' and a monocle, I should
have shut the door in your face. I should, indeed."

"Who, me?" demanded her nephew, forgetting his grammar in his surprise
at such a state of affairs. "Not me, dear aunt. America's good enough
for me. I've had lots of good times with my English cousins, but
America's my home and country."

"Hurrah!" cried Hippy, dashing around the table and seizing the young
man's hand. "We're glad to know you. We're proud and happy to make your
acquaintance."

There was such an uproar of fun and laughter at this that Tom Gray began
at last to see that something had really happened, and that his sudden
and unheralded appearance had brought immense relief to the assembled
company.

"Don't you think it's time somebody put me on?" he asked finally when
the noise had quieted down a little.

"Tom," replied his aunt, "did you tell anyone you were coming to Oakdale
for Christmas to visit me!"

"Why, yes," answered Tom after a moment's thought. "I believe I did. In
fact I know I did. I was staying for a week in New York, with an English
friend, Arthur Butler. I told him all about it. It was on his account
that I stayed over one night. I sent the telegram by his servant,
Richards."

"Ah, ha!" cried Mrs. Gray. "And pray tell us what that wretch of a
servant looked like."

Tom laughed.

"Richards is quite an unusual fellow, a good servant I believe, but
rather effeminate and a kind of a dandy----"

"That's the man!"

"He's the one!"

"The very fellow!"

Half a dozen voices interrupted at once.

Then Mrs. Gray explained the rather serious adventure of the night
before. She ended by saying:

"I never, in my heart of hearts, really believed he was you, Tom, dear."

"The scoundrel!" exclaimed the young man. "Can't we set the police on
him?"

"The police in Oakdale are slow, Tom," replied his aunt. "Slow from lack
of occupation. Robbers do not flock here in great numbers."

"At least, I'll telegraph to Arthur Butler," said Tom, "and warn him.
They may catch him from that end."

The telegram was accordingly sent. Likewise the police were notified,
but Richards, who turned out to be a well-known English crook, made good
his escape and was heard from no more.

It did not take our young people long to make the acquaintance of the
real Tom Gray, nor to decide he was a fine fellow and one they could
admit to their circle without regret.

"He's like a breath of fresh air," thought Grace, and indeed it w