," Adams began, nervously. "Well----"

"Well what, Virg?"

"Well, but what did he say when he DID speak?"

"He didn't speak. Not so long I was in there, anyhow. He just sat there
and read it. Read kind of slow. Then, when he came to the end, he turned
back and started to read it all over again. By that time there was three
or four other men standin' around in the office waitin' to speak to him,
and I had to go."

Adams sighed, and stared at the floor, irresolute. "Well, I'll be
getting along back home then, I guess, Charley. So you're sure you
couldn't tell anything what he might have thought about it, then?"

"Not a thing in the world. I've told you all I know, Virg."

"I guess so, I guess so," Adams said, mournfully. "I feel mighty
obliged to you, Charley Lohr; mighty obliged. Good-night to you." And he
departed, sighing in perplexity.

On his way home, preoccupied with many thoughts, he walked so slowly
that once or twice he stopped and stood motionless for a few moments,
without being aware of it; and when he reached the juncture of the
sidewalk with the short brick path that led to his own front door, he
stopped again, and stood for more than a minute. "Ah, I wish I knew," he
whispered, plaintively. "I do wish I knew what he thought about it."

He was roused by a laugh that came lightly from the little veranda near
by. "Papa!" Alice called gaily. "What are you standing there muttering
to yourself about?"

"Oh, are you there, dearie?" he said, and came up the path. A tall
figure rose from a chair on the veranda.

"Papa, this is Mr. Russell."

The two men shook hands, Adams saying, "Pleased to make your
acquaintance," as they looked at each other in the faint light diffused
through the opaque glass in the upper part of the door. Adams's
impression was of a strong and tall young man, fashionable but gentle;
and Russell's was of a dried, little old business man with a grizzled
moustache, worried bright eyes, shapeless dark clothes, and a homely
manner.

"Nice evening," Adams said further, as their hands parted. "Nice time o'
year it is, but we don't always have as good weather as this; that's
the trouble of it. Well----" He went to the door. "Well--I bid you good
evening," he said, and retired within the house.

Alice laughed. "He's the old-fashionedest man in town, I suppose and
frightfully impressed with you, I could see!"

"What nonsense!" said Russell. "How could anybody be impressed with me?"

"