to her
uncle. "Do you imagine, Uncle Rufus," said she, "that all those men
you've asked for to-night will be grateful--when they see one another?"

CHAPTER XIV

RAPID FIRE

"Well, now, we're glad to see you at our place, Mr. Kendrick," was Mr.
Rufus Gray's hearty greeting. He had heard the sound of the motor-car as
it came to a standstill just outside his window, and was in the doorway
to receive his gue