uch
coffee. It's rank poison to you. And you know it is. I told you----"

"Wouldn't you like a cup, Doctor?" asked Kathrien innocently.

"I----"

"Of course he'll take a cup," interrupted Grimm. "He'll damn it. But
he'll drink it."

"And look here!" proceeded McPherson, pointing an accusing finger at the
breakfast tray. "Waffles! Actually _waffles_! And after I told you----"

"Yes, Katje," explained Grimm, "he'll damn the waffles, too. But, if you
watch closely, you'll notice he'll eat some. Sit down, Andrew."

"I tell you," fumed the doctor, "I didn't come here to encourage you, by
my example, in wrecking your system. I came for a serious talk with you,
Peter."

Kathrien, at the hint, discreetly effaced herself. Frederik followed her
example.

"Well? well?" queried Peter in mock despair, seating himself opposite
his old crony and tyrant. "What new horrors of diet have you thought up
for my misery? Out with it. Let me know the worst."

"It isn't your body this time, Peter," was the troubled answer. "It's
something that means more. The matter's been keeping me awake all night.
Tell me:--how is every one provided for in this house?"

"Provided for?" echoed Peter in bewilderment. "How do you mean?
Everybody gets enough to eat and we are----"

"Why, you don't understand me. You're a wonderful man for making plans,
Peter. But what have you done?"

"Done?"

"If you--if you were to die--say to-morrow, or--or any other time," went
on the doctor with an effort at carelessness that sat on his rough
honesty as ill as his Sunday broadcloth adorned his rugged shoulders,
"if you--die--unexpectedly,--how would it be with the rest of them
here?"

Grimm set down his coffee cup with slow precision. And slowly he raised
his eyes to McPherson's worried gaze.

"What do you mean?" he asked with something very like awe in his tone.
"If I were to die to-morrow----"

"You won't!" declared McPherson emphatically. "You won't. So don't
worry. You're good for a long time yet. A score of years, perhaps.
You're all right, if you take decent care of yourself. Which you never
do. But we've all got to come to it, sooner or later. And it's well to
make provision. For instance, what would Kathrien's position be in this
house, in case you were taken out of it? Kathrien is a little
'prescription' of mine, you'll remember. And--I suppose your heart is
still set on her marrying Frederik, so that what is one's will be the
other's. Persona