d the gory narrative of the unlucky Chinese
head-hunter occupied them until dinner was announced.

It was scarcely to be wondered at that Copley was exuberantly cheerful
during the meal. His aunt might really have succeeded in her wish to
graft a bit of her nerve on to his backbone, for he felt a new sense of
self-reliance and resolution. Once married to Sheila, and with the
immediate future provided for by the generosity of Miss Ocky, he had no
doubt of his ability to pluck a pearl necklace from the world that was
his oyster! He knew quite a bit about the tanning business, a
knowledge acquired casually during summer vacations, and he also
knew--from Sheila--something of Graham's disappointed ambitions in
respect to a partnership, if his prospective father-in-law elected to
seek his fortune in another field, there was no reason why he shouldn't
hitch his wagon to Graham's star as Graham had once hitched his to
Varr's. The golden sun of finance was rising in the East for him, and
he and Sheila, hand in hand, would walk into the dawn--

So ran his thoughts, and between them he kept up a flow of badinage
with Ocky, rallied his quiet mother into some show of life, and even
directed a few flippancies at the glum figure which graced the head of
the table. The tanner was taciturn, abstracted, and the only show of
emotion registered by his wooden countenance was a flash of uneasiness
when Copley made some casual reference to Leslie Sherwood. Miss Ocky
did not miss that, and again she wondered what lay behind.

His son's airiness of manner distinctly jarred on Simon. A young man
just bereft of his allowance and under orders to renounce his lady-love
had no right to act like that. It wasn't natural--or else he had
something up his youthful sleeve. Humph. That might bear looking into!

"What are you going to do this evening, Copley?" he demanded, as he
returned the quill toothpick to his pocket and rose from table.

"Nothing special, sir. Read a while and turn in early."

"I'm going to be busy with some work for an hour or so. I wish you
would come to my study at nine. Want to talk to you."

Copley's heart sank as he nodded acquiescence. Then it rose again, for
his eyes had strayed across to Miss Ocky and the sight of his powerful
ally braced his courage--just as Simon, the day before, had gained
fresh confidence from the glimpse of a cabbage. Nothing could harm him
while Aunt Ocky held up his arm!

Punctual