a little embarrassed, wholly disappointed.

Alone again, Terry slumped into a big cane chair drawn up by the
table. His cheeks burned; he thought, vaguely, that he must have
shaved too closely. Loosening his stiffly starched blouse, he crackled
the letter from Ellis, opened it without much interest: then his whole
being tensed.

Crampville, Nov. 23, 191-.

Dear Dick:

Everything lovely here--and things are going to pick up with
you when you read this!

Yesterday Deane's father came in the bank and asked to see
me confidentially. Thinking he had come on bank business I
took him into my private office. Well, he just sat there
facing me for several minutes, not knowing how to begin. You
would have thought he had been robbing a train or something,
he looked so absurdly guilty!

I just sat there watching him, taking a most unchristian joy
in his trouble, whatever it was: I have had it in for him
ever since--since you know what. I liked the way his Adam's
apple chased up and down his throat.

Finally he swallowed hard and began: "Ellis, I came over
to--to ask you to--to send over that fox skin that Terry
gave Deane last Christmas."

Just like that! It sure was a pill for the old boy to
swallow but he went the whole hog like the old Puritan he
is. Once started he kept going, though still phased. Said
that he was glad that you had found something worth doing
and were doing it well, that he took a lot of interest in
your goings-on--as he called it--and that Deane always read
your letters aloud. And the last thing he said before he
went out was that he hoped you would soon get spunk enough
to write her some letters she "wouldn't dast read out loud!"

He said THAT about my brother-in-law! Great leaping frogs!
What is the matter with you?

Get busy! Write--and make 'em sizzle!

ELLIS.

P.S.--I forgot to say that I am sure she made him come to
see me. Also that Sue took the skin over last night. And
also that Bruce is more than professionally interested in
the nurse he imported from Albany to look after his office.
It has been some time since he hung around Hunter's--and as
to why, I do not know, but I sure am some little guesser!

Terry had never questioned