had acquired experience tending to the
development of the most perfect methods. If G. Selden had chanced to
be the magnet which had decided his course this special afternoon, Miss
Vanderpoel it was who had stirred in him sufficient interest in Mount
Dunstan to cause him to use the best of these methods when he found
himself face to face with him.

He beautifully eliminated the years, he eliminated all but the facts
that the young man's father and himself had been acquaintances in youth,
that he remembered Mount Dunstan himself as a child, that he had heard
with interest of his visit to America. Whatsoever the young man felt,
he made no sign which presented obstacles. He accepted the eliminations
with outward composure. He was a powerful-looking fellow, with a fine
way of carrying his shoulders, and an eye which might be able to light
savagely, but just now, at least, he showed nothing of the sulkiness he
was accused of.

Lord Dunholm progressed admirably with him. He soon found that he need
not be upon any strain with regard to the eliminations. The man himself
could eliminate, which was an assistance.

They talked together when they turned to follow the others to the
retreat of G. Selden.

"Have you bought a Delkoff?" Lord Dunholm inquired.

"If I could have afforded it, I should have bought one."

"I think that we have come here with the intention of buying three. We
did not know we required them until Miss Vanderpoel recited half a page
of the catalogue to us."

"Three will mean a 'rake off' of fifteen dollars to G. Selden," said
Mount Dunstan. It was, he saw, necessary that he should explain the
meaning of a "rake off," and he did so to his companion's entertainment.

The afternoon was a satisfactory one. They were all kind to G. Selden,
and he on his part was an aid to them. In his innocence he steered
three of them, at least, through narrow places into an open sea of
easy intercourse. This was a good beginning. The junior assistant was
recovering rapidly, and looked remarkably well. The doctor had told him
that he might try to use his leg. The inside cabin of the cheap Liner
and "little old New York" were looming up before him. But what luck he
had had, and what a holiday! It had been enough to set a fellow up for
ten years' work. It would set up the boys merely to be told about it. He
didn't know what HE had ever done to deserve such luck as had happened
to him. For the rest of his life he would he wavin